10 Nov 2020

Batswana have been called to jealously guard upon land as it is an important resource of heritage.

Delivering the State-of-Nation Address in Gaborone on November 9, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said government strived to empower Batswana by reforming land tenure policies.

He said government was worried by the disempowering effect where citizens sold tribal land.

Dr Masisi said ‘selling land is strongly discouraged’ for the benefit of the future generation.

He said the initiative undertaken by government to promote mixed land use had helped people to re-purpose their land for advantageous economic activities.

He further stated that government had embarked on a management reform agenda that aimed at the transformation of the land sector with particular emphasis on speedy and efficient land allocation which would reduce the numbers on the waiting lists and the turnaround time for land allocation.

He said that the reform was expected to be completed by April 2021.

Dr Masisi said government continued to undertake land servicing projects to facilitate land allocation and development.

He further pointed out that in most of the layouts, plots had already been allocated and developed ahead of servicing, adding that projects were being undertaken during 2020/2021 financial Year included Lentsweletau, Lesoma/ Kazungula, Metsimotlhabe, Mabutsane, Francistown, Kalamare and Moshupa saying the projects were expected to provide access to 9 729 plots by March 2022.

Dr Masisi however stated that owing to capacity constraints, government was actively considering leveraging on the local private sector through Public Private Partnership (PPP) to service land and significantly reduce the waiting lists for land allocations, nationally.

He further mentioned that government was considering plot allocations on un-serviced or minimally serviced land. 

Meanwhile Dr Masisi stated that in the past, government adopted several planning initiatives such as the declaration of planning area, namely the South East, Kgatleng and Chobe Districts, as well as Palapye and Bobirwa Sub Districts.

He said government aimed at declaring all Districts as planning areas by March 2021.

He also noted that government had completed the development plans for Sowa, Serowe, Kanye and Molepoplole and the revitalization plans for Selibe Phikwe, Kasane, Kazungula, Lobatse and Francistown.

President Masisi said the Land Administration Procedures Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) project was to provide technological solutions for effective management of land.

He further said that as part of the LAPCAS initiative, government would establish a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) by 2023, which would allow for geo-spatial data sharing.

He stated that the availability of NSDI was expected to contribute to the Digital Government Transformation (SmartBots) and also enhance the implementation of the National Spatial Plan (NSP).

Dr Masisi said government was reviewing the National Policy on Housing to improve housing delivery and promote home ownership.

He noted that the review of the policy was expected to be complete by end of the 2021/22 Financial Year. Ends