CDC opposition cllrs kicked out of meeting
Bonte Seepi | Tuesday December 13, 2016 15:43
Lecheng/Malaka ward councillor, Charles Mabjeng had requested Williams to use his discretion to summon the Minister to come and address the councillors as a matter of urgency.
“We have an issue which concerns the CDC of which we hear rumours that Morupule B is being sold and the other one of BCL closure which is of national interest. Therefore since these issues are of a serious nature, we need to call the relevant ministry to come and address the CDC councillors as a matter of urgency before the council closure on Friday.”
Mabjeng, who is a Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) councillor, said as councillors they ought to have first-hand information in order to be able to give their constituents the correct information. In his response, Williams urged Mabjeng to file an urgent motion through Schedule 5 form and submit it to the council.
Morupule ward councillor, Jordan Makhura then interjected and told the chairman that he has the powers to summon the minister to the council.
Some councillors were not amused and they said Makhura was out of order, prompting the chairman to throw him out. The police, who were nearby, were preparing for action before Makhura voluntarily walked out.
Other opposition councillors then followed the Botswana Congress Party councillor (Makhura) except the councillor for Bobonong, Keoagile Ramatlotlo who then raised his hand on a point of procedure.
The visibly irate Williams, who seemed to have even forgotten the Chambers’ decorum and ettiquette, threatened him: “Ramatlotlo ke a go koba hela jaaka ke kobile Makhura. (I will throw you out just like I did with Makhura)”. He did not state why he was throwing Ramatlotlo out of the Chambers nor give him time to talk so he could hear him out.
In an interview outside the Chambers, Mabjeng said they walked out as a sign of protest in support of their comrade. He said if their opinions are undermined, they ought to do something as opposition councillors.
“We thought it was vital for us to be addressed about the issue of Morupule B and BCL so that we can be able to answer Batswana. The CDC has 17 constituencies and 174 councillors, so we believed that if they could be addressed, one third of Botswana population will have the correct information,” said Mabjeng. The CDC has 20 opposition councillors while the ruling party has 154.