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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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President Festus Mogae told residents of Tshabong on Tuesday that the Kgalagadi District would have two elected representatives one each from the northern and the southern part in the expanded Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

Mogae said government had long decided to increase the membership of the Ntlo Ya Dikgosi from 15 to 35, following some of the recommendations of the Balopi Commission.

I have now given the green light for the amended sections to become effective without delay since enabling procedures and systems have now been finalised, he said.

He said the Kgalagadi north and south communities could start to decide who would represent them at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.

He said while he was aware that there existed a number of tribes in the Kgalagadi District, it would not be possible for each of such tribes to be represented.

I know that chieftainship is traditionally a tribal sentiment, he said. But it is difficult, to say the least.

Mogae said the move to amend the sections in question was prompted by what some people viewed as an unfair representation at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi. The concerned people felt that the membership should be expanded to accommodate other tribes.

He explained that only sub chiefs and headmen of records were eligible to vote for whoever they wanted to represent them, adding that he wanted them to understand and be well informed about the issue.

He also explained that the amendment did not affect the Kgalagadi people only. Other regions of the country would also send elected representative to the 35-member Ntlo ya Dikgosi.

Phandu Skelemani, the presidential affairs and public administration minister who accompanied President Mogae, said the boundary between Kgalagadi south and north had been determined. It would follow the current administrative boundary.

Kgosi David Toto of Tshabong said he was happy that government had increased the membership of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi from 15 to 35, saying the move would strengthen the institution.

Bogosi is a very important institution which must be nurtured and allowed to stay forever as it is the custodian of tradition and Batswanas culture, he said.

One of the residents, Tshipietsile Mothelesi, welcomed the presidents message, saying the people had long wanted to have their own representative and that they had eagerly waited for the good news.

Residents of Tshabong gave Mogae a cow. Accepting the gift, Mogae said: Ke itumeletse mpho ya lona thata, maswabi fela ke gore ga ke na sediba, mme fela ke batla go rua ka jaana ke tloga ke tlogela tiro. Le gale ke tlaa e kopela golo gongwe. Le tse dingwe tse nkileng ka di fiwa ke di kopetse mo masakeng a batho, tanki betsho.

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