Balete Deputy Chief, Kgosi Tsimane Mokgosi says dikgosi are toothless.
They no longer have a say in land allocation issues and that is why they have not been able to intervene in the Ramotswa underground water saga.
“In the past, there were situations we attended to as village leaders. There used to be leadership if I may put it that way, that could be issuing a directive that all people residing at Monganakodu should halt developments in the area.”
Although not specific, Kgosi Tsimane was referring to a decision by government to remove Dikgosi from allocating land to the tribe and making it the sole responsibility of Land Boards.
“We no longer have those powers. They have been taken away from us by people. We used to have powers that allowed us to tell residents that the elderly warn that the place is forever waterlogged and no one should be allocated land there, but rather to be left for farming purposes,” Kgosi Tsimane said.
Kgosi Tsimane said because they are powerless, all that they can do is to beg and plead with those that have been given plots at Monganakodu to temporarily halt construction. He was hopeful that the experts engaged by government will soon explain what is happening.
“I plead with you not to continue erecting new houses because you can see that it will be a great risk, learn from your neighbours' pain,” Kgosi Tsimane advised.
He was responding to concerns raised by Monganakodu residents that Land Board as the land allocating authority had neglected its duties hence the current disaster.
They argued that there has never been any advice or directive issued on whether people should continue building houses at Monganakodu or not, upon realisation that there are concerns of underground water flowing into homes.
Residents claim that they have been told to build houses at their own risk yet they do not have the technical expertise to understand the dangers associated with a water logged area.
They no longer have a say in land allocation issues and that is why they have not been able to intervene in the Ramotswa underground water saga.
“In the past, there were situations we attended to as village leaders. There used to be leadership if I may put it that way, that could be issuing a directive that all people residing at Monganakodu should halt developments in the area.”
Although not specific, Kgosi Tsimane was referring to a decision by government to remove Dikgosi from allocating land to the tribe and making it the sole responsibility of Land Boards.
“We no longer have those powers. They have been taken away from us by people. We used to have powers that allowed us to tell residents that the elderly warn that the place is forever waterlogged and no one should be allocated land there, but rather to be left for farming purposes,” Kgosi Tsimane said.
Kgosi Tsimane said because they are powerless, all that they can do is to beg and plead with those that have been given plots at Monganakodu to temporarily halt construction. He was hopeful that the experts engaged by government will soon explain what is happening.
“I plead with you not to continue erecting new houses because you can see that it will be a great risk, learn from your neighbours' pain,” Kgosi Tsimane advised.
He was responding to concerns raised by Monganakodu residents that Land Board as the land allocating authority had neglected its duties hence the current disaster.
They argued that there has never been any advice or directive issued on whether people should continue building houses at Monganakodu or not, upon realisation that there are concerns of underground water flowing into homes.
Residents claim that they have been told to build houses at their own risk yet they do not have the technical expertise to understand the dangers associated with a water logged area.
