09 May 2024

Some residents of Shashe Bridge ward in Maun have complained about the delay by Maun Sub-land Board to allocate them plots, arguing they have been waiting for a long time to be allocated plots.

They aired their grievances during a kgotla meeting addressed by Maun West MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando. 

They said they were leaving in fear of being evicted as they were labeled as squatters.

“I was born and bred in Shashe Bridge and my parents stayed here even before the country got independence and today we are called squatters while some are being allocated plots in the same area,” said Ms Letswang Gabakgore.

She questioned criterion the land board was using to allocate plots in open spaces to other people while those who stayed in the area for years were denied the opportunity. 

She said in 2017 land board officials requested them to submit evidence that indeed they resided in the area, expressing that they had hoped that they would be issued with land certificates but there was no response to date.

Ms Gabakgore said Sexaxa ward in Maun also experienced the same challenge but the issue had been addressed and now residents were accessing services and benefiting from programmes aimed at uplifting citizens’ livelihoods.

Village Development Committee chairperson, Ms Seitisitswe Galebotse said they were called informal settlers because the area was ungazetted. She stated that the land board had conducted profiling and residents had hoped that the  board would address the pending issue but their hopes were in vain.

Currently, she said residents could not develop their residential plots because they were not properly allocated and called on land authority to address the situation.

“We cannot build decent houses and connect electricity and water because we do not have land certificates. We were happy to learn about the free electricity connection for households, but it is unfortunate that we will not benefit from the programme,” she added.

Another residents, Mr Bridge Gakenaope said the land board had been sending them from pillar to post for years citing that in 2019, officials came to measure plots but to date nothing had changed.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that around 2011, residents were warned by land board to move from the area and they pleaded with the then ministers to intervene as land board did not offer an alternative.

Earlier on, the land board public relation officer, Ms Kerona Kealeboga urged residents to exercise patience as the issue was still to be attended to by the board. 

The issue, she said was very sensitive and needed to be discussed properly to ensure fairness and transparency.

She promised residents that they would have a feedback before end of June.

“I can assure you that soon you will know your fate on whether you will be formally allocated plots or not and I encourage you to submit applications for old buildings (matlotla le ditsha tsa boswa) so that we compile them,” she added.

Ms Kealeboga also appealed to residents to desist from selling their inheritance plots and advised them to instead lease them.

She informed residents that the land board was currently allocating land to those who applied in 2008.

Mr Saleshando said he was equally concerned about poor service by the land board saying the issue had been pending for so long. 

He requested land board officials to give him feedback on the issue in a week.

He expressed his wish for  government to abolish land boards and engage experts to manage land and allocation.

The MP accused land boards of failing Batswana. Ends