Africa-Press – Botswana. Population growth and infrastructure development has of recent outpaced land allocation, which has resulted in high demand and rise of the value of land especially in peri-urban areas such as Tlokweng.
High rates of transfer of land rights, high levels of plot sub-divisions and in some instances wholesome alienation of plots in Tlokweng, often sold at very exorbitant prices, which are often beyond the reach of fellow Batswana who might have the desire to buy that land, is worrisome.
This was expressed by Kgosi Puso Gaborone of Batlokwa during a one-day Land Investment Pitso held by Tlokweng Land Board recently.
He said due to its prime location, Tlokweng had experienced an influx of approximately 60 000 applicants with 70 per cent being Batswana from outside Tlokweng.
In response to this, the government created guidelines for land allocation in high-pressure areas, resulting in the 60:40 land allocation criteria.
Kgosi Gaborone said despite concerted efforts to empower local people and Batswana as a whole, the high demand for land had driven up the value of land in Tlokweng resulting in Batswana choosing instant gratification.
He said since the guidelines were implemented in April 2016, alienation of land rights had not reduced.
“Between April 2022 and February 2024, 118 of the 700 local original inhabitants who were allocated land through 60:40 criteria have already formally transferred their residential plot rights”. Kgosi Puso said if unmitigated, the trend would pose many socio-economic challenges leaving Batswana not only landless in their homeland but it would also result in widespread illegal land occupation, overcrowded family units and land inheritance disputes.
When unpacking the objectives of the day, Tlokweng Land Board chairperson, Mr Elijah Katse said to drive the President’s Reset Agenda Priority No.4, the Tlokweng Land Board came up Land Investment Pitso themed: My Plot, My Wealth, My Future, aimed at bringing together all land authorities and land investment stakeholders to educate members of the public, especially the youth, about the land value chain and available opportunities for long-term socio-economic gains.
He said the Pitso was also a Mindset Change initiative sensitising every Motswana to realise that “lefatshe ke boswa, ke khumo ya bosakhutleng, Ke bokamoso jwa rona.”
In his remarks, Tlokweng, MP, Mr Thulagano Segokgo also expressed concern that the rate at which Batlokwa were selling their land to foreigners and non-Batlokwa was alarmingly high.
“This trend not only threatens our cultural identity but also undermines our economic independence and self-sufficiency,” he lamented.
He said Batlokwa should consider long-term implications of land alienation or land transfers, advising that they rather engage in land value chain alternatives ‘working with the government and relevant stakeholders to create and ensure that policies in place protect our land from exploitation and ensure that it remains a source of wealth and prosperity’.
“Sustainable agricultural practices, horticulture, commercial farming and property development to name a few, are practices that can help maximise the potential of our land while preserving its fertility, biodiversity and harnessing its potential of wealth creation without resorting to selling it,” he said.
“It is important to take advantage of government initiatives like Temo Letlotlo in order to reap from our farms,” he said.
He also applauded Batlokwa Land Board for conceptualising the initiative to educate the public about the importance of land stewardship and provide them with the tools and resources they needed to develop their land sustainably.
Kgosi Puso in turn encouraged other land boards to use the initiative as a benchmark to educate the community in their localities as the Land Investment Pitso initiative was solely aimed at instilling Mindset Change in people to start valuing land as an important commodity and asset that could generate value chain avenues.
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