The Kgatleng Land Board has rejected an application by President Mokgweetsi Masisi for an extension of a farm he bought in the Kgatleng District, documents seen by the Sunday Standard show. The decision of the Board whose tenure ended in August this year has touched off conspiracy theories that this was the reason behind government’s recent move to appoint ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) activists to land board across the country.
According to the documents passed to the Sunday Standard, Masisi had applied to Artesia Sub- Landboard requesting for an extension of his farm situated at Matlhagare lands .But the Kgatleng Landboard in one of its sittings rejected the application on the basis that it did not meet the criteria for extensions.The Board cited the Land Board Act, which states that for an extension to be granted, there must be a proof of consultation from neighbours or neighbouring plot holders. The President’s application did not meet this condition hence it was rejected by the Board.Responding to Sunday Standard queries, the Press Secretary to the President Batlhalefi Leagajang would not be drawn into discussing details. He said, “The Land Board is the entity responsible for land allocation and granting of permissions for extensions so you may direct this question to them.”
Immediate comment from Kgatleng Landboard was not available. The Kgatleng Landboard deputy board secretary Vincent Paki had promised to respond to this publication’s queries but had not delivered on his promise at the time of going to press.Initially, Paki through one of the board clerks demanded that he be furnished with a court order in order for him to release the Board minutes showing why the President’s application was rejected. Kgatleng Landboard public relations officer Gaolatlhe Stephen told this publication that she had referred the questions to Paki. He allegedly left his office “to see a medical doctor since morning and never came back,” according to some staff members of the land board.
