25 Feb 2024

Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development does not have a system to determine if and when a bye-law needs to be upgraded to national law.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Mabuse Pule said his ministry has adopted a model bye-law for dogs which regulates their ownership.

Mr Pule also noted that Gaborone City Council, Jwaneng Town Council, Selibe Phikwe Town Council and Sowa Town Council have adopted the model bye-law that regulates ownership of dogs. “Only Selibe Phikwe Town Council and Francistown City Council have adopted the model bye-law that regulates littering in the country, however, Sowa Town Council regulates littering through their general bye-laws,” he said.

Mr Pule also said the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has the Waste Management Act of 1998 and Integrated Waste Management Policy of 2021 which made provisions for the management and control of all waste, adding that the instruments were implemented by all councils as national laws.

He added that his ministry was charged with providing policy direction and guidance to local authorities with the Local Government Act of 2012 as its main legislation. “Section 22 (1) of the Local Government Act 2012 gives council power to make model bye-laws on any of the subjects on which a council was empowered to make bye-laws.

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to apprise Parliament on model bye-laws by his ministry and to state how many towns had adopted the model bye-laws regulating the ownership of dogs in the Country.

He also asked for Parliament to be apprised on how many cities and towns in the country had adopted the model bye-laws regulating littering in the country.

He further wanted to know the system used by the ministry to determine if and when a bye-law needed to be upgraded to a national law, and if the ministry had considered enacting a bye-law regulating both dog ownership and littering as a national law. ends