Bye-election idea divides residents

TUTUME - Residents of Nshakashobgwe in the Sebina North constituency are divided over a suggestion by Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Secretary, Mr Gabriel Seeletso, to wait for the general elections to replace their councillor.
Mr Seeletso made the suggestion at a kgotla meeting at the village over the weekend.
The area councillor, Mr Phuluma Tema died last month after a long illness.
Making the suggestion, Mr Seeletso said that the IEC is busy all over the country conducting registration for the national elections, and therefore it would not manage to organise bye-elections at the same time because the national registration itself is a demanding and exacting responsibility.
Mr Seeletso also said it does not make economic political sense to hold bye- elections at this time because all the council plans have already been done.
"At the moment the date for the bye-elections has not been set, but the earliest possible date will be by the end of May. Then in July Parliament adjourns and this means councils will also dismiss to prepare for elections.
This means that the councilor you choose may not sit even in a single council meeting." Mr Seeletso said it is in the light of that scenario that they do not find it to hold the by-elections for the vacancies that arise this time around.
He said the by-election campaigns would also be costly to those who wish to stand because as soon as they finish campaigning for the by-elections, the campaign for the national elections will begin.
Some residents agreed with Mr Seeletso's sentiments to the effect that it would be unreasonable to hold bye-elections at this time and that the area should limp without a councilor until the general elections is held.
They suggested that the councilor for Sebina South, Mr Mooketsi Mafunye should also be asked to cover Sebina North for the remaining period before the general elections.
They said in the past, Sebina South and North shared a councillor, and so it will not be a problem for Cllr Mafunye to also represent them.
It was suggested that Cllr Mafunye would work hand in hand with the area VDC to address any grievances the community might have in the interim.
Other residents said they still want the bye-election to be held, as it would be improper for the area to go for months without a council representative.
Mr Seeletso also informed the residents that he would compile a report and hand it over to the Minister of Local Government, Dr Margaret Nasha, who will make a final decision on whether bye-elections are held before the general elections.BOPA