06 Jun 2022

Councillors Austin Abraham and Oduetse Tautona have taken over the leadership of Gaborone City Council as mayor and deputy mayor respectively. The two were elected unopposed during a special council meeting in Gaborone yesterday.

Councillor Abraham, who represents Sebele ward and Councillor Tautona of Kgale ward, are both from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

The two inherit the mayoral and deputy chains from nominated BDP colleagues Father Maphongo and Lotty Manyapedza, who did not contest for re-election.

In his acceptance speech, Councillor Abraham called for councillors’ support  to enable the new leadership to perform to the best of their abilities.

He pointed out that with only two and half years left before the general elections,  they would have to double their service delivery efforts. 

“Living with potholes in our roads and overgrown trees should be a thing of the past as that fails the efforts of the police to curb crime as criminals use those forests to hide,” he said.

Gaborone City streets have to be safe for children and night life should be enjoyed by all, he stated.

Mr Abraham said the challenges that came with being city mayor needed to be taken head-on.

For his part, Councillor Tautona thanked God for his mercy and the opportunity to serve as deputy mayor. Prior to the elections, Councillor for Naledi North Mr Oarabile Motlaleng had requested that an all party caucus should determine the right people for leading the council.

Rejecting the request, nominated councillor, Mr Kaisara Sejoe, said BDP councillors had their caucus and did not need to hold one with their opposition colleagues.

Elections of council committees and their chairpersons were also conducted. Outgoing mayor, Mr Maphongo thanked councillors for having confidence in them in the last two and half years.ends