Batswana are a step closer to transforming their land into liquid capital following the presentation of the Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill 2026 in Parliament on Tuesday. 

By clearing a backlog of 830 000 unregistered plots, the Bill aims to turn dormant tribal land into an economic engine to allow citizens to secure bank loans and formalise their property rights. 

Presented by Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe, on behalf of acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti, the Bill also sought to modernise and strengthen the legal framework for land registration, with a primary goal to align the Deeds Registry with the Tribal Land Act of 2018 to facilitate a nationwide rollout of secure land titles. 

Mr Mathoothe highlighted some challenges within the current system, particularly in old built-up areas on tribal land. He noted that the existing requirement for a certificate of lease or title before registering general plans had created major bottlenecks, particularly in areas where historical land allocations were made without proper layout plans and made it difficult to produce accurate survey records. 

“The urgency of this reform is clear. Botswana currently faces a backlog of approximately 830 000 unregistered plots, many of which were surveyed under programmes such as Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS). This delay prevents citizens from obtaining secure land rights and enjoying the full benefits of ownership,” he told Parliament. 

He emphasised that the reform was as much about economic growth as it was about administration.

 “Without registration, land remains a dormant asset. With registration, it becomes a driver of economic activity,” he said. 

He explained that title deeds were important because they provided certainty of ownership, clearly defined property boundaries and enabled land to be used actively, including as collateral to access finance from banks and other financial institutions. 

“The Bill therefore seeks not only to improve administrative efficiency but to unlock the economic potential of land and empower citizens,” he added. He further said the reform was necessary, urgent and in the national interest, thus requested Parliament to approve the Bill, saying that if passed, the amendment was expected to ease longstanding administrative hurdles and enable more Batswana to leverage their land for immediate economic opportunities.

 Debating the Bill, Kgatleng East MP, Mr Mabuse Pule supported the Bill and applauded the minister for amending the Act. He said citizens would benefit from secure land titles as they would be able to use the certificates as collateral to access finance from banks. Charleshill MP, Mr Motsamai Motsamai said the amendment came at the right time, when the economy was struggling due to low diamond sales.

 He noted that the youth could use their parents’ plots to earn decent living. He added that delays in issuing title deeds led to regression in citizens’ ability to acquire loans and other financial opportunities to develop their lives. 

He emphasised that it was paramount for the law to be passed with urgency. Once adopted, he said, the amendments would enable big projects to resume speedily due to the availability of land for infrastructure development, thereby creating more employment opportunities across various settlements.

Specially Elected MP, Ms Lesego Chombo said access to land was relevant to youth employment. Ms Chombo, also Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, pointed out that many youth were unable to access financing because they lacked land or adequate security. Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi was happy that amendments would unlock 830 000 land certificates, saying that would provide investor confidence and help build the local economy. 

Mr Mmolotsi added that unlocking these certificates would ensure that development covenants were fulfilled by bringing infrastructure to the sites. ENDS