21 Nov 2016

Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) has sold 679 individual flats and townhouses since promulgation of the Sectional Titles Act in 1999, its Regulations in 2002 and Management Rules and Conduct Rules in 2005, Parliament has been told.

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Kitso Mokaila said on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development that BHC launched its first scheme of 64 units at Block 9 in Gaborone in 2007, 720 units at Block 7 in Gaborone in 2010, 24 units at Gaborone Village in 2013 making a total of 808 units.

He said of the remaining 129 launched units, 114 were still on rental while 15 were awaiting conclusion of sale process.

Mr Mokaila said the intention was to roll out sectional titles to existing BHC high density estates by gradually converting them to development schemes.

He said there was a challenge in terms of varying intents between Sectional Titles Act and the BHC Policy which advocated for sale of the corporation’s housing units to Batswana only.

Mr Mokaila further said the existing high density estates had the effect of stalling the sale of units under sectional title.

He said the Sectional Titles Act on the other hand gives every sitting tenant the first right of refusal when the estate where they rent is declared a sectional titles scheme or is to be sold.

He said the Act also prohibits the relocation of tenants with the intention to sell the units they occupy to others.

Mr Mokaila said the restrictions are found in Section 6 (2) (C) and Section 111 (1) (a) of the Act.

He said the aforementioned contradiction between the Sectional Title Act and the BHC Policy continues to hinder the sale of the BHC flats to sitting tenants.

The minister further said the ministry with other stakeholders continue to consider the matter with a view to finding a solution that will enable BHC to sell flats and townhouses without contravening the law.

Mr Mokaila was responding to question asked by Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, who wanted to know why BHC flats were not being sold when there was a law on sectional titles. BOPA