Ngoma returns with a bang
Ryder Gabathuse | Wednesday April 5, 2017 16:24
He has a history to his life of never giving up in a political battle no matter how hard it could seem, even when it is apparent that he is punching above his weight.
Having been in political oblivion for sometime, Ngoma returned to active politics in 2014 under a nomination card. He seems to be generally favoured by circumstances.
Just this week, the Zwenshambe-born politician declared his interest to contest for the position of the city Mayor. He is challenging another ambitious politician though very unlucky, former district commissioner and nominated councillor Sylvia Muzila.
As the Ngoma-Muzila political battles ensue, the BDP leadership might regret having given the duo a new lease on life through nominations.
It is also an opportunity for Muzila to prove to Ngoma and his allies that she is not a pushover.
Ngoma declared that the slow pace in implementing Vision 2022 by the Francistown City Council (FCC) leadership motivates him to challenge the incumbent.
He wants to see investors coming to Francistown observing that it has been a while since the council invited potential investors to come and assess the viability of investing in the city.
Perhaps, Ngoma is also motivated by the acknowledgement made by Muzila recently that the city vision, which aims to revolutionise the economy of Francistown, is failing to take shape.
As if the duo is in a political beauty contest, Muzila had said: “I have done relatively well during my first term as a Mayor.
One of the major projects I believe I have pursued with passion is the development of the old golf course plot which we want to turn into a new state-of-the-art Central Business District”.
It is also apparent that the duo is not going to leave anything to chance in their campaigns for the council political wing’s coveted position.
Besides previously battling it out for the BDP ticket in the Francistown West constituency challenging the late Tshelang Masisi for the MP position, Ngoma and Muzila previously picked battles for the attention of the then President Festus Mogae.
When Ngoma was the Mayor, he took offence with the city protocol during presidential visits, insisting that the mayor was senior to the district commissioner so he/she should sit closer to the President than the district commissioner.
It does not seem the political differences between the duo are going to die anytime soon.
To make matters worse, the BDP factions bring Ngoma and Muzila face-to-face in the mayoral race. Ngoma is a pro-Nonofo Moefhi sympathiser whilst Muzila is linked with the pro-Mokgweetsi Masisi axis.
Muzila will have to fight with everything that she has at her disposal to successfully defend the mayoral chain because besides the factional differences, Ngoma will possibly use the mayoral office as a springboard to bigger political opportunities.
He is eyeing a Parliamentary seat in the 2019 general elections just like Muzila is eyeing a BDP ticket for the Francistown South constituency in 2019.
The mayoral contest between Ngoma and Muzila is a complex affair that is influenced amongst others by egos and vengeance. The challenge has already reignited memories of yore.
Unless he has rusted, Ngoma is a master strategist who has the potential to turn the tables even against Muzila who seems to be very comfortable with the mayoral chain.
Muzila’s trump card is seemingly the women folk who continue to back her.