04 Feb 2018

Dikgosi have passed a motion that requests government to consider paying members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi subsistence and travelling allowance when attending full council and sub-council meetings in their respective districts.

The motion was tabled by Kgalagadi North region’s Kgosi Moeti Monyemane during the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi sitting on February 1 in Gaborone.

He argued that allowances were provided for as per Section 13(3) of the Local Government Act of 2012.

Kgosi Monyemane said the Act entitled Constitution of Councils and Subordinates Authorities, which on its Section 13 (3) states that “The Minister shall appoint ex-officio members who shall not have voting rights or the right to be elected into committees, but have all other rights enjoyed by members of the council.”

He argued that the law was passed after the establishment of the current Ntlo Ya Dikgosi in 2012, but local authorities never implemented it.

He said in 2014 and 2015, the minister responsible for local authorities answered the question asked by members then, that dikgosi attending full council sittings should be paid the allowances.

He said some councils have since implemented the Act, but some never did.

He said some Dikgosi up to today were not paid, whereas in some areas even if they received payments, they were not paid accordingly as per the Act.

“Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, liketheir council colleagues ought to be treated fairly, equitably and honourably. This is a legitimate entitlement that we should enjoy,” he added.  

He argued that such social exclusion was deliberate because dikgosi attended the sittings and were participating fully in the development agenda at local authorities.

Kgosi Disho Ndhowe of Okavango supported the motion, adding that implementation of the Act was long overdue.

He said some dikgosi travelled long distances and were exposed to adverse terrains when travelling to such meetings.

Kgosi Peter Chika of Chobe concurred with his colleagues that some ex-officio members who attended landboard meetings were paid accordingly, adding that the exclusion by councils was deliberate.

Kgosi Galeakanye Modise of Tswapong region also agreed that implementation of the Act was long overdue.

He said the act was explicit that dikgosi should enjoy all other rights extended to members of the council, except for voting and participating in formation of committees.

He said it seemed as if council authorities understood that ‘ex-officio members’ referred to only public officers and not dikgosi.

He further argued that as per Bogosi Act, it was not clear whether they were public officers or not, something which he said was confusing public officers with regards to their treatment.

His contention was that Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, council and Parliament were important as they all play an advisory role in government and while the two bodies enjoyed allowances, they were excluded.

He said Bogosi Act did not treat dikgosi like other public officers as they were not governed by the Public Service Act, regardless of some of the elements that seem to treat them the same.

Kgosi Modise said it was only in Section 33 (3) of Local Government Act that, for the purposes of the Pensions Act, Dikgosi were treated like public officers so that they may benefit form pension, whereas all other rules governing them were not the same.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Moiseraele Goya promised Dikgosi that consultations with regards to the subject were on course with relevant authorities.

He said their grievances would be forwarded to cabinet for consideration. ENDS