Youth innovator Seolelo Mokome is developing a digital land information portal aimed at simplifying how members of the public access services and information from Land Boards, potentially easing long queues and delays that applicants often face.
The Maun native has already pitched the platform to Tawana Land Board and aims it to take it further to other boards across the country.
If adopted, his proposed land portal could mark a step toward more accessible, tech-driven public services, while highlighting the role young innovators can play in reshaping how institutions serve the public.
The land information website is currently in the development phase and yet to be named. Mokome has already designed the basic user interface and layout, populated with test data to give users a sense of how the final platform would function.
The idea was shaped after he visited Tawana Land Board offices to observe how the system currently works. “I went there just to collect information,” he said. “I wanted to analyse where the pain points or bottlenecks are.”
According to Mokome, one of the biggest challenges for the public is the amount of time spent physically visiting Land Boards to make simple inquiries. “If I want any information about my application, I have to go straight to the Land Board,” he noted. “You wait in a queue just to ask a question, instead of quickly getting what you’re looking for.”
He believes the proposed portal could bridge that gap by allowing users to access information through their mobile phones or laptops, reducing unnecessary visits and easing congestion at Land Board offices. “People will be able to check for themselves without going to the Land Board,” he said, adding that this could save time for both applicants and officials.
At this stage, Mokome’s primary goal is to enable application tracking rather than full online applications. He says further functionality would depend on engagement with Land Boards themselves. “If I get a chance to sit down with them and understand their biggest challenges, I’ll be ready to tackle them and integrate solutions into the website,” he said.
As a young technologist, Mokome believes local innovation is key to national development. He argues that Botswana should move away from waiting for other countries to develop solutions first. “We need to leave that mentality behind and start creating tools for ourselves,” he said. “Technology is growing fast, and a lot can change within a year.”
Mokome, who has a background in software development and creative arts, says his interest in technology grew from a desire to create practical tools that make everyday tasks easier. “I started creating software for myself because I get frustrated when things take too long,” he explained. “If something is difficult or time-consuming, I want to find a way to simplify it.”
That mindset has already led him to develop several personal projects, including training an artificial intelligence system to replicate his own voice for music production, allowing him to create songs without spending time in a recording studio. He says technology allows him to “let the machine do the hard work.”
