28 Jan 2019

The pilot project for the allocation of residential plots on fully serviced land in Palapye has caused delays in plot allocation due to shortage of funds for servicing the land.

Member of Parliament for Palapye Mr Moiseraela Goya, who is also Assistant Minister of Investment Trade and Industry, said this during the first ever ‘town hall’ meeting in Palapye.

He said the last time Palapye Sub-land Board allocated plots was in August 2015, and those who benefitted had applied as far back as 2004.

Mr Goya revealed that the waiting list had clocked over 14 years with about 17 960 applicants on it.

He said in terms of the development plan, the proposed expansion of Palapye extends from Extension 11 to Extension 18.

“Palapye and Metsimotlhabe are the only villages in the country selected to pilot the project for servicing land before allocation,” Mr Goya said.

He said although the pilot project was taking time, it would bring results and pave way for developments in the village.

Still on land developments, he stated that LAPCAS project was progressing well and all land records would eventually be included in the Land Information System.

“The government is working on regulations to fast track the processing of applications for change of land use in an effort to empower Batswana to use their land for business purposes,” he said.

Palapye Deputy Land Board chairperson, Ms Baipoledi Kwadiba explained that shortage of land was due to the fact that the land board did not have money to compensate ploughing field owners whose land would be repossessed.

She added that it took time to complete such processes, noting that some assessments commenced in 2011 and some people received their dues in 2014, adding that other assessments are still ongoing.

“The proposed phase two of Palapye is at the east side of the village and it will affect Mahibitswane ploughing fields,” Ms Kwadiba said.

She refuted allegations that the land board had repossessed plots in Extension 11, but noted that development of the plots was halted in order to complete the servicing of land in the area.

She said land servicing was almost complete and that they were currently awaiting a response from the Ngwato Main Land Board for the upliftment of the moratorium to enable developments to take place.

Furthermore, the deputy land board chairperson pointed out that some people who were allocated plots at Khurumela ward in 2015 rejected them on grounds that the landscape was rocky.

She suggested that the plots would be allocated to those who would accept the rocky terrain  due to shortage of land in the Palapye area.

When giving a brief about the allocation of ploughing fields, she pointed out that currently Palapye Sub-land Board had halted the allocation of ploughing fields until they resolved the Maotokgonyane ploughing fields double allocation disputes. ENDS