The mounting backlog in the allocation of residential plots has come under sharp scrutiny in Parliament of Botswana, with Serowe West legislator Oalepelo Kedikilwe demanding concrete timelines and structural reforms to address the crisis affecting thousands of citizens.
Kedikilwe has asked the Minister of Lands and Agriculture whether government is fully aware of the scale of delays and, more importantly, what “specific tangible strategies” are being implemented beyond routine policy pronouncements to accelerate allocations.
In his parliamentary question, Kedikilwe called for clear, measurable targets and deadlines to tackle the problem, signalling growing frustration over what many citizens see as endless waiting periods.
He asked the minister to explain “if it is not viable for every main land board to have a deeds registry to streamline the registration process, reduce reliance on a centralised system, and improve efficiency and security of land tenure.”
“The public deserves more than policy statements; they need measurable targets and clear timelines that demonstrate real progress in allocating residential land,” Kedikilwe said.
Land allocation delays have long been a source of public dissatisfaction in the country where demand for residential plots continues to outstrip supply, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas.
Kedikilwe also raised concerns about inefficiencies linked to the country’s centralised deeds registry system, questioning whether decentralising the service could significantly speed up the process.
He asked the minister to explain “if it is not viable for every main land board to have a deeds registry to streamline the registration process, reduce reliance on a centralised system, and improve efficiency and security of land tenure.”
The proposal, if implemented, could mark a major shift in how land ownership is formalised, potentially reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and improving turnaround times.
Land boards currently handle allocations, but final registration is processed through the central deeds registry, a system critics say creates delays due to administrative congestion and limited capacity.
