Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs - Botswana

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Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs - Botswana

This is the official page for the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs - Botswana.

Our mission is to deliver social development services and municipal infrastructure through effective local governance for improved lives of Batswana. To deliver socio-economic development services and municipal infrastructure through effective and efficient local governance for environmentally sustainable development and improved lives of all Batswana

14/09/2026

𝗛𝗢𝗡. 𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥'𝗦 𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗔𝗚𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦

14/09/2026

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

12/09/2026

“𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐆𝐎 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟔” 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟔𝟎𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

The Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs today continued its weekly 60th Independence Day build-up activities with a vibrant "Let's Go 1966" activation at the Ministry Kgotla, setting the tone for Botswana's 60th Independence celebrations.

The traditional kgotla, constructed with wooden logs and shaded by indigenous trees, provided a nostalgic backdrop as employees, dressed in 1966-inspired attire, embraced the spirit of the nation's journey to independence.

Welcoming participants, the State Counsel Mr Lizibo Emang reminded staff that understanding Botswana's history is essential to shaping its future.

"We cannot push forward without knowing where we have been," he said as he recounted the historic journey of the three Dikgosi to Britain, whose efforts ultimately led to the establishment of the Bechuanaland Protectorate and, later, Botswana's independence.

He urged the employees never to take the country's hard-earned sovereignty for granted, noting that many nations continue to struggle for self-determination.

Delivering the address the Acting Senior Manager – Human Resources, Mr Origin Nthubu described Botswana's Diamond Jubilee as both a celebration of the nation's founding generation and a call to action for the future.

He said that while diamonds and other natural resources had driven Botswana's economic success, the country's greatest asset remained its people. He encouraged the employees to embrace patriotism, innovation and unity as Botswana transitions towards a diversified economy, adding that young people will play a pivotal role in shaping the next 60 years of national development.

The event also highlighted the importance of mental well-being. Speaking a day after World Su***de Prevention Day, Ms Boikgopodi Nkalafang called on Batswana to prioritise mental health and remain alert to signs of emotional distress among family members, friends and colleagues.

She noted that an estimated 700,000 people die by su***de globally each year and said Botswana recorded 299 su***de deaths in 2022, including 269 men and 30 women, with many of the victims being young people.

Ms Nkalafang urged the public to take all expressions of suicidal thoughts seriously and respond with empathy and support rather than dismissal. She emphasised that simple words of encouragement, such as "We need you," can make a meaningful difference to someone in crisis.

She further encouraged those experiencing emotional challenges to seek help through Health Custodians in the country's 31 districts and organisations offering free mental health support. She also advocated for healthy lifestyles, including adequate sleep and responsible use of social media, warning that excessive screen time and late-night gambling can negatively affect mental well-being.

The activation is part of a series of activities leading up to Botswana's 60th Independence Day, celebrating the nation's remarkable journey while inspiring employees to build a united, resilient and prosperous future together.

11/09/2026

𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗔𝗡𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗚𝗨𝗟𝗨𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

Gulubane has identified opportunities in agriculture, tourism and mining as potential drivers of local economic growth and employment creation.

Addressing the community at a Kgotla meeting, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Mokwaledi I. Moswaane, said the village has the potential to turn its available resources into productive economic activities that improve livelihoods.

Updating the community, VDC Chairperson Mr. Tshabadira Moshashane said the VDC has a strategic plan to address youth unemployment through the use of an identified plot for tourism and horticultural activities. He also highlighted the community’s interest in sand mining.

Hon. Moswaane supported the community’s development direction and committed to standing with Gulubane in pursuing a mining licence and establishing a Gulubane Mining Development Trust.

He further proposed the allocation of land for community economic initiatives, including a local commercial centre, Ikageng Skills Development Training Centre, market centre, milling centre, feedlot, industrial plots, horticulture and a community farm. He said agriculture-led rural industrialisation can create employment, strengthen food security and generate sustainable income.

The Assistant Minister stressed that Kgotla resolutions must translate into implementation and called on the VDC, Land Board chairperson,Council secretary and District commissioner to facilitate the necessary processes for the implementation of the proposed plan.

