Spurned again!
MPs say Motion to discuss Cllrs’ salaries not urgent
Frustrated Councillors are pointing fingers at the Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development Minister Mpho Balopi for saying issues of their salary increments should not be discussed urgently.
After fighting hard to have their salary adjustments discussed at parliament, Member of Parliament for Maun East Goretetse Kekgonegile finally tabled the motion on an urgent basis last week.
However, the motion was thrown out the window after MPs voted that it was not urgent. Leading the pack was Balopi who although sympathising with Councillors, did not think it was wise to discuss the matter under limited time. Thus, together with others, they voted that the motion be given the full attention it deserves at a later time.
“Balopi thinks he is smart, he forgets that we are equally politicians, we know the tricks”, a concerned Councillor said. Another Councillor warned Balopi to tread carefully saying it will be payback time during the national Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) congress expected later this year.
“He might as well kiss the Secretary General position bye-bye! They tend to forget that Councillors are the ones doing the dirty work on the ground for them to become MPs”.
Meanwhile the vote meant that Councillors were rejected once again. In the past they petitioned Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Eric Molale who told them that government was too broke to meet their demands. Councillors then roped in Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) pleading for intervention. BALA washed its hands clean in the matter, and advised Councillors to heed Molale’s response to their petition. Realising that they were now on their own, Councillors wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly Phandu Skelemani. Skelemani advised Councillors that they have no powers to bring anything to Parliament rather they should ask one of the MPs to table the motion in parliament.
That is how Councillors approached Kekgonegile, an opposition MP as they have now lost trust in BDP MPs.