11 May 2022

Khwai Development Trust board has been ousted through a motion of no confidence which was co-signed by over 100 members of the trust.

The applicants of the motion, who go by the name The Concerned, on April 6, tabled a motion of no confidence at a kgotla meeting in Khwai to express their misgivings pertaining to the operations of the trust by the board. 

The contents of the letter stated that the board members were delinquent with the trust finances and further said the board had failed to resolve two court cases with safari camps.

Further, the concerned group wrote a letter to the Office of the District Commissioner of Maun Administrative Authority (MAA) to facilitate a convention where members of the trust would vote for and against the motion of no confidence, subsequent to which a meeting was convened on Tuesday and the motion was passed. 

A total of 147 members voted, 101 of whom agreed to dissolve the board of trustees, hence the motion was successfully passed through a 68.7 per cent vote of the required 66.6 per cent.

Following the dismissal of the board, the technical advisory committee, led by MAA district commissioner, Mr Pelotshweu Ntesang facilitated an election of a new board, where Mr Ronald Ntsogotho was elected as the new chairperson, Paul Mothathobi as vice chairperson together with  eight additional members. 

Mr Ntesang stated that the motion of no confidence had demonstrated that there were divisions within Khwai, hence called residents to unite in order for their trust to be successful.

He asked members of the trust to respect and support the newly elected committee instead of setting them up for failure.

The district commissioner further implored the new committee to uphold professionalism and accountability at all times

The newly elected chairperson, Mr Ntsogotho vowed to push his committee to work hard and maintain the highest standard of professionalism. 

He said they would embark on an audit, which he said would enable them to address the financial discrepancies that had been expressed by the beneficiaries.

Mr Ntsogotho thanked the people of Khwai for voting for him and his committee adding that they would conduct consultations with beneficiaries to share their roadmap and gather views from them. 

Kgosi Lesie Kwere advised the committee to apply fairness and be transparent at all times, which she said would be reciprocated by the beneficiaries.

She indicated that the community trusts were meant to serve members of the communities.

Kgosi Kwere called on the committee to uphold financial prudence so that the trust would remain sustainable and make profit. ends