- Magosi also expected to ask for more powers
GAZETTE REPORTER
President Mokgweetsi Masisi is expected to face questions from magosi about a salary increase from members of Botswana’s Upper House when they interface with the Office of the President (OP) at a retreat at Manong Game Lodge just south of Lobatse commencing today (Wednesday, 12th 2023).
Although the agenda of the two-day retreat has not been fully shared, sources say some magosi are expected to press the President for improved conditions of service.
Better allowances
“We have been complaining for some time about our conditions of service but we are yet to see any real action being taken by the government,” said one Kgosi who asked for anonymity. “We also need better allowances and other benefits.”
During a sitting of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi in August last year, magosi and Members of Parliament had their salaries increased by 4 percent for the financial year 2021/2022 and by 5 percent for the financial year 2022/2023.
Submitting a motion for increased salaries in August last year, the Minister of State, Kabo Morwaeng, motivated for the purpose quite strongly.
“It is worth noting that the last salary adjustment for Members of the National Assembly was in 2019 and surely we can all agree that the cost of living has significantly gone up between 2019 and now,” he said.
Whittled away
Magosi are also expected to ask President Masisi to restore some of their powers whittled away over time by both the government and colonial authorities before independence. “We have a challenge because we are not empowered to make certain decisions,” said another Kgosi.
“We have to do a lot of consulting with our respective council heads, and that causes a lot of delay in our systems. We need to decentralise some of the powers from local government.”
Meanwhile, a statement from OP states that the purpose of the retreat is to explain President Masisi’s Reset and Reclaim Agenda, Vision 2036 and the Transitional National Development Plan to magosi.