Palapye’s transition to town status awaits ministerial decision
Laone Choeunyane | Friday December 19, 2025 14:36
Palapye Council chairperson, Kabo Ketshogile, says the move follows a government directive issued earlier this year targeting rapidly growing settlements across the country for transition. “In May this year, the government released a directive that some villages should transition from village status, such as Palapye, Tlokweng, Mogoditshane and Maun,” said Ketshogile.
Ketshogile also explained that Palapye’s growth is not a recent phenomenon, noting that the area has functioned as an urban centre for decades due to sustained economic activity and industrial development.
“Palapye has been perceived as a town even before this planned transition. Even back in the 70s, people used to come here to work in the coal mines, Morupule A and B,” he said.
He pointed to Palapye’s long-standing economic attractiveness as a key driver of its transformation, saying major national institutions and investments were drawn to the area because of its strategic location, infrastructure, and industrial base. Ketshogile said the establishment of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) was a consequence of Palapye’s broader economic appeal. “The university came because of the attractiveness of Palapye,” he said.
Palapye’s population has continued to grow steadily over the years, with the 2022 Population and Housing Census placing it at over 52,000 residents. The council argues that the growing population, combined with expanding commercial and industrial activity, has increased pressure on infrastructure, planning, and service delivery, making town governance more suitable.
Ketshogile said the recommendation for town status followed extensive consultations with residents and traditional leadership. “We started consultation with residents of Palapye, including the Palapye royalty,” he said.
Given that Palapye falls within the Bamangwato tribal land, the council also engaged senior traditional authorities. “We even consulted with the paramount chief of the Bangwato because this is tribal land in the Bamangwato territory. They had no issue with the proposal.”
The consultation process extended beyond Palapye to neighbouring districts, recognising the wider administrative implications of the transition. “We also consulted neighbouring districts like Mahalapye, Bobirwa and Tonota because it means that if Palapye becomes a standalone town, a new council must come up,” Ketshogile says, adding that Palapye has historically serviced many surrounding villages, a responsibility that would change once it becomes a standalone town.
The final stage of consultations was conducted within the Palapye District Council itself, where councillors endorsed the recommendation before it was submitted to the central government. Ketshogile says the process was consultative rather than decisive at the council level, with the ultimate authority resting with the minister. “We are waiting for the final say from the minister, but everything should work out.”
He says town status would significantly improve Palapye’s financial capacity and planning efficiency. “The budget will grow if Palapye is declared a town.”
However, Ketshogile clarifies that the transition will not affect property rates in the short term. Rates were already announced earlier this year and are set to be collected from the business community starting April 1 next year, regardless of whether Palapye becomes a town.
One of the key benefits of town status, he explains, would be improved land administration. “If Palapye is declared a town, it changes from tribal land to state land. Land Board will be quicker and more efficient in service delivery.”
He notes that the current tribal land classification places restrictions on land ownership. “People have not been allowed to own two plots of land simultaneously in the same district because of the tribal land classification.”
Ketshogile says Palapye’s development has also been constrained by its obligation to service a wide rural hinterland. “Remember that Palapye has been servicing 27 surrounding villages... even a budget of 100 million would be enough for Palapye if it were dedicated to just Palapye.”
He argues that the current funding structure limits Palapye’s ability to address its own infrastructure needs. “The current budget goes to the district and not to a town; this cuts Palapye off from a budget that could help develop roads and improve service delivery.”
Despite concerns about future expansion, Ketshogile says the council is not considering boundary extensions at this stage. “We do not intend to expand beyond our current borders to accommodate future growth because there are things to consider, such as traditional boundaries.”
As Palapye continues to grow in population and economic importance, the council maintains that formalising its status as a town would allow planning and governance structures to better reflect on-the-ground realities. The decision now lies with the central government, which is expected to determine whether Palapye’s functional transformation will be formally recognised.