Who owns Lentswe le Moriti?

What was once a place of faith, unity and shared history has now become the centre of a bitter and emotionally charged land dispute that has left residents feeling betrayed, threatened and uncertain about their future. The dispute erupted after St Engenas Church council chairperson, Piet Lekganyane, informed residents that they had no authority to request government development in the area because the land in question is privately owned. According to him, Lentswe-le-Moriti is a farm under private ownership, and therefore, any government intervention or infrastructure development, such as electricity installation, would require the church’s consent.

These are not ordinary times. Yet, history reminds us that this nation has navigated difficult waters before and did so by clinging firmly to the principles of prudence and macroeconomic stability. From independence in 1966, Botswana chose a path few resource-rich countries managed to sustain.

Diamond revenues were not treated as windfalls for reckless expansion, but as capital to be managed with caution. The establishment of fiscal rules,…