22 Jun 2015

The Ministry of Lands and Housing has acquired P400 million for the youth housing scheme and the instalment purchase scheme. 

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele made the revelation at a South East District special full council session on June 18.

He said the ministry had two plots in Gaborone where the two projects would be constructed. The minister said the instalment purchase scheme would specifically target those who earned below P7 000 per month.

He said the youth housing scheme would alleviate shortage of accommodation among young people while the instalment purchase scheme would help those who could not access mortgages. Mr Maele also said there was need for Batswana to move away from the notion of being allocated plots, but rather opt for access to housing.

“Allocation of land is not sustainable in the long run,“ said Minister Maele.

He said the ministry would build flats and allocate them to people in the low income brackets or to the youth. On others issues, the minister pleaded for the council to support the proposed revised land policy which would be discussed in the upcoming Parliament session. 

Among other things, he said the policy intended to reduce freehold land to either state land or customary land.

Minister Maele said the policy would not allow customary or state land to be changed into freehold while freehold would be changed to either customary or state land. He added that the policy would address issues of dual ownership. 

Mr Maele also said the policy sought to establish affirmative action for youth, widows and widowers as well as people living with disabilities.

During comments, specially-elected councillor, Mr Matshidiso Fologang said the South East District was getting a raw deal in developments, and noted that areas such as Maratanang in Tlokweng and Magope in Ramotswa remain undeveloped while newer areas elsewhere in the country were developed. 

He noted that Magope Phase II has no access roads, water, electricity, schools and a clinic, among other resources, yet it houses over 2 000 plots.

For his part, councillor Dichabe Seitshiro said the land board was unfair in its dealings, adding that some people get small plots measuring 400m2 while others get 900m2. 

He said if the land board had long implemented affirmative action, some of the land problems could have been resolved. ENDS