13 Feb 2024

Government needs to conduct a comprehensive land audit to determine ownership, distribution and use or misuse of land in the country.

Bobonong MP, Mr Taolo Lucas made the call in a motion he tabled before Parliament recently.

Mr Lucas said a land audit would ensure efficient, productive and equitable land use plan for the country.

In his comment, Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila said there was an existing Land Information System within the ministry, which was a comprehensive database containing accurate and up-to-date land records.

“And I would be more than happy to show you how the system works,” Dr Mzwinila said.

He also said the ministry used the Land Administration Procedures, Capacity Building and System (LAPCAS) to streamline land administration processes and rectify land rights issues.

“The LAPCAS exercise began in 2009 and the aim was to have what we call a secure land title,” he added. He said the LAPCAS exercise was now complete and all residential plots throughout the country had plot numbers and the exercise would soon spread to ploughing fields.

However, he said despite such advancements, land scarcity was still a challenge in the country.

He said a significant number of applicants for residential plots already owned such properties, indicating a potential need for more equitable land distribution policies.

“With the existing audit system within the ministry, there is no necessity to adopt MP Taolo’s motion,” he said.

MP for Good Hope/Mabule, Mr Eric Molale reiterated that a land audit process was already underway.

“For example, government has made a breakthrough in purchasing the largest privately freehold land which was in the hands of Tati Company Limited because an audit had been undertaken,” Mr Molale said.

That, he said, demonstrated government’s commitment to providing land ownership opportunities to the citizens of Botswana to advance socio-economic activities. ENDS