06 Oct 2015

Ministry of Lands and Housing through the Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) and Land Information Systems exercises will be able to plan and provide for public spaces.

Speaking during the World Habitat Day commemoration held in Palapye on Monday (October 5), the Minister of Lands and Housing Mr Prince Maele said part of the LAPCAS exercise is to take stock of land in the country and its land use activities.

He said the significance of this exercise is also to assess and identify where there is deficit in the provision of public spaces. The day was held under the theme, Public Spaces for all.

Public spaces are places that are open, accessible and enjoyable to all citizens, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level and these include parks, streets, sidewalks, markets, plazas and squares.

Mr Maele who is also MP for Lerala/Maunatlala said throughout the world, public spaces have often been overlooked and undervalued but are increasingly being considered the backbone of settlements.

These spaces, he said have been planned for recreational purpose and to provide a sense of living in neighbourhoods and play a crucial role in people’s lives in that they help promote social interaction and improve socio-economic levels.

Public spaces, particularly streets, he said have for ages been a vital part of the public realm, providing a place where traders can sell their products, children can play and people can stop to talk.

He said public spaces are landmarks where various cultural activities take place citing the parliament  square and the three dikgosi monuments in Gaborone. However, he said this country is experiencing challenges in management of public spaces solely because of undesirable human activities that have emerged over time.

“Some of our public spaces are in a state of despair, they have been abandoned and some vandalised,” he said.

For his part, MP for Palapye Mr Moiseraele Goya thanked the Ministry of Lands and Housing for commemorating the day in Palapye.

He said provision of shelter is very important as argued by Maslow’s theory of “hierarchy of needs.” He said private sector should assist government to fight challenges such as poverty and climate change. Ends