A member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi has called on government to address what they consider a long-standing disparity in the treatment of their administrative leadership, arguing that the Secretary of Ntlo ya Dikgosi (SNYD) deserves the same recognition and remuneration as the Clerk of the National Assembly (CNA).
Raising the matter before the House, Kgosi Munduu of Ngami Region questioned the Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa about the apparent inequality in the grading of the two roles, the structural link between Ntlo ya Dikgosi and Parliament, and when the government intends to resolve these concerns.
Responding to the question, Mohwasa acknowledged the issue, saying “let me start by indicating that I am aware that the office of Secretary of Ntlo ya Dikgosi is lower and not at the same level as that of the Clerk of the National Assembly.”
He explained that all public service positions are assessed using the Paterson Decision Band System, a job evaluation method which considers the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and experience required for each position. Based on this system, the Secretary’s position has been deemed to fall below that of the Clerk of the National Assembly.
However, the Minister suggested the possibility of re-evaluating the position. “There may be a need for the Clerk of the National Assembly to re-profile the job of the Secretary since it may have evolved with time and facilitate its re-assessment process through the relevant structures.”
Kgosi Munduu also sought clarity on why the life of Ntlo ya Dikgosi is tied to that of Parliament — a structural linkage that some dikgosi see as limiting the independence and visibility of the traditional leadership body.
In his response, the Minister explained that the office of the Secretary was historically created within the structure of the National Assembly, as Ntlo ya Dikgosi serves as an advisory body to Parliament on matters of national interest as outlined in Botswana’s Constitution. Consequently, administrative functions, including budgeting, are managed by the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly.
The Minister also hinted at ongoing reforms. “The National Assembly is currently working on strategies to enhance the running of its business,” he said. “It is anticipated that through this exercise, there will be direction on how Ntlo ya Dikgosi and the National Assembly will run moving forward.”
