15 Dec 2025

Allocation of land is still on hold in Khwai pending the completion of a study on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the area.
Tawana Land Board chairperson, Ms Reamogetswe Yakenge, explained when responding to some reports that some officials abused their power by allocating plots despite suspension of the exercise.
Some councillors decried lack of transparency, accountability and mushrooming of illegal tourism operations in the Okavango Delta noting that the unlawful activities were fueled by illicit allocation by some landboard officials calling for action to be taken on perpetrators.
However, Ms Yakenge dismissed reports as misleading and baseless stating that land allocation at the tourism prime area situated in the heart of the delta was suspended around 2016, to allow for proper environmental assessment and planning due to the area’s ecological sensitivity.
She explained that in 2021, a decision was taken to lift the suspension and start allocation to people who had long applied but that did not happen up until some applicants in the same year were allocated plots, resulting in conflicts among members of the community.
The allocation, she said was indefinitely suspended and an investigation team was assigned to get to the bottom of the issue while on the other hand, a decision was taken to address the community as they were divided on the matter.
Ms Yakenge complained about the mushrooming of squatters in the district, explaining that there was illegal self-demarcation of residential plots activities in some areas such as Polokabatho.
The land board compensated individuals whose land was acquired for Maun expansion project in Polokabatho.
Ms Yankge said those allocated plots and chose to sell would not be given self-allocated land.
She appealed to village leaders to work with them and fight squatting since it undermined efforts toward effective land administration.
Councilors were accusing the landboard of poor service delivery saying the board failed to consult stakeholders so that they could appreciate their challenges.
Nominated councillor, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho said corruption was rampant and that some officials were abusing their power as there were incidents of favouritism in land allocation.
Khwai-Mababe-Sankoyo ward councillor, Ms Tshabang Paul also expressed concern about the rising illicit allocation of plots at Khwai yet they had been informed that allocation was suspended.  ENDS