11 Aug 2026

Parliament has rejected a motion that advocated for allocation of unserviced land to address the long waiting periods. 

An amendment to the motion seeking government’s commitment to allocate residential plots to 50 per cent of all persons on the waiting list for such residential plots in the next three years was also rejected. 

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

In his debate, MP for Boteti West and also Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Keoagile Atamelang argued that it would be impossible to implement what the motion required considering the current economic challenges and the costs associated with land servicing.

However, he wished the mover of the motion could have advised government on alternatives for land management to address the national backlog. 

Kanye East legislator, Mr Prince Mosanana concurred that while the demand for land allocation was high, serviced land was key as currently those who had been allocated in unserviced land were complaining of lack of basic services.

 He rejected the motion with amendments, saying government had plans to address the allocation backlog.

 “Currently people in the waiting list are 680 000 and to allocate half of the total number will not be practical because it requires more funding,” he said. 

MP for Moshupa-Manyana, Mr Karabo Gare who made the amendment to the motion argued that since the majority of members agreed that land allocation must be prioritised, it was advisable to have a constructive amendment to make the motion more practical, measurable and implementable.

The motion, he said should be fair to both the mover and the implementers. 

Rejecting the motion, Specially Elected MP and also Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware said it was advisable to come up with motions that were practical, questioning the capability and resources to allocate plots to all persons in the waiting lists in three years considering the growth of the budget. 

“We are rejecting the motion basing on the issue of resources and capability. 

We cannot afford to allocate plots in the set target because we have other challenges faced by the nation,” he said. 

In support of the motion, MP for Kgatleng West, Dr Unity Dow argued that having a proper target gave one a definite path to follow, and questioned why the proposal that government should allocate plots to at least 50 per cent of people in the waiting list was still rejected. 

MP for Ngami, Mr Philemon Aaron said land servicing should not be an excuse as in other areas plots had been allocated in unserviced land.

Owning a plot, he said gave one a safe investment, total freedom to build their dream home and wished the government could deliver on the promises they made to Batswana to improve their quality of life. 

He also argued that some sub-land boards faced shortage of surveyors, hence the delay in land allocation. 

Responding to MPs contributions, Mr Lucas said the motion advocated for acceleration of land allocation of residential plots to clear massive waiting lists. 

He said some citizens had been waiting for ages to be allocated residential plots. 

“The issue is not inadequate budget but lack of capacitation of land boards and sub-land boards, which are delaying the process of allocation. Some land boards have been slow in allocating plots over a long period of time as some applicants waited 30, 20 to 10 years,” he said. ENDS