“A genuine leader is not a searcherfor consensus but a molder of consensus.”–Martin Luther King Jr.Personality wars at Gaborone City Council (GCC), Palapye District Council and recently at Francistown City Council are holding back developments as civic leaders are increasingly consumed by internal power struggles, personality clashes and political factionalism. The latest developments at the GCC are particularly troubling. The postponement of a full council sitting is not merely an administrative dispute. It is also a symptomatic of a deeper governance problem that has been brewing within local authorities. Residents of the affected areas expect councillors and mayors to focus on roads, waste collection, drainage systems, housing and other developments that can uplift their lives. Instead, news headlines are dominated by conflicts between elected leaders and administrators, accusations of exclusion, allegations of financial impropriety and battles over procedure. What is more concerning is that the disputes are emerging under councils controlled by the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). Credit should be given to interventions by UDC leadership which demonstrates the seriousness of the matter. However, the fact that party leaders had to convene an urgent meeting to address governance breakdowns suggests that the problem has already reached unacceptable levels. In the capital, tensions between GCC Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng and Town Clerk Daniel Katjinotjiwa expose a recurring challenge in local government: the often-blurred boundaries between political leadership and administrative authority. While elected officials provide policy direction, administrators are expected to ensure legal compliance and continuity. When these relationships deteriorate, councils become paralysed and residents suffer the consequences. Equally alarming is the situation in Palapye, where a vote of no confidence against the Council Chairperson has escalated to court. It is worrying that rather than resolving disputes through established political and institutional channels, stakeholders are increasingly resorting to legal battles and ministerial interventions. This creates uncertainty and undermines public confidence in local governance structures. The common thread running through these disputes is a failure of leadership. Leadership is not measured by one’s title or position. It is demonstrated through the ability to build consensus, manage differences and place public interests above personal or political considerations. Unfortunately, what citizens are witnessing is the opposite. During this precarious state of the economy, Botswana cannot afford civic leaders that spend more time fighting each other than serving communities. Councils are the closest level of government to the people. When they become dysfunctional, the impact is immediate and visible. Service delivery stalls, development projects are delayed and public trust erodes. Political parties, council leadership and government must urgently restore discipline, accountability and professionalism within local authorities. The electorate did not vote for endless disputes and power contests. They voted for leaders capable of solving problems and improving lives.
