11 Aug 2026

It is not practical and realistic for government to commit to allocate residential plots to all people on the waiting list in the next three years as that requires adequate budget. 

The current clean waiting list stands at 778,152 applicants, comprising 696,167 applicants on Tribal Land and 81,985 on State Land. Responding to a motion in Parliament on Thursday, the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti noted that the level of demand represented more than half of the country’s eligible population noting that additionally, there were more than 900 000 plots allocated in tribal land. 

The motion by Bobirwa MP, Mr Taolo Lucas called on Parliament to request government to commit to allocate residential plots to all persons on waiting list for residential plots in next three years to facilitate home ownership for a significant proportion of the people of Botswana. 

Dr Dikoloti explained that the country’s land administration system was governed by a process noting that before any plot could be allocated, several statutory processes must be completed.

Furthermore, he said environmental assessments must be undertaken where necessary, physical development plans and layout plans must be prepared and approved. 

“The budget provision within the NDP 12 is not adequate to deliver the plots as required by the motion and I do not oppose the principle of equitable access to land. Indeed, every Motswana aspires to own a home and the government equally recognises that aspiration,” he added. 

However, Dr Dikoloti further noted it would be irresponsible for the house to direct government to commit itself to an undertaking that could reasonably be fulfilled within the proposed timeframe, questioning where would the funding be coming from. 

He said the cost of allocating those on the waiting list within a period of three years would be astronomical, mentioning that the estimated cost of producing a plot within land services was P240,000.

Dr Dikoloti pointed out that citizens lost trust when government announced ambitious targets that could not be achieved, conversely, confidence grew when government set realistic objectives, delivered on them and progressively improved performance. 

“While the intention behind this motion is commendable, its implementation would place impossible obligations upon government, create expectations that cannot reasonably be fulfilled and ultimately erode public confidence in our institution,” he added. Dr Dikoloti said lasting solutions required careful planning, sustained investment, institutional reform and sound fiscal management. 

“The answer is not to adopt arbitrary timelines that disregard technical, financial and administrative realities,” he added. In the NDP 12, he said his ministry had been allocated a budget of P165 million for land surveying and at the current rates, which could yield about 66,000 plots. 

On the other hand, he said land acquisition has been allocated P215 million and at the current rates, “we can acquire about 6,000 hectares of land, which would translate to about 40 000 plots. 

Dr Dikoloti said these figures demonstrated that the land sector had not been adequately resourced by this Parliament to provide land to all persons in the waiting list within a period of three years, which fell within the NDP 12 period. ENDS