P600 000 splashed in 100 00th plot handover event
The Government is said to have splashed P600 000 in this week's handover of the 100 000th residential plot to 27-year-old Game Leesemane of Ntsweng ward, Kanye.
The event was held in Losabanyana ward and attended by government officials and various stakeholders.
The event featured printed merchandise, and residents were ferried from their ward bus stops by buses and returned afterward. The marquee tent, which is said to have cost around P250,000 hosted an event that lasted for barely four hours.
When speaking to The Midweek Sun, the plot recipient said she feels fortunate to be allocated a plot at her age. Leesemane revealed that she applied for the plot in 2016 and feels privileged to finally receive it. The plot was allocated in the same area where the event was held, along with 34 additional plots.
Confirming the event budget, Ngwaketse Land Board Secretary Godiramang Moepeng stated that the exact amount was P584,000.
Addressing the gathered residents, Kanye South Member of Parliament and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Lemogang Kwape, revealed that the waiting list for Losabanyana ward was 11,500 five years ago.
'Half of the people on the list have already been allocated plots. Ngwaketse Land Board has set a target to complete the list by the time they leave the office,' Kwape stated.
Minister of Lands and Water Affairs, Dr Kefentse Mzwinila commended the Ngwaketse Land Board for their dedication and hard work. 'According to the population census, each plot accommodates two to three people. So, by allocating 100,000 plots, we have assisted 280,000 people,' he said.
Minister Mzwinila said that the Kanye Sub Land Board has worked hard and applauded the Chobe Land Board for leading in plot allocation, noting that it surpassed its target by 204 percent. However, he mentioned that the leading land board in plot allocation is the Ngwato Land Board, as it covers a broader area.
Before leading the 100,000th plot allocation, President Masisi urged Batswana to refrain from selling land to buy cars, emphasising that car prices depreciate over time, while land prices increase.
He urged Batswana to stop selling plots to foreigners, warning that they would soon tighten the laws to control this practice, as many foreigners own tribal land, whereas Batswana cannot attempt that in foreign countries.
He said the waiting list was extremely high in 2019, but it has since been reduced to 60 percent.
'I applaud all the local land boards for their sterling job, along with the land board members who work tirelessly despite low pay; you have really added to our wealth,' he said. The president handed over the plot with a group of legislators assisting in identifying every corner of it.
Member of Parliament for Kanye East, Thapelo Letsholo expressed concern about water shortage in the area but appreciated the president for efforts to avail water in the village.
Letsholo appreciated developments brought to the village, such as stadiums and schools, further encouraging the youth to take advantage of various government initiatives. He gave examples of big companies such as Amazon, which began from homes and have since grown bigger.