26 Jun 2018

There are no plans to build new houses for members of the Botswana Police Service and the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation in Lobatse, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, has said.

Mr Kgathi said he was aware of the housing accommodation challenges affecting members of the Botswana Police Service and the Department of Prions and Rehabilitation in Lobatse, adding that 17 additional houses were recently rented from the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) for occupation by police officers.

“In addition, there were intentions to rent or purchase more houses for police officers in Lobatse from the BHC and/or from the private market during the last half of NDP 11,” he said.

Furthermore, the minister said tenders had been awarded to two contractors, which were at different stages of contract signing for the refurbishment of the old Lobatse Police Station staff houses.

The works, he said were expected to commence in the third and fourth quarters of the 2018/2019 financial year.

Regarding the Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation, Mr Kgathi said residential houses were renovated during the 2017/2018 financial year.

Additionally, he said long term housing needs were being assessed with the intention to rent additional housing units from BHC and/or the private market.

MP for Lobatse, Advocate Sadique Kebonang had wanted to know whether the minister was aware that there was serious accommodation need for members of the Botswana Police Service and Botswana Prison Service in Lobatse.

Advocate Kebonang also wanted to know if there were any plans to build new houses for police and prisons officers and whether there were plans to renovate the current dilapidated houses for the officers. ENDS