15 Aug 2016

Ministry of Lands and Housing has limited authority over administration of freehold land in Botswana.

Answering a question in Parliament on August 11, Minister of Lands and Housing, Prince Maele said this was because freehold land was essentially private land.The role of his Ministry in freehold land, he said, was confined to approval of subdivision of land parcels and survey thereof registering of titles at Deeds Registry, approval of development plans in areas declared planning areas and land transfers to non-citizens.

Furthermore, he said it was a requirement under the latter that citizens be given preference in transfer of freehold agricultural land through seeking Ministers consent prior to offers of such land to non-citizens.In that regard, Minister Maele said he was not cognisant of a company called Kiffaru Holdings that deals with transfers of freehold land. “Ramotswa, Member of Parliament Samuel Rantuana, had wanted to know if Minister he had any authority over freehold land in this country; if so, why does freehold land change hands without any authorisation from his Ministry and, if he was aware of a company called Kiffaru Holdings that deals in these transfers. ENDS