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

19/08/2026

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒

18/08/2026

𝐌𝐋𝐆𝐓𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐏 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

𝐆𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐄 – 𝟏𝟖.𝟎𝟖.𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 -The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has commenced discussions with the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs on the development of an Executive Leadership Programme aimed at strengthening leadership capacity and supporting Botswana's public sector transformation agenda.

Opening the discussions, the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs Mr Ketlhalefile FC Motshegwa expressed appreciation for UNDP's continued technical and financial support in the review of key policies and implementation of strategic projects. He noted that as the government institution closest to communities, the Ministry plays a critical role in addressing poverty, unemployment and social protection while delivering quality public services.

Minister Motshegwa said the Ministry's expanded mandate, which now includes Primary Health Care, infrastructure development and school feeding programmes, requires a strong organisational culture capable of driving high performance and responsive service delivery. He added that the proposed leadership programme would complement ongoing efforts to reposition local government as a catalyst for national development through the planned Local Government Symposium and other reform initiatives.

Acting Permanent Secretary Ms Tshepo Kebakile emphasised that the programme should be tailored to Botswana's realities and support the Ministry's transition towards a more decentralised and citizen-centred model of governance. She said the initiative should move beyond conventional leadership training to equip leaders with the skills needed to manage institutional change, strengthen collaboration across central government, local authorities and Tribal Administration, and build a shared leadership culture.

Ms Kebakile further highlighted the importance of developing a leadership pipeline that includes district leaders, women and emerging young leaders to ensure sustainable institutional transformation.

UNDP Resident Representative Ms Lovita Ramguttee reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting Botswana's decentralisation, rural development and social protection agenda. She said the Executive Leadership Programme has already been successfully implemented in several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Eswatini, and will be customised to Botswana's specific priorities.

She explained that the programme is expected be government-led, performance-driven and informed by consultations with government institutions, technical experts and other stakeholders. Rather than relying on traditional classroom learning, she pointed that the programme will adopt an experiential approach, equipping leaders with practical skills to drive innovation, accountability and improved service delivery across the public sector.

18/08/2026

𝐅𝐀𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐒𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐋𝐆𝐓𝐀

The Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs (MLGTA) has expressed optimism about the potential of fish farming to improve nutrition, support economic empowerment and diversify food production in Botswana particularly for primary school feeding programme.

This was highlighted during a courtesy call by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) consultants, Mr. Vasco Schmidt, Lead Technical Officer – Fisheries based in Zimbabwe, and Mr. James McCafferty, Fish Farming Project Consultant based in South Africa, on the Deputy Permanent Secretary- Social Development in the Ministry, Mr. Kabo D. Moseki. The engagement focused on the ongoing initiative to integrate fish farming into the Botswana National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, with a pilot project being implemented at Kgabotshwene Primary School in Kgatleng East Constituency.

Mr Moseki said the initiative could provide a healthier alternative to the country’s predominantly meat-based diet while creating opportunities for communities to participate in fish production as an economic activity. He noted that the initiative had already generated enthusiasm among local leadership and communities and could be expanded across the country as an economic empowerment initiative.

Consultants highlighted FAO’s longstanding collaboration with Botswana Government in fisheries and aquaculture, noting that the organisation has supported previous initiatives in both capture fisheries and aquaculture. He emphasised that careful site selection would be critical to the success of future fish-farming projects. The project team also briefed the Deputy Permanent Secretary on progress, including stakeholder engagement, training in fish and food handling, and fish acceptability assessments involving learners. Procurement for construction of the pilot fish pond is currently underway, with construction expected to be undertaken by local contractors.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary welcomed the initiative and expressed commitment to supporting its successful implementation, noting that the pilot could generate valuable lessons for scaling up fish farming initiatives across Botswana. The FAO consultants will continue with stakeholder engagements and are expected to visit the beneficiary school during their stay in Botswana.

18/08/2026

𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄 𝐀𝐒𝐑𝐇 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐏

The Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, successfully concluded a five-day Trainer of Trainers (ToT) workshop aimed at strengthening adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services across the greater Gaborone area.

Bringing together key health workers, the programme focused on critical challenges affecting young people, including comprehensive sexuality education, gender-based violence (GBV), contraception, abortion, and rising teenage pregnancy rates.

