02 Dec 2018

About 51 627 people are awaiting land allocation in Maun and Sehithwa villages says Maun Administration Authority (MAA) council chairperson Mr Mmoedi Modiegi.

Speaking during MAA council meeting on November 26, Mr Modiegi who is also Bombadi/Thito Councilor said the applications were for both residential and ploughing fields in the two villages.

He said Maun sub-land board had prepared layout for residential plots and progress has been made for demarcation while efforts in seeking ploughing fields had so far not been successful.

Mr Modiegi further said the Maun and Sehithwa sub land boards had requested community members who had not registered during the land registration exercise to avail themselves.

So far, the council chairperson said that about 40 703 plots have been surveyed in both Maun and Sehithwa and only 30 506 people have turned up to claim their plots.

Commenting on the chairman’s remarks, the Boro/Senongnori Councilor Mr Kenson Kgaga said it was disheartening that Batswana lacked land while the country has abundant land, some in terms of open spaces, forest reserves as well as that reserved for developments. "The greatest form of poverty is lack land ownership, especially residential plots."

Another councilor, Mr Kaukapita Kaukapita of Sedie said the Maun Sub Land Board report was incomprehensive since it did not specify the number of people on the waiting list per village and also failed to state a way forward.

Mr Kaukapita also said there was need to assess the applicants and give priority to first time land owners than allocating land to those who already had land.

He said Botswana has a small population compared to other countries but still failed to allocate land to Batswana.

Bojanala Councilor, Mr Luke Motlaleselelong said the land board should introspect on whether it had the capability to address the waiting list solely with the local authority or should seek intervention from the Central government.

Councilor for Khwai/Mababe Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotho requested the Maun Sub-Land Board to clarify the suspension of land allocations and change of land use in his area since the minister responsible had denied knowledge on the matter in a Kgotla meeting addressed recently in Maun. ENDS