15 Feb 2017

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso has told Parliament that due to budgetary constraints the construction of Blok 8 customary court has not been possible despite the fact that there is a plot for such.
Answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Tshireletso said to date government has spent P477 150 as rentals for the property leased adding that the house belongs to a Motswana individual. Ms Tshireletso said the current lease commenced on October 1, 2016 and will end on September 2021. She said the latest monthly rental for the property is P3650 and the rental annual increase is 10 per cent. “Taking into account that construction of the office is planned for NDP 11, the purchase of caravans to be used in the plot for the court will not be cost effective,” she said. MP for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had asked the minister to state what was delaying the construction of a Kgotla in Block 8 despite having a plot allocated. The MP asked how much government had spent so far on the leased kgotla in Block 8 and who the house belongs to. He further asked what the latest monthly rental and the percentage of rental increase annually were and if there were no plans by government to assist residents with a caravan at their open space so as to save government money. ENDS