Slow down on land 'seizures'

EDITORIAL | Thursday July 10, 2008 00:00

In actual fact, government has already started these repossession. Our view is that government should put its house in order first before it carries out Molefhi's threat.

There is no reason why ordinary Batswana who go through cumbersome processes to acquire land take heed of government's position on land repossession.

Government has no clear procedure that ties allocation to the ability to develop the land. Perhaps the assumption is that because one is a Motswana, he or she qualifies for a plot.

Government has also failed Batswana by failing to ensure that allocation corresponds with availability of serviced land where successful applicants will have access to utilities such as water, which is essential for the development of their plots.

Even if one were keen to develop his or her allocated land within the stipulated time, lack of access to utilities may not enable them to do so. Government must also ensure that access to funding is be made available within a reasonable period.

From government's previous performance and records, it might not be far from the truth to suggest that the threat to repossess undeveloped land might be targeted at the small man. For example, we have witnessed the demolition of Mogoditshane houses that were the subject of controversy because they sat on self-allocated plots. In the district council's view, the tenants were squatters.

But alas, right here in Gaborone, the Lesetedi Commission made a clear recommendation about some plots that were not properly allocated but government has taken no action yet.

Should Batswana not suspect that there are two laws in the country, one for the small man and the other for those who are not ordinary mortals? Government has an obligation to citizens to dispel any such suspicions.

One respects government's concern that land should not be sold. But how did so much land come to fall in the hands of foreigners? What does the law say? And what has government done to correct the situation?

There is need for a Land Act that supports the country's development clearly determining what kind of structures should be developed where and how.

As things stand, there is arbitrary determination of the kind of buildings that should be on particular sites. Take for instance the land falling on some place called Gaphatshwa along they way from Gaborone to Molepolole.

Plots are not properly demarcated. There appears to be no plan or pattern of distribution of plots that prescribes the kind of structures that should be built on the available land.

The Batswana would describe the system of land allocation and use as: 'Ko ga Mmapereko'.

                                                     Today's Thought

The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. With me you are but aliens and tenants.
                                                     - Leviticus 25:23