15 Dec 2014

In April 2014, government issued Public Service Directive No. 8 of 2014 which among other benefits, extended the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) scheme to public officers on salary scale up to D4.

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale, told parliament that the aim was to increase accessibility to housing for employees who otherwise would not have been eligible in terms of the scheme in its original form.

Member of Parliament for Francistown East Mr Buti Billy had asked the minister if he is aware that the government recently revised the conditions of public workers in the country by giving employees up to D4 scale an opportunity to benefit from SHHA and if so state the number of employees who have benefitted from this scheme and what measures are in place to ensure more public officers benefit from this arrangement.

Mr Molale said so far no officer benefitted since there were no funds available to service the extension in the current financial year.

However, he said, a budget provision will be in the 2015/16 financial year, a proposal which will be and only then will government be in a position to process loan applications under the scheme, for this category of employees. ENDS