BDP bigwigs line up for council seats

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday November 19, 2014 16:35

 

By law, each party in any council has the right to suggest names for the positions of nominated councillors which are routed through district commissioners for consideration by the Minister, Slumber Tsogwane.

Critics expect Tsogwane to toe the traditional line and select the majority of the 113 nominated councillors from the ruling party. The nominated positions comprise approximately a fifth of total council seats.

Yesterday, Botswana Democratic Party insiders said names such as MacDonald Peloetetse, Emmanuel Seretse, John ‘Mazabathi’ Mokandla and Rupert Hambira had been mentioned as nominees for the council seats.

While Peloetetse said he was not aware that his name had been submitted for council, other alleged ruling party nominees were unavailable for comment by Press time.

A highly placed source close to the latest developments told Mmegi that the names of final nominated councillors would be released this week.

“The majority will be BDP,” the source said. In his response to the State of the Nation Address yesterday, Leader of the Opposition, Duma Boko, revealed that his party planned to overhaul the legislation surrounding specially elected MPs and nominated councillors.

“I must record the indignant rage felt by us in the opposition and indeed the scornful resentment all reasonable citizens feel at this disgraceful conduct. There is nothing honourable about the conduct of the Executive in this regard,” he said. Questions sent to the Ministry of Local Government were unanswered by yesterday evening.