08 Jul 2024

Squatters at Tsutsuga cattlepost have been advised to identify a village to relocate to.

Kgosi Phillip Kopano of Mosu made the call and pleaded with them to embrace change and consider relocating during a meeting addressed by Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe recently.

Kgosi Kopano advised the squatters to choose between Mosu and Letlhakane villages for relocation.

For his part, Kgosi Barontshi Kegapetswe however said it was crucial to devise a working strategy that would not infringe on anyone’s rights in efforts to address the issue.

Kgosi Kegapetswe said the rights of the squatters deserved to be respected and protected, adding some of the land policies were developed to protect the cattleposts and segregate land use.

He indicated that some people settled temporarily at Tsutsuga cattlepost years back when Francistown-Letlhakane road was being constructed hence there were some licensed stores in the area.

“There were some cattleposts years back where burials were carried out but the law had since changed prohibiting such,” he said in response to Mr Monkgogi Bareemetse’s concern about being prohibited to conduct burials in their graveyard located at Tsutsuga.

Kgosi Kegapetswe, however expressed concern that chiefs did not generally address kgotla meetings in cattleposts, but only when the issue of land arose.

The area MP, Mr Lelatisitswe said Landboard Act, established in 1980, had since changed and the Constitution required that all Batswana respected it.

He told Tsutsuga settlers that every Motswana had the right to apply for land irrespective of their tribes.

That was in response to a concern raised by one Mr Rebuiseng Thakanyamolemo who had alleged that Basarwa were discriminated and denied the right to land.

Mr Thakanyamolemo had also asked why polling stations were set up in Tsutsuga if the area was a cattlepost.

However, in response, Mr Lelatisitswe said polling stations set up everywhere across the country were requested by Batswana who wanted to participate in the general elections and formation of government.

“Failure to participate in some of the programmes and activities is in a way denying yourself opportunities,” he said.

Some settlers also wanted to know if they would be allocated land if they decided to relocate from Tsutsuga to Mosu or Letlhakane. 

They also requested for an update on allocation of their farm ranch.

In response the landboard chairperson, Mr Kerebotswe Kethanyegile said the Tsutsuga farm ranch issue was yet to be addressed.

Mr Kethanyegile also told them that they would be required to apply for land after relocation. Ends