The restructuring of councils is for administrative expediency and will not affect the jurisdiction and the established practices of Bogosi, Local Government and Rural Development minister Kgotla Autlwetse says.
The ministry is working with the Attorney General’s Chambers and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate implementation of this decision and the process is nearing completion.
According to Autlwetse, the question of where this restructuring will leave or place Bogosi has been asked frequently during consultative meetings on the matter. He however indicated that Batswana have expressed a desire for a devolved governance system where decision-making power and resources are transferred to elected Local Governments.
This development, he said, is designed to help address key national challenges such as citizen participation and accountability, local economic development, and public sector efficiency including coordination of government initiatives at the district level.
There is already significant experience, goodwill and institutional structures to implement this decision. Briefing Parliament on the recent Government decision to upgrade 22 Subordinate Authorities to fully fledged Council, Autlwetse said recently “I am doing this, fully conscious of the fact that as the political leadership at national level, you provide a critical interface between the Government and the people you represent. Key to this decision is
Government’s desire and effort to bring services closer to our people, enhance local response to challenges and promote citizen participation and accountability at district level.”
He stated that decentralisation and local governance have been some of the key components of Botswana’s democratisation and economic transformation process right from the beginning.
“You will agree with me that independent Botswana was formed from tribal territories that were self-governing prior to the formation of the British Protectorate (Bechuanaland),” the minister reminded.
He indicated that while the government’s commitment to decentralisation can be traced from independence when democratically elected Councils were established to advise and complement Dikgosi, some initiative was made in 1964 with the Legislative Paper No. 21 of 1964, which sought to establish Local Government.
The Local Government Instrument No. 35 of 1965 created nine District Councils and Urban Councils were regarded as units of Government. He said the District Councils and Township Act were consolidated and repealed in 2012 to form the Local Government Act of 2012.
“The District Administration office was established in 1965 for coordination of central government activities at local level. On the other hand, the Landboards were established in 1970 through the Tribal Land Act of 1968," he said.
He added that Botswana has therefore been a stable and progressive multi-party democracy for all her post-independence history. "During this period, the economy has grown tremendously from a poor low-income country to an upper middle-income country of today.
“The different tribal entities that formed the country became fully united into a Republican State,” he explained, adding that this transformation story has largely been a result of good governance that created and sustained unity, and helped prudently manage the country’s resources.
He stated that initiatives to further deepen Local Governance were pursued relentlessly after independence.
“In our effort to further decentralise in accordance with the provisions of Local Government Act of 2012, which outline the statutory functions of Councils and all governance issues administered by Councils, Government has approved my Ministry’s request to restructure seven Councils by upgrading (15) Subordinate Authorities to fully-fledged Councils and merge seven Subordinate Authorities with District Headquarters.
“This exercise took into consideration homogeneity, population size, geographical factors, potential for growth, availability of infrastructure and resources as well as other considerations such as size of the areas or settlements to be served and the distance from the subordinate Headquarters.”
Autlwetse who is also Specially Elected Member of Parliament revealed that this development is meant to achieve administrative expediency and enhance citizens’ participation by transferring decision-making powers and resources to local governments. He told Parliament that it is aligned with Government’s efforts to bring services closer to the people.
The Sub-Districts which have been approved for upgrading under Phase 1 are Goodhope, Molepolole, Mogoditshane/Thamaga, Letlhakeng, Mahalapye, Tutume, Boteti, Maun, Okavango, Tsabong and Hukuntsi.
Autlwetse revealed that Phase 2 which will commence on 1st April 2023 will cover Sub-districts such as Moshupa, Mabutsane, Kanye, Palapye, Tonota, Bobirwa, Serowe, Gantsi, Charleshill, Ramotswa and Tlokweng.
The ministry is working with the Attorney General’s Chambers and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate implementation of this decision and the process is nearing completion.
According to Autlwetse, the question of where this restructuring will leave or place Bogosi has been asked frequently during consultative meetings on the matter. He however indicated that Batswana have expressed a desire for a devolved governance system where decision-making power and resources are transferred to elected Local Governments.
This development, he said, is designed to help address key national challenges such as citizen participation and accountability, local economic development, and public sector efficiency including coordination of government initiatives at the district level.
There is already significant experience, goodwill and institutional structures to implement this decision. Briefing Parliament on the recent Government decision to upgrade 22 Subordinate Authorities to fully fledged Council, Autlwetse said recently “I am doing this, fully conscious of the fact that as the political leadership at national level, you provide a critical interface between the Government and the people you represent. Key to this decision is
Government’s desire and effort to bring services closer to our people, enhance local response to challenges and promote citizen participation and accountability at district level.”
He stated that decentralisation and local governance have been some of the key components of Botswana’s democratisation and economic transformation process right from the beginning.
“You will agree with me that independent Botswana was formed from tribal territories that were self-governing prior to the formation of the British Protectorate (Bechuanaland),” the minister reminded.
He indicated that while the government’s commitment to decentralisation can be traced from independence when democratically elected Councils were established to advise and complement Dikgosi, some initiative was made in 1964 with the Legislative Paper No. 21 of 1964, which sought to establish Local Government.
The Local Government Instrument No. 35 of 1965 created nine District Councils and Urban Councils were regarded as units of Government. He said the District Councils and Township Act were consolidated and repealed in 2012 to form the Local Government Act of 2012.
“The District Administration office was established in 1965 for coordination of central government activities at local level. On the other hand, the Landboards were established in 1970 through the Tribal Land Act of 1968," he said.
He added that Botswana has therefore been a stable and progressive multi-party democracy for all her post-independence history. "During this period, the economy has grown tremendously from a poor low-income country to an upper middle-income country of today.
“The different tribal entities that formed the country became fully united into a Republican State,” he explained, adding that this transformation story has largely been a result of good governance that created and sustained unity, and helped prudently manage the country’s resources.
He stated that initiatives to further deepen Local Governance were pursued relentlessly after independence.
“In our effort to further decentralise in accordance with the provisions of Local Government Act of 2012, which outline the statutory functions of Councils and all governance issues administered by Councils, Government has approved my Ministry’s request to restructure seven Councils by upgrading (15) Subordinate Authorities to fully-fledged Councils and merge seven Subordinate Authorities with District Headquarters.
“This exercise took into consideration homogeneity, population size, geographical factors, potential for growth, availability of infrastructure and resources as well as other considerations such as size of the areas or settlements to be served and the distance from the subordinate Headquarters.”
Autlwetse who is also Specially Elected Member of Parliament revealed that this development is meant to achieve administrative expediency and enhance citizens’ participation by transferring decision-making powers and resources to local governments. He told Parliament that it is aligned with Government’s efforts to bring services closer to the people.
The Sub-Districts which have been approved for upgrading under Phase 1 are Goodhope, Molepolole, Mogoditshane/Thamaga, Letlhakeng, Mahalapye, Tutume, Boteti, Maun, Okavango, Tsabong and Hukuntsi.
Autlwetse revealed that Phase 2 which will commence on 1st April 2023 will cover Sub-districts such as Moshupa, Mabutsane, Kanye, Palapye, Tonota, Bobirwa, Serowe, Gantsi, Charleshill, Ramotswa and Tlokweng.
