20 Feb 2013

The Ministry of Lands and Housing’s strategy for allocating land to the business community throughout the country is by way of advertising.

Answering a question in Parliament, the Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake said this was intended to bring transparency and fairness in allocation of land for investments.

However, he said special allocations were done through reservation of land to other ministries such as trade and industry, environment, wildlife and tourism, minerals, energy and water resources and agriculture for allocation to prospective investors.

Furthermore, a special dispensation was also extended to youth especially under the Young Farmers Fund where their applications were considered within a time frame of 14 days.

Minister Mokalake said there were no special allocations of plots in the Mahalapye and Shoshong sub-land boards areas.

However, Mahalapye Sub-land Board allocated 30 commercial/Industrial plots in 2010/11 while Shoshong Sub-Land Board has allocated 18 plots in 2010/11 and 11 plots in 2011/12 respectively for youth business projects through the normal allocation process.

MP Phillip Makgalemele had asked the minister to state his ministry’s strategy of making special land allocation to the business community in general especially in areas where the Botswana Export and Development Investment Authority Land Bank Policy was not reaching out or under the youth allocation special dispensation.

The legislator had also wanted the minister to state the number of plots allocated by both Mahalapye and Shoshong sub-land boards under this window during 2010/11 and during the 2011/12 financial years. ENDS