Dikgosi want five-year term for office

Gothataone Moeng | Tuesday January 28, 2014 16:29

 

Addressing the opening of the 14th meeting, the newly re-elected chairperson, Kgosi Puso Gaborone, stated that chiefs have submitted proposals to amend the rules of procedures governing the traditional house of legislators to Vice President Ponatshego Kedikilwe.

One of the proposals is to change the duration of the terms served by the leaders of the House. 

In their submissions to Kedikilwe, Dikgosi have proposed that the terms be extended to at least two and a half years, but their ultimate goal is to have it extended to five years, Gaborone said. 

Under the current rules of procedure, Ntlo ya Dikgosi has to hold elections every January to choose a new chair and deputy. Kgosi Gaborone said yesterday that the one-year term is too brief for the office bearers to effectively implement, monitor and evaluate any strategies they may introduce to help better serve its mandate of advising government. Gaborone added that there are financial implications to holding the elections every year. The submissions were made mid-2013, he said.

In a press conference held after the elections, in which both chairperson and his deputy Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe were re-elected unopposed, Gaborone added that they also asked that the second house should have committees that can liaise with stakeholders in matters of interest during recess. Gaborone said he believes the rules of procedure that govern Ntlo ya Dikgosi are too rigid.

In the 14th session, the House is expected to discuss the Constitutional Amendment and the Married Persons' Property Bills, both referred to by Parliament last year.