Opposition want city clerk out
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday December 6, 2016 15:29
All the 27 opposition councillors except nine Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillors signed the petition, which was supposed to be handed to permanent secretary of Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Molefhi Keaja.
“As Gaborone city councillors we are of the collective view that Mr Mathe has failed and neglected his core responsibilities as Town clerk. This failure on his part is demonstrable in one or more of the following; Mathe without any excuse or justification has failed and neglected to implement the resolutions of GCC,” the letter says.
The opposition councillors say failure by Mathe to implement council resolutions is compromising service delivery and thereby rendering the council unresponsive to the needs of Gaborone residents.
They also cited lack of professional ethics from Mathe, accusing him of absconding from council sessions, and not cooperating with GCC mayor Kagiso Thutlwe.
It continues: “He has missed a number of council sessions without the courtesy of affording the council leadership any explanation of his perpetual absence. Mathe does not attend to council’s executive committee meetings where his input on drafting of the full council agenda is required”.
Furthermore, the councillors accused Mathe of failing to attend council’s executive committee meetings where his input on drafting of the full council agenda is required.
They said Mathe’s competence in his work leaves a lot to be desired, as he is not well grounded in council affairs and that he has misled council in fundamental and basic procedures of the council.
The councillors complain that the city clerk undermines their efforts and hard work and as such his behaviour is contemptuous of the proceedings of the council and councillors.
“We are reliably informed that Mathe was transferred from Gaborone to Southern District Council. We received such news with a relief and happiness as we thought that his departure will herald a new beginning for Gaborone City Council. On this note, we demand that the appointing authority expedite the transfer of Mathe within three working days upon receipt of this letter,” the opposition councillors say.
However, contacted for comment, Mathe refused to comment only saying, “That issue is between me and my employer”.