Chobe Land Board exceeds survey target

Barati Mathambo
Correspondent | Friday March 15, 2013 00:00

'In surveying of plots for the financial year 2012-2013, we had targeted 436 plots and so far, we have exceeded the number to 521 plots. Therefore we have exceeded our target by 85 plots,' Chobe Land Board deputy secretary, Martin Nzehengwa told a press conference yesterday at Marang Cresta.He said they have made great strides in meeting their plot allocation targets despite the challenges of land shortage and flooding. 'In land allocation, we had a target of 669 plots that are to be allocated and so far, 543 plots have been allocated,' he said.

He explained that 519 plots have been allocated for residential uses and 24 for other purposes. He said land shortage has become a serious challenge to plots allocation in an area of 22,559 square kilometres. He said the region is faced with so many challenges that seem to have conspired to hinder allocation of plots.'Chobe is a small district which is mainly a tourism area and therefore this shortage is mainly for human settlement area which is 5,444 square kilometres. The forest reserves also take 4,225 square kilometres of land area while the national parks have taken up 12,890 square kilometres,' he said. He said they have resorted to allocating land close to the river, but they are faced with challenges of floods.

The flooding on certain farms like Pandamatenga and Chobe West has hampered accessibility and transfer of plots through sale and the demands for change of land use. Under the Land Administration, Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) in Kazungula, they had targeted 3,600 plots, and 2,995 plots have been recorded while 2,500 claims have been verified. About 32 customers who have not developed their plots have been given six months extension which expired in June 2013.

'Under Customary law, 239 plots have been monitored and 69 have complied whereas 170 have been given 12 months because their plots are undeveloped,' he said. He expressed concern about people who sell their land to foreigners. He advised Batswana to lease land instead of selling.