Letter to the Minister of Lands and Housing

On August 29, 2011 in the presence of a large number of people from Tswagare, Sekokoane, Ditlharapa villages at Tshipane, the heart of the bread basket of Botswana, the chairman of Rolong Land Board, Ogone Molema, announced that Peter Leburu, Omphile Leburu and Boitumelo Malefho, were, with immediate effect, required by him and his board to vacate their arable lands allocated to them by the same board in September and October 2010 at Tshipane. Their rights were being taken away and they were thoroughly humiliated and needed counselling.

The reason for this unfortunate and illegal episode was that Molefhe, former BDP councillor for Hebron ward, O.Ntlatseng, former BDP and BNF parliamentary candidate for Barolong constituency, Blom Lekoma, former BDP primary elections candidate for Barolong constituency, and a farmer, Mogwera Maseng, were against the allocation of land for arable purposes at Tshipane. Another reason was that villagers from Tswagare and Sekokoane wanted Land Board members to point out the boundary line between Tswagare/Sekokoane and Ditlharapa areas.
Tshipane is part of Ditlharapa area under the headship of Kgosana Dikgatsu Molema, while Tswagare/Sekokoane area is under Kgosana Magashula of Tswagare.

Statistics show that Ditlharapa has more people than Tswagare/Sekokoane.  Tswagare/Sekokoane has fewer people but more land than Ditlharapa. Now, the communities of Tswagare/Sekokoane want Tshipane to fall under Tswagare/Sekokoane. Is this fair?

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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