31 Jul 2013

Lobatse Town Council Clerk Mrs Gaba Sikwakwa says Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has 110 residential plots not 119 it claims to own in the town.

“These plots are an exchange by the town council for the construction of the new Lobatse Complex stadium, which was the land that belonged to the abattoir,” she said.

Submitting before the Parliamentary Select Committee that investigates the collapse of the national abattoir on July 31, Mrs Sikwakwa said the plots have not yet been transferred to the abattoir. She could not commit herself to the time when the town council will transfer the plots to BMC saying such a mandate lies with the department of Lands.

She however, explained that BMC had always been paying its rates on time for some of the properties that it has in the town. She made several references to a few plots that the town council had erroneously charged BMC rates, adding that some of the plots no longer belong to the abattoir.

She said some of the plots have either been bought while BMC has been charging rates for some other plots that did not belong to it citing one as a Debswana plot. Mrs Sikwakwa however, submitted that the town council is yet to reimburse the BMC for the Debswana plot and arrangements to that effect are on-going.

She agreed with the committee that it is taking too long for the department of Lands to allocate residential plots in Lobatse, adding that some of the plots could have long been allocated since 2010.

She also explained that the land surrounding the Lobatse Complex belong to the national abattoir and that her thinking is that it can be utilised for other uses such as building of conferences to support the optimal use of the complex stadium. 

So far over 30 witnesses both from government, BMC, farmers and experts have already testified before the committee which is expected to submit its report to the next Parliamentary session.

At the time of going to press, the committee was still awaiting testimony of former BMC Board Chairperson Mr Ian Thomson, who was alleged to had volunteered to be the abattoir’s Chief executive Officer without pay.

Mr Thomson is considered critical in the sense that he is the one alleged to had hired Mr Siva Prasad as his financial advisor without approval of the board.

The members of the committee, chaired by MP for Ngwaketse west Mr Mephato Reatile, comprise of Tswapong North MP Prince Maele, Ngami’s Taolo Habano, Major General Moeng Pheto of Kweneng East, Kgatleng West’s Gilbert Mangole, John Toto of Kgalagadi South, amongst others. ENDS