03 Aug 2016

Some dikgosi in the Ngamiland District have hailed  government for engaging them to solicit ideas on how their powers can be enhanced.

This, they said, was an indication that government recognised the role they played in communities and development of the country.

Dikgosi expressed their views in an interview after a consultative meeting addressed by the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen.

The meeting attracted dikgosi from r Ngamiland, Kgalagadi and Ghanzi. The aim was to share and discuss issues of bogosi and most importantly how best  government could strengthen the institution.

Kgosi Kebonyetsala Fish of Nokananeg hailed  government for the initiative.

He said dikgosi had less powers to ensure the rule of law and order among their communities. 

He said the nation was faced with societal ills because dikgosi could not play their role to put order through corporal punishment.

Kgosi Fish said in the past, parents used to bring their children who misbehaved to the kgotla to be reprimanded through corporal punishment, but things had changed as they had to open a case and that the culprits finger prints be taken.

“As traditional leaders our role is to build the nation and promote peace not to destroy our children's future,” he added.

Kgosi Keneilwe Mokgweetsi of Makalamabedi hailed  government for engaging dikgosi noting that the meeting was a welcome development in the right direction.

He believed that the consultative meeting would produce fruitful results as they had aired their views.

He shared same sentiments that indeed they lacked powers citing that in the past land was administered by dikgosi because they knew their boundaries better.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen 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 the motion requested government to elevate the institution of bogosi to the status commensurate with its responsibilities and relevance in the government structure of Botswana.

He said they had been tasked by Cabinet to seek input of other dikgosi who do not sit in Ntlo ya Dikgosi on how their powers could be enhanced within their jurisdiction.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen informed the gathering that their constructive deliberations would assist the ministry in finalizing the presentation before submission to Cabinet for consideration. ENDS