08 Feb 2023

Secure Land Title (SLT) also known as the Deed of Customary Land Grant, can be registered in the sole name of deceased.

This was revealed by Ghanzi Land Board secretary, Mr Bernard Phillimon during Charleshill Sub-land Board SLT launch recently.

Mr Phillimon, who appealed to the community to come forth to register for STL, said they should consider registering land for their departed loved ones as STL could be registered in the sole name of deceased.

He, thus, said there was no excuse not to register land for the deceased even before dealing with inheritance rights issues.

He said after the decision on who would inherit the land was made, Secure Land Title would be transferred to the respective owner.

Mr Phillimon implored those issued with SLT to keep the document safe, saying it would cost P1 500 to replace them.

Mr Kwadibe hailed Charleshill Sub-land Board STL launch as a milestone, saying President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi challenged land boards during the national launch of the SLT at Moshupa Sub-land Board to, among other things, do the needful in order to issue all Batswana with SLT in the shortest possible time.

“Ghanzi Land Board took up the President’s challenge and since June 2022, we have been busy with other activities that are required before individual Title Deeds are issued.’’

“I am pleased to announce that we have now reached the point where we will be issuing Secure Land Titles to some of our land owners in the Ghanzi District today,” said Mr Kwadibe.

He explained that the issuance of the STL was the culmination of the LAPCAS project, which began in 2009 as a cooperation between Botswana and Sweden.

“Ultimately the LAPCAS project has resulted in new computerised workflows for the land delivery process, which are more secure than the manual processes.’’

Mr Kwadibe said the new title will have a unique ID and safety features, in the same way as Omang was unique to a holder. 

He said the new title could be used to access credit and loans as ownership of land is guaranteed.

He explained that Ghanzi Land Board had jurisdiction over 16 villages in the Ghanzi District and one of the villages being Charleshill was chosen as a pilot area for issuance of the Secure Land Title.

“Ninety-six Secure Land Titles have been registered to date by Deeds Registry. 

Of these, 81 deeds have already been printed, and about 76 of them will be presented to the respective beneficiaries this morning,” he stated.  Ends