Africa-Press – Botswana. A motion by Kgosi Mosadi Seboko requesting government to consider giving dikgosi responsibility and outreach allowance to facilitate increased consultation and interaction with people in their tribal territories has received positive support from Ntlo ya Dikgosi members.
Motivating the motion which was subsequently adopted, Kgosi Mosadi argued that dikgosi were anchors of society and responsible for uplifting people’s welfare through engagement and interaction.
“Before we can come to this house to present motions and questions, we need to go around our regions soliciting ideas from the people we represent, which needs resources,” she said.
She said although salaried just like other civil servants, they had different responsibilities which required them to visit people in their villages and in some instances, stretching beyond the tribe they lead to include neighbouring villages.
Kgosi Mosadi said while some may argue that dikgosi could reach people through kgotla meetings, such forums were not enough.
“Nowadays we have serious issues such as gender based violence and high rate of crime. Some people who need to be educated on such issues may not necessarily come to the kgotla, which forces us to go to them.
So just like legislatures who get a constituency allowance that enables them to check on their constituents, we also need an equivalent allowance to enable us to achieve the same,” she said.
Kgosi Mosadi further argued that some dikgosi come from areas which were broad with difficult terrains, yet they were expected to volunteer their resources to perform official duties.
Kgosi James Khumanego of Ngwaketse West region supported the motion, saying that giving a member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi an outreach and responsibility allowance would enable them to tour their areas before each sitting.
“Batswana have in the past indicated that they do not know the role of this house, as we do not interact with them as often as necessary. Our wish is to visit and consult with them but we do not have resources, so the allowance will enable us to achieve this,” he said.
Responding to the motion, the Assistant Minister for State President, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu said under the current set-up, the department of tribal administration was expected to budget for the facilitation of members of Ntlo ya dikgosi, including transport provision for official duties.
“It will therefore be prudent to analyse the viability of the proposed allowance versus strengthening the available arrangement,” he said and advised that dikgosi should be able to profile their stakeholders and conduct an analysis that would lead to a comprehensive communication plan.
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