20 Feb 2018

A total of 29 units are being constructed in Takatokwane constituency under the Public Officers Housing Initiative (POHI), Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has told Parliament.

He said 21 units are already complete whilst the remaining eight units are at finishing stage.

“In Kgalagadi North Constituency, 44 units are under construction, 38 completed whilst six are at the finishing stage. I acknowledge that there are some challenges regarding connection of services to the units, but this is due to non-payment to the utility services providers as in most cases payment has been affected,” he said.

Mr Molefhi said payments for utilities had been made at all the locations in the constituency with the exception of Inalegolo ‘where there is no power reticulation in the village.’

In Takatokwane, he said payment for power had not been made in Khudumelapye and Kaudwane as the payment quotes were too high.
He said alternative sources of energy were being explored and that Motokwe had also not been paid for as quotations for power were still to be provided by Botswana Power Corporation.

Mr Molefhi said in some instances, the delays were brought about by lengthy processes in the procurement of service providers for power connection.

He said the ministry was working very closely with relevant ministries to get services connected throughout the country where the POHI programme is underway.

He said where the units were connected to both water and power, the units had since been offered to respective ministries and government departments for occupation.

The minister told Parliament that the process was ongoing and expected to be concluded by the end of the financial year.

He was answering a question from MP for Takatokwane, Mr Ngaka Ngaka who had asked if the minister was aware that built houses under the Public Officers Housing Scheme were incomplete in the Takatokwane Constituency.

He also wanted to know for how long the units had been completed but unoccupied because the utilities had both been paid for in the Kgalagadi North Constituency.

Mr Ngaka also wanted to know when the houses in both constituencies would be available for use. Ends