17 Jul 2018

Parliament has approved a Bill seeking the amendment of  Ntlo ya Dikgosi Act for the purpose of salary and allowances increment for members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

Presenting  bill  recently, Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi had not had a salary increment since 2016 therefore it was important to review their salary structures.

Minister Molefhi proposed a three per cent increment with effect from  April  1, 2016 and four per cent increment effecting from April 1 2017 as well as three per cent increment as of April 1 2018.

He said Dikgosi had over the years played an active role in building the country and the nation  hence it was important to consider improving their welfare and empower their status.

During the  debate, the Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane said that government continued to recognise the importance of the Dikgosi and  would strive to maintain a platform where they could discuss issue of national interest with the government.

Mr Tsogwane, who is also Boteti West legislator said that government had recently recognised and remunerated 665 Headmen of Arbitration country wide who had been working voluntarily.

As a way of giving the tribal administration a face lift, the Vice President said government had through phase one of the Economic Stimulus Programme constructed 30 kgotla offices country wide and there was currently fleet procurement for tribal administration to relief Dikgosi from their transport woes.

Maun West MP, Kgosi Tawana Moremi applauded the proposed amendments pointing out that it is had been disturbing to note that the pride and poise of the Kgotla setup and Bogosi  had diminished over the past years due to  the dreadful conditions that Dikgosi have been working under.

He said a kgotla system was the most democratic setup in the country where everyone was entitled to raise his/her view  regardless of their political party affiliation hence the Setswana saying that goes ‘ Mafoko a kgotla a mantle otlhe’.

Jwaneng-Mabutsane MP, Mr Shaw Nthaile also approved the amendments and pleaded with government to also graduate Ntlo ya Dikgosi into a house of representative where Dikgosi would further execute their Bogosi role.

He said Dikgosi played a significant role in the administration of the country and had demonstrated leadership capabilities in the rule of law from pre-independence time.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi also applauded the proposed amendments, but  urged government to further establish a commission of enquiry to review in details the entire Bogosi salary structures.

Some Dikgosi, he said had recently traded their throne for active political participation, something which he attributed to poor salaries structures in the Bogosi system.

Mr Mmolotsi further stated that, traditional leaders had also off late been sidelined and their powers whittled making the Bogosi irrelevant and  therefore pleaded with government to fully consult with Dikgosi on pertinent issues.

Meanwhile Minister Molefhi also presented to Parliament the Judicial Services Amendment Bill and  Specified Offices (salary and allowances) amendment Bill both seeking to increase by three per cent with effect from April 1 2018 the salaries and allowance of all the employees under the said departments.

Both bills proceeded to committee stages. ENDS