FCC cllrs dismissed for shoddy work

Chakalisa Dube | Thursday May 22, 2014 17:09

 

Firing from all cylinders, the Donga councillor said some of his colleagues table motions that lack substance because of poor research. “This certainly shows poor leadership qualities on your part as councillors. Let us be serious. As policymakers, we should research every motion that we bring to the council chamber and make sure that they have substance. What some of us are doing (not researching motions) is a sign of laziness. We are not doing justice to the voters and they will end up losing respect for us,” he said.

Mpotokwane went for Tati Town councillor, Stanley Masalila who had tabled a motion calling for the government to consider increasing the time the agricultural programme is aired on Monday on Botswana Television. Masalila earned the wrath of Mpotokwane because he was not elaborate.  Mpotokwane felt that Masalila should have tabled a motion after thorough research which would have entailed consulting Btv to see how they plan their programmes. “It is even worrying that some motions that do not hold water end up being passed,” he said. Masalila’s motion was not adopted on the basis that he did not do thorough research.

Afterwards, it was the turn of BCP councillor for Boikhutso ward, Robert Mosweu to dismiss another motion by his fellow party member Professor Tlou of Itekeng ward on the basis that it was not well researched.

Tlou’s motion was calling for the Local Government Ministry to investigate how grants at Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) are managed. Without elaboration, the councillor said there have been allegations of corruption at BALA, which he felt necessitated an investigation.

With support from Mpotokwane, Mosweu dismissed Tlou’s motion saying it holds no water. “When we present motions, we should make sure that they hold water and we have enough grounds to support them. It is disappointing that some motions tabled lack substance and are based on hearsay,” he said.  Mosweu added that motions that are not well researched indicate that councillors are incompetent. “A re tlhwaafaleng (let us be serious),” he said to fellow councillors.

Tlou’s motion was not adopted on the basis that it was half-baked.