11 Jul 2013

The Director of Surveys and Mapping, Mr Bareng Malatsi says his department is aware that there are some cattle ranches that have been turned into game ranches.

Mr Malatsi was summoned by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee to explain the ranches' outlines in Botswana and those that had been changed into other uses. He stated that most of the cattle ranches that had been turned into the game ranches were found in the far southern part of the country and Thuli Block area in the Central District.

The director however, explained that his department was addressing the issue to ensure that similar farms were not turned into other land uses. He informed the committee that there were 844 freehold farms, 337 Tribal Grazing Land Policy (TGLP) farms, 691 fencing component farms while 248 farms were in rural state land, found mostly in townships such as Ghanzi.

He explained that Ghanzi alone had 219 free hold farms, 25 TGLP, 86 fencing components farms, 168 rural state lands while Central District, which was the largest district in the country, had 255 freehold farms, 68 TGLP, 574 fencing component farms and seven rural state land.

Mr Malatsi’s hearing formed the final submissions of evidence by the committee as it neared the conclusion of its assignment, whereupon at the conclusion of its business, a detailed report would be submitted before Parliament.

Those who testified included former president, Sir Ketumile Masire, former BMC chairpersons, former BMC board members, former BMC chief executive officers, some former employees of the abattoir, former directors of Veterinary Services Department, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Marcus Chimbombi, farmers and feedlotters, amongst others.The committee would round-up its business on July 26. ENDS