Row erupts over Masisi’s land acquisition
Councillors accuse President of abuse of power NWD councillors skeptical about the acquisition Traditional leaders allegedly not consulted Councillors to oppose acquisition
President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s application to acquire land measuring over 22 000 Hectares in the lucrative Okavango Delta on behalf of the State has sparked controversy about the real intention of Government.
The land which Government wants to acquire in NG21 is situated just a few kilometres from Wilderness Safari’s flagship Mombo and little Mombo Camps in Moremi Game Reserve.
Part of the land applied for by Government is in NG28 near Xugana Camp operated by Desert and Delta Safaris still in Moremi Game Reserve.
Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services, Kefentse Mzwilla has since written to the North West District Council Secretary on notice to acquire land by the State in the Okavango Delta in terms of Section 32 of the Tribal Land Act.
“His Excellency the President, in exercise of his powers under Section 32 of the Tribal Land Act has determined that it is in the public interest for the State to acquire a portion of Tribal land in the Okavango Delta. “The land required covers a portion of Moremi Game Reserve ( NG/ 28) and NG/ 21 as depicted in the attached diagram. The resultant area gives a total of about 22, 029.2 hectares,” Mzwinila said in a letter dated April 9th 2021 which was widely circulated on social media platforms. The minister stated that pursuant to Section 32 of the Tribal Land Act, he is required, “as I hereby do, to notify the North West District Council of His Excellency’s intention to acquire the above- mentioned parcel of land for the State”.
While Government made it clear that its application will not affect existing land rights in the areas of Mombo and Xugana, there are fears that once the acquisition has been made the state might in exercise of its powers auction the land to the highest bidder. Of concern is that communities in the vicinity of the land that government is acquiring have for long been disadvantaged and this could be worse when the land is in the hands of the state. It is not yet clear as to which ministry the application by Government is for. Tempers are already high in the country’s rich tourism area. North West District Councillors were scheduled to be briefed during a Full Council Meeting yesterday or today ( Friday) on the matter.
Councillors have vowed to oppose the acquisition. They argue that their people would be disadvantaged and that the government’s motive for the acquisition is questionable. North West District
Council Chairman Kebareeditse Ntsogotho told this publication that they have received the letter from the minister but argues that the letter was “vague”. He pointed out that there are many things that need to be explained by government for the benefit of communities to be affected. “We will share our views and concerns during the briefing. We are expecting to be briefed after the minister presents the decentralisation policy to the council. “The briefing will be done by the Tawana Land Board chairman. We just received the letter we do not know which department the government is acquiring the land for. “They are talking about public interest we would like to know which public, the entire nation or the people of Moremi,” the council chairman said. He expressed concern that government wants to acquire a piece of Tribal land but the tribal leadership has not been consulted.
“The government always preaches about being a consultative government but we do not see that being put into practice. You cannot talk about Tribal Land and not take the local leadership and its people onboard.
“We do not know whose interest government is talking about and if things would not change at a later stage. We hope our government is not taking advantage of loopholes in our laws to do things that are not in the interest of the public,” he added.
Council Chief Whip Itumeleng Kelebetseng told Botswana Guardian that they are worried about the government’s plan. He said more worrying is that Government wants a portion in Moremi Game Reserve while it knows very well that Kgosi Tawana Moremi has applied for the land to be returned to Batawana. Kelebetseng who is also Councillor for Boseja Ward in Maun East Constituency said since the government is notifying them and not requesting the tribe should forget about having a share of the land.
“This clearly shows that the decision has long been taken. That is why we are being notified. At the same time, we are not being made aware what the State is acquiring the land for. “What if after acquiring the land it is later sold through auction? This might be the same as what we witnessed with Banyana Farms where the state acquired the land and it was later auctioned to the highest bidder.
“This simply means our communities which are already impoverished would not be able to buy the land and only those well off will be able to buy thus further impoverishing our people,” the chief whip said.
He added that once it is state land it is common cause that nothing can be done. He said this scenario is what is contributing to the failure to develop areas like Mababe and Ditshiping among others in the delta. He said some of the land being acquired by the state houses concessions which are profitable and were going to change the lives of the communities. Kelebetseng said as councillors they will oppose this development because they believe it is abuse of power. He argued that at some point the powers that are given leaders over citizens have to be clipped.
Kgosi Tawana Moremi would not be drawn into discussing the matter. NG 21 forms the bulk of Chiefs Island, the prime area which Kgosi Tawana Moremi has applied for before Tawana Land Board as his inheritance.
Chiefs Island ( NG 21) and NG 28 are situated inside Moremi Game Reserve, the Reserve whose entire ownership is being sought by Batawana from Tawana Land Board. In February 2021 Chairman of Tawana Land Board Emmanuel Dube rubbished claims that the President wants the land for himself. He explained that contrary to reports, the landboard has not received any application from President Masisi for a tourism concession at the Okavango Delta. Dube stated that the main land board is responsible for allocation of all tourism concessions in the delta and wondered how an application could happen without their knowledge. At the time Dube stated that tourism concessions are not yet ready for allocation due to ongoing Okavango Delta Management Plan and Moremi Game Reserve management plan review.