Minister Lebonaamang Mokalale has expressed disappointment at the low turnout from members of the private sector at the one day Pitso organized by his ministry to solicit the views on how land in the country can be optimally utilized as a way of driving economic diversification.

DISAPPOINTED: Mokalake

“I find the low turnout from the private sector worrisome, considering that they are our most frequent and major clients. Our Ministry recognizes the important role that the private sector can play in assisting in the development of land. It has also declared the private sector as an important partner in the economic diversification prudent land management,” expressed the Minister of Lands and Housing in Francistown this week.

Despite the hiccup Mokalake urged delegates to diligently deliberate on the changes the new Development Control Code (DCC) should include or consider since he was going to table a new Town and Country Planning Bill in parliament in November this year. “We strive to attain optimal utilization and proper organization of land through proper planning, development control and of cause involving and engaging our stakeholders. I urge you to join hands with us in the fight to achieve sustainable utilization of this scarce resource”, continued the Minister.

Furthermore he said the review of the Development Control Code of 1995 is a reflection of the development dynamics being experienced in the country. Dynamics which are a result of a cocktail of factors emanating from the socio – economic profile of the population and the state of the economy all of which have improved, as well as physical planning factors which are constantly changing.

“The Ministry also understands its role and is constantly in pursuit of shortening procedures involved in land administration and development that hinder both local and international investments”, continued Mokalake.
While trying to keep abreast with the changes in land use, the Minister also indicated that his ministry was swamped with numerous challenges in its quest to allocate land.

Such as poor utilisation of land by owners, locals taking advantage of the ministry’s poor record system thus applying for more of the scarce resource. The Minister also highlighted that such practices have resulted in unrealistic waiting lists at most land boards thus giving a false demand for land.
The revised DCC is expected to be more flexible and current in enabling land owners and property developers to use the land more effectively and give Botswana’s urban  areas more direction in terms of land development.

mokalake