Reflections on a quota system for tribal land allocation in peri-urban areas in Botswana

ABSTRACT

On 25 April 2013, President Ian Khama (2008–2018) announced a controversial quota system for tribal land allocation in the peri-urban villages in Botswana at a kgotla (village) meeting in Bokaa in the Kgatleng District. Khama informed the villagers that under the land quota system, ‘preferential treatment’ would be given to the ‘locals’ when allocating tribal land in the peri-urban villages. Botswana’s parliament had rejected a motion on the same quota system tabled by an independent member of parliament. It also rejected attempts to bring it back through drafts of the land policy in 2013 and 2014, and the land policy in July 2015. President Khama invoked his executive powers in late 2015 to have it implemented. This policy is inconsistent with the Tribal Land Act and the Constitution of Botswana, and undermined Botswana’s Vision 2016. However, putting the law aside, it should be viewed from a social justice perspective.

KEYWORDS:

• Land quota
• peri-urban villages
• Tribal Land Act
• constitution
• Vision 2016
• social justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Boga Thura Manatsha

Boga T. Manatsha is a Senior Lecturer of History at the University of Botswana (UB). He completed his BA in History and English at UB in 2004, and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education in 2005 at the same institution. He obtained an MA and PhD in Cultural and Regional Studies at Hiroshima University, Japan. His research primarily, but not exclusively, focuses on the broader land issues, and Botswana’s diplomatic relations with other countries.

Wazha Gilbert Morapedi

Wazha G. Morapedi is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Botswana (UB). He completed his BA in History and English at UB in 1989 and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education at UB in 1990. He obtained an MA and PhD in Comparative History at the University of Essex (UK) in 1992 and 1998, respectively. His research interests are on traditional leadership in Africa, agrarian history, labour migration and the liberation struggle in southern Africa.