08 Mar 2016

Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) low cost owners are not denied the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) Scheme, says Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele. 

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Maele said any BHC low cost home owner, who wants to improve his or her house and falls within the income threshold ranging between P 4 400 to P52 00 per annum, would be assessed and assisted accordingly.

Mr Maele said he was not aware that some BHC low cost home owners, who fall within the income bracket stated above, were denied access to the SHHA home improvement scheme.

He further noted that it was not necessary to conduct any investigation into the matter, adding that if MPs were aware of any Council that denies BHC low cost home owners who are eligible to be assisted, should inform the ministry so that proper advice to the concerned Council could accordingly be proffered.

Minister Maele highlighted that low cost owners who fall within the stated above income brackets could utilise the SHHA Home Improvement loan scheme to improve their houses.

He added that alternatively they could utilise other government schemes such as GEMVAS to improve their houses.

Mr Maele was responding to the Member of Parliament for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who had asked the minister why BHC low cost owner were denied SHHA scheme.

Mr Nkaigwa also wanted to know if the minister would conduct investigations into the matter to normalise the situation and which government programme the low cost owners could utilise to extend their houses. ENDS