20 Feb 2020

Land has to have a positive contribution to community livelihoods, Land Tribunal President,, Mr Tebogo Masala has said.

Speaking at the Tawana Land Board awards ceremony in Maun on February 19, Mr Masala implored the land board and land planners to work hard to ensure land benefited the communities of Ngamiland in order to reduce poverty.

He said the government recently took steps to optimise benefit of land to the communities, adding that the new dispensation that allows people to use part of their ploughing fields for alternative use, must be explored to improve the lives of the Ngamiland people.

Mr Masala also said the directive on concession areas must be exercised for some locals to enjoy the intended benefits.

“These concessions should be managed and distributed equally so that the proceeds benefit a lot of people,” he said, adding that the concession areas managed by communities must also create employment for the local communities.

Meanwhile, Mr Masala complimented awardees for their excellent work and motivated non-award recipients, saying that their efforts were also recognised as good results come from team work.

In his remarks, the Tawana Land Board Chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Dube said the awards were meant to celebrate good performance.

On other issues, Mr Dube said the land board had successfully completed about 66 per cent of plots through the Land Administration, Processes, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS).

He said all the 56 villages under the six sub-land boards had been surveyed.

Meanwhile, the Tawana Land Board Secretary, Ms Neo Mothobi gave her three awardees of choice to Ms Monei Keruamang of Tawana Land Board Accounts, Ms Masira Ntoroko of Human Resource and Administration and her third choice went to the departments of Information and Broadcasting Services.

The Chairman’s awards went to Sehithwa Sub-Land Board Chairperson, Mr Hange Ngunovandu, Tawana Land Board member Mr Frisco Gabokakangwe and Seronga Sub-land Board chairperson, Ms Reamogetse Yakenge.

Employee of the year award was scooped by Ms Gaboipone Mohabano, who is the senior personal secretary to the board secretary.

Ms Mohabano, who has been with the Land Board since 2010, said she did not expect the award.

However, she said she was result-orientated and customer centric in her service delivery in that she works beyond stipulated hours of work without expecting extra payment. ENDS