14 Apr 2026

Parliament has been informed that Somelo settlement was established in 1998 under the Rural Development Programme (RADP) to improve the livelihood of people living in remote areas far from established services. 

Responding to a parliamentary question on behalf of Minister of Lands and Agriculture recently, Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi, said the settlement was established from the former Farm No. OM-73 Hainaveld measuring about 14 616 653 hectares. 

Minister Ramogapi said due to the enactments of the Amended Deeds Registry (2019) and Tribal Land (2022) Acts, the area was now registered as Cadastral Area 255 at the Deeds Registry office and designated for mixed land use. 

“Currently, land utilisation indicates that the build-up area covers approximately 198 hectares while ploughing fields occupy about 510 hectares,” he said. 

He added that although it was established in 1998, Tawana Land Board began official plot allocations in 2006 in which 382 residential plots were allocated of which six were held under Common Law Leases, four commercial plots, 85 ploughing fields and eight civic, a primary school, kgotla, clinic and tribal office. 

He stated that Somelo settlement had an estimated population of about 1 040 people and increased to 1 170 when associated localities were included while application list stood at 156 for residential plots and 122 for ploughing fields. 

He also said the last residential plot allocation was in December 2025 and for ploughing fields was in 2015. 

“This level of demand relative to the settlement population highlights that while land is available in extent, land allocation for ploughing field has been lacking despite availability of about 452 plots for various land uses,” he said. 

He further highlighted that the implementation of the approved layout was presently constrained by the existence of self-allocated plots within the layout area and such developments required realignment and regularisation to ensure compliance with the approved plan by end of June. 

He said the total utilised area was approximately 708 hectares, leaving an estimated 13 908 653 hectares available for future development and allocations.

 MP for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister about the vastness of the land applicable for utilisation by the Somelo community in terms of cattle post, ploughing fields, business and residential plots allocations. 

Mr Kekgonegile also wanted to know the total measurement of the farm bought for use by Somelo community, land currently under use and the difference in measurement between the allocated area and that not allowed.ENDS