12 Feb 2015

Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele has told Parliament that he is aware that civil servant houses in Mahalapye are old and some have been abandoned for some time.

He said he was also cognizant of the fact that that there was a nationwide shortage of accommodation for civil servants including Mahalapye. Minister Maele said housing for public officers in the district was provided through District Housing Development Programmes.

He said re-development of the plots with dilapidated houses were included in the programmed and would be considered during National Development Plan 11. He said because of budget constraints, it has not been possible to avail funding in the financial year 2015/16 under District Housing Development programme.

In addition, he said in order to alleviate acute shortage of housing, government leases houses from the private market to augment the stock for public officers including in Mahalapye.

“So far, over and above government owned housed and those leased from Botswana Housing Corporation, 49 units have been sourced from the private market” he said. He said the private sector and the general public are encouraged to venture into development of houses for renting out to among others civil servants.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr Joseph Molefe had asked if the minister was aware that civil servants houses in Mahalapye were so old and some have been abandoned for a long time. He had also asked when the ministry intends to renovate or build new houses in the same land.

MP Molefe further wanted to know what plans were in place to address the acute shortage of housing for civil servants in Mahalapye. ENDS