Gaborone — Government intends to review and re-introduce the Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) project, as it can remedy land allocation delays.
The project is one of the many commendable outputs yielded by the good bilateral relations between Botswana and Sweden, President Advocate Duma Boko said when receiving letters of credence from the Swedish envoy to Botswana, Ms Anna Eneström in Gaborone on March 2.
Botswana has benefited from the Swedish relations in many areas through the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), which was instrumental in rolling out the LAPCAS programme.
On account of that, President Boko said there was strong contention for the LAPCAS programme to be reviewed and re-introduced as it could solve the many land management matters that government was wrestling with.
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"I understand the many benefits of the LAPCAS programme which has since been halted and fallen into some limp but indications are that the programme was very solid and solved some of the delays in land allocation," said President Boko.
He said withdrawal of the programme had economically disadvantaged both the country and land owners.
Discontinuing LAPCAS has resulted in slow and erratic land allocation, mostly smeared with corruption and irregularities due to the uncertainty of land titles, President Boko explained and added that the delays, were a result of the absence of secure land tittle which would enable the land owner to make use of the land tittle for securitisation purpose to possible financers.
Thus , he said there was a strong and compelling case for the continuation of that special collaboration between Botswana and Sweden in rolling out the LAPCAS programme.
President Boko also received letters of credence from Slovak Republic, Panama and Spain envoys to officially begin their diplomatic duties and strengthen bilateral relations between Botswana and their respective countries.
In separate brief meetings, the President welcomed the new envoys and congratulated each of them on their appointments that marked the start of their mandate, focusing on cooperation in areas like security, bilateralism, trade, and exchange programmes all aimed at the betterment of the citizenry livelihoods.
When ushering in Slovan Republic high commissioner to Botswana, Mr Vladimir Gracz, President Boko said the Slovan Republic was a formidable motor vehicle manufacturer and also strong in vocational education, a field which Botswana was aiming to broaden its strides on.
"We are looking to broaden our involvement in skills development and venture fairly and quickly into manufacturing of car components as well as pharmaceutical production, therefore we trust that your active involvement will continue to strengthen relationship for Botswana to meet its desired goals," said President Boko.
With regard to Panama, President Boko expressed optimism that the new Panama envoy, Mr Rodrigo Alvarez would add some momentum to what had been a largely stagnant relationship between Botswana and Panama
He said there were failed attempts in the past to resuscitate the relationship through the offing of scholarships by the Panama government, which could not materialise due to the language barrier between the two countries.
As a diamond producing county and trading in the global north, President Boko said Botswana regarded Panama as a gateway to the lucrative Latin and Central America matter.
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To the Spanish envoy, Mr Francisco Gastelurrutia, President Boko highlighted that Botswana highly valued its relationship with Spain and regarded it as a special friend despite the geographical locations.
He indicated that there were viable opportunities to enhance mutual knowledge and understanding between the two countries through the establishment of political consultations as well as through bilateral cooperation, particularly in sports and cultural exchange programmes.
The envoys vowed to nurture the excellent relations between their respective countries and Botswana, which are built on shared bonds and cooperation in international organisations such as the United Nations as well as a shared commitment to democracy, respect for human rights, peace and security, economic and social development together with an international trade system that benefits both countries.
BOPA
