BDP moves swiftly to quell rifts in Tonota

EDWARD MPOLOKA
Correspondent | Wednesday September 21, 2011 00:00

 

The party has appointed a delegation headed by its new secretary general, Mpho Balopi, deputy Speaker Pono Moatlhodi and acting executive secretary Lee Lesetedi, to hold a meeting with all BDP councillors in the Sub-District following the recent no-confidence motion passed on the Sub-District Council chairman, Botho Ntirang.

The motion was moved by Botswana National Front (BNF) councillor, Lemme Kgopa but received support from a majority of BDP councillors. Kgopa accused Ntirang of being a unilateralist and demanded his immediate resignation.

After an address by Mpho Mathe and Janinta Kabuga, the deputy council secretary and attorney of the Central District Council respectively, the councillors agreed that as a sub-council, Tonota was not competent to remove its chairman without the blessing of headquarters in Serowe, albeit after an almighty protest.

The situation in which BDP councillors supported an opposition motion to censor one of their own was a matter of concern to the party.

Contacted for comment, Moatlhodi - who reportedly does not see eye to eye with Ntirang because of the latter's alleged interest in contesting the constituency - denied that any conflict existed among BDP councillors in the sub-district.

However, Balopi told Mmegi that the party was concerned about the turn of events in Tonota. He said he had, had to call the councillors about the need to focus on 'the bigger mandate, which is service to the people.'

 While he said that it was normal for leaders to differ on how things should be done, Balopi said it was critical to avoid serving personal or factional interests. He revealed that he was no fan of no confidence motions.

Admitting that the party caucus could not reverse a council resolution, the secretary general said BDP councillors must always remember that 'they got their mandate from the BDP to stand for the elections and must therefore, at all times, have the presence of mind not to depart from the values of the party'.