With the conversion of Customary Land Grant to Secure Land Title The true potential and economic value of Tribal Land unlocked
The Government will continue to review other land related legislation with the view to facilitate Ease of Doing Business.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi said the Land Management Sector has gone through a number of historical stages. In the pre-colonial era, there was a single land tenure managed by Dikgosi and no land records were kept, while during the Protectorate years, a three tenure system was introduced.
He said, however, that Tribal Land remained unregistrable while Freehold and State Land then known as Crown Land were registered in the Deeds Office located in Mafikeng by then.
“You will recall that at independence, we maintained the three tenure system and in 1970, Land Boards were established through the Tribal Land Act of 1968 and Land Boards took over the management of Tribal Land.
“Customary Land Grants remained unregistrable and one had to convert their Customary Grant to Common Law Lease if they want to register at Deeds.
“The keeping of records remained a challenge due to lack of robust records management tools and systems,” the president said, when officially launching the registration of Customary Land Grants and issuance of Secure Land Title (SLT) on Monday this week.
He said the launch marks the completion of a journey that started in 2009 with partner-driven cooperation with the Kingdom of Sweden called the improvement of Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) Programme.
The programme’s objectives centred around ensuring the successful social and economic development of the nation of Botswana based on efficient, effective and transparent land administration.
Masisi posited that the launch, therefore, signifies the achievement of a huge milestone in the Land Sector of Botswana. He said it has been a long journey to be where the country is today.
He said his Government recognises robust and transparent Land Administration as a tool for advancing economic development. He said they are confident that these land reforms the government is implementing will unlock the true potential and economic value of Tribal Land.
“The reforms include the review and implementation of the National Land Policy of 2015 as amended in 2019; Tribal Land Act of 2018; and, Deeds Registry (Amendment) Act of 2017.
“We remain undeterred to fulfil our pledge to change the 'current land tenure system under the tribal land grant that limits and affords the majority of Batswana only use rights.' We will neither slumber nor sleep, until comprehensive legislative and policy review confers rightful ownership over pieces of land that Batswana own, according them “owners’ rights to such land, which they may use as security to unlock opportunities,” Masisi said.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi said the Land Management Sector has gone through a number of historical stages. In the pre-colonial era, there was a single land tenure managed by Dikgosi and no land records were kept, while during the Protectorate years, a three tenure system was introduced.
He said, however, that Tribal Land remained unregistrable while Freehold and State Land then known as Crown Land were registered in the Deeds Office located in Mafikeng by then.
“You will recall that at independence, we maintained the three tenure system and in 1970, Land Boards were established through the Tribal Land Act of 1968 and Land Boards took over the management of Tribal Land.
“Customary Land Grants remained unregistrable and one had to convert their Customary Grant to Common Law Lease if they want to register at Deeds.
“The keeping of records remained a challenge due to lack of robust records management tools and systems,” the president said, when officially launching the registration of Customary Land Grants and issuance of Secure Land Title (SLT) on Monday this week.
He said the launch marks the completion of a journey that started in 2009 with partner-driven cooperation with the Kingdom of Sweden called the improvement of Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) Programme.
The programme’s objectives centred around ensuring the successful social and economic development of the nation of Botswana based on efficient, effective and transparent land administration.
Masisi posited that the launch, therefore, signifies the achievement of a huge milestone in the Land Sector of Botswana. He said it has been a long journey to be where the country is today.
He said his Government recognises robust and transparent Land Administration as a tool for advancing economic development. He said they are confident that these land reforms the government is implementing will unlock the true potential and economic value of Tribal Land.
“The reforms include the review and implementation of the National Land Policy of 2015 as amended in 2019; Tribal Land Act of 2018; and, Deeds Registry (Amendment) Act of 2017.
“We remain undeterred to fulfil our pledge to change the 'current land tenure system under the tribal land grant that limits and affords the majority of Batswana only use rights.' We will neither slumber nor sleep, until comprehensive legislative and policy review confers rightful ownership over pieces of land that Batswana own, according them “owners’ rights to such land, which they may use as security to unlock opportunities,” Masisi said.
