Africa-Press – Botswana. Residents of Mahotshwane in the Jwaneng/Mabutsane district are against the decision of the Mabutsane Land Allocation Board to allocate them a goat farm.
They expressed their disagreement with the decision, saying they had requested a cattle farm instead of sheep. They issued the complaint, at a court meeting presided over by the constituency MP, Mr Mephato Reatile on Friday.
In his welcoming remarks, Kgosi Mohurutshi Maipolelo explained that they had the courage to be allocated enough land to raise sheep and although their application detailed that they wanted land to raise cattle.
Although they have not been directly informed of the decision, the community will not accept it as the purpose of their application was to enable them to raise cattle that can be enjoyed by the villagers and help to develop them . . . .
“We are said to be given a 2km by 3km goat farm and we have asked for land for a large cattle farm. We do not accept that decision,” explained Kgosi Maipolelo. In addition, Kgosi Maipolelo requested that the election system for the members of the land allocation council be changed to be elected by the community. He said this would improve services in the villages so that the elected officials would represent the wishes of the community.
The deputy chairperson of the Mabutsane land allocation board, Mr Lemogang Morolong, explained that after considering the community’s application, the council decided it would be better to give the community a sheep farm instead of a cattle.
He said one of the reasons for the decision was that the site they wanted was in the middle of other farms, so if they were given it as they requested it could close a gap and the village would need a place to grow.
However, he said the application has been returned for further consideration, and will be joined by various experts.
He promised them that a decision on their application would be made before April.
Mr Reatile told the residents of Mahotshwane that their village would be connected to water through a temporary development programme. He also explained that the road from Jwaneng to Mahotshwane will be repaired to prevent waterlogging as there is still no fund for concreting.
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