21 Jun 2015

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, has implored Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) beneficiaries to repay the loans.

Speaking at a SHHA Turn Key hand over project in Moshupa on June 17, he said it was imperative to repay the loans, which were interest free to enable other people to benefit from the programme.

The Vice President, who is also a Member of Parliament for Moshupa-Manyana, implored his constituents to be exemplary, repay the loan faster so as to qualify for another one.

He said this could help them to improve their lives. In addition, he said the Ministry of Lands and Housing had borrowed P400 million to enhance the programme, therefore it meant that beneficiaries were part of the loan.

He applauded the Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele for teaming up with Habitat for Humanity saying the organisation was well versed with accommodation issues that could benefit the ministry.

The Vice President emphasised that to team up was a good thing as it was a reciprocal process in which the organization can learn financial discipline from Batswana if the constituents were to repay without defaulting.

He said the two parties could benefit in a number of areas hence the move needs to be applauded. The Vice President advised people always to borrow money within their limits. He also warned people against inflating prices for government tenders saying such a move is corruption.

He said outsourcing services or products from other service providers is too expensive for government as prices are inflated emphasising that funds may be depleted before others benefit from government programmes and initiatives.

The Vice President said the nation is nearing Vision 2016 and as such the government has started to construct a new vision. He said that would mean they are going to be smarter than before and everybody should come on board and assist which will also help create employment. He said they are going to rope in all experts and people will be happy and proud. He also spoke about the need to empower women more especially on health issues and land acquisition, adding that women in Africa are lagging behind in these areas. 

He said procedures and structures should clearly spell out who inherit property when the need arises, citing children as always disadvantaged in some instances.

For his part, Mr Maele said his ambition is to increase housing stock units in the country. The minister said worldwide accommodation is a challenge and can be overcome through building affordable houses. He emphasised that even in the first world people experience accommodation challenges, adding that Botswana have programmes and initiatives to respond to accommodation shortage.

He said programmes such as Integrated Poverty Alleviation, SHHA Loan Improvement and Turn Key Loan Scheme were designed to give Batswana dignity through responding to accommodation needs. He said the President’s Housing Appeal has built over 500 houses country wide and his ministry has borrowed P400 million to kick start Installment Purchase Scheme and Youth Housing.

He said everybody recognises the importance of accommodation and therefore the need for housing cannot be over-emphasised. He said the turnkey houses are built in constituencies to reduce accommodation shortage.

He urged beneficiaries to take care of the houses and to repay the interest free loan. Minister Maele requested the constituents to be exemplary to others on how to best utilise the programme. ENDS