The participants were divided into 3 groups. They were given instructions to first do a SWOT analysis of their topic. There were some very positive areas to look at and it was urged that focus should not only be on the negative ones. For instance, there is an infrastructure in place. Also the government and community have come to this symposium to talk in a non-conflictual manner.
After the analysis, the groups were then asked to come up with a plan on what should (or could) the NGOs, Government, Community and the Private sector do.
The third part of the group's assignment was to come up with a plan. The plan must contain what can be done by whom and when. The groups were divided into two to look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the way land is allocated, how to deal with existing problems and the long term solutions.
7.1 Land allocation
1. Strengths
- It is a decentralised system.
- Tribal land is accessible and free.
- Simplified application process.
- Administered by an independent body and one can acquire land anywhere in the country.
- Non-discriminatory land allocation system.
- One can own more than one piece of land.
2. Weaknesses
- The rich have unfair advantage.
- People do not have access to information-allocation procedures.
- Conflicting/confusing roles between traditional leaders and land board.
- Lack of data on available and allocated land.
- Does not deal well with land scarcity.
- Lack of adequate skills on the part of land board and land overseers.
3. Oportunities
- Regularise the squatters.
- Law governing land should be followed.
- Continuous updates applicants.
- Land boards should buy land at market prices.
- Good information systems to be put in place.
- Train land board allocating authorities.
- Boards to be politically neutral and members should have the necessary skills.
- There should be dialogue between the land board and tribal authorities.
- Government to engage civil society in educating people.
- Policy based human rights.
4. Threats
- Corruption.
- Land might finally end up in the hands of a few rich individuals.
- Lack of implementation.
- Land grabbing.
- Conflicts tension and war.
- Lack of cooperation between land boards and chiefs.
- Social and political conflicts.
7.2 How to deal with existing problems
Solution for vulnerable groups
- There should be a negotiated settlement and amnesty; there should be no more demolition of houses in the affected areas.
- Accelerated land delivery.
- Site and service approach.
- Labour intensive works.
- Market related compensation to land holders.
Good governance and institutional reform
- This should include local government
- Public information and education.
- For CBOs, NGOs and CSOs.
Planning
- This should be both short and long term strategic planning.
7.3 Long term solutions
Government
- Establish national; coordinating committees for implementation of the United Nations HABITAT agenda, which was signed/ratified.
- Establish multi sectoral demolition committee to psychologically and materially prepare “squatters”.
- Include peri-urban areas in a Greater Gaborone” area.
- Reduction of plot size.
- Impose property taxes for those with more than one plot (money to be used for housing initiatives).
- Computerised land allocation system to avoid land grabbing.
- Public education on land acquisition and use.
NGOs
- Work with multi–sectoral demolition committee.
- Public education.
- Do more research and share with government.
- Explore possibility of housing associations.
Private Sector
- Provide funds for housing associations.
- Develop low cost housing.
- Re-locate outside Gaborone (provide employment in other areas).
Communities
- Act lawfully
- Build communal housing
- Actively engage government to take advantage of programmes available.
7.4 Comments and suggestions
- Government should not concentrate development in Gaborone it should think of expanding its programmes to other surrounding areas, such as Rasesa ETC.
- It was suggested that NGOs should be more involved in research so as to assist government in the future.
- About the housing associations, it is will be very important to get clarity on how they will operate.
- Most property agencies provide housing for the rich and do not cater for the low-income earners. There should be poor rights policy scheme in place to assist the poor.
- NGOs should organise a scheme like Habitat for Humanity, but this will only be possible if the land is available. The problem there is that the rich will always grab available land.
- NGOs should empower the people to know their rights.
- There should be a commission of enquiry to clarify how the Land Board operates.
- It would be very difficult to stop squatters and demolitions, but we should try and avoid the situation occurring in the future.
- The government should instruct the Land Board to speed up the allocation of land because they have the power to do so.
- It may be wise for the government to treat the problem in Mogoditshane on merit because there is a problem on hand.
- Some sort of control should be placed on acquiring more than one plot per individual.
- People should be sensitised on the importance and value of land.
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