16 Aug 2016

The Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale has implored Tati West leadership to unite and work as a team. 

Speaking during  a leadership forum for the area leadership held in Domboshaba on August 15, Mr Molale said by working together they could overcome impediments to the development of their community.

He implored the council, land board, bogosi and the extension team to avoid any divisions among themselves and ensure constant communication between each other.

He cited that from the quartet, bogosi is fundamental as unlike the political leadership dikgosi do not operate on a contract. Furthermore, he said the public service should play a role of mortar and as such it is imperative for any officer to do a situational analysis of the area they serve

“As a public servant you should find out what the developments of your area are and how you fit in ensuring that they reach the community,” he said. Mr Molale said apart from serving as leaders, public officers should be mindful that they are the servants of the community they serve.

He implored dikgosi to each have the constitution of the country and familiariase themselves with it as it is the basis of all freedoms.

In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Maruje III appreciated the efforts of the government in terms of the construction of roads but indicated some roads such as that of Kalakamati-Gungwe and Tshesebe-Masunga need to be constructed speedily as they hamper local economic development.

Kgosi Maruje III highlighted that the caliber of the current dikgosi and Village Development Committee (VDC) members calls for the transformation of the system for the positive change to effect.

He cited that there is need to train dikgosi and VDC members in order to match the needs and demands of the communities they lead. Tati West MP, Mr Biggie Butale explained that the objective of the meeting is part of the dream of making the constituency a centre of excellence.

Mr Butale said Botswana has been a yardstick for many countries and as an MP he wants to see his constituency at par with the status of the country. He explained that it is through the forum that every stakeholder will be made to understand his role in making the constituency a centre of excellence.

“Some of the issues that were raised during the kgotla meetings I addressed in the constituency made me realise that there is need for a forum like this one, where our role as the community leadership will be clarified,” he said.

For their part dikgosi decried the lack of resources in their dikgotla. Kgosi Sibangani Mosojane of Mosojane village cited that in some dikgotla there is only a desk, chair and stamp and as result only goes to work to arbitrate over cases and unable to contribute development such as the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

Kgosi Mosojane said there is need for availability of resources that will help dikgosi to be part of developing their communities. 

Kgosi Thuso Ramokate of Makaleng decried the lack of training for customary court clerks. He lamented that unlike in other government departments most of the Department of Tribal Administration officers do not know how to operate computers.

He said it is only when officers working in the customary courts are trained that dikgotla and dikgosi could  develop.

Ramokgwebana VDC chairperson, Mr Godfrey Smile cited that in some instances the attitudes of the leadership were  impediments to the development of the community. Mr Smile also said the overlap of policies sometimes frustrate efforts to develop and empower communities.

In response, Mr Molale said issues such as lack of training have been identified and the relevant stakeholders were  working on addressing such. He explained that where there is clash of policies  government is always quick to rectify, he however observed that in some instances what is perceived as overlap of policies is only lack of coordination.

A secretary of the Rural Development Council, Mr Berzack Maphakwane called on the community leadership to work towards the creation of sustainable employment opportunities in their areas to reduce dependence on government handouts.

He noted that if community leaders play their role of monitoring service delivery there will be a change in the lives of their communities. ENDS