19 Jun 2025

The absence of Kweneng Land board chairperson who is on suspension has brought more challenges whenever the board has to meet. 

In her welcome remarks during the Kweneng Land Board meeting in Molepolole on Monday, the vice chairperson, Ms Daphne Champane said the vacancy of the chairmanship had been over a year and a replacement had not been effected. 

Ms Champane said she was performing the job responsibilities of the chairperson even though she has not been appointed for the position as per the provisions. 

She stated that the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture was aware of the issue but had not taken any action and the Botswana Association of Tribal Land Authorities (BATLA) was concerned as well.

 “By statute, the vice chairperson should take over the position of the chairman if not there,” she said. She further said the board initially consisted of six members but the other member left for greener pastures. The other two members at times sit on other meetings, and thus bring a challenge of forming a quorum as they would not be available. 

The vice chairperson said there was need for an urgent replacement of the board member so that the functionality of the board could be enhanced. 

Ms Champane added that the challenge caused backlog in their work and the board’s efficiency is also compromised. “The Board cannot function with four (4) members,” she stressed. The board meeting is running up to July 11. ENDS