The workshop opened with a screening that highlighted how peer pressure and socioeconomic hardships can expose youth to intergenerational relationships. Facilitators emphasized that effective ASRH outreach requires healthcare providers to approach young people with deep empathy while factoring in their unique cultural and social circumstances.

Speaking during the sessions, Ms. Malebogo Mmereki, Senior Health Officer and ASRH Program Coordinator for the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, urged service providers to offer nonjudgmental guidance. She noted this is especially vital for adolescents navigating relationships at a stage when they may not have reached full emotional and mental maturity.

Echoing these sentiments, Mr. Baleseng Mckenzie, Principal Nursing Officer 1 and ASRH Program Coordinator for the Ministry of Health, stressed that communication strategies will have limited impact unless they are tailored directly to young people's lived realities and needs. He also introduced the World Health Organization-backed youth-friendly services logo, explaining that its colors symbolize growth, vibrancy, action, and communication.

The workshop culminated in an interactive discussion on contraceptive use and adolescent health trends. Ms. Lesego Releseng, Principal Technical Officer for Health Promotion and Education at the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, underscored that government institutions, parents, and communities must unite to tackle these challenges effectively.

She called for a coordinated multi-sectoral response to strengthen access to vital information and services, ensuring young people are fully supported in making informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

18/08/2026

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐎 𝟔𝟎𝟎 (𝟗) 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟏𝟕𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐔𝐆𝐔𝐒𝐓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐌𝐑. 𝐌. 𝐌. 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐏. (𝐊𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋)

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍: To ask the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs whether he is aware that some beneficiaries of the Old Age Pension Scheme may be simultaneously earning regular salaries or receiving pensions from other public and private entities (double dipping); and if so, when he intends to review the eligibility criteria to ensure the Scheme benefits the most vulnerable and to further state:
i) The total number of double dipping beneficiaries; and
ii) The total amount incurred or spent as pension as beneficiaries for the financial year 2024/25.

𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Honourable Member for his question.
The Old Age Pension Scheme is a universal social protection programme intended to provide basic income to all citizens who have attained the qualifying age of 65 years.

Eligibility is not subject to means testing, and therefore currently beneficiaries are not required to demonstrate that they are unemployed, have no other source of income, or are not receiving a pension from another institution.

Accordingly, the fact that an Old Age Pension beneficiary may also be receiving a salary, private pension, or another form of income does not, in itself, constitute double dipping under the current eligibility framework.

i) Government does not maintain a separate category or database of beneficiaries classified as “double dipping”, since the Old Age Pension is a universal, non-means-tested benefit.

ii) The total expenditure on the Old Age Pension Scheme for the financial year 2024/25 was One Billion, Three Hundred and Forty-Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety P**a Only (BWP 1,348, 841, 490).

Mr. Speaker, Government continues to review and strengthen the social protection system based on the transformation agenda, including the use of the Single Social Registry and Integrated Beneficiary Registry, to improve coordination, data integration and evidence -based policy decisions. Any future review of the Old Age Pension eligibility criteria will therefore be undertaken within the broader social protection reform agenda and Government policy framework.

I thank you.

17/08/2026

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐟𝐂𝐅𝐓𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs has initiated discussions with Dr. Nevine Nabil Nakhla of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Company in Egypt to explore strategic partnerships aimed at advancing Botswana's socio-economic development.

During an introductory meeting, the two parties identified opportunities for collaboration in smart agriculture, vocational training, construction, pharmaceuticals, trade, and logistics. Discussions also focused on strengthening the capacity of local authorities to generate revenue and supporting the implementation of Botswana's Economic Transformation Programme through practical partnerships and investment.

The Ministry executive underscored the importance of skills transfer, employment creation, and capacity building, noting that training in smart agriculture and vocational skills would equip communities with the expertise needed to drive sustainable economic growth and improve livelihoods.

The Dr Nakhla expressed commitment to fostering stronger cooperation with Botswana, including the development of a regional logistics corridor to facilitate trade and investment across the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She emphasised the importance of translating discussions into concrete projects that deliver tangible socio-economic benefits for both Botswana and the wider African continent.

17/08/2026

𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻-𝗨𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 - Mabutsane District Council

15/08/2026

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐍- SOWA TOWNSHIP

15/08/2026

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐍 -𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐓

15/08/2026

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐍 𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐆𝐍 - 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐓

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Government Enclave
Gaborone

Telephone

+2673658400

Website

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

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