28 Nov 2017

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has implored contractors and their employees to abide by the labour laws by ensuring that the 100 Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) houses are delivered on time and within budget.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of the 100 houses in Tati Siding on Monday, Minister Molefhi implored the contractors to adhere to the Industrial Dispute Act and other instruments to minimise conflicts and deliver on time.

He urged the contractors to procure locally-made materials in order to support Economic Diversification Drive instead of importing.

Mr Molefhi said in most cases, work ethic in the country was compromised by employees who gave priority to social activities instead of work and he urged Batswana to take work seriously in order to attract investors.

He urged the residents to ensure materials used for the project were safeguarded as getting stolen would delay the completion of the project.

Minister Molefhi said although government was committed to developing rural villages, developments come at a high cost, adding that he believes where there are services such as internal roads, water, streetlights and sewerage residents should pay rates and service levy.

On the project, he noted that while only a few people would be employed, they should take advantage of the project for skills transfer and at the completion create employment for themselves and others.

Earlier, the BHC chief executive officer, Mr Reginald Motswaiso said the project was in three components, explaining that one component was 56 houses carried out by Sunshine construction at the cost of P27.9 million for the duration of 60 weeks.

The second component is 44 houses to be built by China State Engineering and Construction at P31.1 million while the third component is the infrastructure development at P34.7 million and is expected to be completed in 78 weeks by Colic Construction.

Mr Motswaiso, however said ‘the total number of the housing units is 646 units, but will start off with the 100 units and will keep on increasing when need arises.’

He said already 50 people were employed, but the project would create a total of 100 jobs at full scale.

Mr John Li of Sunshine Construction promised that the project would be of good quality and would be delivered on time within budget.

Proposing a vote of thanks, the North East District Council chairperson, Councillor Flora Mpetsane said the project would give Tati Siding a face lift and she urged the residents to invest in purchasing the houses.

She, however, raised a concern that BHC houses prices were unaffordable and sometimes that led houses to remaining unoccupied. BOPA