31 Jul 2016

The Minister   of  Local  Government and Rural Development, Mr Slumber Tsogwane, says government recognises the role that bogosi plays in building a united nation. 

 Speaking at a consultative meeting with dikgosi on issues of enhancing their powers, Mr Tsogwane said in addition to uniting the nation, dikgosi played a pivotal role in the preservation of culture, traditional norms and values. 

 Mr Tsogwane said government was aware of the challenges such as inadequate resources that constrained dikgosi in exercising their duties. 

He implored dikgosi to jealously guard against political interference because any obstruction could reduce the significance attached to bogosi.   

Citing the Greek philosophy that leaders are born, he said such philosophy applied in the Botswana’s bogosi’s system because a kgosi is born. 

Mr Tsogwane said there was concern that the concept of bogosi being hereditary was dying due to some selfish individuals who wanted to turn bogosi into employment. 

He said of recent, there were some cases of conflicts on succession and this resulted in the division of morafe. 

He, however, said when need arose, his ministry would continue to use the voting system to solve some of bogosi issues. 

Meanwhile, the minister explained that the main objective of his meeting with dikgosi was a follow up to a motion by Kgosi Maruje III that called for the empowerment of dikgosi. 

He said in addition to the motion, Shoshong MP, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele presented another motion in Parliament that resulted in a presidential task team that consulted on societal ills. 

He said it was through the consultation that it was established that the dikgosi had less powers to ensure the rule of law and order among their communities. 

He cited that some dikgosi indicated that the youth delinquent groups such as mawestern, ditlou and matsatsankane were due to their (dikgosi) lack of powers. 

He said the meeting gave him opportunity to share ideas with dikgosi on how their powers could be enhanced. ENDS