Muzila is Francistown�s mayor again
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday May 3, 2017 16:39
Muzila was unopposed at the elections that secured her a second consecutive two-and-half year term as Francistown mayor.
Consequently, her re-election in the council chambers was a forgone conclusion, as she had defeated Peter Ngoma at a BDP caucus on Monday afternoon. Twelve councillors had backed her while Ngoma managed only six votes. Kanana ward councillor, Cornelius Gopolang had pulled out of the mayoral race to back Ngoma.
Gopolang said that he chose to back Ngoma in fear of splitting votes. The BDP enjoys majority at the council chambers, which is why Muzila was endorsed through a caucus before formal elections (yesterday) featuring the opposition. Decisions of the BDP caucus are binding to party members.
Open elections with the opposition, who usually select their preferred mayoral candidate, are just a mere formality because the latter does not enjoy the majority. This time around, the opposition did not nominate a candidate to contest the Mayoral elections. The battle for the Mayoral chain had pitted BDP councillors backing Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi against those rooting for Cabinet minister, Nonofo Molefhi.
The two men will contest for the BDP chairmanship in Tonota this July. Muzila is said to be backing Masisi while Ngoma is a Molefhi sympathiser. Victory by Muzila is seen as sweet revenge for Masisi’s team, which suffered a humiliating defeat at the Francistown regional elections in March.
To solidify their chairmanship bid, both Masisi and Molefhi are trying to gain control of the vital party structures around the country. “I will continue to work closely with you in order to improve the economy of the city, Muzila said yesterday. Prior to the elections, she declared that she wanted a second term as mayor because she believed she had unfinished business with reference to transforming the economy of Francistown.
The former district commissioner said that in her first term, she had done enough spadework that would enable Francistown’s economy to reach prosperity. In her opinion, a second term would ensure her dream to turn Francistown into an economic powerhouse of the north come to fruition.
Satellite South councillor, Godisang Radisigo was also unopposed as the deputy mayor. Radisigo, who is said to be backing Masisi, was also not opposed at the BDP caucus. Radisigo made his debut as deputy mayor two months ago after replacing Moselewapula ward councillor, Lechedzani Modenga.
Modenga was ousted as councillor owing to his perennial absence from the chambers as a result of illness. BDP Francistown region chairperson, Baemedi Medupi said that he was happy that none of the BDP councillors went against the decision of the caucus.