11 Dec 2021

BATLA urged to be proactive

MAUN, December 10(BOPA): Government has taken a deliberate step to establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee tasked to look into the causes of land allocation delays with a view of resourcing and expediting the land allocation process.

The Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Mr Kefentse Mzwinila said this when officially opening the 19th BATLA biennial conference in Maun on recently. This, he said showed government commitment in addresing  challenges concerning land management.

He advised Botswana Association of Tribal Land Authority (BATLA)  to be active in land management issues saying government expected  BATLA to advise the ministry as well as being a mouth piece for land boards.

“The association needs to be visible and at the forefront of educating the public on land management issues,” he said.

He said that BATLA should play an advisory role since it had professionals with various competencies, experiences and skills.

Mr Mzwinila said the association had to align itself with the government strategies and should lead the transformation of land boards.

BATLA president, Mr David Modisagape said that the conference was meant to review the progress of the association and introspect on its mandate every two years.

He however said that BATLA was aware of public concerns regarding land management issues especially delays in land allocations.

Mr Modisagape said that land boards had many challenges not only shortage of land but shortage of resources especially human resources.

He said that the strategic environmental assessment (SEA), which was mandatory prior to land allocations was also a challenge to land boards as it required a lot of funds.

Mr Modisagape also advised  land boards to guard against corruption and to intensify public knowledge.BOPA