Former mayors set for return to council
Onalenna Kelebeile | Wednesday November 19, 2014 16:27
Selebi-Phikwe East MP, Nonofo Molefhi confirmed the two names to Mmegi, but added that the District Commissioner’s office and the Minister of Local Government were the final authorities in the nomination process.
Town Clerk, Poloko Mojalemotho, said he was yet to receive the nominations and thus could not confirm the two names on Monday. Opposition parties in the copper and nickel mining town have already reacted adversely to the two former mayors’ nominations, saying it was clear evidence that the ruling party abuses the process.
Should they be approved, Molosiwa and Mojuta will swell the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) ranks in the 14-member council from eight to 10. The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has six councillors.
The BDP’s central committee member responsible for the Bobonong, Mmadinare and Selebi-Phikwe region, Mmapula Phuduhudu, said that the two politicians would bring maturity and value to the council.
“They have all these qualities and have held higher positions in council. It is a good move because they will provide guidance to the new crop of councillors.
“They will groom the new councillors on procedures and processes of the council,” she said. Former opposition chief whip, Molefhe Molatlhegi of the BCP, said the nominations are a desperate move by the ruling party to revive itself in the town. The BCP submitted four names for consideration as nominated councillors.
“There is some speculation that Mojuta could run for parliamentary office for the Selebi-Phikwe East constituency in 2019,” he said. “This is just to pave his way to the parliamentary race.
However, Molatlhegi conceded that Molosiwa and Mojuta would add value to the house, saying the council could not run without greybeards’ advice. Molosiwa was the mayor of Selebi-Phikwe between 1999 and 2007, while Mojuta held the same office between 2008 and 2009.