Sparks to fly as Batlokwa, Govt fight over land

Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Prince Maele is likely to cross swords with a delegation led by Kgosi Puso Gaborone next week Thursday when the two parties meet to deliberate over the ownership of land in Tlokweng.

The Batlokwa have argued that the land is still in their name after they bought the land from the Bakwena many years ago. They dispute the ministry’s stance that the Title Deed was later transferred to government.

During a kgotla meeting this week, Maele confirmed that the controversial issue would be discussed next week and the two parties would hopefully find a solution. “I have challenged the affected parties to bring all the relevant evidence in next week’s meeting to defend their case. I am not saying that we are going to court.

All I am saying is that we are going to discuss the matter in a civil manner. I want this issue to be put to rest because it has been dragging for too long. In the end, someone will win and the other will lose but it should be in an amicable way,” he said.

Maele said he would report back to Batlokwa following the deliberations based on the findings so that they agree and find a way forward. Batlokwa have argued that even the first President of Botswana, the late Sir Seretse Khama, knew that they had bought the land from Bakwena and had never transferred it to government.

The infuriated Batlokwa have said Khama had warned them that they should look after their land because developments in the city would possibly encroach into the city. The residents also said that the boundary for Tlokweng first was at Mmanoko but because of the wrangle they were forced to be located at the area where The Grand Palm Hotel is today.

Maele said that the issue of the boundary and other farms in dispute would form part of the agenda for the meeting next week, which would be attended by representatives from both the Ministry and Batlokwa.