07 Aug 2016

Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Mr Nonofo Molefhi, says he will fight for inclusion of the green building concept in NDP 11.

Speaking at launch of the Botswana Green Building Council (BoGBC) in Gaborone on Wednesday, Mr Molefhi said green building concept was the answer to climate change, which had adversely affected the planet earth and needed to be corrected.

He said due to man’s insatiable sumptuous ambition for construction development, the earth had been turned into a non-hospitable environment hence the need to change the status quo by coming up with innovative atmospheric friendly building concept.  He therefore praised the founders of BoGBC, saying there was need to accommodate the concept by including it in the national development plans as it had potential to come up with new and safer building concepts, which he believed could also be affordable to many people.

He said as a ministry responsible for technology and innovation as well as research the objectives of BRBC resonates well with ministry’s aspiration, noting that this was highlighted by the fact that Botswana Innovation Hub headquarters was built on green construction concept, which has attracted attention from the outside world.

Minister Molefhi noted that it was never too late and as such citizens as well as various stakeholders in the construction industry and material producing companies should be involved in the concept for a better way forward. South African Green Building Council managing executive - public sector, Mr Thulani Kuzwayo said they were ready and committed towards assisting BoGBC to realise its mandate as it was new in the field.
He said the concept was gradually growing in South Africa, adding that Tshwane was leading in its implementation.

Mr Kuzwayo also noted that there was political will in this endevour and as such it was encouraging to learn that Botswana was also walking the same direction. Meanwhile co-founder and chairman of BoGBC, Mr Bakang Palai said they came with this concept after learning that many countries around the world were coming up with innovative ways of addressing adverse construction problems which were causing harmful effects to the environment.

He said through committed efforts by various actors in the industry as well as individual people, they hope for a better changed mind set.
He, however, said they should be proactive so that they could achieve their mandate. ENDS