07 Aug 2024

A report presented to His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi by the chairperson of Ntlo ya Dikgosi on Tuesday has proposed among others the establishment of the national kgotla and amendment of standing orders.

Kgosi Puso said the kgotla system was the foundation of the laws governing the country, and it was unfortunate to observe that currently there was nothing in place at national level to embrace the kgotla system.

Therefore, Kgosi Puso said, the proposal was to have a new Ntlo ya Dikgosi chamber with components that embodied the traditional kgotla set up. 

He said his office had identified two locations proposed for the construction of the new spacious Ntlo ya Dikgosi chamber.

He added that the new facility would also take into consideration the anticipated increase in the members of Ntlo ya Dikgosi in numbers. 

Kgosi Puso said the proposed increase in members would see each administrative district represented by two members.

The house must also cater for specially elected members, he said. Kgosi Puso said currently the house had 35 members, but the current structure could not accommodate them.

He said following the dissolution of Parliament at the end of the current winter session, the mandate of Ntlo ya Dikgosi would also expire. 

He said during the past five years, Ntlo ya Dikgosi had, despite challenges, successfully executed its mandate through great leadership and guidance of President Masisi.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kgosi Puso said dikgosi had contributed immensely to rural and national development as well as to other aspects of the development agenda and the economy.

The report presented to President Masisi entails, among others, proposed amendments to the rules of procedure governing Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

Kgosi Puso said members of the house had proposed the review of tenure of the chairperson and deputy from the current one year to two and a half years.

He also added that the revision of the rules (Standing Orders) governing the house was also sought for clarity on the roles of the chairperson and deputy as well as provision to allow for the house to have a legal officer and sergeant in arms, who were not provided for under the current rules.

Ntlo ya Dikgosi has also proposed for the President to be allowed to address Ntlo ya Dikgosi on national and development issues as and when such a need arose.

He also said the current Standing Orders did not allow for the chairperson to open the sitting with a formal/detailed speech touching on various sectors of the economy and development.

Kgosi Puso said Ntlo ya Dikgosi was only mandated to table motions and ask questions. 

Ntlo ya Dikgosi has also proposed for guests to be allowed to address the house.

Kgosi Puso has also revealed that the current rules did not allow for the house to extend working hours beyond the prescribed period. 

Therefore, he said the situation was a challenge, as the house sometimes failed to concluded pressing matters within the specified time. 

He also said the current standing orders did not allow for a member to be offered more than one chance to speak or respond to an issue. Ends