In a report, the Central District Land Use Planning (CDLUP) said that such settlements, especially those that existed prior to independence and have some basic services should remain though they do not meet the 500 population criteria. The report said the settlements should be encouraged to grow by attracting applicants for residential land from surrounding settlements that do not have services.
Councillor for Morupule ward in Palapye, Maina Kgopo has said he is very happy with the recommendations in the report. He said the CDLUP has made a step in the right direction without encouraging the mushrooming of small settlements. Last year Kgopo and other Botswana Congress Party (BCP) members petitioned the Sefhare Sub-Land Board seeking the reversal of its decision to declare the settlements illegal. After the declaration, residents were issued with threats of eviction within three months. However, no action was taken. The settlements could not be gazetted by the Land Board on the basis that they do not meet the minimum population requirements.
