We share and uphold this position. However, we believe some circumstances call for a special dispensation. In our view, land allocations are one such circumstance. While the law of the land - pun intended - is that Batswana are free to seek and acquire land anywhere in their country and are accordingly free to settle and do business anywhere, we believe that allocations in respect of applications should be done with due consideration of native or indigenous populations. We say this because Batlokwa once again find themselves in the invidious position of complaining that they are being overwhelmed by land applications from hundreds of people from elsewhere. In these difficult circumstances, the Tlokweng Land Board found itself cancelling allocations to 300 applicants it had recently written to, citing poorly explained procedural inconsistencies. Whatever the motives of the cancellation, a glaring incongruence here is that only three of the 300 people on the shortlist were indigenous Batlokwa! This is an irregularity, by any other name. When this became generally known, Batlokwa became understandably indignant and protested the unfairness of it all to their throne. Of course, they were barking up the wrong tree, the modern arrangement of things having removed the trusteeship of land from magosi; but they went there primarily because their Kgosi was the one - and sole - authority they could trust to sympathise with their predicament. The fact is that while we do not have the specific dimensions at hand, Batlokwa have the least land in this country, consisting - as it does - of hardly any more than where their principal town sits. But Tlokweng is hemmed in all sides - by Gaborone at the Ngotwane River, Ga-Malete to the south, Kgatleng to the west, and South Africa to the east.The point is that there is hardly a point in pointing to the fact that Batlokwa too are free to emigrate because it would mean going to places that are losing population mainly for economic reasons. The fact is that land is a basic survival need that gains value in areas of increased population density. It is also a fact that in terms of our traditional land tenure system, real estate is handed down generations as inheritance that forms a key part of clan, tribal and national identity. Sadly, while this holds true for just about all other groups in Botswana, it is a fact that Batlokwa never had much going for them in this regard. Just as sad is the fact that many who acquire land in Tlokweng are selfish speculators who will use any means - including tempting the poor with cash - to grab more.
Batlokwa share these unenviable circumstances with Balete just to the south of them. In our view, this makes the case for a special dispensation for Batlokwa and Balete as a matter of urgency. This can be done by means of a statutory instrument that can be regularised when the law of the land is accordingly amended. It is insensitive to laugh and charge that the whines of Balete and Batlokwa proceed from tribalism when we know that we are being insouciantly disingenuous.
