Catholic Church quotes prohibitive price for land - Molefhi

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Friday December 17, 2010 00:00

 

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Nonofo Molefhi, admitted yesterday that they have tried in vain to acquire the piece of land from the church, but it is demanding unaffordable prices.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Molefhi said that Farm Forest Hill 9-KO lies in the South East District just outside the Gaborone Township boundary.  'Government had attempted to acquire this farm in the past, but negotiations did not succeed, resulting in Government seeking alternative land for the expansion of the city northwards into (the) Kweneng District,' he said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Botsalo Ntuane, had wanted the minister to state whether he is aware that there are farms that occupy a big chunk of land from Kgale View to Tsolamosese and when his ministry intends to acquire part of or all of the said farms for allocation of plots to residents of Gaborone to enable them to develop themselves through property acquisition.

Ntuane, who is primarily the MP for Gaborone West South, had also wanted to know why government has allowed an animal farm to lie adjacent to a city with the animals posing a threat to human life. He also wanted the minister to explain why it has not been found necessary to introduce cattle grids at exits and entrances from the farm to stop the farm animals from crossing into the city.

Molefhi said his ministry has no immediate plans to acquire part of or the entire farm.  'Presently the farm is zoned as an expansion area for the township, and has an approved structure plan, parts of which have detailed layout plans,' he said.  The minister said that he was not aware that animals were kept at Farm Forest Hill 9-KO and that cattle from Gabane and surrounding areas traverse the farm and end up roaming the streets of Gaborone.

'In any case, there is nothing wrong with a cattle ranch being adjacent to the city provided proper management practices are in place,' he said. In response to a question from the floor, Molefhi said the law is clear regarding what to do when a specified period of time has passed.  'When that time arrives, we will follow the law and acquire the land,' he said.