05 Oct 2016

The Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Mr Prince Maele has encouraged residents of Gumare and Shakawe villages in the Okavango district to take advantage of subsidised housing schemes.
Minister Maele announced that government has introduced a special dispensation for the two villages under the Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) Turn Key programme from the standard P90 000 to P110 000 and P120 000 for Gumare and Shakawe respectively.
He said government realised that building materials costs were higher in the Okavango District as compared to other areas of Botswana hence the subsidization.
Mr Maele who was speaking at the National Habitat commemorations in Gumare on October 3 therefore encouraged the people to make use of the initiative to acquire proper housing accommodation.
He said the world has now embraced a paradigm shift by recognising proper accommodation as a right therefore a priority for the central and local authorities.
Mr Maele also encouraged the Okavango communities to utilise other government housing initiatives in place such as Botswana Housing Corporation; Tenant Purchase Scheme, SHHA and Home Improvement Scheme.
He further said his Ministry considered partnerships with the private sector to service new plots and address issues of sanitation.
The Ministry, he said was also undertaking research on housing needs to inform the government going forward.
In his remarks, the North West District, Council Secretary Mr Charles Amos pointed out that people in the Ngamiland region failed to utilise the Turn Key and Home Improvement programmes satisfactorily although the government set aside millions of pula towards the initiatives to help Batswana. However, Mr Amos observed that the programmes were hampered by challenges of lack of water and serviced land which discouraged individuals from applying for the housing initiatives.
He said only about 110 people benefited from the Home Improvement programme from 2009 to date while only 447 people have been assisted through the Turn Key scheme.
Mr Amos however said the council continued with sensitisation to encourage people to make use of the programmes availed.ENDS