Recently, we have been aware as a country that lack of access to land has become a major impediment to development. Land shortage especially in urban and peri-urban areas is derailing our development objectives. Land access has become a punishment to everyone with an interest in development. Small businesses are denied access to reasonable rentals because land speculators have driven prices beyond reasonable levels. Private citizens who otherwise should have access to house ownership cannot afford simple accommodation because our land has become too scarce and prices have to be jerked up to serve the few with the land.
However as a nation, we cannot let land speculators hold us at ransom. Every development agenda cannot be achieved without access to land. However, we also know that access to shelter is a right that is enshrined in the constitution. Any serious government will inevitably look at its ability to deliver housing to its citizens. President Ian Khama's State of the Nation Address indicates that he has taken it upon himself to deal with this matter.
