The problem with Kgalagadi South

tshwetso jojo chimbombi | Monday November 24, 2025 06:00

I use the word discontentment deliberately and carefully, for how could we as the people of Kgalagadi South not be discontented? For the past year, we have had no representation at Parliament for obvious reasons. It is also unfortunate that our Member of Parliament happened to be the Minister of Lands & Agriculture, Agriculture being the largest provider of jobs in our part of the country outside the central government, local government, and other government-related organisations.

We have no industry really outside agriculture. Our MP’s inability to carry out his duties, therefore, dealt a double blow to the constituency. This discontentment stretches back beyond the past year, though. I believe it is this very discontentment that led to an opposition party winning the region for only the second time since John Toto of the Botswana National Front (BNF) wrestled it from Neo Moroka of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). As stated, we have no industry outside of agriculture.

Surprisingly, we are very easy to please as a constituency. Our lifeline is agriculture, pastoral farming to be specific. It is because of this that the majority of young people in Kgalagadi South spend the entire year in anticipation of that Youth Development Fund (YDF) advert so that they can try to apply for a few sheep and goats, maybe cattle if they are lucky. Every waking day that goes by beyond this usual date of publication is severely affecting our hopes as young people in this constituency to make a living for ourselves. I have seen mention of it being revamped under the new government, and I am praying it will be improved in the sense that it is more easily accessed, rather than any complexity that may superficially signal improvement. We just need more people to receive it. I say this and think of the ‘improvement’ that has been imposed on the Ipelegeng programme and how adversely this is going to affect the people of Kgalagadi South. There is an old cliche that sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, and in public policy, this is even more true.

The one agricultural initiative I have seen is the new product launched by CEDA aimed at increasing the national herd. If the national herd is going to be increased, I would simply ask whether we are willing to do this at any cost. Do we care about the demographics of who the increased herd is held by? Are we looking to empower farmers who are currently tracking their 5 cows to aim as ambitiously as the scheme, or are we looking to have our established cattle Barons widen their margins from the average Motswana?

Kgalagadi South is a region that is amongst the least densely populated, as well as amongst the largest in land mass, leaving ample communal grazing land for that young person with 5 cows to take advantage of any scheme that will speak to increasing accessibility to water and funds for breeding stock. I would also argue that most people in Kgalagadi South have experience in cattle rearing in one form or another. It is an essential skill that is seemingly ubiquitous amongst the populations of Kgalagadi South, Kgalagadi North, and the Ghanzi regions due to the mere fact of our dependency on pastoral farming.

What we need is a policy aimed at drilling and equipping boreholes for young people without the unreasonable expectations of collateral, as well as access to funds to purchase livestock.

I hope that with our new representative in parliament, the discontent of this region will be heard. The sad reality is that there is only so much a member of parliament can do. Assuming that Hon Tokyo Modise is not awarded the privilege of leading any ministry, he is then confined to adhering to the party caucus and may be seen to be undisciplined in criticising the lack of solutions offered directly to our populous in the Kgalagadi South region.

Pastoral agriculture is the lifeline of our economy in Kgalagadi South, outside of government-related jobs. For a long time, our people have battled across party lines in favour of one party or another, but without direct correlation of their support to these parties, speaking directly to the uniqueness of our economy in this constituency. During the past by-election, I was hoping that our discontent would have been more reflected in the balance of votes. Not to say I wanted any party in particular to win, but I wanted the vote to reflect that we are not happy. And that is the problem with Kgalagadi South.

*Tshwetso Jojo Chimbombi is a relative of the former Kgalagadi South MP, Micus Chimbombi.