09 Apr 2015

Some Members of Parliament have called for improvements in land allocation. 

Debating the Land Policy on April 8, Francistown West MP, Mr Ignatius Moswaane, said land allocation used to be speedy when done by dikgosi and land overseers. 

He said since the introduction of land boards, people now waited for 20 years to be allocated plots.  MP Moswaane said Francistown had the capacity to allocate 25 000 plots but the city had 20 000 people on the waiting list. 

For his part, MP for Nata-Gweta Mr Polson Majaga said he wondered how Botswana could fail to allocate plots to its citizens yet the country is the size of France but with a smaller population. 

He called on the minister to make land servicing a priority saying he would even support him if he requires a Supplementary Budget to carry out the exercise.  The legislator called for the increase of application fees to around P100 as a way of raising funds for land servicing. 

MP Majaga said there was disparity in allocation of land as some people own big chunks yet continue to be given plots.  Goodhope-Mabule MP Mr James Mathokgwane said the issue of land should not be taken lightly as it has led to civil wars in a number of countries. 

He however said he wondered how the policy would accelerate land allocation as it was not specifically stated.  MP Mathokgwane said property tax should be strengthened in order to discourage people from owning multiple plots. 

Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said he wondered why people are given huge plots for farms and the distance between boreholes is set at six kilometres.  Ramotswa MP Samuel Rantuana said there should be a land audit as some people have a number of plots acquired under suspicious circumstances. 

He said such as audit might show how a foreigner was able to own over 700 plots in the country.  ENDS