Reflections on Chiefs as Ex Officio Members of the Land Boards, Botswana.

This article critically examines the evolving role and status of dikgosi (chiefs) as ex officio members of Botswana’s land boards under the Tribal Land Act since 1968. Initially, dikgosi held significant administrative powers, including appointing board members and chairing land boards, but the 1984 amendment removed their appointment and voting rights, relegating them to ceremonial advisory roles without executive authority. Unlike in several African countries where traditional leaders have constitutionally recognized powers over customary land, Botswana’s dikgosi are not constitutionally entrenched, are considered civil servants, and have limited influence in land governance, which is centralized under statutory land boards appointed by the Minister. The article situates Botswana’s approach within broader African debates on the democratization of land administration, highlighting tensions between traditional authority and modern governance, and notes ongoing dissatisfaction among dikgosi and some communities regarding their marginalization in land matters.