The Kgalagadi District Council built 20 houses at a total cost of P5 million and Dikgang Publishers complemented by donating seven double beds and bedding.

The President has thus challenged the media company to solicit more donations to furnish the remaining 13 houses with the same. Lt Gen. Khama said if all capable Batswana could heed the call to assist the disadvantaged neighbours, abject poverty would soon be a thing of the past. 

He also commended the district council  for having taken a deliberate decision to build the houses in Khawa, a village that was less known in the last few years. He has however advised other less privileged residents not to despair adding that they were not forgotten.

He revealed that government intended to build 40 such houses every year across the country. 

President Khama has furthermore commended Batswana for supporting the less privileged under the auspices of the Presidential housing appeal.

He said so far 350 houses had been constructed since the inception of the initiative in the last three years. The President shared an evening meal with the residents and donated bibles, shirts, blankets and lamps.

For his part, the acting Minister of Youth Sport and Culture, Mr Vincent Seretse said the two bed-roomed houses which also comprise of toilets, fence and water connection cost P120 000 each.

He said the first 10 houses were built in August 2013 while the other 10 were built in April this year.

He said the project was a testimony that government programmes were not only skewed towards a select few urban centres.

Likewise, minister Seretse commended Dikgang Publishers for going an extra mile to meet government half way. Mr Seretse has also revealed that government has set aside P250 000 to set up a sand blocks project in the district with the view to expedite the construction of more houses in the district.

He said sourcing building materials from Gaborone and Tsabong was taxing. Altogether he said government had planned to build 52 houses in Kgalagadi District. One of the beneficiaries , Mr William Rooi thanked President Khama and government for active efforts to afford the less privilege Batswana dignity.

“ If I were to die today I would be happy in the knowledge that I would leave behind a decent shelter for my children,” he said. Ends