28 Jan 2021

 Government does not have any plans to appoint dikgosi ex-officio members  in  parastatal boards, says Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele.

Answering a question during the 5th meeting of the 4th  Ntlo Ya Dikgosi from North East Kgosi Sibangani Mosojane on January 27, Mr Modukanele explained that parastatal chairperson and board member appointments were regulated by law.

“This is meant to ensure that such boards are made up of members with skills that would enable a board to fully and effectively carry out its mandate as prescribed by law,” he stated.

Mr Modukanele said the inclusion of dikgosi would therefore be inconsistent with provisions of various pieces of legislation.

He however said in instances where a law specifically required that a kgosi should serve in a particular board, they were appointed. 

Mr Modukanele cited the 2013 Legal Aid Act which provides that Legal Aid Botswana board of directors shall include a Ntlo Ya Dikgosi member and that such appointment shall be done in consultation with the house.

The Tribal Land Act also provides for that representation, he said adding that usually those were the areas where bogosi had direct interest in the portfolio responsibilities.

Kgosi Mosojane had wanted to know why dikgosi were not appointed in boards as ex-officio members to safeguard  the interests and aspirations of Batswana.

Meanwhile Ntlo ya Dikgosi has also been informed that Botswana Television always made efforts to cover events in the North East District.

Answering another question from Kgosi Mosojane, Mr Modukanele refuted allegations that coverage in the area was only extended to MPs or cabinet ministers.

He explained that the North East District fell under the ambit of the Francistown office which had two reporters whose area of coverage stretched from Gweta, Ramokgwebana and Matsiloje borders and included part of the Central District.

 Mr Modukanele said from January 2020 to date, a total of 33 stories not involving ministers and MPs were covered in the area.

He said the stories varied with subjects such as youth unemployment, agriculture, health, cross border crime, government, village development initiatives and COVID-19 campaigns.

Fourteen stories covering President and vice president were also covered in the area, he said.

Mr Modukanele was answering the questions on behalf of Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration.ends