02 Sep 2013

The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele, has told residents of Tutume and surrounding areas that consultation is an important aspect of life.

He said this at a kgotla meeting addressed by the Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe, in Tutume recently when responding to some of the issues raised by the former MP for Nkange Constituency, Mr Ambrose Masalila and a resident, Mr Batisani Maswibilili that there was poor consultation on chieftainship issues in their area.

The two had also expressed concern about who is supposed to announce the death of a chief.

Minister Siele said internal consultations should be carried out and after agreeing on a particular issue, the community would be addressed on the recommendation.

He said in other areas, headmen are the ones who come up with names looking at the personal attributes of the particular person.

Mr Siele explained that if there was more than one name then elections should be organised, noting that procedures should be maintained.

Regarding who should announce the death of the chief, Mr Siele said dikgosi were not ordinary people, so when they die and their deaths are announced later than expected, it indicated respect for the departed traditional leader.

Mr Siele also responded that if consultations were not carried out for choosing a representative on behalf of the late Kgosi Pius Selolwane, the date should be postponed until procedures were followed adding that “ Setswana sa re ntwa kgolo ke ya molomo”.

He noted that under customary law, the installation of a kgosi was carried under the will of the residents. 

He also encouraged them to only make a decision after consultations were completed. ENDS