Land Allocation Crisis in Botswana: Nearly 700,000 Await Plots
Gaborone, Botswana — The demand for land in Botswana is strikingly high, with recent reports indicating that 687,486 citizens are currently on a waiting list for land allocation. This staggering number underscores the urgent need for action to meet the requirements of the Botswana Land Policy of 2019.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Baratiwa Mathoothe, addressed concerns regarding the growing backlog in the allocation of residential plots. He represented the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture, highlighting key challenges the ministry faces.
The urgency of the situation was further emphasized by Mr. Mathoothe’s statement about a campaign aimed at providing 100,000 plots, revealing that the difficulties lie not only in the sheer volume of plots to be allocated but also in systemic issues. He pointed out a disconnect between allocation, surveying, servicing, and the production of Secure Land Titles (SLTs).
“To ensure sustainable land delivery, we must support allocations with surveyed, infrastructure-ready, and legally registrable land,” Mr. Mathoothe stated, stressing that such provisions unlock both household and economic value.
The ministry is taking significant steps to tackle the backlog. On February 16 of this year, officials launched the Secure Land Title War Room. This initiative brings together experts from various departments, including Surveys and Mapping, Town and Country Planning, and Deeds Registry, among others. Their mission is to monitor the SLT processing in real-time and resolve bottlenecks in workflows as they arise.
Mr. Mathoothe reported that the war room has set a target to issue 48,569 Secure Land Titles within a three-month window, prioritizing regions experiencing the highest pressure, such as Mogoditshane, Ramotswa, Tlokweng, Palapye, Maun, and Oodi.
Parallel to these immediate initiatives, the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) is also working on establishing the Land Lab, aimed at redesigning the entire land administration ecosystem. The first meeting for this project took place on February 23, where stakeholders reviewed objectives, clarified roles, and established specific short-term action items.
“The Land Lab will create a comprehensive reform blueprint that includes end-to-end process redesign, digital integration, and performance accountability,” noted Mr. Mathoothe. This approach aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in land administration for all citizens of Botswana.
The commitment to improve the system is clear. Mr. Mathoothe stated that his ministry is focused on reducing the existing clean waiting list and restoring predictability in SLT production. The ultimate goal is to create a fair and effective land allocation process that benefits all Batswana.
In a further discussion, Mr. Mathoothe addressed structural concerns within the land allocation system. He explained that Land Boards are responsible for the allocation of tribal land, while the Deeds Registry manages the legal registration of all land tenures, including state and freehold.
He emphasized that the current arrangement ensures institutional integrity and uniformity, preserving the integrity of the land registration process across all categories. He cautioned against the idea of decentralizing the Deeds Registry unless all parties within the land administration network are properly aligned and equipped.
The focus on tangible strategies was highlighted by parliamentary questions posed by Mr. Onalepelo Kedikilwe, MP for Serowe West. He called for specific actions beyond general policy announcements to expeditiously address the backlog, insisting on measurable targets and timelines. He also raised the possibility of having a Deeds Registry in every Land Board to streamline processes and enhance land tenure security for residents.
As these discussions unfold, the call for actionable steps to alleviate the land allocation crisis is louder than ever. With nearly 700,000 waitlisted individuals in urgent need of a solution, the Botswana government faces a pressing challenge to revitalize its land administration system.
The days ahead will reveal whether these initiatives can meet the rising demand for land and restore faith among the citizens yearning for stability and ownership.
— Reported by Nexio News
