Motshegwa warns councillors against conflicts
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday July 13, 2026 06:00
Addressing the civic leaders on Tuesday, Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, also expressed concern over what he described as growing tensions between elected leaders and Council administrators. He stated that his Ministry has received numerous reports of conflicts involving mayors, council chairpersons and council secretaries or town clerks, warning that such disputes were undermining effective local governance. According to the Minister, many of the clashes stem from a lack of understanding of the distinct roles assigned to politicians and civil servants under the law. Motshegwa emphasised that each office has clearly defined responsibilities and urged all the parties to respect such boundaries. 'My office has received many reports where chairpersons, mayors and council secretaries or town clerks clash over various issues.
Some councillors do not want to work with certain officials. This happens because some people have crossed the line or stepped into another person's area of responsibility,' he said. Hence, Motshegwa reminded councillors that they were elected to provide political leadership and oversight, while council secretaries and town clerks are responsible for the administration of councils, including advising elected leaders and implementing council resolutions. 'Councillors, know your mandate. The town clerk's office is not your office. Your office is the mayor's office. Likewise, town clerks and council secretaries must know that their role is to advise councillors and implement council resolutions. “You cannot force politicians to do something they do not want to do. The Local Government Act of 2012 clearly guides all of us on these matters,' he told the meeting. The Minister further cautioned both politicians and civil servants against interfering in each other's responsibilities, saying mutual respect is essential for councils to function effectively.
He stressed that when roles become blurred, conflicts become inevitable and service delivery suffers. Equally, the Motshegwa criticised what he described as the behaviour of some councillors, saying their conduct over relatively minor issues was disappointing and increasingly attracting negative public attention. He observed that voters were beginning to question whether they made the right decision when electing some councillors because of the time and energy they spend on internal disputes rather than addressing community needs. 'The behaviour of some councillors over petty issues leaves a lot to be desired. Members of the public have started questioning whether they voted wisely because instead of focusing on serving communities, some leaders are preoccupied with unnecessary fights,' he said.
The Minister warned that councillors risk losing public confidence if they continue neglecting the responsibilities for which they were elected for. Motshegwa reminded the civic leaders that their primary mandate is to improve the lives of residents through quality service delivery, local economic development and proper oversight of council projects. According to him, councils should be concentrating on creating employment opportunities, improving public services and ensuring that development projects are completed on schedule and meet the expected standards.
'You have started fighting over minor issues while the public wants services. This is not the time for internal battles. The public expects clean streets, working infrastructure and efficient services. Do not forget what you promised voters during your campaigns,' he said. 'No one owns a council. Councils belong to the people of Botswana, and every decision taken should put the interests of residents first.' Meanwhile, the Minister has implored councils to begin preparing for greater financial independence, saying central government intends to strengthen the autonomy of local authorities, making it increasingly important for councils to generate their own revenue rather than depend heavily on central government. As a result, he challenged councillors to explore innovative ways of raising money that would enable councils to improve services and maintain critical infrastructure. 'We want councils that can sustain themselves. As councils become more independent, they must stop relying entirely on central government and start identifying ways of generating revenue,' he said. Motshegwa added that improved financial capacity should ultimately translate into better public services, particularly in key areas such as primary healthcare and primary education.
'We want primary schools, primary healthcare and other essential services to improve. What I want to see is quality service delivery from councils, not situations where members of the public leave council offices without receiving assistance,' he said. During his address, the Minister also directed council management to strengthen accountability within local authorities, noting that town clerks and council secretaries must ensure that council employees perform their duties diligently and that disciplinary measures are taken where necessary. According to Motshegwa, ineffective employees should not be allowed to compromise service delivery, adding that managers have a responsibility to enforce performance standards throughout their organisations. He further expressed concern over the state of infrastructure in Gaborone, saying residents deserved a clean, functional and well-maintained capital city. 'We cannot afford to have a dark city,' he said, referring to concerns over public infrastructure and municipal services. In particular, the Minister instructed the city's leadership to prioritise road maintenance and urgently address the growing number of potholes across Gaborone. He urged the mayor and the council administration to work together to improve roads and respond swiftly to residents' complaints, saying visible improvements in infrastructure would restore public confidence in local government. Motshegwa reiterated that cooperation between councillors and council officials remains the cornerstone of effective local governance. He said political leaders and administrators must move beyond personal differences and work together to fulfil the mandate entrusted to them by the people.
“Our differences or whatever issues must not be taken into council. Our personal issues are not supposed to be brought to the workplace. I have also realised that some of you have forgotten that you are politicians and are behaving like content creators. You are voted to serve people, and you promised them that you will bring services to them,” he said.
He said if they continue to behave in that manner, they should know that there is no investor who would want to be associated with that council. Again, the Minister reminded them that they should familiarise themselves with the Local Government Act, for them to understand the powers given to the Minister. “I am not going to allow a situation where some people want to hold councils to ransom for their personal issues or greediness. We are here to serve people,” he stated. Motshegwa’s remarks come at a time when local authorities across the country are under increasing public pressure to improve service delivery, complete stalled projects and strengthen accountability while preparing for greater financial and administrative autonomy. In the recent past, councillors have been trying to topple current mayors/chairpersons while in some other councils, they did not want their town clerks/ council secretaries.