02 Mar 2026

Parliament has learnt that in terms of the provisions of the Tribal Land Act, particularly Section 31, land boards are entitled to repossess land where it is in the public interest to do so, and for the purpose of ensuring fair and equitable distribution of land among the citizens of Botswana. 

Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti said in Parliament on Wednesday that in doing so, the Land Boards were guided by the Village Development Plans, which indicated designated growth areas, hence the repossession was not selective. 

Dr Dikoloti said he was aware that village expansions were implemented in phases, as provided for in the relevant development plans. 

“These phases are not usually implemented simultaneously. For example, in Sese village which is under the Maokane Sub Land Board, the Land Board, in consultation with the community, decided in 2025 to commence repossessions in the village expansion phase located to the south-west of the village, as opposed to the eastern side, which has also been earmarked for future expansion,” he said. 

Additionally, he said, repossessions may be pursued in line with Section 5(1) of the Act through cancellation of a grant of rights to use land by the grantee. 

In that regard, he said such cancellation may arise as a result of a breach of conditions attached to the grant. He also explained that the Land Board, as a body corporate, may also implement court orders, which may result in repossessions and cancellations of land rights. For example, he said, the Ngwaketse Land Board was in the process of implementing a court order for a matter within the jurisdiction of the Maokane Sub Land Board, which may result in cancellations of land rights of already allocated ploughing fields in the area and where possible relocations to alternative areas. He also apprised Parliament that the Mabutsane Sub Land Board had not undertaken any repossessions or cancellations of land rights since 2017. He was responding to questions from Jwaneng- Mabutsane MP, Mr Omphemetse Kwapa, who wanted to know if the minister was aware that Ngwaketse Landboard, Maokane Sub Landboard and Mabutsane Sub Landboard were selective in repossessing prime plots while those belonging to certain individuals were never repossessed. ENDS