'Suspension of land allocation temporary'

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 16, 2013 00:00

 

Reports from various districts have recently indicated that land boards have suspended allocation of land to the public.  While he confirmed that some land boards suspended allocation of land late last year, the minister said his ministry has instructed all land boards - that had suspended the operation in order to plan and demarcate plots, to reinstate the allocation.  Responding to a parliamentary question recently, Mokalake said land allocations will only be suspended temporarily where the Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) exercise is ongoing to allow for smooth transition of the land registration.

The minister however said that he has directed that in primary and secondary centres which are Planning Areas, peri-urban areas and major villages, land boards must plan and pre-demarcate land before any allocations are made.  He said this is critical for future settlements growth, infrastructure and services provision. 'Essentially, the role of land boards has not changed and will be as succinctly specified in the Tribal Land Act, which among others include the granting of rights to use land and cancellation of rights to use land,' he said.In response to a question from Nata/Gweta MP Raynor Makosha, the minister said youth projects continue to be allocated land provided they meet the set criteria.

'All these notwithstanding, I want to emphasise that the position of my ministry is that land should be planned and demarcated before any allocations are made. This is predicated on the inordinate costs associated with provision of infrastructure and services in haphazardly allocated areas, land disputes relating to double allocations and blockages of accesses to individual properties,' he said.