CDC opposition councillors explain walk out

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Monday September 27, 2010 00:00

Addressing a press conference in Serowe Hotel last Friday, over 20 opposition councillors said the walk out by six of them was an agreement from their caucus.

Hence they turned up in large numbers at the confer ence to show solidarity with colleagues who walked out.The opposition councillors from the Botswana Congress Party, Botswana National Front and Botswana Movement for Democracy vowed that they would stage more walk-outs if the ruling party continues to ignore the laid down procedures. They indicated that despite their different party affiliations, they are sending a strong message that the issue of opposition cooperation should be taken to a new level. They encouraged opposition councillors in other councils to do the same if the standing orders are flouted. 'Our cooperation as members of the opposition is alive and kicking.'

Chairman of the opposition caucus in the Central District, Chilume Balopi explained that it was a strategy for six of them to walk out while others remained inside to follow the proceedings and establish which confidential issues were discussed that could warrant a full council meeting to be reduced to a committee stage. Opposition councillors walked out after their ruling party colleagues suggested that the meeting be moved to the committee stage just after Khama delivered his speech. An opposition councillor countered the move but the council chairman resolved that the meeting be moved to the committee stage, hence some officers, the public and the media were kicked out.  Balopi stressed during the press conference that the walk out did not mean that they were against Khama. Rather they were protesting the fact that procedure was not followed. He said the Standing Order 61 was not followed in moving the meeting to the committee stage. 'We agreed in principle to address the media to demonstrate that we are in full support of fellow comrades who walked out. We are a team and nothing can tear us apart. Even our leaders will realise how important our cooperation as opposition is. Majority of us remained inside but there was nothing confidential that could warrant that decision (moving the meeting to the committee stage),' he said.

Councillors indicated that all decisions made at the opposition caucus are binding to all members. They indicated that due to the dominance of the ruling party in the council, which stands at 6:1, they had to be very tactical, hence a small number walked out and majority remained. They said the walked out was done with a clear conscience. They did not sign for sitting allowance for that day, refused to have lunch with members of the cabinet and or a photo shoot. They said they were worried that the proposals and submissions raised by councillors at various sub district councils and caucus were not incorporated in the agenda of the meeting with the President and the cabinet. They complained that the time allocated to councillors to deliberate on the President's speech was not sufficient considering the large number of councillors in the CDC. Opposition councillors acknowledged that sometimes it is important for the council to discuss some of its business in private but this does not empower anybody to overlook the laid down procedures. Those who remained in the meeting said issues that were discussed by the President and the cabinet were not private. They discussed government policy, the economy, deferred projects and local development issues.

'It is our collective understanding that these are national matters of national interest and it would be democratic for all to hear directly from the Head of State,' they said.

The councillors signed a joint statement to explain their decision to walk out. Some of the councillors who attended the press conference are Joseph Dintwa, Mogalakwe Mogalakwe, Jordan Makhura, Kagiso Tshwene, Thomas Kgethenyane, Bobby Babusi and Isarel Jesi. It is not the first time that the opposition councillors in the CDC cooperated and staged a walk out.