One-Man One-Plot Policy To Be Refined

Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday July 11, 2016 15:14

On Friday Mokgware tabled a motion requesting government to exclude plots acquired through the open market, inheritance and marriage. He argued that the policy, which was adopted last July is discriminatory.

“We should consider incidents such as divorce when allocating a single plot to a couple, it also takes a lot of time before one can be allocated a plot, someone may buy one elsewhere and be denied allocation in their home village,” he said.

Mochudi West legislator, Gilbert Mangole supported the motion.  He said the policy was good in that it limited plot allocation to people.  He, however, said it was important that others are not disadvantaged.

Lands and Housing Minister, Prince Maele stood to state that he was on his way to present the amendments mentioned by Mokgware. “Issues were raised in Parliament since the inception of the policy. I also took it across the country and Batswana shared similar sentiments.  I then took it to cabinet where we agreed on exactly what Mokgware said and I already have a speech prepared, which I was to submit before Parliament,” he said.

After Maele’s submission, it took over an hour with members disagreeing on the way forward. Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) members called for setting aside of the motion and wait for the minister to present it while those in the opposition wanted the debate to continue. Speaker, Gladys Kokorwe ruled that the debate continue.

Francistown West legislator, Ignatius Moswaane supported the motion stating that it would help orphaned children who could not benefit from plots being allocated after their parents have passed away.  He then accused Mokgware of stealing the motion when the minister had spoken about it on radio.  Kokorwe, however, disagreed stating that the motion was submitted way before Maele went to RB1 about it.

Shashe West legislator, Fidelis Molao said the amendments were already in practice in his area.  He said he has held kgotla meetings where Land Board officials informed residents of the amendments.

The motion would eventually fail after voting as only 11 parliamentarians voted for it and 17 against it.  This angered opposition members, who stormed out of Parliament.