BOCONGO on the land question: No quick fix

| Friday May 3, 2013 00:00

 

We must from the onset make it clear that we are not against the system per se.  We do, however harbour views that if done in isolation and without comprehensive dialogue it might break the seams of our peace and tolerance as contained in our Vision 2016.

We would like to congratulate our members of parliament; in particular, the sponsors of the land related motions, Dumelang Saleshando and Odirile Motlhale for rekindling the land debate. We would also take this opportunity to recognise civil society as led by the youth petitioners that has also added another dimension to the issue. We do also acknowledge the importance of the President's response, right or wrong. We believe and trust that he was just  being responsive and would now listen to other views such as one contained in-here.

This interest goes to show that land is a very sensitive and emotional issue just like any other natural resource in the society.  Land is very divisive and if approached in a na•ve and piece meal manner currently sponsored by Motlhale, the peace we have long preserved would instantly burst into flames. Parliament was not being merely alarmist in rejecting the motion but realistic.

It is true that our democracy and peace are not that fickle to fail any slight test but this confidence is also not absolute. We are lucky to have many precedencies that we could benchmark on to prove the difficulty of bringing back peace once it has eluded us.  We would rather be on the side of caution and avoid experimenting with potentially deadly initiatives.

The land resource can not be viewed in isolation to other resources. If there is need to relook the redistribution of resources, there must be a holistic approach that would address all issues surrounding the socio-economic of the society.  Botswana has succeeded in maintaining the stability and oneness of its people primarily because of the way it handled natural resources.

Unlike in other countries in Africa, Botswana, thanks to our founding leaders and parents, opted for a one nation principle in resource redistribution. The unification of the nation became the common factor in any decision pertaining to resources in the country.  A Motswana born in one corner of the country would benefit from resources in the other corner.

This is not necessarily a perfect approach as it denies the resource hosts the opportunity to benefit from them ahead of others.  People gave up a lot.  Some are still bemoaning the relegation of their cultures and languages into the periphery; some have allowed their language and culture to be the guinea pigs of national unity.  All these will have to come to the fore if the Government goes ahead with the planned policy intervention.

BOCONGO is therefore of the view that the president must launch a national commission to get Batswana's views on the way forward on resource redistribution in general with extended attention to land.  The land question, in particular cannot be competently answered without land audit that parliament has previously rejected.  With due respect to the politicians across the spectrum, including the president, we urge them to resist the temptation to play populist politics with this issue. It is more complex than some of them seem to think.  We are still reeling from bewilderment after government forced parliament to reject the land audit motion which we believe would be the most appropriate starting point on the land question.  We hope therefore that the current proposal which seek to appease Batswana in the proximity of Gaborone has no ill motives.  We can not improvise with the land question; it is just too risky.

We do share the concern from Batswana mostly affected by the land siphoning.  We cry with them but what is the use of wiping our tears with a cloth peppered with chilly?  In whose interest would that be?We would like to sensitise fellow Batswana in the targeted areas that a quota system not based on any study or proven projections is not in their best interest as they are made to believe.  The current proposal is basically playing Batswana against Batswana and that should not be entertained.  If the principle must apply it should be across the resources and perhaps with special attention to communal benefit rather than individuals.

Finally, we urge Government to stop focusing on symptoms but rather try to cure the root of the problem.  A significant part of the problem on the land issue is that government has allowed systematic land grabbing by few private owners, who then sell it at exorbitant prices.  In Tlokweng alone, the problem is not necessarily allocation of land to non Batlokwa-Batswana but the reservation of large chunks of land to few land sharks.  Another problem is that of subsistence selling of land by individuals, a problem that will persist even with the quota system.

Government must buy back large chunks of land reserved by private owners around the cities.  Most of this land lies virgin with distant owners. If there is a problem regarding the willing buyer-willing seller approach, government must inform us, Batswana so that we find ways of pressurising these owners to give up the land.  There could be other ideas that could bring the community, Government and land owners to a negotiated settlement, outside the outright sale.

We do not expect owners of these lands to put up outrageous price tags and demands lest we remind them how they got the land in the first place.We further urge Batswana to apply sober minds on this issue as emotive response is not helpful at all. While the problem seems urgent we appreciate that the solutions will not be soon. So the politicians must not target 2014 elections but set up a reasonable time to undergo studies, commissions, negotiations and audits to come up with a comprehensive answer to resource redistribution in the modern Botswana.

Thapelo NdlovuChairperson