21 Aug 2022

Tawana Land Board has suspended applications for ploughing fields (masimo) with immediate effect until further notice.

The land board has a waiting list for ploughing fields since 2015, and the total applications received stand at 18 505.

Land board chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Dube revealed this during a media briefing to update on progress in regard to land allocations for residential plots and ploughing fields.

He said the decision was taken after realising that the process of planning plots for ploughing fields took longer than expected.

He noted that the land policy stated that ploughing fields must be planned and surveyed before allocation, where feasible.

He said the suspension would allow them to deal with those on the waiting list until they were completed.

He noted that they had managed to prepare layout plans of 2 970 plots in Chanoga, Bodibeng, Bothatogo, Etsha 6, Gumare, Sepopa, Xhaoga, Habu, Ikoga and that they were ready to be surveyed.

He anticipated that the process would take two years.

Mr Dube also noted that approved ploughing fields would be allocated and that applicants would be allowed to identify in-fill spaces even if they were appearing for the first time in the waiting list without subjecting them to the approved layout.

“This will be done with the assistance of land overseers and neighbours and such proposed plots will then be mapped, planned then surveyed,” he said.

Where the ploughing field is not feasible to plan, he said identification of in-fills within the ploughing fields would be allowed and that the process would then follow the planning process for compliance with existing statutes.

Mr Dube said all sub-land boards had been instructed to update the public on the new system with regard to self identification of ploughing fields.

He said the mapping of identified in-fills within ploughing fields would be effective from September 2022.

With regard to residential plots, he said since last year they had accelerated efforts to allocate land.

He noted that they had set a target to allocate 17 918 residential plots by the end of the 2022/23 financial year against the national target of 100 000 plots.

Mr Dube also said there were 9 335 plots for allocation in April and that 4 439 were allocated as at August 12, 2022.

He noted that Maun Sub-land Board allocated 2 788 plots and that the remaining plots were 3 606.

He said Gumare allocated 462 plots and remained with 36 while Sehithwa had 641 plots, all of which would be allocated this month.

He also noted that Shakawe had 1 104 plots remaining and that Seronga allocated all the 85 plots while Nokaneng had no plots as they were still being surveyed.

The chairperson also pointed out that Maun Sub-land Board was overwhelmed with allocations, noting that the land board was targeting to allocate 6 683 plots, but only managed 2 788 while 3 895 plots remained.

To relief the sub-land board, Mr Dube said the main land board, in consultation with other sub- land boards, had resolved to seek assistance from the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs to approve engagement of other sub- land boards to speed up allocation.

“The minister has approved our request and directed that the said plots be allocated within two weeks starting with those from August 12, 2020.

As such, we have engaged Seronga, Sehithwa and Nokaneng to assist,” he said, noting that initially they were directed to allocate the plots by end of July. ENDS