BDP settles on Gaborone mayor

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday November 12, 2009 00:00

Following what happened in Selebi-Phikwe this week, anything can happen in the mayoral elections even after the BDP caucus has decided on the line-up. Ahead of the first sitting of the Gaborone City Council (GCC), the dominant BDP has unanimously settled on Lesole as the mayor with Haskins Nkgaigwa of Babusi Ward as her deputy. It remains to be seen whether the BDP councillors in Gaborone will stage a coup, like they did in Selebi-Phikwe. There was drama in the town when Lekang Mukokomani, slated to be deputy mayor by the BDP caucus grabbed the top seat from the party 'favourite' Tebogo Matlhogonolo on the voting floor. 

If she makes it today, Lesole will be the first BDP mayor of Gaborone since 1984. For the past 25 years, the capital city has been under the control of the Botswana National Front (BNF).  However, during the general elections last month, the BDP regained control of the capital city, penetrating BNF strongholds like Old Naledi.  BNF got only one council seat in the city.

Just before the general elections, the Gaborone mayor was Harry Mothei of the BNF. Mothei toppled his party colleague, Nelson Ramaotwana from the mayoral seat.

After the 2004 general elections, Ramaotwana became the Gaborone mayor when he was still a law student at the University of Botswana (UB). 

Another prominent BNF member who served as Gaborone mayor was the late Paul Rantao who was appointed to be the city father in 1984.  After serving for close to 10 years, Rantao was unseated by another party member, Ginger Ernest.

The current Gaborone councillors are expected to tackle the challenges facing the city like bad roads, traffic jams, lack of developed land, poor storm water drainage system especially in the low cost areas and the phasing out of pit latrines.