03 Jul 2019

In a heated full council session debate about land allocation for Charleshill and Ncojane boreholes recently, specially elected councillor, Thato Tshweneyagae labeled Ghanzi District Council chairperson, Mr Galetlhaole Sixpence a dictator and oppressive leader.

Prior to making such utterances, Mr Tshweneyagae and other councillors, who played an advocacy role for the communities of the two villages, had argued  that the land board was sitting on a resolution to allocate each community a borehole, which resolution was made in 2013, on the pretext that there was no ‘compatible’ land to allocate such boreholes.

They stated that the matter was referred to Ghanzi Land Board for further consideration as there was no space for allocation at Charleshill Sub-land Board.

They even suggested that the land board consider GH 10 and GH 11 areas, as the two communities had legitimate expectations because they were promised boreholes by Charleshill Sub-land Board in 2013.

The land board’s response, through Ghanzi District Commissioner, Mr Mooketsi Lesetedi, was that it was still going to consult the concerned communities, angered Mr Tshweneyagae and allies most.

Councillor Alec Motlhophele’s view was that the land board was playing delaying tactics, asking, ‘from 2013 to date, the issue had been on their table, why re-consultation?’ 

He suggested that they should seek intervention from the concerned minister.

Mr Tshweneyagae, Kole/Makunda councillor, Mr Kapenawarue Kandjise and councillor for Metsimantsho/Ncojane, Mr Baduetse Setswalo also advanced that the resolution was taken long ago, and its implementation was long overdue, thus no consultation was necessary. 

Councillor for Kabakae, Mr Bashi Thiite was of the view that the council could only appeal to the land board to expedite its resolution, but not compel it to take action, as the land board was an autonomous authority.

New Xade councillor, Mr Jumanta Gakelebone said as there were land issues at G10 and G11, the land board should be given time to consult the concerned communities and make the right decision.

He said it was better to deal with land issues at G10 and G11 to avoid double allocations and court cases.

When the chairperson made the decision to put the issue on hold to allow the land board, which was to meet this month, Mr Tshweneyagae  insisted that ‘there is nothing to be accessed because the resolution had been made’.

He challenged the chairperson to compel the land board to give the council a time frame, saying that there was ‘no decision to be taken by the board, but just to act on the resolution they are sitting on’.

Mr Tshweneyagae, who at one point blamed the chairperson for not taking any action, said that he acted the same manner last December when the issue surfaced.

He refused to mute his microphone when he was ordered to do so and later uttered that ‘for the record for today, I will rise and leave the council’, before vacating his seat.

As he walked towards the exist, the chairperson read from the standing orders that ‘At any meeting of the council, if a member of the council shows disregard for the authority of the chairperson or abuses standing orders of the council by persistently and willfully obstructing the business of the council, the chairperson shall direct the attention of the meeting to the incident, mentioning by name the person concerned and may suspend such a person from the exercise of his functions as a member  of the council for the remainder of that day and shall consequently forfeit his/her allowance for the day.”

Meanwhile, Acting Ghanzi Land Board secretary, Mr Dothodzo Tabengwa told the council that only the board could take a decision regarding the issue. 

On another issue, he told the council that the board wanted to deal with the 7 000-applicants long waiting list.

Updating the council about de-zoned area GH10 and GH 11, Ghanzi Land Board chairperson, Ms Tiny Sabone stated that there was an objection against implementation of GH10 and GH11 land use plan by Mr Chris Du Plessis on behalf of Xwiskurasa Natural Resources Conservation Trust and that the matter was still under discussion between the board and Mr Du Plessis. Ends