Africa-Press – Botswana. Residents of Kgagodi are filled with excitement following the restoration of a significant portion of land belonging to the community.
Addressing a kgotla meeting in Kgagodi yesterday, President Advocate Duma Boko reaffirmed that the 10 X 10km (10 000 hectares) piece of land was the rightful property of Kgagodi residents under Customary Land tenure.
In his address, President Boko announced his decision to overturn the prior administration’s compulsory acquisition of the land, which was executed through a Presidential Directive in 2023 without adequate consultation.
He emphasised that the land, primarily utilised for arable and pastoral farming, had been taken from the residents, stripping them of their ploughing fields and cattle posts.
The land was designated for a new township and airport project. Residents, through their legal representative Abel Lawyers, had challenged government in court, believing the decision to be procedurally and legally flawed. Unfortunately, they lost the court case.
The contested land is located between Kgagodi, Moremi, Lesenepole, and Tamasane. Advocate Boko expressed that the residents, as rightful owners, now faced a crucial decision: whether to voluntarily give their land to the government.
Should they choose to do so, they should demand shares in the anticipated development project, along with fair compensation reflective of the land’s value, said President Boko.
The projected investment value of the upcoming project is estimated at around P200 million, meaning that residents could negotiate a percentage of shareholding not less than 10 per cent if they agree to surrender their land. Advocate Boko urged the residents to engage in negotiations willingly, stating that any coercion would infringe upon their human rights.
Kgosi Moriti Kgagodi welcomed the restoration, expressing gratitude for the resolution of an issue that had long troubled the community. With the land back in their hands, he believes it will bring about healing for the residents.
In a subsequent interview, Mr Tapiwa Abel of Abel Lawyers, representing the residents, recounted how the community first learned of the government’s compulsory acquisition during a kgotla meeting held by the land board in 2024.
He noted that the land board had not been forthcoming about the events leading up to the acquisition, prompting the establishment of a committee by the residents to investigate further.
Mr Abel explained that they began writing letters to relevant authorities, uncovering that the government’s decision to expropriate the land had been made in 2023, with a directive issued in haste.
This revelation ultimately led the residents to challenge the validity of the decision, maintaining that it was both un-procedural and unlawful.
The community of Kgagodi now stands at a pivotal juncture, with the restoration of their land ownership offering a new chapter filled with potential for recovery and development.
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