Politicians should set their priorities right

Mmegi Editor | Friday September 18, 2015 15:37

Ipopeng ward councillor Gaone Majere of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had tabled an unsuccessful motion to topple Muzila.

What is shocking and disappointing is that the mover of the motion could not raise pertinent Standing Orders supporting his motion of no confidence on the city mayor. He could also not get the requisite support from his colleagues, as they were equally clueless on the right approach. In fact, Majere failed to articulate his motion.

Councillors wasted public funds, which could have been spent on critical issues bedeviling the city of Francistown during the two days the motion was debated.

Taxpayers’ funds were just wasted on an unproductive meeting by politicians who were seemingly not worried by their unproductive tendencies.

The situation was not helped by the reality that even the FCC senior technocrats incessantly adjourned the council sitting without providing any helpful guidance. It was so pathetic to watch the honourable councillors fumbling before their electorates who had thronged the public gallery in anticipation of a meaningful debate of the motion.

Standing Orders were read without help, as the interpretation was seemingly a stumbling block. Apparently, the very matter the councillors were grappling with is not even unprecedented to say the least, as there are precedents even in the very FCC. It is worrying why a councillor could bring an urgent motion when he was not even prepared to raise proper facts on his motion.

We should not be misconstrued to be suggesting that Muzila should not be toppled for whatever reasons; rather it is important for politicians to take their time to research thoroughly and avoid rushing motions or questions.

Politics being a game of numbers, it does not make sense for Majere to suggest that his motion crumbled because the BDP civic leaders who had promised him support had dumped him. Rather, he should have taken his time to ascertain that he had sufficient numbers to back his motion.

In a city that is besieged with so many challenges like poor waste management, failure to pay service levy by many city dwellers, dysfunctional street-lights, pot-holed roads, overcrowded clinics and absence of a district hospital, serious-minded councillors will never run short of issues to show their desperation and ignorance by choosing to dwell on trivial matters.

Over the years, the FCC has been grappling with a soaring waiting list of applications for residential plots, which currently stands at a worrying figure of over 20,000.

This should be an area of concern for the councillors. Politicians should set up their priorities right.

Today’s thought

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”

 

 - John C. Maxwell