29 Apr 2021

Seboba Trust committee members have promised to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) in two months time.

It came to light, during a consultative meeting with Chobe MP Mr Machana Shamukuni on Monday, that the committee’s term of office elapsed in 2011. 

Their term has never been renewed after every three years, as stipulated in the Community Based Resource Management (CBRM) Policy, since elected to office nine years back.

It was further stated that failure to resolve some issues could be as a result of the elapsed term of office.

The MP intervened by advising the committee to hold an AGM where the committee could be given a fresh mandate or elect new members.

The MP urged the committee to begin the mobilisation process for the AGM, emphasising that delays in holding such meeting could prevent the Trust from benefiting from developments such as the Kasane/Kazungula Redevelopment.

Earlier, the Seboba Trust secretary, Mr Itumeleng Sibanda informed the meeting that Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) which had 51 per cent shares in the Muzi Wetu, a company co-owned with Seboba, was scheduled to withdraw from the company by March 31 but to date, nothing had happened.

Chobe District Council chairperson, Mr Amos Mabuku who is also former member of the Chobe Enclave Community Trust (CECT) noted that members of Seboba should differentiate Seboba and Muzi Mwetu.

He explained that issues that affected Muzi Wetu could not be used as justification for the trust to operate with members whose term of office had elapsed. He further said the trust should be guided by CBRM Policy and the trust’s constitution.

Plateau councillor, Mr Boitumelo Kanyetu said as an ex-officio member of the trust he was unaware of what was taking place.

Kgosi Boitumelo Samuka of Kasane thanked the MP for having managed to bring together the Seboba members through the consultative meeting, adding that the AGM should be held in two months’ time.

Kgosi Samuka said renewing the term of office for the existing members or electing new members would solve a lot of issues as there seemed to be a lack of cordial working relationship between the members.

Chairperson of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), Ms Nobuhle Mbusi noted that efforts by her committee to encourage the Seboba members to arrange for an AGM and renew their term of office failed since 2018.

Ms Mbusi said she explained that it was only the community who had the power to extend the term of office of the trust members.

She thanked the committee and MP for the resolution to hold an AGM, adding that a lot of issues would be solved as it is at the AGM where the existing committee would account to the community how the annual P100 000 from the BTO partnership had been expended.  ENDS