Keto Segwai
14 March 2008
Gaborone — An uncultured letter from the Ngwato Land Board has nearly undone the painstaking consultative process between Mmamabula coal project promoters and the affected people living in the surrounding area.
Enraged farmers charged that the letter, dated 28 February and titled 'Kitsiso ka kamogo ya setsha' was couched in an intimidatory tone. It reads in part: "O itsisiswe fa lekgotla la kabo ditsha la kgaolo ya gago le tla go go amoga setsha sa gago mmogo le ditlhabololo tsedi mo go sone go se dirisetsa ditiro tsa setshaba".
The letter that claims to draw its powers from Section 32 of the Tribal Land Act instructs the affected farmers to cease further developments on the land in question. Any delay of more than three months, on the part of government to compensate, will attract a five percent interest annually, it adds.
The apparently offensive letter, instigated by land board secretary, Andrew Pitse (of the Mogoditshane land fiasco fame) talks of the dispossession, instead of acquisition, charged the farmers. One of the farmers, Kennedy Mmopi pointed out that the tone of the letter creates the impression that the land board is disinheriting them of their land, which could have been illegally acquired. "It also creates the impression that we have been uncooperative with the government on this matter, which is not true. On the contrary, we understand that the land is required for public purposes," he said. A certain Chakalisa, who appeared to be the head of the Ngwato Land Board assessment team that is touring the area, readily acknowledged the unacceptability of the letter. He hinted that the land board is reviewing the wording of the supposedly standard letter. Pitse pointed out that indeed the English version of the standard letter talks of acquisition, while the Setswana translation appears to say something else. "We are looking at advising our superiors to change the wording," said Pitse.
The promoters of the project, Meepong Resources (Pty), which is wholly-owned by the Canadian outfit CIC Energy Corporation has been in constant consultation with the affected communities in the area. It has completed an environmental impact assessment for the project. This morning, the company is holding a Kgotla meeting in Mmaphashalala to brief the affected communities on proposed transmission lines, a coal mine and power station.
The company has been working closely with communities at Dibete, Mookane, Mmaphashalala and Dovedale. In each village there is a Consultative Forum, comprising village chiefs (headmen), chairpersons of Village Development Committees (VDCs), councillors and other village elders. The forums, which meet on a monthly basis, deliberate on matters pertaining to Mmamabula Energy Project's progress.
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