Phikwe mayor shuns official residence

Mojuta has however, defended his decision, saying his stance has not affected his accessibility to the electorate.

His critics argue that he is not easily accessible since he is not staying at the mayor's house. Some people feel that it is a limitation to have the mayor staying in his personal property, as they will not  be free to visit him. House number 1008 on Kopano road in Tshabantsha, which is the official mayor's residence, has been allocated to a council employee.

Mojuta believes this must be seen as an advantage to the council, which faces an acute housing shortage. He said there has never been a case of people failing to access him simply because he is not staying in the mayor's house.

'The office of the mayor is open to anyone and my phone number is there. I have not come across someone saying he or she failed to access me,' Mojuta said. He said there was nothing wrong in deciding not to move into the official residence when he had alternative accommodation. In any event it is not mandatory for the mayor to move into the council house, he said.

Mojuta explained that he decided against moving into the house because 'next year's general elections are just around the corner'.

'We (politicians) do not know who will be in or out. Looking at these factors, it would be unwise for me to move in because in 16 months we might have new councillors,' the mayor said.

Mojuta's deputy Letsweletse Dinale, also lives in his own house. Dinale said the local authority does not provide him (as the deputy) with an official house, but instead he is paid a housing allowance. For his part, Selebi-Phikwe deputy town clerk Terrence Ntalabgwe said the mayor had no sinister motives because it was not mandatory for any mayor to move into the official residence once elected.

'It is not mandatory; it is up to them (mayor and deputy) to move in or not. It is just like Members of Parliament (MPs) who decide against staying at the Parliamentary Flats in Gaborone,' Ntalabgwe said. On the question of accessibility, Ntalabgwe said residents could visit the two civic leaders at their respective homes. He said the present arrangement has given the council some breathing space, as it is facing staff accommodation problems.

'To us it is an advantage because we have a shortage of accommodation. At the moment, we are accommodating one of our officers at the mayor's official house,' Ntalabgwe said.