26 Feb 2017

Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development does not have any intention to allow public officers occupying pool houses leased from Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) to purchase them.

Answering a question in Parliament on February 23, Minister Nonofo Molefhi said instead the public offices are encouraged to utilise other available programmes that promote home ownership.

He said government officers were not allowed to purchase pool houses, as this was in line with Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) Directive No. 16 of 2006, which suspended sale of pool houses.

“The conditions that led to the suspension have not improved,” he added.

He nevertheless pointed out that Botswana government provided other avenues through which public officers could require their own houses.

Minister Molefhi said these include, among others, the Government Employees Motor Vehicle Advance Scheme (GEMVAS) which has a component that affords public officers to purchase or develop their own residential properties.

He said in addition, public officers falling within the SHHA income bracket could benefit from Turnkey housing programme.

Further, he stated that government had recently introduced the SHHA scheme exclusively for public officers on salary scale D4 and below.

He further clarified that pool houses were provided as a condition of service.  “Therefore only eligible public officers occupy pool houses during their time of employment in the public service,” he stated.

Member of Parliament for Francistown East, Mr Buti Billy had wanted to know if the minister was aware that government officers occupying pool houses leased from BHC were not allowed to purchase those houses.

MP Billy had also argued that in some cases, the officers would have occupied the leased house for a period of 10 to 20 years.

He further wanted to know when the ministry intended to allow such officers to purchase those houses as at the end of their contracts they vacate and then become homeless and or paupers. ENDS