Hon House Chair, out of the number given to your answer, there is a biggest challenge that the department had of the beneficiaries preferring to take money instead of acquiring the land bought for them. In the very same number that you have given us how many if any of those recipients that might have written to the department demanding that they would rather be given money and have the farms sold back? Thank you.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL
DEVELOPMENT: Hon House Chair, like the Minister of
Mineral Resources and Energy, I do not want to just jump into the figures when I do not have the accuracy of such figures. Generally what I can say to you is that the issue of people preferring financial compensation than land is an issue that is very vast. When people have been oppressed and poverty is so much they really think that the immediate solution to their problem is financial compensation which they can use immediately.
This government and many parties here have emphasised and indicated to the importance of land over simple financial compensation. We continue to educate our people about the fundamental issue of retaining land. That is why we are really looking forward to the issue of finalising the amendment to the particular Constitution. Your issue is a really one that is facing us but we continue to educate people about the importance of preferring land which will last forever than financial compensation. I do not want to jump to the figures as I have indicated. Thank you.
Setswana: