17 Mar 2019

 Members of Parliament last week raised concern on challenges surrounding allocation of plots throughout the breadth and width of the country.

Debating the proposed budget allocations for the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, legislators noted that the problem had to be addressed without delay as it hampered developments.

MP for Nata-Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga noted that delays in allocating people plots indeed a serious challenge.

He proposed that people be allocated land even when it was not serviced, saying services would be brought to them afterwards.

Mr Majaga further urged the ministry to source funds to address challenges of water shortages throughout the country.

Francistown South legislator, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi called on government to buy farms lying idle around Francistown and in the North East district so that people seeking to be allocated land could be duly assisted.

On water, he called for the replacement of postpaid water with a prepaid system, where consumers could control their consumption and consequently help lower their expenses on water usage.

MP Fidelis Molao of Shashe West noted that it was necessary to expedite minimal land servicing so that Batswana could be allocated plots.

Also, he said government should increase compensation for buying land from citizens as the current rates were too low.

Regarding water, he said of the 13 villages making up his constituency, 11 were grappling with serious water shortages.

Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, the Boteti East lawmaker said squatting was becoming more pronounced in Letlhakane as a result of non-allocation of plots.

He said the waiting list in the village was ballooning due to the slow pace of allocations; something that he observed resulted in both individuals and churches resorting to squatting.

MP for Tlokweng, Mr Masego Segokgo said the state of the Botswana/South Africa border fence was impoverishing Tlokweng residents as their cattle often roamed into the neighbouring country and it became a hurdle for their owners to get them back.

On sewerage services, he said some households were not connected to the sewer system and that the Tlokweng Sub-District Council had failed to address the problem.

MP Liakat Kably of Letlhakeng-Lephephe expressed gratitude that funds had been secured to reticulate water to Shadishadi.

Mr Kably however joined other lawmakers in denouncing the slow pace of plots allocations, while MP Mohammed Khan of Molepolole North said Molepolole had for years been reeling under serious water shortages despite the village’s high population.

He said it was saddening that government kept failing to live up to the promises it had made to residents to attend to the situation.

Tonota legislator, Mr Thapelo Olopeng said some residents of Mandunyane were willing to sell their ploughing fields to government to cater for the growth of the village.

Mr Olopeng also pleaded for the paving of roads in Tonota West.

Ghanzi North lawmaker, Mr Noah Salakae urged government to create land banks from which people could be allocated plots.

MP for Moshupa-Manyana, Mr Karabo Gare said despite water and land being enabling components of developments, it was sad that many Batswana still had challenges accessing them.

He said the fact that water provision projects were besieged with challenges across the country was evidence that there was a deep-rooted problem in the sector that needed to be addressed.

MP Haskings Nkaigwa of Gaborone North said some households in SHHA areas in Gaborone were yet to be connected to the sewer network.

He said government needed to create a special fund to eradicate pit latrines in the city.

Further, he complained about the stench in the northern parts of the city, a problem that he said needed to be addressed speedily as it was making life difficult for residents.

Specially elected legislator, Mr Eric Molale thanked government for the North-South Water Carrier saying it ensured that Batswana got water despite the country being water-deficient. ENDS