04 Jul 2023

Ngwato Land Board chairperson, Mr David Modisagape has implored members to devise ways on how best they can manage land for the interests of Batswana. 

Addressing a stakeholders’ consultative meeting in Serowe recently, Mr Modisagape said having been entrusted with the management of land, it was important to update stakeholders, particularly dikgosi, on progress made thus far with regard to land allocation. 

Mr Modisagape said he was happy that in the last financial year, land boards were able to allocate a substantial amount of plots to Batswana. 

He added that dikgosi, as leaders in their respective areas, were key stakeholders and therefore needed to work with land boards to improve service delivery. 

“It is important to strike a balance between residential plots allocation and the issue of food security as some ploughing fields were affected when allocating residential plots. 

We are trying as much as possible not to allocate fertile land for residential plot and where practical we will spare such land for agricultural purposes,” he said. 

On other issues, he said land boards were faced with a challenge of squatters. 

“People should know that squatting is an illegal practice punishable by law. It has come to the fore that squatters have plots elsewhere and in most instances more than one,” he said. 

He thus implored dikgosi to engage their community members to desist from squatting and remind them that land boards had the right to evict squatters and demolish their structures. 

Again, Mr Modisagape expressed concern about those who fought over allocated residential plots or land, saying “in some instances widows or wives after their spouses passed on, parents of the late husband would fight for property with them.” 

He thus encouraged people to draw a will that would guide or inform authorities of the rightful land heir after death. 

For his part, Deputy Chief of Ga-Mmangwato, Kgosi Serogola Seretse implored dikgosi to be cautious when dealing with land issues as they were sensitive, adding that their input could lead to amicable resolution of critical matters. 

He said fighting over inheritance was disturbing. 

Kgosi Serogola said some allocated plots had become havens for criminals and thus pleaded with land boards to address the situation. 

Meanwhile, the consultative meeting sought to forge relations with dikgosi as well as update them on registration of old plots, issues of inheritance, issuance of secure land title deed, amended Acts and regulations in the land sector and roles of land overseers. 

About 150 dikgosi and dikgosana in Serowe attended stakeholders’ consultative meeting. ENDs