Leo drawn into Morwaeng squabbles

Councillors accuse KwDC Chairman Leo of incompetence

Mull a motion of no confidence against him

Emotionally charged Leo refuses to comment

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Recycled Kweneng District Council (KwDC) Chairman, Motlhophi Leo -a Councillor in Loologa ward in Molepolole South constituency has been sucked into an ugly spat playing itself out between fellow democracts in the constituency.

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillors in KwDC, who are unhappy with area MP Kabo Morwaeng are pointing an accusing finger at Leo saying he is spying on them and is too weak to lead. Leo became unpopular among councillors after it became clear that he has formed allegiances with Morwaeng, whom he defends at every opportunity.

Now, having alienated councillors from Molepolole South, Leo faces a motion of no confidence from his colleagues. Information gathered by The Patriot on Sunday is that councillors want Leo out because two years after taking over as Chairman he has failed to represent their interests but has rather resorted to fighting them on the side of Morwaeng.

Councillors are accusing Leo of spying on them in favor of Morwaeng who is at war with them. “The chairman has neglected to implement the council resolutions following up on the pending development projects. There is a serious failure in the political wing of the council due to the so much incompetence of chairman. We want him out because he serve Morwaeng’,” said one councillor.

Molepolole South constituency has 10 councillors, eight elected and two nominated.

Some of the disgruntled BDP councillors has also accused Leo to conniving with MP Morwaeng to decampaign them in favor of the special nominated councillors who are their close associates.

In an interview one targeted councillor, said Leo has been reduced to be a divisive character. “We are sidelined in important matters of the council and the nominated councillors are a top priority. The chairman has turned out be the spy of Morwaeng because he is following whether we are in support of Sibisibi whom he fears we can topple him with. Leo and Morwaeng want to intimidate us. Leo as chairman has offered no strategic direction for council,” said another unhappy BDP councillor.

The move left councillors fuming with some of them deciding to snub invitations from Morwaeng. Contacted for comment on Thursday, an emotionally charged Leo refused to engage on the matter. Pressed further on whether he is spying on the councillors who are close to Sibisibi, Leo said he could not comment until the councillors come out in the open and stop making allegations behind his back.

Earlier on the year, councillors blasted Leo for agreeing with Morwaeng to host meeting with them at his private residence but Leo at a time said he couldn’t do anything pertaining to that. Leo said that he had no powers to direct Morwaeng where to hold meeting when councillors complained and blasted them for putting petty politics ahead of important agenda by the MP.

“I attended the said meetings with the MP and some of the councillors were not present over the reasons known to them hence they are the ones who may be complaining. This is just all petty politics and they would delay progress. I didn’t connive with MP on anything,” said Leo at time of the meeting indicating that the councillors who snubbed the MP were true enemies of progress.

Responding to allegations about his involvement in KwDC infighting, Morwaeng said  it is news to him, and that he is not aware of any bad blood between Leo and Councillors due to the Chairman being loyal to him. “I am the MP and do not want to meddle in council matters,” said Morwaeng.

BDP in Molepolole South constituency has not been at peace with councillors unhappy with Morwaeng pitting him against former Kweneng District Council Chairman Jeffrey Sibisibi, ahead of the 2023 BDP primary elections. Sibisibi, who is currently president of Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) is said to be enjoying full support of councillors in his bid to topple Morwaeng.

Recently, some BDP councillors fallen out with frustrated Morwaeng who had blamed them and the influential Sibisibi for being behind the constituents’ decision to snub his scheduled Kgotla meetings. As a result of the tension between Morwaeng and Sibisibi, President Mokgweetsi Masisi delegated vice president Slumber Tsogwane who is also BDP chairman to reconcile the duo but his efforts failed.

It is alleged that ahead of the Council Chairman elections after the 2019 general elections, Morwaeng held clandestine meetings to canvass votes for Leo to defeat and remove Sibisibi at the time, a move which still today divides the party.