18 Jan 2022

Xhana residents in the North West District have expressed frustration at delayed allocation of residential plots by Maun Sub Land Board.

The resident told Maun East MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile at a Kgotla meeting that the village lagged behind in developments even though it was only 40 kilometers from Maun.

The residents further said they had individually written to the land board, demanding certificate to their residential plots, all to no avail.

They also complained that Xhana was not connected to the water grid, but had to rely on a single borehole.

The residents said it was time the village was connected to the national power grid.

In response, Maun Sub Land Board vice chairperson, Mr Abel Molelo said Xhana was classified under agricultural land hence residential plots could not be allocated unless a change of land usage proposal was submitted to land board.

He highlighted that residents together with their leadership should meet and draft a proposal for Xhana to be incorporated as a ward under Chanoga village which would enable land board and other stakeholders to draw base maps and allocate Xhana as a residential area.

He said upon approval of the proposal for change of land usage, base maps would be formulated which would also include installation of services like water and electricity.

Thus, currently the land board could not issue residential certificates to dwellers as their land was not yet authorised as residential area.

Mr Molelo further implored all stakeholders to expedite the issue so that Xhana would develop and attract more people to apply for land owing to the fact that they were strategically located along the A3 road to Maun.

However, MP Kekgonegile stated that it was imperative that all key stakeholders should contribute to the formulation proposal to list Xhana as a ward under Chanoga.

He called on youth to contribute to the proposal and further asked residents to decide on how they would like their village layout to be.

He said it was the prerogative of inhabitants of a particular area to decide how they would like their village to be designed, that is, whether it straddles the main road or spreads away from the road.

MP Kekgonegile said incorporating Xhana under Chanoga would benefit residents as now they would be able to get services as a village.

He gave Sexaxa village as an example of a transition noting that it was incorporated as a ward in Maun in order to relinquish its agricultural settlement title to allow for services and developments of a village status. Ends