SPTC Split Over Plot To oust Mayor

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Monday July 12, 2010 00:00

Town Mayor, Lekang Mukokomani has pinpointed Molefe Molathegi of Botshabelo Central as the mastermind behind the plan to oust him from office. He did not mince his words; 'I expect him together with his cronies to be busy researching on issues of socio- economic matters and tabling motions which can help people of Selebi-Phikwe, than to have energy only for cheap and petty issues,' he lashed out.

Calling Molathegi 'a joke' he accused him of having tried to do something similar sometime ago, when he lobbied to have deputy mayor Bathaedi Mponwane removed from office.

This, said the mayor, was when the councillors were hardly two months in office.

Mukokomani said the councillor is used by other people because they realised that he is an easy target. He revealed that there are two Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillors who aspire to become mayors and they are hiding behind a 'weak person like Molathegi' to push their agenda.

The mayor who is also the councillor for Ikageleng Phase Two absolved Tebogo Matlhogonolo, Kagiso/Sesame councillor, in the plot to oust him from office. 'Some civil servants, who are used to treating councillors as rubber stamps are also colluding with the bunch to move the motion as I have not allowed them to make decisions, instead decisions are made by me and councillors,' he snapped.

Mukokomani stated that as long as he is the mayor of Selebi-Phikwe, his authority will not be undermined nor will councillors be used as rubber stamps.

Sesame South councillor, Godfrey Mbaiwa said he was not aware of the pending vote of no confidence against Mukokomani. He said he is a busy man who is also a pastor. 'They should let him complete his term and avoid taking drastic decisions to remove him from office,' said Mbaiwa. Leseding ward councillor, Leungo Mathaio said council standing orders allow councillors to pass a motion of no confidence against any person in the mayoral office depending on reasons they give and if the number of the majority of councillors agree. She stated that passing the motion does not depend on the time one has spent in the office. Mathaio, just like Mbaiwa claimed to have no knowledge of the plot to oust the mayor.