Kgosi Norah Gulubane welcomed the community’s strong turnout and ongoing developments, including the road construction, clinic renovation and extension, and increased permanent and pensionable employment opportunities through insourcing of services like security, cleaning and gardening . She also raised resource constraints affecting Tribal Administration offices, which Hon. Moswaane committed to taking up with the relevant authorities.

When giving vote, the area member of Parliament who is also the Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Hon. Justin Hunyepa, promised to support the community with CCP funds, in projects that generate income and employment opportunities.

Following the Kgotla meeting, Hon. Moswaane made a stop at Gulubane Clinic to assess progress on the ongoing renovations. He was satisfied with the progress and noted that medicines were available at the facility, reflecting continued improvement in primary healthcare services.

11/09/2026

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐖/𝐕𝐃𝐂 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Ketlhalefile F.C. Motshegwa, has urged the Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council to ensure that the Village/Ward Development Committee (W/VDC) election process is conducted fairly and in accordance with the applicable guidelines and regulations. Hon. Motshegwa made the remarks when he met with the leadership of Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council during a full council meeting convened today, where challenges affecting the W/VDC election process were discussed.

Council Chairperson, Hon. Molatedi Tona Selalo, informed the Minister that the election process had stalled due to disagreements surrounding the procedure followed in vetting candidates. He said inconsistencies had been identified during the vetting of applicants, making it difficult for the elections to proceed.

In addressing the matter, Hon. Motshegwa advised the full council to pursue the interests of the people and ensure that no eligible candidate is disadvantaged in the process. He said applicants who meet the requirements should be facilitated and vetted in accordance with the regulations.

According to the W/VDC regulations, a person is eligible to stand for election if they are 18 years or above, a citizen of Botswana with a valid Omang, a resident of the respective village or ward, and have no criminal record. Candidates must also be able to read and write in English or Setswana well enough to take an active part in the proceedings of the committee or has experience in community work. They must not hold public office, be an employee of a non-governmental or community-based organisation, or be a candidate, political office holder or campaign manager of a political party.

The Minister further reminded the council that the full council is the highest structure and that decisions taken by council should be implemented by management. Where challenges arise, he said there should be appropriate checks and balances, with guidance sought from the Ministry where necessary. He said the public service exists to facilitate and serve the people, adding that where policies or laws become stumbling blocks to effective service delivery, consideration should be given to amending them.

Hon. Motshegwa also acknowledged that differences of opinion are inevitable within organisations, but stressed the importance of cooperation and working towards a common objective. He said the success or failure of an organisation rests on its leadership, noting that leaders should be able to make decisions and justify them.

11/09/2026

𝐋𝐄𝐓'𝐒 𝐆𝐎 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟔

We are counting down to 60 years of independence and trust us, the celebrations are warming up.

Lets go 1966! 🇧🇼🇧🇼🇧🇼🎉

11/09/2026

𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗞𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗨𝗡𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖 𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗟

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Mokwaledi I. Moswaane, has called on the Moroka community to leverage its agricultural capacity, skilled labor, and local resources to drive job creation and foster a resilient, citizen-led economy.

Speaking during a Kgotla meeting, Hon. Moswaane encouraged community elders to actively involve the youth in local governance, highlighting the Kgotla as a vital platform for addressing development challenges and formulating practical, community-driven solutions.

Identifying land availability as a core prerequisite for rural industrialization, the Assistant Minister urged the local Land Board to allocate space for strategic local projects. These include the establishment of the Moroka Kgosing Farm, a regional shopping center, and dedicated industrial plots for youth and female entrepreneurs. He further called for the revival of the village poultry farm—inactive for over a decade—through Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) funding, while advocating for cooperatives and community trusts to spur local businesses.

To maximize economic impact, the community proposed a shared development zone encompassing Moroka, Kgari, and Jackalas. Given their close proximity, a unified model would allow these villages to pool land, industrial hubs, and retail facilities to establish a stronger economic base for the entire region.

