Ministry Defends Nyeku, Supports proposed Trip

RYDER GABATHUSE
Staff Writer | Monday April 19, 2010 00:00

 

The decision was made by the permanent decretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Thato Raphaka in a letter addressed to the Francistown City Council (FCC), Matthews Sebina last week.

'Following the full council meeting which was addressed by Assistant Minister of Local Government, Kentse Rammidi today in Francistown, the ministry notes with grave concern internal differences that are likely to frustrate the noble objectives of the twinning programme,' reads a savingram authored by Raphaka last week.

The letter informs the Town Clerk, Sebina to 'please note that this state of affairs is not acceptable as it has the potential to strain existing cordial bilateral relations between Botswana and Belgium.'

Raphaka stresses that the issue of budget approval by the council's finance committee for this trip is not an issue as the same committee considered the 2010/2011 recurrent budget, which was subsequently considered and approved by council 'with this particular expenditure item included in the budget.'

Raphaka stressed, 'it is therefore expected that without any further delays, FCC is represented in the trip to Belgium for the good of both countries and the two cities in particular.'

Raphaka was hopeful that the FCC would proceed as advised in order to immediately bring this matter to its logical conclusion.

This issue comes to rest after three special full council meetings were called before a resolution could be found.

For nearly a week the FCC was divided with councillors on one side against the trip to the City of Genk, while others were in favour of the trip.

Those against the trip claimed that the mayor had not consulted them whilst those in favour of the trip felt that even if the mayor had not consulted them, the trip should proceed on the basis that he would consult in future.

But the Assistant Minster of Local Government, Kentse Rammidi advised councillors that it was not a must for the mayor to always run the business of the council through special full council meetings.

After listening to the concerns of the councillors, he concluded that the city mayor Shadreck Nyeku had not erred in making the preparations of the trip. 'Since the mayor is the leader of the council's political wing, he has to make some administrative decisions and later brief the council on such decisions,' said Rammidi.

In other words, the Assistant Minister did not find anything wrong with Nyeku's decisions. 'Actually, during my tenure as the chairman of the Southern District Council I used to make similar decisions,' Rammidi pointed out.

The delegation to Genk includes Nyeku as head of the delegation, deputy town clerk (finance and administration), Geoffrey Moagi Gare, councillor Joyce Ndove, environmental officer, Keletso Gomotsang, principal youth officer, Mogomotsi Seemule, an officer from the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS), Ludo Nkhwalume, and ward development committee representative, Joseph Mabutho.