01 Aug 2013

There is no fixed population threshold for a village to have a headman of records since population is not the only determining factor, says the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso.

Responding to a question in Parliament from Tonota North MP, Mr Fidelis Molao, Ms Tshireletso said there were other considerations like distance to the nearest village, crime statistics and resource availability.

“While I appreciate the need for headmen of records in stand alone villages like Semitwe, I cannot say with certainty when my ministry will have a headman of records for Semitwe due to budgetary constraints,” she said. Ms Tshireletso said Semitwe was effectively served by Marapong which is seven kilometres away, adding that the level of crime was minimal. She said she would avail the crime statistics for the MPs’ appreciation.

Mr Molao had asked the assistant minister to state the population threshold for a village to have a headman of records, whether the population of Semitwe does not warrant it to have that position and when would it have a headman of records given its development level and the level of crime especially stock theft in and around the village. ENDS