Overview

Ngwato Land Board is one of Botswana’s main tribal land boards under the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs. It manages and administers tribal land within the Bamangwato (BaNgwato) territory and operates as a quasi-judicial corporate body. The Board handles land allocation, transfers, adjudication, and disputes related to tribal land.

Jurisdiction and Structure

The head office of Ngwato Land Board is located in Serowe. Its jurisdiction covers a large part of Botswana, making it one of the country’s largest land boards by area and population served. It oversees several sub-land boards, including those in Serowe, Paje, Rakops, Letlhakane, Shoshong, Mahalapye, Palapye, Maunatlala, Sefhare, Bobonong, Mmadinare, Tonota, Tutume, Marapong, and Nata.

The board’s operations cover roughly one-third of Botswana’s land area, and it employs several hundred staff members who manage land allocations, surveying, and public services across its extensive region.

Key Functions

Ngwato Land Board’s core responsibilities include:

Land Allocation
It grants use rights for residential, agricultural, commercial, and community purposes within tribal land.

Transfers and Cancellations
The Board authorizes land right transfers and can cancel them when regulations or lease conditions are breached.

Appeals and Adjudication
It hears appeals from its subordinate land boards and resolves disputes concerning land rights.

Surveying and Title Certification
The Board surveys, demarcates, and registers plots and issues secure land title certificates to landholders.
It has been working to clear backlogs in title registration, which have been delayed due to limited surveying resources.

Land Dispute Resolution
It mediates and settles land-related conflicts, ensuring fair application of Botswana’s land laws.

Community Development Projects
The Board supports local development initiatives, such as allocating communal ranches and land for community projects.

Current Challenges

Backlog in Appeals and Dispute Cases
The Board continues to manage a large volume of unresolved appeals, reflecting the scale of land disputes in its jurisdiction.

Limited Resources
Shortages in funding, equipment, and staff capacity have slowed the surveying and issuance of title deeds.

Illegal Occupation of Land
Squatting and unauthorized use of tribal land remain ongoing challenges.

Administrative Delays
Processing and approval times for land allocations and appeals can be lengthy due to the high demand and limited personnel.

Recent Developments

Ngwato Land Board has made progress in digitalizing some processes and improving service delivery. It has set ambitious goals to increase land allocation rates and enhance transparency in land administration. The Board also recognizes and rewards staff performance to promote efficiency and accountability.