Abandoning land worries Rolong Land Board
Abang Tapologo | Wednesday June 28, 2023 10:15
Speaking during a media briefing in Gaborone this week the Rolong Land Board Chairperson, Gloria Segokgo indicated that they are facing land crisis as a result of Batswana.
“You give back the land a lot Batswana, especially in villages which puts us at a back and forth interlude but this is mostly because some of you prefer to apply at your own home villages,” she said. Segokgo added that the youth tend to apply to villages only to come back to sell the land after allocation. She said this adds to their other challenges as the board.
She noted that because of limited resources it’s difficult to track down people so that they could come and claim their land. “We are constantly stuck having to call people continuously to get their land,” she pointed out.
The chairperson indicated that even after Batswana do get land they abandon it for years without using the land or developing it. The board allows for plots to be developed within five years of the allocation. Revealing the plan layout for the 2023-2024 year Segokgo indicated that the board will be focusing on allocating plots in ten villages being Hebron (split in two), Makokwe, Ditlharapa, Molete, Rakhuna, Metlojane, Malokaganyane, Tswaagare, Swaganyeng.
“Some are already surveyed while the rest are in the process of being surveyed.
This is to help us get the numbers so that we can be able to give allocate plots,” Segokgo further disclosed. She said their aim is to set a standard for allocating plots after three months application. “Doing this would set the board on their three year plan to have covered all 30 villages of the district by next year. The target last year was to allocate 1,784 plots but instead we gave away 1,794 exceeding out intended target,” Segokgo. This year the Land Board has a target to allocate 2,500 plots at the ten selected villages which they plan to achieve through help from Batswana.
Segokgo also pointed out that this coming month their focus is on assisting those who want ploughing land. The land board has also indicated that another focus for them is on releasing title deeds Secure Land Title (SLT) instead of using blue prints forms. The Land board managed to make 146 SLT’s but only 41 owners have collected theirs. Segokgo added that initially their focus for the year will also be centred on allocating commercial plots along with the residential ones.