21 Oct 2018

When productivity level is low and human capital resource is not capacitated to perform at the highest standards, the dream to achieve prosperity cannot be realised.

This was said by the Assistant Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Mr Itumeleng Moipisi, who emphasised that improved productivity level was critical towards ensuring attainment of prosperity for all.

Giving a keynote address at the Kweneng Land Board’ staff awards in Molepolole on October 19, Mr Moipisi challenged the board  staff to be mindful of the fact that they were dealing with 70 per cent of the total land in Botswana. 

 “You are central to the socio-economic development of this country,” said Mr Moipisi, who is also MP for Kgalagadi North.

He said the theme: Delivering Quality Service for Sustainable Development, the Key Towards Achieving Prosperity For All, was a very clear intent call for the land board to throw in its quota in the grand scheme of the national vision, which was in full swing. 

He, therefore, encouraged staff for the pursuit of creativity and innovation to champion the mandate of the land board as an organisation. 

The assistant minister commended the awardees to remain bold and work towards improved results and ensure tireless efforts and selfless dedication to serving the country unparalleled. He called for improvement on turnaround times and ensured that services provided were of the required standards.

“Let us treat our customers as special and serve them with great enthusiasm, love and integrity”, he said. The minister was also grateful for the significant contribution made by individuals that were not among the awardees, saying it was through collective efforts that the land board was able to achieve organisational service excellence.

Meanwhile, Kweneng Land Board chairperson Mr Moemedi Babitseng made a briefing to the effect that land allocation in Kweneng has come to a halt in the past year due to the shortage of land worsened by the resistance of property owners to hand over fields for village expansion. 

“Another issue of concern is the land board’s failure to adhere to customer complaints as they are constrained by manpower shortage and resources such as finance and equipment,” he said.

The problem, he said, also contributed to the allocation of unsurveyed fields.

The board chairperson also briefed about reluctance by some plot owners to register plots in fear of the Revised Land Policy that calls for one plot per person as per land Policy No 58 one and two.

He further highlighted the fact that, due to proximity to the capital city Gaborone, Kweneng District was continuing to experience high influx resulting in over 338  520 applications on the waiting list. 

The number, he said, exceeded that of the district population of 230 335 as per the previous Population and Housing Census. “The largest number is in Mogoditshane followed by Lentsweletau, Molepolole and Thamaga and we are currently working towards vetting applications for eligibility as and when plots become available for allocation,” stated Mr Babitseng.

The land board, he said, was concerned about losing valuable and experienced officers to organisations offering better remunerations as they do not have means to retain them. Molepolole Sub-land Board clerk Ms Kebaneile Ntsosang emerged the overall performer and was awarded a weekend trip to Kasane for two. ENDS