28 Nov 2024

The Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, has urged Batswana to make allowance for each other’s faults.

Addressing GaMmangwato leadership consultative forum and a kgotla meeting in Serowe on Wednesday, Minister Motshegwa said the intention was to address the differences Bangwato had concerning their bogosi and to bring reconciliation and peace.

He emphasised that it was imperative to bear with each other and forgive one another if any had grievances.

The meeting was convened ahead of the Saturday ceremony for the reinstatement of former president, Lt. Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama as Kgosikgolo of Bangwato. The event is slated for Serowe Sports Complex.

Mr Motshegwa, therefore, told residents that government had acceded to request by the former president to assume office as kgosikgolo.

He said government was of the view that there was nothing impeding him to continue with his birth right as kgosikgolo

The minister shunned divisions among communities, noting that Batswana were known for Botho and other positive attributes that had the potential in contributing to peace and tranquility that the country was synonymous with.

“The role of a leader is to preach peace in communities but not to fuel divisions among the people and therefore leaders should be seen to be in the forefront of reconciliation exercises,” he said.

On other issues, he urged the Village Development Committees to stay apolitical.

On the mandate of his ministry, Mr Motshegwa said focus would also be on traditional affairs, and noted that the UDC-led government believed that traditional leaders or dikgosi should be given authority to play a meaningful role in governance.

He spoke of the need to create, resuscitate and stimulate a harmonious working relationship between dikgosi, government and communities, pointing such needs to be preserved for a better Botswana.

He assured the meeting that primary health care services  would be migrated from the Ministry of Health to Local Government and Traditional Affairs hence the need to work on the modalities of how best to execute the migration.

He said in view of taking services and developments closer to the people, government would in the process review the decentralisation policy that would give local authorities powers to govern their own affairs.

Mr Motshegwa said currently, local authorities were dependent on central government for funding.

For his part, Deputy Chief at Paje, Mr Moses Bakoko thanked the minister for his words that encouraged peace and reconciliation.

Serowe resident, Mr Temo Thokweng, hailed the minister for the well-articulated message that he said deserved applause.

He also shared the same sentiments with Kgosi Bakoko in that the minister’s message of reconciliation would bring communities of GaMmangwato together and aid them to work in unison to achieve great milestones. ENDS