Editing Politics of Botswana (section)

== Local and tribal government ==
Botswana's government is [[Centralized government|centralised]] and the powers of local government are determined by national law. Local government is authorised under the Local Government (District Councils) Act, 1965. The smallest division of government in Botswana is the local council. Cities in Botswana are under the jurisdiction of a mayor and a city council, which is led by a council chairperson.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal |last1=Mooketsane |first1=K. |last2=Bodilenyane |first2=K. |last3=Motshekgwa |first3=B. |date=2017 |title=Is decentralisation in Botswana a democratic fallacy? |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC-6a061f80d |journal=African Journal of Public Affairs |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=47–60 |hdl=10520/EJC-6a061f80d }}</ref> Smaller towns also have town councils, while rural areas are collected under district councils. These councils are primarily responsible for education, health, roads, water, local development and general welfare. Local governmental bodies do not collect significant funds and nearly all local spending is funded by the national government.<ref name=":8" />

Tribes are led by tribal chiefs, who often have significant influence over the affairs of local government. Chiefs are responsible for chairing [[Kgotla|''kgotlas'']], traditional tribal meetings of the community and for presiding over customary courts.<ref name=":8" /> ''Kgotlas'' predate Botswana's independence and represent the traditional mode of government in which a chief ruled as the [[first among equals]]. Tswana chiefs were historically more accountable to the people than in other African societies, as the region's main industry, cattle farming, allowed farmers more mobility and independence than would be provided by growing crops.<ref name=":12" /> Tribal land is held and allocated by Land Boards. These Land Boards are made up of members chosen by the tribal community and members appointed by the [[Minister of Lands (Botswana)|Minister of Lands]].<ref name=":8" />

Botswana is divided into [[Districts of Botswana|28 districts]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Population and Housing Census Preliminary Results |url=https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/2022%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Preliminary%20Results.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527193128/https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/2022%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Preliminary%20Results.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2022 |website=Statistics Botswana |page=5}}</ref> Each district is under the jurisdiction of a district administration, led by a district commissioner.<ref name=":8" />