11 Jun 2018

Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) is currently building 99 houses in Palapye.

The site agent, Mr Gofaone Motsisi of Image Civil Engineering said the over P70 million project started in March this year and was expected to be completed in August 2019.

Mr Motsisi said of the 99 houses, 33 were medium cost while 66 were low cost houses, adding that the project also entailed other civil works such as roads, storm water drainage trenches and street lighting.

He said the project has created employment for the youth as the main contractor has engaged three sub-contractors for brickwork.

He said indications were that they would need more workers and more contractors to meet the deadline, budget and required quality.

Mr Motsisi said they were experiencing water shortage as there was a policy which restricted construction companies from using potable water for construction purposes.

He noted that Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) only provided them with drinking water on site, revealing that they buy grey water from local suppliers and use their bowsers to collect water from the Lotsane River.

Mr Motsisi said to address the water shortage, Image Civil Engineering was in negotiations with Morupule Colliery Mine to use recycled water from the mine for construction. 

In order to save electricity, he said the company also used a diesel generator for powering concrete and batching plants and other power tools.

He remained positive that they would meet the August 2019 deadline if there was cooperation with other stakeholders. ENDS