16 Sep 2014

Land board employees have been encouraged to update and keep plot waiting lists in their respective work stations.

Addressing land board employees during a leadership forum in Francistown on September 15, the Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake said some land boards had plot allotment waiting lists whereas others did not.

Mr Mokalake said all land boards were directed to keep waiting lists which must be publicised to afford plot applicants their due right to be informed of the status of their applications.

He applauded the Kweneng Land Board for dealing with squatters at Mmaothate and called on other land boards to emulate the Kweneng Land Board and eliminate the lengthy process of evicting squatters.

Mr Mokalake urged land board employees to continue allocating land to special groups such as youth within the agreed 14 days. He said the majority of the population comprised the youth, adding that the aim of the initiative was to empower them socially and economically.

He advised them to be attentive to the presentations and to incorporate and implement the lessons learned. He highlighted areas in which improvement would be needed from the leaders, adding that his observation on information request changed from time to time, even within days of request.

Furthermore, Mr Mokalake said Batswana were complaining that his ministry did not give them a platform to air their grievances or regarding services. He said an agreement was made that land boards should form committees that would ensure implementation of board resolutions.

Mr Mokalake said a complaint management strategy needed to be developed and put in place which would assist them to reduce complaints. The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Thato Raphaka encouraged employees to work together to achieve a common goal.

He said statements that “coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is success cannot be overemphasised.”

Mr Raphaka urged employees to be creative and imaginative and come up with new strategy issues that could promote delivery of their mandate. He reminded them that Botswana was an export oriented economy with strong focus on commodities including minerals and land.

Mr Raphaka said he cited land for the simple reason that it was part of the three factors of production.

He added that it was of paramount importance to plan, allocate and manage land in a sustainable manner.

He said poor service delivery and inability to create value on land was still a concern for his ministry. Ends