21 Jul 2015

Parliament on Thursday July 16,  adopted the National Land Policy which was first presented by the Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele during the budget session.

Supporting the policy, Vice President Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi said it was a progressive policy as it enhances equitable land distribution.

He added that every Motswana would now be entitled to one free residential plot.

Mr Masisi, who is also the MP for Moshupa, said since plot owners would also be given title deeds for their plots, their wealth would increase and that they could use them to secure loans from financial institutions.

Mr Masisi further said the policy would enable the government to create jobs as it addresses land accessibility.

Vice President Masisi also said he was comfortable with the five years given to landowners to develop their plots.

He said there might be extenuating circumstances hence many plots had not been repossessed.

For his part, Shoshong MP, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele said he was happy services would be provided to newly allocated plots to enable owners to develop them.

He said he was also happy that a certain percentage of land would be reserved for youths.

Mr Makgalemele, who is the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, welcomed initiatives to speed up land allocation such as computerisation and formation of committees.

He further said he was happy the minister had seen the need to educate Batswana about the importance of land and its value.

Mr Makgalemele said he also welcomed the decision to subsidise poor people when they seek to buy additional plots in the open market.

He called on the minister to address the issue of absentee landlords and further said transfer duties were too high hence making it difficult for Batswana to purchase plots.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and also MP for Selebi Phikwe East, Mr Nonofo Molefhi called for the protection of land, saying it should be used wisely for the benefit of the next generations.

He noted that villages near urban areas were faced with a serious shortage of land, but added that the one plot per person policy would help as it has been proved that a number of people in waiting lists were already allocated plots elsewhere.

Mr Molefhi said in a study undertaken at Mogoditshane Sub Land Board, there were 140 000 people in the waiting list and 90 000 of them had plots elsewhere in the country.

He added that was the reason why it appeared there was land shortage.

The minister further noted that servicing land was expensive, and that Batswana should be encouraged to pay in order to enable speedy delivery.

He castigated opposition members, saying data had to be collected before a land audit could be undertaken.

Ghanzi North MP, Mr Noah Salakae said the Land Tribunal should be strengthened.

He further said it was confusing that while the Ministry of Agriculture was encouraging integrated farming, the Ministry of Lands and Housing continued to separate grazing and pastoral land.

The MP for Takatokwane, Mr Ngaka Ngaka said plots which remained undeveloped for five years should be repossessed as the policy stipulates.
He further said foreigners should only be allowed to own a maximum of two plots.

Responding to the comments, Minister Maele said he was equally concerned about the rate at which Batswana sell their plots, adding that he hoped the new policy would curb the problem as no one would be allocated two plots.

On the issue of foreign ownership, he said Batswana were the ones selling their plots to foreiners.

The minister also said people should respond to offer letters within the stipulated time frame or they would be allocated to others.

He said plot owners were not required to build big houses, but that small habitable structures count as development.

Minister Maele further said only a spouse or orphans could inherit a land application if the social worker had established that they did not have a home. The minister further said they were looking at ways to improve compensation.

He pointed out that first time home owners were exempted from Value Added Tax (VAT) and transfer duty. Ends