During the engagement, residents raised concerns regarding administrative capacity at the local Tribal Administration Office following the passing of their Kgosi in June. Clarifying the statutory process, Hon. Moswaane explained that while the Ministry facilitates formal appointments, identifying a successor remains the responsibility of the royal family and the community.

Following the Kgotla meeting, the Assistant Minister inspected key local service points. He visited the Moroka Clinic, confirming an improved supply of essential medicines, and met with Zezuru residents who advocated for the extension of the local electrical grid. Hon. Moswaane concluded his tour at the Moroka Poverty Alleviation Project, praising beneficiaries of the brick-moulding initiative for building their own homes and generating household income, showcasing a successful model of self-reliance.

10/09/2026

Botswana is looking to strengthen its approach to waste management by exploring innovative ways of turning waste from a challenge into an economic and environmental opportunity.
A delegation was recently in Zimbabwe for engagements with a key part of the visit being the Geo Pomona Waste Management facility, where the focus was on exploring modern approaches to landfill management, including recycling, energy generation and the development of a green economy.

For Botswana, the idea is to move away from viewing landfills simply as places where waste is deposited, and instead explore how waste can be managed as a resource that can generate energy, create jobs and support sustainable economic development.

We are joined in studio by Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa to discuss the Zimbabwe engagements, what Botswana hopes to learn, and how these innovations could inform the country’s own waste management strategy.

10/09/2026

Tune in to BathoPele Programme tonight at 20:30 on BTV to learn how community projects are improving the lives of Batswana.

This week’s programme showcases a community garden project in Gogomoga Village highlighting how community-driven initiatives are contributing to food security and socio-economic development.

,Faster,Better
West District Council

10/09/2026

𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐒𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘-𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐀 𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐀 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

𝐆𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄 - Botswana has called for stronger collaboration, innovation and action to transform Primary Health Care across Africa as the country hosts the 9th WONCA Africa Regional Conference in Gaborone.

Held under the theme, “We Are One: Africa United to Advance Planetary Health through Collaboration and Resource Alignment in Primary Health Care,” the conference has brought together family physicians, primary health care providers, researchers, educators and policymakers to deliberate on strengthening resilient and people-centred health systems.

Officially opening the conference, Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Ketlhalefile F.C. Motshegwa, said the gathering comes at a significant time for Botswana as the country undertakes reforms in the organisation and delivery of Primary Health Care.

He said the recent repositioning of Primary Health Care functions under the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs should be viewed as an opportunity to rethink service delivery and bring health services closer to communities.

Minister Motshegwa noted that the transition provides an opportunity to strengthen the connection between government and communities, and to bring together health, local government, community development and traditional institutions to develop a model of Primary Health Care that is people-centred, community-oriented and responsive to the realities of Botswana.

He emphasised that health does not begin at a clinic but within communities, where factors such as nutrition, sanitation, education, housing, livelihoods and the environment influence people’s wellbeing.

He noted that the Ministry’s presence in districts, villages and through Local Authorities and traditional leadership provides a strategic platform to support a holistic approach to health that goes beyond healthcare facilities.

Hon. Motshegwa said modern Primary Health Care must address the changing realities facing societies, including emerging diseases, technological advancement, climate change and evolving community expectations.

He commended the role of family physicians, describing them as clinicians, educators, advocates, researchers and health system leaders who operate at the intersection of individuals, families, communities and health systems.

The Minister challenged delegates to ensure that discussions at the conference translate into practical solutions that can improve the lives of citizens.

“Do not only identify challenges; provide workable solutions. Do not only describe successful models; show how they can be adapted and implemented in African contexts,” he said.
He further urged participants to ensure that the conference outcomes extend beyond professionals and reach the communities they serve, emphasising that the ultimate purpose of health systems is to improve the lives of people.

The conference will culminate in the development of the Gaborone Statement on Primary Health Care and Planetary Health, which is expected to outline collective actions for strengthening health systems across Africa.

The WONCA Africa Regional Conference is scheduled to move to Cape Town, South Africa, in November 2027.

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Government Enclave
Gaborone

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+2673658400

Website

https://www.gov.bw/ministries/ministry-local-government-and-traditional-affairs, https://www.youtube.com/@BathoPele-2026

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