Mogoditshane land grabbing cartel
While government continues to grapple with land allocation around the country, a cartel of different players is having a field day in Mogoditshane, Botswana Guardian has established.
Land allocation has been a hot potato in Mogoditshane and the periphery as the Kweneng Landboard continues to clash with the public on land allocation, especially since the landboard undertook a decision to repossess land allocated by the Mogoditshane Sub Landboard.
Kweneng Landboard is currently facing a fierce battle and resistance from residents and landholders within its jurisdiction as it embarks on a process to repossess land allocated to the public especially through the Mogoditshane Sub-Landboard.
The landboard led by its Board Chairman, Kgang Kgang has highlighted that there have been lapses that occurred when the public was allocated land through compensation after the Mogoditshane Sub Landboard had repossessed their ploughing fields.
Mogoditshane Sub Landboard had asked individuals to hand back their ploughing fields in exchange for a compensation of six plots to one hectare. The main landboard is now reversing everything and giving people back their landboard certificates.
Investigations by Botswana Guardian have uncovered that while allocation of land has been halted by the Kweneng Landboard, there are developments ongoing and allocation done by Mogoditshane Sub land.
There are divisions of plots being made and infrastructure put in place. Botswana Guardian has also learnt that there are players who conspire which results in allocation being done unlawfully.
Botswana Guardian has established that landboard officials work in cahoots with some politicians, Dikgosi, former ploughing fields owners who have since been compensated, officials from both Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and
Botswana Power Corporation (BPC).
Dikgosi are said to be using their powers to vouch for some individuals to the effect that such individuals’ late parents used to own certain pieces of land.
Sources have revealed that the cartel has been difficult to penetrate which gives them an upper-hand of operation against the landboard which is failing to crack the web from within.
The land debacle has been seen a ticking time bomb that would explode if government fails to deal with the urgency and outcomes.
Mogoditshane, Metsimotlhabe, Mmopane, Gamodubu, Gabane, Mankgodi are some of the fastest growing villages that are close to the capital city Gaborone.
Mogoditshane was last year, declared the largest village in Botswana with an estimated population of 88 098. This is the place where even Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and informal sector have been thriving even more than in Gaborone.
Sources have revealed that this is done in connection with some officials from both the main landboard and the sub landboard. It is alleged that certificates which are processed illegally never reach the Records Department where legitimate certificates are kept.
Sources have further revealed that such certificates are in most cases issued out under the cover of darkness where people are told to come to the offices after working hours.
Politicians are said to also be helping in the processing of acquiring the fake certificates and later assist in the transfer of such land rights to third parties for development.
Botswana Guardian has further discovered that the landboard officials and the land rights holders are working with officials from both WUC and BPC to allow for smooth connectivity of water and electricity using the fake certificate.
According to sources, such fake certificates find themselves in the hands of certain individuals who assist with processing for the connection.
This publication has established that some of the houses which were recently marked for demolition by the landboard are still being developed, while others are being connected with water and electricity.
In an interview Kgang told this publication that as far as they are concerned there is no allocation which is ongoing. He said most of the people alleged to be doing developments are squatters. He however expressed concern that there is a collusion between officials from the landboard, Dikgosi and officials from WUC and BPC. "We know about the involvement of politicians who are pushing for people to do what they are doing. Even Dikgosi they are doing the same as you have mentioned. As far as we know the landboard or the sublandboard are not undertaking any allocation. We long stopped that so that we align Mogoditshane as it will be transformed into a District," said Kgang.
He said it is unfortunate that his board has to be dealing with addressing this dirty work done by fellow countrymen and women. He revealed that Mogoditsane Sub Landboard has not been sitting and it will be sitting this Thursday (yesterday) after a long time. But do not worry we are going to fix things and correct the anomaly, he added.
In April this year, Kgang revealed that the decision for people to avail a hectare in exchange for six plots is problematic. He stated that the Mogoditshane Sub Landboard had no powers or authority to have taken such a decision.
He revealed that there has been collusion between some officials and land owners in dealing with land allocation and issuance of certificates. Kgang explained that they will be preparing a report that will be presented to the minister, who is empowered by the law to give direction on what action should be taken.
According to Kgang, all they want as the landboard leadership is for equitable distribution of land to all Batswana.
WUC Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director, Peter Sedingwe said Mogoditshane Land Board has since brought to the attention of the Corporation the fact that they are currently investigating some plot allocations in that area.
He revealed that according to the land board authority, there are some people in possession of land certificates that are not genuine. Sedingwe explained that the same information indicates that some of those non-genuine certificates might have been provided to WUC to facilitate water connections by the Corporation.
“WUC awaits the outcome of the investigations that the landboard is undertaking. The outcome of those investigations will provide WUC with full clarity of its next steps, going forward.
“If it is found that any water connections already made were not supposed to have been made, due process will be followed including disconnecting water from those plots,” Sedingwe said in response to an inquiry.
He pointed out that WUC is continuously reviewing and evaluating its processes and in view of the issues associated with plot allocation. “We now require that copies of land allocation provided to facilitate water connections be certified by a land board authority.”
BPC Manager Marketing and Communications, Dineo Seleke said the Corporation is not aware that some of its employees are involved in the alleged illegal household connections in Mogoditshane.
"Please note that the BPC connection process requires applicants to provide proof of land ownership," Seleke said.
According to her, this may be in the form of a certified title deed or land ownership certificate to ensure that power is connected to a piece of land that has duly been allocated by the land authority.
“It would be unfortunate for our employees to knowingly be involved in such an act and it will be regrettable if illegal documents were used to connect power to households.
“This matter has come to the attention of the Corporation. Going forward, we will engage with the relevant stakeholders about the matter.”