07 May 2014

Land is key to improving Botswana's economy, incoming Kweneng Land board chairman, Mr Moemedi Babitseng has said.

Officially opening a five-day meeting at the main land board chamber in Molepolole on May 5, Mr Babitseng said the land board’s responsibility was to manage land properly for the benefit of the nation.

He called for team work among members saying consultation and sharing of ideas would lead to quality decision making that would help them achieve their main aim.

“I appeal to you to adopt an esprit de corps behaviour in your daily interactions and operations, so that we can serve the customer with excellence, “ Mr Babitseng pleaded.

The chairman said even though he was new, he already knew the various challenges facing the land board. He cited high demand for land, sale of undeveloped plots, numerous land rights transfers, complaints, disputes, appeals and squatting which result from the proximity of Kweneng District to Gaborone as some of the challenges facing the land board.

Mr Babitseng said the many issues had created work overload of on the board, which as a result had long long meetings and a jam packed schedules of hearings.

He said the main land board had an added responsibility of supervising and guiding the seven sub-land boards in Kweneng. This, he said, called for exemplary leadership from the main land board.

He pointed out that as the main land board, they internalised and had sound knowledge and interpretation of the tribal land act, good knowledge of the Kweneng land board policy and know the mission, vision, and values of the Ministry of Lands and housing which they should proactively sell to the public

Mr Babitseng said the new board comprised men and women of repute, with the right education experience and competences which was why the Minister of Lands and Housing appointed them to be “trustees of tribal land in Kweneng”.

Mr Babitseng urged the old members to guide and to give support to the new members during their acclimatisation process. Kweneng Land Board secretary, Ms Tlotlego Rampha appreciated the newly appointed members saying they were hopeful the new members would learn from each other.

She said that they were in the process of renovating the chamber as it was in a bad state. Maintenance work was expected to commence August 19, she said. ENDS