Investigations on going at Hatsalatadi ground cracks
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday April 6, 2026 06:00
“On January 23, 2025, I joined a delegation led by the Minister for State President, Defense, and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, to assess the situation firsthand and engage with the affected community,” Dikoloti said when addressing a question from the Member of Parliament for Molepolole North constituency, Arafat Khan.
“This phenomenon is not isolated to Hatsalatladi; similar fissures have been reported in Letlhakeng, Motshegaletau, and Moshupa, amongst others,” he added.
This comes after the Member of Parliament for Molepolole North, Aarfat Khan, asked whether Dikoloti is aware of the continued presence and reported expansion of ground fissures at Hatsalatladi village in the Molepolole North Constituency. The Minister said these fissures are believed to stem from tectonic activity, which creates deep fractures in the Earth's crust and surface deformations. “The past heavy rains have exacerbated these conditions. A preliminary assessment confirms damage to both private residential buildings and Government properties,” he said. He also said an inter-Ministerial committee has been established to advise the government on the development of ground fissures and the mitigation and response measures across the country. Furthermore, the Minister said the Committee is led by the Ministry for the State President, Defense, and Security. He stated that the members are the ministries of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Water and Human Settlement, Minerals and Energy, and Lands and Agriculture. He said it operates at three levels: Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, and the District Level, led by the District Commissioners. He said in 2020, plot allocations in northern Hatsalatladi were suspended pending geotechnical advice to ensure safer land-use planning. “Consequently, in October 2022, the Botswana Geo-Science Institute (BGI), in collaboration with other research institutions, commissioned an empirical study to investigate the causes of local ground fissures and their broader policy implications.
This study successfully mapped high, medium, and low-risk zones,” he said. He also highlighted that the study's findings remain inconclusive regarding long-term stability. In addition, he said the BGI recommended a detailed geological assessment of the area, especially in the eastern Hatsalatladi, to identify viable relocation areas. “The study requires an estimated P 45,628,000 of this total, P11, 132,000 is earmarked for follow-up studies specifically within the Hatsalatladi and Ditshukudu, while the remaining P 34,496,000 will fund geoscientific investigations across all other affected areas in Botswana,” he revealed. He said the findings from this preliminary study have informed proactive measures to ensure public safety and prevent potential humanitarian crises. “The expanded study will be instrumental in helping to draft sound policies for safe, sustainable urban development,” he said. He said beyond infrastructure, this initiative will enhance public education on geohazards and provide the necessary data for the National Disaster Management Office to issue early warnings. Therefore, he said, taking proactive action now is a matter of fiscal responsibility; it will significantly reduce long-term costs and help mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
He said it is a legal requirement that spatial plans be accompanied by Strategic Environmental Assessments, which may further recommend geotechnical investigations depending on the nature of the environment. “These studies are informed by scientific, technical, and environmental considerations. It is on the basis of these studies and findings that the Government relies upon to zone areas for the different land use activities, recommending special types of reinforcements for buildings and infrastructure, and at times limiting the types of buildings that can be constructed in an area,” he said. He said the existence of ground fissures is not anticipated to affect the road alignment, design, or implementation of the proposed Rasesa-Lentsweletau-Mahetlwe-Hatsalatladi Botlhapatlou-Ngware-Diphuduhudu road. However, he said the final alignment of the proposed road will be determined by the feasibility study. Moreover, he said the presence of ground fissures has not led to a complete suspension of development in Hatsalatadi. “However, development activities have been restricted in areas classified as high-risk as per the preliminary studies,” he said. He said that, going forward, development approvals will be issued in a phased, carefully managed manner, guided by the outcomes of ongoing geotechnical studies and the implementation of appropriate safety measures. “While it is not feasible to provide a definitive timeline due to the complex and evolving nature of the fissures, the Government remains fully committed to completing detailed mapping of high-risk zones, developing and publishing clear guidelines for safe development, and communicating the conditions under which development may proceed,” he said.