12 Jun 2016

Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has handed over 30 houses to Botswana Police Service.

The houses, refurbished to the tune of over P11 million, were handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony held at the old Palapye Police Station on Friday, Mr Molefhi said the old Palapye police housing project was mainly renovation of existing structures carried out by 12 youth companies.

He said the project was finished on scheduled, time and within budget hence the funds were well utilised.

The minister said the renovated houses would help address the problem of shortage of accommodation for police officers.

Mr Molefhi, who is also MP for Selibe Phikwe East, said the project did not only bring jobs, but the experience and nourishment of skills to all those who participated in the projects, adding that the project created  more than 80 job opportunities especially for the youth of Palapye.

He said it was in line with his ministry’s 15 per cent reservation policy. Minister Molefhi said he was impressed by youth performance in the projects and said his ministry would ensure that the construction industry gets into the hands of locals, starting from grassroots, capacitating the youth.

He said it was through the initiative that the ministry could create experienced local construction industry in the coming years.  

For his part, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Dikagiso Mokotedi said the renovation of the police houses included building, electrical and mechanical works.

He said the work entailed rehabilitation of all 30 houses which comprised floor tiling, fitting of baths, toilets, kitchen wardrobes, painting, plumbing and ceilings.

Mr Mokotedi said the projects were awarded to youth contractors last year in June and that the last contractor on site was on April.

He said what the youth contractors had done would encourage government to consider them positively whenever there were any projects to be executed.

Receiving the houses, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Keabetswe Makgophe said the houses were going to uplift the moral and provide dignity to police officers.

He said that would also motivate them to do their job with more vigor and serve the people of Palapye without anything bothering their minds.

Mr Makgophe said the houses would mean deploying more staff to Palapye to fight the alarming rate of crime especially rape and stock theft. ENDS