Ephraim Keoreng
11 November 2009
Once again the opposition received a dismal number of seats as the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) took the lion's share of the 114 special council seats to boost its numbers in district councils around the country.
Though the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) won 75 seats in councils in the October 16 general elections, the party, according to its spokesperson Dumelang Saleshando, got two seats, whilst the party's elections partner Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) received nothing from the special nomination process.
On the other hand, the Botswana National Front (BNF), which won 73 seats, received six special council seats. BNF spokesman Moeti Mohwasa said that they are against the special nomination system because it is used only to appease the BDP members, leaving out other sections of society.
Botswana People's Party (BPP) president Bernard Balikani said that his party, which won three council seats, was not given any seat in the special nomination process.
This means that in total, the opposition got eight seats whilst it is unclear how many the BDP has clinched, "because we are yet to look at the names and see how many we got.
The best people who can give you the information is the Local Government Ministry," said BDP executive assistant Lee Lesetedi.
However, Ministry of Local Government spokesman Tigele Mokobi would not say how many BDP members had been nominated, saying they would study the nomination list "to find out how many of them were nominated".
He said the process of appointing members of councils starts with a request issued to District Commissioners (DCs)and council secretaries to select people who could be considered for nomination. In doing so, the DC may consult with Members of Parliament (MPs) and indeed any other group of people as may be deemed appropriate, he said.
"That notwithstanding any person, group or association has the right to submit their suggestions to the District Commissioner and or directly to the minister. All names of submitted potential candidates are then subjected to consideration by the Minister of Local Government in consultation with government," he said.
According to him, there is no agreed mathematical formula for allocating nominated members of councils according to the ruling party, opposition and ordinary citizens.
"These are not prescribed in the law. Essentially the law requires people with special responsibilities or interests relating to the development of the area," he said.
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