12 May 2016

The French Parliamentary delegation on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Slumber Tsogwane where the former inquired on the organisation of the local and central government in Botswana.

 Briefing the delegation Mr Tsogwane stated that his ministry has 19 tribal authorities who advice parliament on tribal matters.

He highlighted that Dikgosi play a significant role in consultation at Kgotla platform by engaging with the community.

Mr Tsogwane said the ministry is also in charge of children's welfare and protection of environment which he said is done through the Ipelegeng program.

The minister further stated that his ministry had developed a Local Economic Development Framework which aimed to grow the economy in local areas of which each region benefited from its natural resources.

Responding to questions, he stated that all the water resources were managed by one authority being Water Utilities Corporation instead of councils.

French head of delegation Mr Jean- Marie Tetart stated that the objective of their visit was to renew relations between the two parliaments.

He highlighted that this was an opportunity for them to learn and discover how things were run in Botswana so as to share them with their own parliament. ENDS