BDP councillors give way for Muzila
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday December 3, 2014 11:55
Muzila made history at the Tuesday elections by becoming the first female mayor for Francistown since the country became independent in 1966.
The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) nominated councillor was unopposed at the elections following the withdrawal of other ruling BDP candidates from the mayoral race.
Former mayor James Kgalajwe, council debutants Cornelius Gopolang and Lesego Kwambala were initially in the race for the position of mayor but on the day of nomination only Muzila’s name was presented by the City clerk Lebuile Israel.
Indications are that the other BDP councillors withdrew from the mayoral race because they did not enjoy the support of their colleagues at the party caucus held on Monday night.
Only Kgalajwe confirmed this week that he withdrew because he did not have enough support from party colleagues for this position.
The BDP’s Lechedzani Mudenga of Moselewapula ward was elected the deputy mayor for Francistown, unopposed at the brief Tuesday elections which lacked much activity.
Initially, BDP councillor for Kanana Godisang Radisigo was also in the race for the deputy mayor position but also withdrew after other BDP councillors chose to support Mudenga at the party caucus.
Speaking moments after she was sworn in as mayor, Muzila said that she was delighted to have been elected the mayor as it has always been her dream to lead the city at political level. She pleaded for unity among the councillors from all political parties.
“During our five year term we should make sure that we turn the city into a viable business destination in order to achieve the city’s vision 2022 goals.
“We should not sabotage each other because we come from various political parties,” she said in her maiden council address.
The city’s vision 2022 aims to turn Francistown into an investment area of choice.
Muzila said during their tenure, the councillors face the biggest challenge of addressing high unemployment in the city.
Muzila was nominated to the council after losing to Wynter Mmolotsi of the Umbrella for Democratic Change in Francistown South.
Meanwhile, Francistown regional leader Ford Moiteela said that other councillors withdrew from the Tuesday elections after they agreed to support Muzila and Mudenga.
“All councillors felt that the two councillors (Muzila and Mudenga) were the most suitable to lead the city at the party caucus meeting. No one was forced to withdraw his candidature for the mayoral race.
Those who withdrew did so to fully support Muzila and Mudenga,” Moiteela said yesterday.
The BDP is the majority at the Francistown City Council (FCC) chambers with 18 councillors, Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and UDC, each have three councillors.
There was no readily available comment from councillors who withdrew their candidacy as they were engaged in meetings in the council chambers at the time of writing.