11 Jul 2016

Coordinator of President’s Housing Appeal Initiative, Colonel Duke Masilo has implored beneficiaries to take proper care of their homes. 
Speaking at the official hand over of two houses built under the Presidential Housing Appeal in Diloro on Wednesday, Col. Masilo said it was vital for beneficiaries to take the upkeep of the houses donated to them seriously as the property is the inheritance of their children. 

He also advised the beneficiaries that they should not be tricked into selling their houses and that the houses should not be used as security for bank loans as they can end up losing them.

Col. Masilo explained that the housing appeal initiative is reaching every corner of Botswana and continues to accomplish President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama’s vision of providing Batswana with dignified housing. 

He said up to date 612 houses have been built for the needy while 42 were still under construction and nine were ready for handover. 

However, he noted with concern that individual Batswana were not involved in the housing appeal, saying currently most of the assistance they get was from companies, organisations and religious groups while individual help was minimal. 

He said the government encourages every Motswana to give a helping hand and that the initiative welcomes any assistance no matter how small, especially that there were many citizens that needed to be assisted with shelter.

Col. Masilo also appealed to the public to stop hiding people with disabilities, but to rather work closely with social workers so that they can be given the assistance they need. 

For her part, councillor for Kgagodi ward Ms Florah Emmanuel, further stressed Col. Masilo’s words that the houses were not to be sold and advised the beneficiaries not to fight over property.

Ms Emmanuel pledged to build one room with a bathroom and toilet for a student living with a disability as well as construct a bathroom and toilet inside his room for another person with disability in Kgagodi.

She explained that the pledge was brought about by the realisation that people living with disability had difficulty using outdoor latrines therefore building them inside toilets would make their lives a lot easier as the toilets would now be easily accessible.

The two houses were built for Ms Semarama Malokwane and Mr Thatafalo Keonnetseng. 
The  beneficiaries expressed joy and happiness saying the houses will give them back their dignity. Mr Keonnetseng expressed concern that thieves will destroy their property and asked for anti-burglar bars to be installed on the houses. ENDS