04 Feb 2021

The review of compensation guidelines included a review of the rates for loss of land rights, and the rates for the improvements effected on the land.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Mr Kefentse Mzwinila said his ministry last reviewed the compensation rates in 2011.

Mr Mzwinila said the ministry researched on the current rates and their criteria against the current construction costs.

He said the 2020 research covered ploughing fields, noting that land boards did not give mining rights to construction companies on people’s ploughing fields as it would be double allocation.

Mr Mzwinila said his ministry did not issue mining rights, and that it only issued surface rights which were pre-requisites for the issuance of mining rights.

He noted that mining rights were issued by the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security.

The MP for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister when the ministry last reviewed the compensation rate and criteria for the demolition of houses for persons being relocated. He also asked  when his ministry researched on the current compensation rates and its criteria against current construction costs.

He also wanted to know when was the same done for ploughing fields and why land boards countrywide gave mining rights to construction companies on people’s ploughing fields.

Mr Moswaane further wanted to know why land boards could not give mining rights to owners of ploughing fields so that they could, in turn, sell to construction companies and improve their lives. ENDS