04 Dec 2019

About 1 800 plots were allocated to people relocated from Botshabelo/Sedie to Disana ward in Maun to give way for Maun airport expansion, Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila has said. Briefing Parliament on December 3, the minister said 1 800 plots were adequate given the 1 430 plots affected by the airport expansion.

He said the Tawana Land Board allocated the plot owners as well as other people who were not plot owners but owned houses in those plots as extended family.

“It is worth noting that it is government’s policy (compensation guidelines) that when people are relocated to pave way for developments, they are compensated for all the developments made including loss of rights,” he said.

He also noted that it was the responsibility of government to provide services such as water, electricity, roads and health care centres where they were relocated. “This has been demonstrated by the already existing infrastructural developments for residents of Disana such as a clinic, primary school paved main road and gravel access roads,” said Mr Mzwinila.

He also explained that in 2007/2008 when the plots were allocated, there was only one main gravel road passing by the Letsholathebe hospital. Subsequently, infrastructure comprising of 1.6 kilometres of paved roads, 15 kilometres of gravel roads and stormwater drainage was provided in the area. 

Mr Mzwinila said for now the ministry did not have any immediate plans to provide additional infrastructure in the area. He, however, said in future it may be considered by tapping into the constituency development funds in order to improve existing infrastructure in the constituency. Maun East legislator, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had wanted to know the number of plots allocated to people relocated from Botshabelo/Sedie to Disana ward in Maun to give way for the Maun airport expansion.

He also wanted to know if the number of plots allocated were adequate, and if not, when the next allocation for the remaining people would take place.  He also asked what the government relocation policy included and whether there were any intentions to include infrastructural developments found in the previous location, and how the Disana ward community had benefited from the government’s relocation policy. ENDS