Africa-Press – Botswana. Kweneng District councillors have agreed during a special full council meeting held on January 17, to upgrade Galekatshwane to a recognised settlement.
The discussions were part of the District Development Committee (DDC) report pertaining to settlements around the district, which however, rejected Galekatshwane to be a recognised village.
This is because the settlement has a population of 475, less than the 500 stipulated in the National Settlement Policy (NSP) of 2004.
Councillors said the report should not be taken as it was since they had promised residents that their settlement would be a village and would not be incorporated into Gakuto as they had requested.
According to the DDC report, the population of Galekatshwane was 526 in the National Population Census of 2011 but the latest census indicated a decline hence it was no longer meeting the NSP requirements.
The settlement currently is used for ploughing and is less than 15 kilometres from other villages such as Gakuto, Mmatseta and Kopong. Cllr Mathata Selaledi of Gakuto argued for Galekatshwane to be made a recognised settlement, as did Clllr Kolana Kolana of Hatsalatladi who added that Monyatale should also be considered especially since it was near Hatsalatladi.
Cllr Jeffery Sibisibi of Ntloedibe Ward in Molepolole queried lack of coercion between council planners and land board saying such resulted in squatting. The DDC report also covered other eight unrecognised settlements which will remain as ploughing areas.
They are Kamenakwe, Mosekele, Monyatale, Mantsho, Shonono, Mosokotso, Hubusanoko and Kokonje.
According to the report, Mantsho and Mosokotso should be incorporated into Molepolole which would cater for the latter’s expansion.
The decision to declare Galekatshwane a village lies with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
