07 Dec 2014

Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele, says land management is a strategic enabler in a delivery journey to realise Botswana’s national principles of democracy, development, self-reliance and unity.

Speaking during the fifth leadership forum of the ministry, Mr Maele urged the ministry’s staff to focus their energy into making sure that there was access to land, access to housing and very importantly that they should render good corporate governance.

He pointed out that they could not succeed in anything without making an effort, hard work, dedication and exceptional commitment adding that they should selflessly work for Batswana and serve them with distinction.

He pointed out that there were serious land challenges faced by the ministry, but he said though they might not be met easily in a short span of time, they would be met. He stressed that Batswana were concerned about intolerable long waiting lists for plot allocations, appeal resolution, tribunal cases and pool housing to mention a few.

He stated that other concerns were due to increasing and unaffordable housing rentals, inadequate land infrastructure servicing especially in tribal areas. He said Batswana had lost trust and were frustrated on land management and housing services and urged the ministry’s leadership to restore the trust.

He said those challenges could be resolved and erased.Mr Maele stated that government emphasises performance management as a key in service delivery.

He said ministry commitment to government was to take Batswana out of poverty by strengthening and increasing the scope on poverty eradication program and social safety net through programs like poverty alleviation.

He stressed that land was a very important commodity saying it is a factor of production and should be managed to reduce and eradicate poverty.

He said he was worried that there had been reports of corruption especially at the land boards and urged that there be forefront to eliminate corruption out of their offices. He urged all leaders to lead by example to root it out.

He hailed the forum saying it was a relevant platform to share government direction to attain the inevitable alignment, to shape, interpret and underline expectations. ENDS