23 Oct 2013

Accountability is critical for effective tribal land management, says Debswana acting managing director, Mr Balisi Bonyongo.

Officially opening the 16th biennial conference of the Botswana Association of Tribal Land Authorities’ (BATLA) in Maun recently, Mr Bonyongo said land management issues were top of the agenda in both the public and government sphere.

“Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in media reports regarding land issues in Botswana,” said Mr Bonyongo, adding that they were mostly about land shortage. He said some individuals had resorted to fraudulent means of acquiring land.

Mr Bonyongo, who is also the patron of BATLA, noted that land was a critical component of any economic activity. He also noted that the land policy had a profound effect on the economic development of a country.

He added that land was the foundation upon which nations had generated wealth. “That is why we at Debswana are privileged to have been granted land rights to mine diamonds for this nation,” he said. He said Debswana supported government’s efforts towards economic diversification in order to enhance sustainable growth.

Mr Bonyongo also noted that government had intensified efforts to attract both citizen and foreign investors through the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC).

“The availability of land for both business and residential purposes is one of the key factors that investors consider,” said Mr Bonyongo. He added that land boards needed to be responsive and ensure that all their processes facilitate investment.

“Today’s investor demands fast and effective decisions for him/her to invest money in any country,” said Mr Bonyongo.

Mr Bonyongo said there was need for cooperation from all stakeholders such as government, parastatals, the private sector and non-government organisations (NGOs) to debate issues related to land in Botswana.

“The need for food security, the need to eradicate poverty, the need to sustain the environment, the need for shelter and economic growth as well as rural-urban migration continue to place a burden on the ever diminishing land resources,” said Mr Bonyongo. ENDS