14 Mar 2013

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake has told Parliament that the ministry has started power reticulation in projects at Gaborone's Tsholofelo extension, Jwaneng environmental unit 8, Lobatse airstrip and plantation as well as Francistown Gerald Estate.

He said high voltage power reticulation in Lobatse, Kasane and Mekoro in Selebi Phikwe was complete while Jwaneng, Gerald Estate and Tsholofelo were expected to be completed in the current financial year.

Furthermore, he noted that phase two low voltage power and mini substations would follow as soon as plots were developed to avoid vandalism.

Parliament also heard that land servicing and upgrading at Sowa SHHA Block 3 would be finalised in the next financial year to allow for plot allocation after which power reticulation would be done.

The ministry would also commence construction of two major servicing projects: Palapye extension 11 and Metsimotlhabe Block 4 in the next financial year, which on completion will deliver 3 330 and 1 960 plots respectively.

Construction of Shashe-Mooke bridge, MPs were told, was underway and the contractor mobilised on site in December last year. 

They also heard that the lands and housing ministry had initiated engineering design in three areas of Seuwane in Ramotswa, Nnyungwe in Kasane township and Pilane and Bokaa in Kgatleng District. Designs were at various stages of completion.

Minister Mokalake noted that in response to customer needs, they had embarked on piloting minimal servicing at Mmaratanang in Tlokweng, Magope in Ramotswa, Mannathoko in Serowe and Shakawe, all of which were completed this financial year.

The minister further noted that land servicing by its nature required large budgetary provisions which, he said, may not always be available from the public sector.

The proposed Land Policy intended for debate during the current Parliament sitting, he said, addresses Private Public Partnership (PPP) initiative in infrastructure development thereby optimising government and the private sector in the delivery of serviced land.

On other land issues, the minister explained that they have decided to introduce integrated farming on land allocated for agricultural purposes.

The decision, he said, was prompted by the need to accommodate growing aspirations and diversification needs at national, regional and local community levels in land use planning processes and practices.

“This is aimed at containing growing conflicts between competing land uses for a resource that is increasingly becoming scarce and more valuable. In the process, the use of the allocated land will be optimised and conserved,” he said.  ENDS