Land tenure system, a scam - Adv Boko
President of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) Advocate Duma Boko says the land Tenure System used in Botswana is “a scam” designed to enrich a handful.
He said Batswana should at all times be thinking about the land question. According to the UDC leader, the land in Botswana has been deliberately divided into three - Freehold, Tribal and State land - to deprive Batswana to own a piece of land that will sustain them. He said Batswana need to seriously have a discussion around the issue of land.
“We have an entire land of 582 000 square metres of one sovereign state divided for the convenience of the oppressor, their colonial masters and their surrogate. Tribal land for you the community.
“When this oppressive government repossesses your land, you are compensated with peanuts. There is too much discrimination because for freehold people are paid billions of pula for a piece of land,” Adv. Boko said when addressing a star rally in Ramotswa.
Boko who is also the president of Botswana National Front (BNF) stated that land is an elastic resource which should be able to enrich Batswana. He expressed concern that under the Land Act those who have freehold land are not even requested to develop their land. According to the law when you have a piece of freehold land you hold title in perpetuity, Adv. Boko added.
He pointed out that what government does is to deprive Batswana the right to own a piece of land.
“It is the same government that wanted to steal the land of Balete. They claimed that they will be building a student village for tertiary students. They said the village will house around 6 000 students.
“What they were going to do was to steal some portions of the same land and allocate themselves. Unfortunately, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko disrupted them,” he said.
The UDC leader told the multitudes that graced the rally that Kgosi Seboko was able to expose the corrupt government from its shenanigans.
"These leaders think they cheat even with things that are in the open," he said, adding, "where are the leaders who can act as Kgosi Seboko? We want leaders who can stand for and protect the masses.
“During elections they are busy harassing us, telling us about taxes. They followed people with guns even to their homes. They are now silent on the issue of taxes. Don’t be surprised when they start again because it is election year. Don’t be scared or shaken because I am not and I have never been.”
He expressed confidence that the UDC will win this year’s general elections. According to the UDC leader, they took on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) over voter registration to sell them a dummy.
“When you do a strategy, first you do diagnosis. From there you come up with the turnaround strategy. We will win these elections based on our strategy. We will show them when we are in power how to win the heart and trust of people by doing good by them and giving them jobs and services”, Adv. Boko said.