19 Apr 2022

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has a standing arrangement for induction of newly appointed dikgosi.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Mabuse Pule who was answering a parliamentary question said he was aware that some dikgosi and dikgosana lacked basic knowledge and skills to manage dikgotla and dikgotlana hence the planned induction.

Furthermore, he said where his ministry had evidence that Kgosi was involved in politics, appropriate action was taken in accordance with Section 13 of Bogosi Act.

Mr Pule said in 2018/19 financial year, 276 dikgosi were trained in various fields such as leadership skills, induction and legal procedures.

The assistant minister further explained that his ministry in partnership with the Botswana Public Service College had developed a leadership training programme for dikgosi and a total of 50 dikgosi from all districts were trained in February 2022 on that programme.

“The plan is to train dikgosi in batches and finish training all of them by the end of 2023/24 financial year,” he said.

Mr Pule said a total of 109 dikgosi were inducted in various areas such as case procedure (29), trial and execution of Court Orders (54), criminal and civil procedure (31) and customary court procedures (45) during the 2021/22 financial year.

He highlighted that his ministry continued to provide refresher courses for dikgosi with a total of 206 dikgosi trained in gender based violence (GBV) in 2021/22 financial year, adding that the training was temporarily halted due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“My ministry and United Nations Development Programme are working to resume the training to cater for all remaining dikgosi,” he said.

Mr Pule was answering a question asked by MP for Nata/Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga who had asked if the minister was aware that some chief representatives and dikgosana lacked basic knowledge and skills in managing dikgotla and dikgosana and that others were involved in politics.

Furthermore, MP Majaga enquired on the training package for dikgosi and dikgosana so that they could diligently carry out their mandate as well as plans for orientation of the newly appointed dikgosi. Ends