10 Jul 2013

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake has told Parliament that there were delays in compensation for properties affected by village expansion of Nata/Gweta constituency.

Mr Mokalake said while the assessments were done in September 2010, there were no funds for compensation for the year 2011/2012 and it was observed in the process that there were discrepancies that had to be cleared before compensations could be effected.

The minister said funds were secured and released in January this year and payments were made in April.  He however said his ministry has service standards of paying compensation to affected people within 21 days after disbursement of funds to land boards, but due to some thorough reconciliation that at times had to be made; the set standard might not be met.

Mer Mokalake was responding to a question from MP for Nata/Gweta, Mr Rayner Makosha who had asked the minister why there were delays in compensation for properties affected by village expansion in Nata/Gweta constituency and whether the ministry has service standards regarding the compensation.  ENDS