Sekgororoane challenges Thutlwe for mayorship
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Friday March 3, 2017 15:40
Both Sekgororoane and Thutlwe are members of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). The UDC is a coalition of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana People’s Party (BPP). Sekgororoane is a member of the BMD while Thutlwe is a member of the BNF.
While councillors are in an intense campaign for the Gaborone mayorship, it has since emerged that elections for the seat will not take place in the March sitting as they anticipated. Gaborone City Council (GCC) has 36 councillors; 22 for UDC, nine for Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) nine and five for Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
According to the City clerk Mpho Mathe, the councillors have to wait for winter to elect their new leadership during the full council meeting. “The mayor term ends in April not March as some people think. We will be having a normal full council meeting in March. With the issue regarding election, the council will have to agree whether it calls for a special full council in May or to wait for the June full council meeting. The councillors and ourselves will have to agree on the month and dates they are comfortable with for elections to be held,” Mathe said.
However this did not go well with Sekgororoane who said the city clerk could have communicated to councillors that the term for the mayor ends in April not March.
“Communication is key to everything. The city clerk should know that there are people interested in this post. Of course I am one of the people who will be contesting for the seat. I believe the Botswana National Front (BNF) has been given a chance and this time around the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) should be given a chance too,” Sekgororoane said yesterday in an interview.
Sekgororoane said mayoral elections could not be dragged to June unless there are pressing matters that allow it to be. She said the UDC had an agreement that whoever is in leadership position should lead at the council but some men decided to vote against her in their caucus.
“I am determined that this time around I am going to stand. I have lobbied for support from all UDC members including even the BCP. Women should be given a chance to lead also. Men cannot be the ones leading us in all positions. They are the chairpersons of all committees except one,” she said.
Thutlwe on the other hand has indicated that he is going to defend his seat.
“I was not aware that my term comes to an end in April, I had thought it is in March. Just learnt on Wednesday. I have lobbied for support from our party members and I believe I will retain it,” Thutlwe said.
However Mmegi has gathered that the UDC councillors are divided on Thutlwe and Sekgororoane. The BCP will be kingmakers in the battle as the candidate who wants the mayorship needs their support.