15 Mar 2016

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele says it has taken long to develop some of the remaining plots in the Central Business District (CBD) of Francistown City because a decision was taken to rezone the said plots into mixed land use. 

Mr Maele said plots 15043, 15044, 15045, 15046, 15060, 15062 and 15075 were allocated between 1990 and 1995, adding that plots 15043 and 15075 have since been developed while plot 15046 was withdrawn in 1998, and that four plots remained undeveloped. 

The government, the minister said, could not develop the plots in question into a parking lot because the adjacent shopping mall being developed has provided for its own parking requirements. 

However, he said the enforcement of the development covenant would be followed up to cause the allotees of the plots to develop or otherwise forfeit them to the government for re-allocation.

In addition, Minister Maele told Parliament that his ministry has intensified efforts on management of squatters in various parts of the country. 

“This entails identifying and profiling the squatters with a view to taking corrective action. The squatter problem on one of the plots will be attended as part of the exercise to address squatting in the City of Francistown.” 

The MP for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy had asked the minister why the seven plots in the Francistown CBD, which were demarcated for allocation more than 25 years ago, were still undeveloped.

He also wanted to know why the undeveloped plots could not be developed by the government and used as parking lot instead of becoming a health hazard, as they have turned into a dumping site and toilet facility for the public.

MP Billy further asked why an illegal structure has been erected in one of the aforementioned plots in the area that forms part of the CBD.  Ends