Ntuane seeks to prohibit foreign land ownership

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Monday March 4, 2013 00:00

 

'I know of no Motswana who owns land in China, India or Nigeria.  At the very least, limit the number of plots a foreigner can own in the country,' he pleaded.  

The legislator warned that land politics have the potential to destabilise a country, as seen elsewhere. He said that even in Botswana, the warning signs are already visible, as illustrated by the scramble for plots in Tlokweng. Last year, the Tlokweng Landboard surprised many when it dealt with an influx of applications by holding a raffle for the 285 plots available.

Ntuane said Lands and Housing Minister, Lebonaamang Mokalake should meet with a group of youth who want to petition him with demands to make provision of land and houses a priority.  Last year, the advocacy group made arrangements to meet with Mokalake, but were told that he had travelled. Ntuane said all Batswana should align themselves with the advocacy group.

Defending himself, Mokalake said the petition group needs to be more patient. 'A ba wele dibete. They should know that asking for a date to meet with a minister is not a command, but a request,' he said. He stated that his ministry has already started a land audit Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems - (LAPCAS) which has gobbled P36 million, with plans to spend another P74 million in the coming financial year.

'LAPCAS captures all that is required by Saleshando.  It would be wasteful running a parallel audit, with the shortage of resources and manpower.'

In response to the debates, Saleshando said his problem with LAPCAS is that it is more like a stock-taking system, with no corrective measures. 'LAPCAS is not going to give you anything you don't know. How did we end up with this problem, and how are we going to get out of it?  That's what an audit is for,' he said.

His motion that sought an audit to establish ownership, values, tenure and synergy between planned and actual use of land in urban and peri-urban areas, freehold farms and tourism frontiers was defeated 29-13 in a vote on Friday.