14 Nov 2021

Land is the most basic of all economic resources and it is fundamental to economic development, says Tonota Member of Parliament, Mr Pono Moatlhodi.

Land use for agricultural purposes, he said, was integral to the country’s subsistence agriculture and its use in an urban context was crucial in shaping how effectively cities functioned and who benefitted from urban economic growth. He was contributing to the State-of-the-Nation Address by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi last Monday.

Mr Moatlhodi also noted that President Masisi, in his address, highlighted government’s recognition of land as a critical factor in the development of the country’s economy.

He said government’s commitment towards economic growth would be a wild goose chase if more funds were not channelled towards improving land allocation across the country.

Mr Moatlhodi highlighted that land was a scarce resource in his constituency and that complaints  about insufficient housing was also partly because of shortage of land.

“It is disappointing that the waiting list for plot allocation in the Tonota constituency currently stands at over 100 000 and the last allocation was in 2014,” he said.

He said the delay in land allocation could lead to squatters mushrooming all over the country and that it would lead to socio-economic problems such as high crime rates and environmental challenges due to poor sanitation services.

Mr Moatlhodi also stated that there was land in abundance in his constituency in the form of unutilised ploughing fields. He urged land board officials to reposes such pieces of land and compensate owners as a remedy to residential land shortage in Tonota.

On other issues, the Tonota legislator applauded government for living up to its commitment to address the water challenge in the country, particularly with the recent commissioning of Masama-Mmamashia water pipeline.

He said the water reticulation project was in line with President Masisi’s reset agenda.

Mr Moatlhodi, nonetheless, complained about acute water shortage in some parts of his constituency, citing Tonota West as in dire need of water despite its proximity to Shashe Dam.

Contributing to the debate, Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Dr Unity Dow said the country was on a precipice because of the actions of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services. She urged government to establish a commission of enquiry on the operations of the organisation.

Dr Dow argued that DIS seemed to be operating above the law and were not held responsible and accountable for their actions.

She also urged the Leader of Opposition to reconsider his decision not to serve in the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, saying they failed to act on the opportunity to hold the DIS accountable at all times.

“We have failed to influence the public’s perception of the DIS, and the public has always viewed the DIS as a monster. We feared it and that became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Good governance is about transparency and there is absolutely little, if anything transparent about the DIS,” she said.

Dr Dow lamented that DIS was operating outside the law, adding that the organisation’s functions were spelt out in the law like any other institution. ENDS