01 Jul 2013

Gaborone City Council (GCC) would spend P32 000 as councillors’ sitting allowances, despite the fact that the week-long meeting that ended on Friday did not attend to the agenda of the quarter.

The city clerk, Ms Agnes Seragi said when councillors sit for a meeting regardless of whether they concluded their business or not, they were entitled to their sitting allowances.

For five days, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillors walked out of the council chamber protesting that the urgent motion they had put before the council to oust the mayor and his deputy was thrown out as it did not make any reference to the Local Government Act.

Due to this move, the council meeting had to adjourn because councillors did not form a quorum. The mayor, Cllr Haskins Nkaigwa said in a press conference that nothing was compromised and the council business was not affected. 

Mr Nkaigwa said all the council committees of finance, performance monitoring, education, health and social services continued with their business to ensure that all council projects were done as planned.

“These committees have delegated powers to make resolutions on behalf of the full council and the full council can only be briefed. Committees are the implementers of the full council resolutions,’’ he said.

He said committees would continue operating regardless of whether BDP councillors attend or not. He said each committee had 15 opposition members and 13 BDP members hence they would be able to form a quorum.

Earlier in the week, nominated councillor, Mr Rupert Hambira tabled a motion calling for the removal of the council leadership. In his presentation, Mr Hambira said the council leadership had lost the majority status and had to relinquish their positions to allow the council to elect new leaders.

However, Cllr Nkaigwa argued that their leadership was duly elected by councillors and not by the notion that the majority rules. Councillor Nkaigwa had also argued that there was nowhere in the Local Government Act where it was specified that there would be partisan majority that would take control or leadership of any council.

Currently, BDP has 18 councillors following the defection of Village Ward councillor; Mr Seabelo Thekiso to the ruling party leaving the opposition with 17 councillors. ENDS