Coup plot against mayor intensifies

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Wednesday June 22, 2011 00:00

 

'If you want the minutes on the issue of motion of no confidence to be erased, then you should return the sitting allowance we took on that day because you are implying that we were not doing council business,' said Mayor Lesole as the meeting became more explosive.

The heated debate was a sequel of the April Full Council debate where the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) councillor Ndiwaani Kenosi sponsored a motion of no confidence against mayor Lesole.

Yesterday, the councillors were asked to first confirm the minutes of last council meeting of April, however the opposition said some parts of the minutes, especially dealing with the motion of no confidence should be erased.

They argued that the issue around the motion was not resolved at the time.  Leading the onslaught, Kenosi said, 'we can't accept these minutes because procedure was not followed. The item on motion of no confidence should be struck off,' he said.

However specially-elected councillor Rupert Hambira said minutes of a meeting are a record and cannot be erased just because someone does not like what is recorded. On the other hand, Kenosi stood his ground, saying that at the time the motion was under discussion, procedure was not followed. He said seeking out a legal opinion from the Attorney General without council's instruction was improper as a result council cannot be forced to accept the said legal opinion. The opinion was on whether specially elected members are allowed to vote in a motion of no confidence against the mayor.  The mayor responded by ordering the council to stick to the matter of confirming the minutes. 'Ga rre yo a sa mpate (if Kenosi does not want me), he can still re-launch his motion of no-confidence against me,' she said prompting a raise of hands from the floor, to which she said: 'Put down your hands. When I say hands down, you should obey and put them down. I am saying we should confirm these minutes. We cannot waste time with these personal issues. Kenosi should know that his hatred of me should not stop council business. I am not the council, I am just a person who is currently occupying this seat of mayor,' she said.

In response Kenosi told the mayor that 'meeting o ga se wa gago (this is not your meeting),' he said. Another councillor interjected, saying they have not come to the council to address 'maikutlo a di-party (to address-party wishes),' he said.

Mayor Lesole proceeded to request members to restrain themselves and behave honourably especially that the media was in attendance. She beseeched them to respect council and her office (of mayor) and reiterated that if the councillors wanted the issue to be struck off the minutes then they should reimburse council its money, which they took as sitting allowance.

Meanwhile Seabelo Thekiso, also a BCP councillor moved that the council reject the minutes, with a majority vote of 18 hands supporting him, whilst only 15 were against the motion. Suddenly there was some noise from Ephraim Mabengano's (BCP) microphone, and the mayor seemingly irritated threatened to throw him out.

'Kante le nole bohe? (What brew have you had today?)' she asked. But then it appeared her deputy, Nkayigwa had serious issues with Lesole's leadership style. He accused her of being dictatorial, saying she thinks her views are more superior to other councillors'. 'As mayor and deputy mayor, we derive all our powers from the members, so let the members lead us not for us to lead them. It is clear what the majority is saying,' he said.