Edgar Tsimane
13 January 2009
The government has reneged on its proposal to buy Balete's freehold Farm Forest Hill 9 KO farm in Kgale at the market price.
The government offered to purchase 1, 000 hectares of Balete's prime land for P90 million but it now wants to take it free of charge.
The government proposed to buy the remainder of Farm Forest Hill 9 KO located just behind Kgale Hill at P9 per square metre while Balete asked to be paid P13 per square metre, on the grounds that the farmland had appreciated in value due to its proximity to Gaborone but the government has cocked a snook.
The government has acquired some land from a portion of Farm 9 KO belonging to the Catholic Church at P11 per square metre but does not want to buy Balete's land at the same rate. The government has not advanced reasons why it is applying different strokes for different folks.
"Government still believes the right pricing of your land as it stands is P9 per square metre at most. As an alternative, the government can take possession of the entire farm, free of charge, provide bulk services and then share such land on the basis that we should now discuss," wrote Ngaka Monageng, director in the Ministry of Lands and Housing.
The government has used the purchase price from the Catholic Church as "the market evidence" in its offer to the tribe but the GaMalete Development Trust said it wanted to further consult with experts on this offer and the valuation method before responding to government. The trust appointed project manager, Mosienyane and Partners, to oversee and direct the surveying and development of the farmland.
While the trust was still consulting, the government changed its mind, saying the land was tribalised in 1972 ignoring the fact that Balete enjoyed the right of purchase of willing buyer, willing seller.
Kgosi Mosadi Seboko wrote to the then minister of Lands and Housing, Dikgakgamatso Seretse, in 2006 objecting to such saying "Balete elders' position on the matter to their best of their knowledge is that they hold title to "Farm Forest Hill 9 KO" currently filed under Deed of Transfer 77/64 at the Deeds Registry of the Republic of Botswana.
Seboko wrote: "It is clear, therefore, that the two positions - that of the government and that of the Tribe's elders - are at odds and as such a dispute may exist between the Balete tribe and the government."
During the negotiations, there was a proposal that the tribe would pledge their land to the government. The government would put in all the services on a partnership basis.
The serviced land would be shared on an equitable basis between government and Balete. But nothing of that sort is coming out of the lands and housing ministry.
Balete bought Forest Hill from one Patrick Lonergan who sold three paddocks, one to Balete, the other to the Roman Catholic Church and another one has since been bought by Judge Ian Kirby in Mmokolodi suburb south of Gaborone.
The Minister of Lands and Housing Nonofo Molefhi told Mmegi yesterday that he was unaware of any negotiations between government and the tribe. "Since my appointment, I have not been briefed on any pending issues between the government and Balete. I am not aware of the issue you are referring to. I expect to be briefed when I return from leave on January 19," said Molefhi.
It is unclear why the minister has not been briefed about the land issue, eight months after assuming responsibility.
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