The Ministry exists to deliver on a National Mandate to:
- Develop and monitor applicable policies and legislations aimed at transforming and strengthening local government and traditional institutions (Dikgosi le Makgotla a Setswana) to fulfil their statutory obligations;
- Develop, promote and monitor mechanisms, systems and structures to enable integrated service delivery at Local Government level;
- Provide requisite professional support and advice to Local Authorities;
The Ministry delivers its mandate through 8 Departments, 31 Local Authorities and 35 Tribal Administration offices across Botswana. These institutions facilitate development programmes at local level, foster local democracy and governance, whilst promoting social development and economic empowerment of vulnerable groups.
Department of Local Governance and Development Planning
- Department of Tribal Administration
- Department of Technical Services
- Department of Social Development
- Department of Emergency Services
- Department of Rural Development
- Department of Environmental Health
- Department of Corporate Services
The Ministry through its Departments and Local Authorities, remains committed to its vision of creating Sustainable Livelihoods and Effective Governance through its mission to deliver socioeconomic development services and municipal infrastructure through effective and efficient local governance for environmentally sustainable development and improved lives of all Batswana.
Department of Local Governance and Development Planning
To deliver effective local governance through district and development planning coordination, Local Economic Development Coordination, development and monitoring of policies, statutes and guidelines.
Department of Tribal Administration
To ensure that all tribal local governance issues across Botswana are made more effective and efficient on tribal matters, justice through traditional courts and Kgotla systems.
Department of Technical Services
To provide technical advice to local authorities and other departments of the ministry on matters pertaining to the development of infrastructure, facilities management, municipal infrastructure technical guidance & standardization.
Department of Social Development
To coordinate, monitor and evaluate social protection and community development programmes/projects delivery to improve and enhance the quality of life of Batswana. It also enhance the quality of life for Batswana through the promotion of social justice, effective local structure governance, sustainable livelihoods strategies and economic empowerment initiatives.
Department of Emergency Services
It is mandated to coordinate disaster preparedness and mitigation, emergency and first response strategy and provide fire rescue regulation, coordination and organization.
Department of Rural Development
It is mandated with the reduction of poverty, finding ways to help provide opportunities for income generation and involvement in economic activities by Batswana. To create employment and enhancing popular participation in the development planning and implementation processes as a basis for broad-based, balanced, and sustainable development.
Department of Environmental Health
To coordinate waste management planning, waste management and inspectorate.
Department of Corporate Services
To build capacity for the ministry and to coordinate a full range of administrative resources and support services, to enable the ministry to deliver on its mandate.
AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
These are corporate bodies established by an act of parliament and have delegated Judicious powers to make and implement bylaws. Councils also have political forum of elected and nominated councilors spearheading district developments issues and providing and array of social services of communities in respect to their communities. A forum of administrative wing and Political wing convene is called a FULL COUNCIL where progress on services and development rendered by the council are discussed and presented to the attendees of the convene.
- Bobirwa District Council
- Boteti District Council
- Charleshill District Council
- Chobe District Council
- Francistown Town Council
- Gaborone City Council.
- Ghanzi District Council
- Goodhope District Council
- Hukuntsi District Council
- Jwaneng District Council
- Kanye District Council
- Kgatleng District Council
- Kweneng District Council
- Letlhakeng District Council
- Lobatse Town Council
- Mabutsane District Council
- Mahalapye District Council
- Mogoditshane-Thamaga District Council
- Moshupa District Council
- North East District Council
- North West District Council
- Okavango District Council
- Palapye District Council
- Ramotswa District Council
- Selibe Phikwe Town Council
- Serowe District Council
- SOWA Town Council
- Tlokweng District Council
- Tonota District Council
- Tsabong District Council
- Tutume District Council
Services offered at Local Authorities
- Poverty Eradication Assistance (Remote Area Development Programme)
- World Wars I and II Veterans Pension
- Children in Need of Care
- Destitute Allowance
- Ipelegeng – (Unemployment Relief and Ipelegeng Skills Development Component)
- School Transportation (Rural Area Development Programme)
- Settlement of Civil Disputes
- Seventy Three Settlements Qualified for the Rural Area Development Programme
- Tertiary Education Funding (Rural Area Development Programme)
- Using Kgotla for Consultation and Decision - Making
- Early Childhood Care and Education Centre Licensing
- Pest Control Services
- Planning Permission
- Old Age Pension Allowance
