07 Nov 2017

Government continues to recognise adequate and affordable housing as a basic need in the context of the implementation of the National Housing Policy’s Low-Income Housing Programme.

Delivering the State of the Nation Address on November 6, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama explained that the National Housing Policy contains three components; Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) Home Improvement, Turnkey Development Scheme and Integrated Poverty Alleviation and Housing Scheme.

President Khama said in addition, government continued to roll out housing schemes such as Public Officers Housing Initiative, Housing Scheme for Public Officers D4 and below, BHC housing and Third Party Projects, Installment Purchase Scheme (IPS) and Youth Housing Scheme.

He said a total of P190.8 million had been disbursed through the SHHA Home Improvement Loan Scheme to fund 4 947 beneficiaries between March 2008 and March 2017.

He said an additional P30 million would be loaned to an estimated 500 beneficiaries this financial year 2017/18.

The President also highlighted that with Economic Stimulus Programme support, the SHHA Turnkey Development Scheme had awarded contracts for the construction of 2 615 units.

“Of these, 1 838 have been completed and handed over and 777 are at various stages of construction,” he added.

President Khama further said the Integrated Poverty Alleviation and Housing Scheme currently has a total of 19 commercial brick moulding projects nationwide.

Furthermore, he noted that the Public Officers Housing initiative had awarded 465 units with 258 units already completed and 207 housing units at various stages of construction.

With regard to the Housing Scheme for Public Officers D4 and below programme, President Khama said so far 203 units have been started on site with 63 completed and handed over.

Furthermore, he noted government introduced the Instalment Purchase Scheme to promote home ownership amongst citizens who are renting BHC houses, which by far, 372 out of 750 IPS and Youth Housing units had been awarded to citizen contractors.

In terms of shelter provision for the disadvantaged members of the community, President Khama said government aimed to have provided decent shelter to all deserving beneficiaries by the end of 2019.

He emphasised that a target had been set to deliver 1 000 housing units annually, for both RADP and countrywide destitute housing.

For 2017/18 financial year alone, President Khama said a total allocation of P90 million had been planned to construct 1 025 houses which are at various stages of construction.

He said resources had been committed to construct 3 938 destitute houses since the 2009/10 financial year and ‘government is also engaging other partners to complement its efforts in providing basic shelter to the disadvantaged members of our society.’

The President’s Housing Appeal for the needy, he said had received contributions from the private sector, individuals and public officers to support this initiative.

He indicated that the President’s Housing Appeal for the needy had greatly assisted in providing shelter and dignity to the needy as 781 homes had been completed, while 19 are under construction.

He applauded individuals and institutions who had generously supported the appeal.

“Since April 2009, government has further directed ministries to reserve 15 per cent of the budget for minor maintenance of government facilities for youth companies and youth with vocational skills in construction,” he said.

In addition, he said since its inception, this reservation programme had awarded P229.43 million  maintenance works to youth construction companies.

He said ‘a database of youth contractors is being maintained and shared with stakeholders on a quarterly basis with a view to expose youth contractors to the opportunities.’

“Currently, the number of youth contractors registered in the database is 462,” he said. ENDS