14 May 2025

Land is key in driving various development initiatives and facilitating economic growth, says the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatius Moswaane.

He therefore called on Tawana Land Board to strive to avail land for government and community planned projects aimed at transforming Maun into a business centre and uplifting the livelihoods of the communities

“In most instances, lack of land has been identified as a barrier towards the delay in implementation of developmental projects and I urge land boards to allocate plots for all projects including ones for Village Development Committees (VDCs). Land boards should treat VDCs as government entities," said Mr Moswaane addressing a leadership forum in Maun on Tuesday, adding that they should be allocated land within 30 days.

Mr Moswaane said land boards were important stakeholders in development and as such, they should treat applications from VDCs and government as urgent, noting that land allocation was crucial in creating employment opportunities. He said if land boards allocated more land for various uses, that could help stimulate economic growth and attract investment leading to more job creation.

The government, he said, had promised to unlock vast economic opportunities that would enhance the quality of life and create more jobs and land boards could be resourceful in fulfilling the promise. The assistant minister advised land board to identify policies that hindered speedy land allocation so that such could be reviewed. 

“We want to see well-planned allocations of industrial plots, civic and community plots among others and if there is no land, the four local authorities should come on board consult on expansion of Maun,” he added.

Mr Moswaane also expressed concern about reports that some land boards were facing a serious shortage of surveyors hence he advised that requests for creation of posts could be included in NDP 12 proposals in an effort to accelerate land demarcation and allocation. He also emphasised the need for leadership and the community to prioritise development projects that could benefit the community and contribute to the transformation of their village.

“We want to see development of community trusts and cooperatives growing and benefiting the communities. There is a certain trust that receives P9 million annually and it allocates P100 000 each to affiliating villages and this is not good. We want to see organisations driving sustainable developments,” he said.

Minister Moswaane also suggested that the leadership should consider establishing trusts such as mining or fishing development trusts which could maximise on total returns derived from their resources. ENDS