23 Jun 2013

The Ministry of Lands and Housing is concerned about people who sell their fields.

The Minister of Lands and Housing Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake said 676 fields have been allocated in Serowe and surrounding areas between the months of January and May 2013, but from that number 270 plots have been sold.

Mr Mokalake said this during a kgotla meeting addressed by President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama at Basimane Boora Khumo ward in the Serowe North west constituency on June 20.

Mr Mokalake further said his ministry together with that of Agriculture has introduced integrated farming, where a piece of land could be sub divided to accommodate several usages.

He said it was a way of diversifying production and people should take advantage of that.

On other issues, Mr Mokalake assured residents whom their fields have been repossessed to pave way for the airport construction that they would be compensated soon and regretted that  the process had taken long.

For his part, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele said his ministry has introduced a system where pensioners collect their allowances any day that they wish to so as to avoid congestions.

Mr Siele said the arrangement was made to soften things for the elderly because a lot of misfortunes happened to them during pay days. He therefore, advised the elderly and the community at large to follow the arrangement.

 Minister Siele also said government has arranged that all elderly and  people  with disability be given first priority so that they do not queue or struggle to get help.

Minister Siele was responding to Village Development Committee chairman Mr Ebineng Moakofi of Basimane ward who complained of long queues and shortage of space at the post offices during pensioners pay days. ENDS