No plot allocated in Gabs in nine years
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday November 21, 2023 06:00
He disclosed that the last cohort applied for land in 1990, and the current average waiting period for land allocation in the capital is 33 years. “Though I cannot say the exact year when allocation will be conducted in Gaborone, an area west of Gaborone Block 8 has been identified for Gaborone expansion to augment land in Gaborone,” Mzwinila said.
“However, the land is still to be planned, surveyed, and serviced before it can be allocated,” he added. Despite a significant demand, the current application list for Gaborone stands at 17,954. This, he said consists of 1,246 High Income Large, 3,127 High Income Middle, 2,034 High Income Small, 2,092 Medium Income Upper, and 9,455 for Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA). The minister explained that the low allocation of land in Gaborone is due to factors such as the limited availability of land and the government's decision not to allocate un-serviced plots, as private developers do, to avoid delays in plot development. The Ministry is currently working on the Gaborone Region Spatial Plan, which is at the procurement stage.
One of the objectives of the Regional Spatial Plan is to identify both brownfield and greenfield sites to meet the land demand as per the population projection of the region including the city of Gaborone. Further in the works is the Gaborone City Development Plan (2022–2029), in the draft development plan stage. Both efforts are designed to address the land demand. “I am also delighted to say that the ministry has secured 5,000 hectares of land from Kweneng District to be part of the Gaborone expansion area. Therefore, the Ministry has included the Gaborone expansion master plan as one of the deliverables of the Gaborone Region Spatial Plan. The Regional Spatial Plan is at the procurement stage and plan preparation is expected to be completed by March 2025,” he said. Mzwinila emphasised the complexity of the state land allocation process, involving stages like land acquisition, planning, surveying, infrastructure provision, and allocation.
“This is a lengthy and costly process which involves stakeholder consultations and negotiations with land owners. The land then undergoes land planning, where the land is restricted into various land uses such as residential, commercial and industrial. This process also involves extensive stakeholder consultations and approval by district structures. Then follows surveying and the subsequent provision of infrastructure services and allocation. Let me hasten to indicate here that a decision was made by government to allow for the allocation of un-serviced plots in tribal areas,” he said. In response to legislator Tumisang Healy's questions, Mzwinila provided insights into the allocation process, waiting periods, and plans for land expansion in Gaborone.
Healy's questions were questions: When was the last plot allocation and how many plots were allocated?; In which years did the last of that cohort apply for land?; What is the average waiting period for land allocation in Gaborone?; When will the next allocation be conducted and how many plots will be allocated?; How many people are on the waiting list for land allocation in the waiting list for Gaborone City?; What accounts for slow land allocation?; And why is the Government not allocating or selling un-serviced plots like private developers are doing in freehold areas given the high demand?