The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr. Micus Chimbombi, received title deeds for 45,000 hectares of land transferred to the Botswana government by Tati Company Limited.
The land was acquired through a willing-buyer, willing-seller agreement.
Dr. Chimbombi praised the seamless transfer and emphasized the strategic importance of the land for the nation’s future development.
The newly acquired land will serve various purposes, with one of the key objectives being the expansion of Francistown’s Central Business District (CBD).
Dr. Chimbombi highlighted the government’s approach to land distribution, stressing the importance of community consultations with the 47 villages in the North East district.
These consultations will include kgotla meetings, ensuring local input into the allocation and development of the land.
Members of Parliament have expressed strong support for the acquisition, recognizing its potential to alleviate land shortages in the region.
Francistown South MP, Mr. Wynter Mmolotsi, emphasized the need for a fair and transparent allocation process, while also suggesting the potential for tourism development along the Tati River.
Tati West MP, Justin Hunyepa, called for a comprehensive audit to ensure the proper transfer of land holdings, while Thabologo Furniture, MP for Tati East, highlighted the acquisition’s potential to resolve long-standing land scarcity issues in the North East District.
Tati Company General Manager, Mr. Ogaisitse Khama, provided historical context, noting that the Glazer family of South Africa acquired Tati Company through a hostile takeover before Botswana’s independence.
The family donated and sold approximately 75% of the company’s land to the government, benefiting Batswana who were unable to purchase land.
This latest transfer of land is seen as the final portion of the company’s holdings, totaling approximately 110,000 acres, and it will support agricultural, commercial, residential, and industrial development in line with the government’s vision for the region’s growth.
