18 Aug 2016

The Minister of Lands and Housing Mr Prince Maele has warned squatters in and around Maun to move or face eviction.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Maun this week, Minister Maele said squatting hindered proper land administration; therefore the ministry would follow the applicable procedures to remove informal settlers.
He said his ministry had made a national call to identify all illegal settlers around the country, adding that open spaces in and around Maun would be administered by the Land Board as per its mandate.
Maun’s Umbrella Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson Mr Moronga Dimbo had requested the minister to grant the local VDCs permission to administer the open spaces to help the less privileged in respective wards, especially old people without plots.
Mr Dimbo said the open spaces were hot spots for criminal activities as well as for squatting, therefore their proposal, if accepted, would help address the situation.
However, minister Maele argued that if the VDCs were to be given such a mandate it would cause more harm than good as the community may blame the village governors for favouritism.
He noted that open spaces were historical in that the old administration allowed people to reserve spaces near their plots for their children; however, he assured them that the modern land administrators would plan the land accordingly and fairly.
When commenting, some Disaneng residents complained that many undeveloped plots in their area were a threat to them as they haboured snakes.    
Nxaraga Councilor Morolong Mosimanyana said the issue of Shashe squatters should be clarified as to whether the illegal settlers would be removed or their plea considered since they had long written to the minister.
Another resident, Reverend Kgosi Kegaisamang Ramokwena complained about poor service delivery at the Tawana Land Board, adding that dikgosi should also be held in high esteem because they are also custodians of land. ENDS