14 Apr 2013

The Minister of Lands and Housing has acknowledged that towards the end of last year, some land boards suspended land allocation in order to plan and pre-demarcate plots.

Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake said upon being informed of the suspensions, the ministry directed the land boards to continue allocating land.

Mr Mokalake has, however, noted that in areas where the land registration exercise was ongoing, land allocations shall be temporarily suspended to allow for smooth transition.

“I have also directed land boards that in primary and secondary centres which are planning areas, pre-urban areas and major villages, they must plan and pre-demarcate land before any allocations are made. This is critical for future settlements growth, infrastructure and service provision,” said the minister.

He further said the role of land boards had not changed and would be as succinctly specified in the Tribal Land Act. Their role included, amongst others, granting of rights to use land, cancellation of rights to use any land and authorising land transfer.

He emphasised that the position of the ministry is that land should be planned and demarcated before any allocations were made.

He said this was predicated on the inordinate costs associated with provision of infrastructure and services in haphazardly allocated areas, land disputes relating to double allocations and blockage of accesses to individual properties. Mr Mokalake also said youth projects like all others continued to be allocated land provided they met the set requirements.

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Rayner Makosha had asked why the Ministry of Lands and Housing decided to suspend the allocation of land throughout the country.

Mr Makosha had also wanted the minister to explain the role of land boards during this period and what he intended to do regarding youth projects that required land.  ENDS