19 Dec 2016

The decision to allow some ministers to vacate their institutional houses was prompted by the arising demand to address judges’ accommodation needs following the opening of the High Court and Court of Appeal in Gaborone and shortages at the Industrial Court.

The Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale said this when responding to a parliamentary question from the MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi on Wednesday (December 14).

“It must be noted that all the ministerial houses were surrendered as some houses are still occupied by ministers,” he said.

Mr Molale said it was indeed true that some of the vacated houses, totaling seven were allocated to some of the judges.

Regarding payment of the housing allowance to judges, he informed the House that the housing allowance of P13 500 could only be paid to those that were not and could not be accommodated in institutional housing.

MP Mmolotsi had wanted the minister to state what motivated the decision to allow ministers to vacate their institutional houses, and whether it was true that ministerial houses had been allocated to judges.

Furthermore, he asked whether the housing allowance of P13 500 could be extended to judges if they wanted to vacate the houses like it applied to ministers. ENDS