30 Aug 2018

Batswana have been urged to use the available land resources and turn them into productive endeavors that would lead to universal opportunities.

Officially opening the first Botswana Land Issue Summit in Gaborone on August 29, the Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Mr Kefentse Mzwinila said Batswana sould realise that land  was limited.

They should therefore have aspirations to achieve sustainable and optimal use of land resources to help attain long term economic development, he said.

Mr Mzwinila pointed out that his ministry aimed at attaining sustainable human settlements which also emphasised the significance of land resources as a key component of socio-economic and political pursuit for national prosperity as envisaged through Vision 2036.

The ministry, he said, was in the process of finalising the National Spatial Plan; that is both a framework and a process providing a spatial vision to future development and investment decisions in the country.

He added that once finalised and approved by cabinet, it would be mainstreamed into other developmental processes to promote multi-sectoral economic development in the country.

Mr Mzwinila said government continued to devise new policies aimed at guiding current and future efforts of finding solutions to the problems in the management and administration of land resources.

Government, in collaboration with the private sector, had made extensive progress in crafting a variety of reforms with the view to improve land management and administration in Botswana, he said.

He said the summit,  held under the theme: “promoting an in-depth appreciation of land issues, creating wealth opportunities and enhancing land security in Botswana” was opportune as it dovetailed perfectly with government efforts in ensuring an efficient and effective system of land management and administration.

Mr Mzwinila informed participants that the Deeds Registry and Tribal Land acts were successfully amended and approved by Parliament in July 2017 with the view to facilitate seamless implementation of National Land Policy of 2015.

He said the Deeds Registry Amendment Bill makes it mandatory the registration of all parcels of land in the country through the Registrar of Deeds which would automatically yield a secure land title.

Furthermore, it directs that disposal of land grants in marriage unions should be done through full bilateral consultations between couples and the final decision thereof be endorsed through an oath statement, he said.

Mr Muzwinila said to simplify the process of grants transfer and the division of estate following dissolution of a marriage union, the bill also directs that a court order must be the authority to endorse the ownership or transfer of rights between couples depending on the final decision of the court.

Regarding the Tribal Land Act Bill, Mr Mzwinila said it directs that holders of land grants must advertise in the event they wanted to sell them.

He said the intention was to allow and give priority to Batswana to buy such grants before other interested buyers could be considered.

The minister said the amendment bill also barred the allocation of tribal land to non-citizens except under a special dispensation issued by the minister.

He further said the bill directed that the acquisition of land by government from private individuals must be executed as per the prevailing market value of the land as opposed to ‘adequate compensation’ as had been the case in the past.

He applauded the summit organisers saying it would help facilitate local capacity in improving such aspects as governance, efficiency and security of Botswana’s limited land resources.

He said land management and administration came with challenges because land by nature was a high value commodity.

Mr Mzwinila urged officers to always observe code of conduct which detested corruption in all its manifestations as it had enormous economic, social and political consequences.

The summit, which was attended by land tribunal presidents, land administrations, real estate agents, council planners and ministry senior staff ends today(August 31).
ENDS