Land surrounding Molepolole Prisons remains reserved for civic and community use, with no immediate plans to repossess it for residential expansion. 

This was said by acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti answering a Parliamentary question on Tuesday, in which Molepolole North MP, Mr Arafat Khan had wanted to know if the ministry had considered repossessing unused land around or within Molepolole Prison as well as some of the underutilised plantation areas in Molepolole, with a view to reallocating such land for residential plots to address the growing demand for land among residents. 

Dr Dikoloti said the land was currently allocated to the Botswana Prisons Service and the Kweneng Land Board had not taken a decision to reclaim it for village development. 

He explained that any move to acquire the land would first be preceded by a comprehensive assessment to determine its suitability for residential purposes. 

He noted that the assessment, together with a possible acquisition process should the land be found viable, was scheduled for the 2026/27 financial year. 

On the long-standing issue of the plantation area, Dr Dikoloti said progress had previously been delayed by a legal dispute between the Bakwena Community Development Trust (BCDT) and the Kweneng Land Board. 

“The trust had taken over the land from the former Kweneng Rural Development Association and challenged the Land Board’s intention to repossess the property,” he said. 

He noted that while the Land Board had engaged BCDT in consultations to facilitate village expansion, the parties failed to reach an agreement, prompting the trust to approach the Land Tribunal for redress, adding that the tribunal had ultimately ruled in favour of the Land Board. 

“Negotiations are currently ongoing to finalise compensation for BCDT, a process expected to conclude once the matter is tabled before the Kweneng Land Board meeting scheduled for February/March 2026,” he said. 

Dr Dikoloti further revealed that planning for the area had reached an advanced stage, adding that a layout plan had already been approved by the District Council’s Physical Planning Committee, providing for 1 774 residential plots.

“The Kweneng Land Board survey team completed surveying the land in December 2025 and is finalising survey records for submission to the Department of Surveys and Mapping for examination and approval by the end of February 2026,” he said. 

He noted that once the plans were approved and registered with the Deeds Registry, allocation of the plots would commence. 

“Batswana are expected to begin receiving allocations in the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. The development is anticipated to ease the growing demand for residential land in Molepolole and surrounding areas,” he said. ENDS