12 Apr 2017

Kweneng District Council chairperson, Mr Jeffrey Sibisibi has challenged Kweneng Land Board members to involve stakeholders when drawing land use plans.

Mr Sibisibi has said this when opening a two-day Kweneng Land Board member’s induction workshop in Mogoditshane on April 10.

Mr Sibisibi explained that such a move would help reduce number of complaints to the landboard and its stakeholders.

The council chairperson further called on the land board members to shun corruption, stay impartial and be accountable in their work.

Earlier in his deliberation, Kweneng Land Board acting board secretary, Mr Vincent Sekano said they have taken a zero stance against corruption as evidenced by anti-corruption committees set up in their seven sub-land boards.

He emphasised that good customer service was key, calling on land board members to help staff serve the public well in order to reduce complaints.

For his part, Kweneng Land Board chairperson, Mr Moemedi Babitseng reiterated that land board members should give timely response to customers. By so doing he said they would allow aggrieved clients time to appeal.

Senior counsel to the Kweneng Land Board, Mr Monthe Marumo also cautioned the new members to always remember that they were only trustees of the land, therefore they should deal with land issues with utmost respect and diligence.

Mr Marumo further advised that in resolving some cases, land board members should desist from according one party better information than the other as this tendency creates an in balance of power in land transactions, which can sometimes cause the land board to lose cases.

He nevertheless said for them to work professionally, they should act fairly in accordance with the land board act.

The senior counsel also acknowledged that the reason why Kweneng Land Board was challenged to carry out their duties effectively was because of their proximity to the capital city, saying that there was pressure in demand for land.

However, he warned that as more and more Batswana were becoming aware of their rights, the land board should be innovative and be abreast with issues affecting developments.

“Botswana, just like any other country, is going to succeed because of innovation,” he said, stressing the importance of improving land management so that the country could attract Foreign Direct Investment. ENDS