Govt to spend millions on rejected politicians?

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday November 21, 2014 14:55

 

Currently, the Local Government Act requires Tsogwane to appoint 113 nominated councillors across the country. If Tsogwane has his way, he will increase the number to 121.

On Tuesday, Tsogwane tabled a Statutory Notice requesting to increase the number of nominated councillors in four councils, that is, Gaborone City Council (GCC), Francistown Town Council (FTC), Sowa Town Council (STC) and Ghanzi District council (GDC).

There is already stiff resistance to Tsogwane’s intention. Francistown South MP, Wynter Mmolotsi, has informed the Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Kokorwe, that he would table an urgent motion opposing Tsogwane’s Statutory Notice.

The nation was put on the alert mode on Monday by leader of Opposition, Duma Boko who revealed Mmolotsi’s intention to challenge the status quo.

“Permit me while still on this quest to cleanse the word Honourable of all improper accretions, to express our gravest disappointment with the manner in which the Executive has handled the issue of specially nominated councillors and Members of Parliament.

“Once again the ruling party has exploited this dispensation to reward proven failures and rejects of the electoral process. It has used this dispensation to dilute and undermine the outcome of the recent elections,” said Boko.

Boko added: “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. Madam Speaker, there is nothing honourable about the conduct of the Executive in this regard.

“ To force a proper debate on this matter the member for Francistown South, Honourable Wynter Mmolotsi, will in due course table a motion in relation to the entire practice and procedure of specially elected Members of Parliament and councillors.” 

When the 121 are appointed, it will cost the taxpayer extra million pulas per month. During the 10th Parliament, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Botlogile Tshireletso said the country had 603 councillors of which 113 were nominated. Tshireletso said each nominated councillor earned a combined annual salary of P78,933,168 and were projected to get a combined gratuity of P9,866,646.

During the last Parliament, on average a councillor earned around P9,600 per month. With the intended addition of eight councillors, the extra money the taxpayer would pay these mostly electoral rejects is close to P5 million.

Although Tshireletso denied that the dispensation was used to reward elections losers and are not nominated according to party affiliation, the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has over the years abused the system.

It has been reported in the media that general elections rejects such as Mephato Reatile, Sylvia Muzila, Reaboka Mbulawa and Mpho Moruakgomo have been nominated to various councils across the country.