12 Aug 2025

Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) has amended certain clauses in its constitution. 

The trust’s constitution, originally developed in 1997, has undergone reviews in 2010, 2019, and most recently during the 2023 annual general meetings. During these meetings, members expressed the need to revisit and modify specific provisions within the constitution.

OKMCT operates across six villages: Boro, Daunara, Xaxaba, Xuoxao, Xharaxao, and Ditshiping. 

In addition, the trust manages six campsites all located within the NG32 concession area.

The proposed amendments aim to better align the trust’s policies with current operational and community needs, ensuring sustainable development and effective governance.

Mr Seikaneng Moepedi, the trust manager, confirmed that the communities from the five villages affiliated to the trust had long called for amendment of the constitution to ensure its effectiveness, relevance and address emerging social issues.

The final document, he said had been approved by the Registrar of the high court on July 2025 and currently in use.

He cited the main clause which motivated the modification was issue of special general meetings saying some members were taking advantage of it to advance their personal interests because it stated that a special general meeting may proceed if attendants from the beneficiary villages were 50 or more while the board of trustees should be two or more in attendance.

Concerned groups used the clause to cause chaos within the trust, disrupting its operations and trying to remove elected board for no reason whereas the powers to remove the board lies with the community of all the affiliated villages.

Mr Moepedi argued that it was the responsibility of the board to call such meetings considering the best interests of the large community not some concerned members as it was the cause.

However, with the amendment, the clause states that a special general meeting may be convened by the chairperson of the board or a written request of two members of the board or subject to clause 12.1.2 a written request signed by at least ten village residents of each constituent village.

Clause 12.1.1 says where a special general meeting is requested for by residents of the constituent villages, such request shall be first forwarded to the district commissioner who shall be entitled to decline the holding of such special general meeting where he is convinced that meeting is not called in furtherance of the objects of the trust or that it is not in the public interest that such a meeting be called.

The amendment also indicated that where the district commissioner withholds his consent to have a special general meeting, such communication shall be in writing and addressed to the chairperson of the board who shall in turn affix such communication at all the kgotla notice boards of the constituent villages.

Furthermore, Mr Moepedi shared other clauses that the communities called for amendment such as motion of no confidence, transition period and distribution of benefits.

He also highlighted other development in the constitution such as register of residents of constituent villages saying clause 13.1 stated that there shall be a register to be kept by the trust general manager of all names and particulars of the residents of the constituent villages who are eligible to participate and vote at the proceedings or meeting of the trust. 

Such register shall be updated as regularly as the board of trustees shall deem necessary with the advice of the Village Development Committees (VDCs).

The clause further says that the board of trustees shall either through themselves or persons employed by the trust for that purpose in conjunction with the VDCs embark on an exercise of compiling the register and shall thereafter verify the details therein and that shall be done and completed within the transition period. ENDS