As things stand, there is a shortage of available land for residential and other uses compelling the government to acquire more land even at a price. Although the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs is yet to set another target, Minister Kefentse Mzwinila revealed that they didn’t stop at 100, 000 but his ministry has already started acquiring land from field owners in order to expand villages.
In June, President Mokgweetsi Masisi allocated the 100, 000th residential plot in Kanye which was an icing on the cake movement for their ambitious two-year plot allocation process. In an interview this week, Mzwinila said the government has decided to buy more fields in order to accommodate allocation of residential plots. He told Mmegi that they have decided to allocate land even in areas where the latter has not been serviced. “Land servicing is a long process which involves various ministries and departments like roads, water and electricity. It also depends on the national budget,” he clarified. Mzwinila said the reason they are purchasing more fields for plot allocation is to pave way for land servicing which cannot be done without available plots.
He said the ministry is already addressing the growing demand for residential plots by acquiring ploughing fields in various villages across the country. The Minister added assessments have been conducted awaiting land boards to finalise the acquisition process while continuing consultations with landowners, assuring owners of masimo that their land will be bought at a fair price. While some Batswana had in the past complained that the government is offering peanuts as compensation for acquiring their fields, Mzwinila indicated that land valuation is done by professionals who make sure that fields owners are compensated fairly. In the past government had encountered several challenges in land allocation such as lengthy acquisition processes in which some land right holders often were reluctant to release land. Asked why some people are still without Secure Land Title (SLTs) despite having been allocated land, Mzwinila indicated that the same people who allocate plots are the ones responsible for issuing certificates, therefore, making the process tedious and slow. While he admitted that they cannot allocate plots and issue SLTs simultaneously, Mzwinila said they have decided to incorporate technology to fast track the whole process of issuing SLTs.
He said after the government decided to offer quantity surveying free of charge, this will give Batswana a chance to apply for title deeds. The ministry of lands’ decision to buy fields to expand villages comes after government purchased 45, 000 hectares of land in the North East District from Tati Company (TC) at the cost of P1.4 billion. Government indicated last year after buying the land that what it is purchasing is a township development scheme of around 399 hectares (size of a constituency). The scheme will see the expansion of Francistown to the south with the establishment of a new township which will comprise residential plots, commercial, industrial and civic and community plots. Besides Francistown, Mzwinila has also indicated that in their national spacial plan they have development plans which amongst others included Gaborone expansion plan. He said with the state land in Gaborone they have a layout plan which included servicing. “We want to double the size of Gaborone,” he highlighted.
