19 Feb 2014

Molapo farming, which has been the source of life sustenance for the people of Ngamiland , has not been abandoned and it is still being practiced within the flood plains.

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake said he was not aware that Tawana Land Board (TLB) has been instructed to allocate ploughing fields not less than seven kilometres away from the river front.

Answering a question in Parliament on February 18, Minister Mokalake said Tawana Land Board like other land boards had a policy that guided the allocation of ploughing fields in relation to villages/settlements.

Mr Mokalake told the house that the seven kilometres policy was not for allocation of ploughing fields from the river front; rather it was for the allocation of ploughing fields in relation to settlements and villages to allow for future village expansion.  

Furthermore, he highlighted that the policy was a land allocation policy for TLB and did not apply throughout the country since land boards had different policies which were influenced by availability of land for various uses.

The MP for Maun East, Mr Frank Ramsden had asked the minister why TLB had been instructed to allocate ploughing fields not less than seven kilometres away from the river front.

The legislator also wanted to know whether Molapo farming, which through the years has been the sustenance of the Ngamiland people has been abandoned and if so why. Mr Ramsden also asked if the seven kilometres policy applies only to areas where there are perennial rivers or throughout the country. ENDS