25 Jan 2015

Members of the Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) have re-elected Councillor Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo of Kgatleng District Council as the association’s president.

Cllr Rev Moruakgomo got 70 votes while the other contender, Councillor MacDonald Peloetletse of Gaborone City Council trailed by 12 votes.

Cllr Sylvia Muzila of Francistown council was elected the Vice President after garnering 25 votes.

Muzila beat three other candidates, Cllrs Alec Seametso of Southern District Council, Caroline Lesang of Lobatse Town Council and Motlhophi Leo of Kweneng District Council. Cllr Seametso garnered 21 votes while Cllrs Lesang and Leo each got 14 votes.

In the race for the association’s treasurer, Cllr Amogelang Mojuta of Selibe Phikwe Town Council won by 41 votes defeating Cllr Peter Williams of Central District Council (CDC) who got 38 votes.

Cllr James Kgalajwe of Francistown council became the project officer after garnering 51 votes against Cllr Mmaletsatsi Nthobatsang’s 27 votes. Cllr Nthobatsang is from CDC.

The position of chairperson of finance commission was won by Cllr Geoffrey Sibisibi of Kweneng district council with 65 votes. Cllr Sibisibi beat Cllr Mohammed Sobhan of Gaborone City Council (GCC) who got 13 votes.

Sowa Town councillor, Botho Ntirang was elected Mmasepala welfare commission chairperson by 57 votes beating Forster Seretse of GCC who got 22 votes.

CDC’s Cllr, Jordan Makhura became the chairperson of regions commission with 54 votes against Cllr Ezekiel Kajuu’s 23 votes. Cllr Kajuu is from Ghanzi District council .

Cllrs Phenyo Segokgo of South East District Council and Aido Leshope of Kgalagadi District council were elected additional members.

Cllr Segokgo and Leshope each garnered 48 and 40 votes while other candidates Cllrs Molosiwa Molosiwa of Selibe Phikwe and Olga Ditsie of Jwaneng Town Council got 16 and 27 votes respectively.

In his acceptance speech, Cllr Rev Moruakgomo thanked the councillors for their confidence in him and assured them that his committee will serve them diligently and provide a vision that will take Botswana and the local authorities to another level.

The BALA president encouraged the newly elected leaders to be committed and selfless and put aside their political affiliations.

Cllr Moruakgomo urged the councillors to support his committee and to start talking more about solutions and not problems especially in the issues of economic empowerment and service delivery.

In his closing remarks, Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi urged the new committee to embrace those who lost in the race for the executive positions.Mr Mmolotsi urged the committee to canvass for support from the MP and the government so that the local authorities can successfully perform their mandate. ENDS