05 Jul 2018

Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Mr Moiseraele Goya has informed Parliament that Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC) owns a house, intended for use by its regional representative in Edenburg, South Africa.

In an answer to a question on July 4 Mr Goya said the house was acquired at a cost of P2.2 million in 2008, adding that it was subsequently refurbished in 2016 at a cost of P364 000.

He said subsequent to the refurbishment of the house on recommendation of management, the BITC board passed a resolution to put the property on sale and find a replacement house for purposes of accommodating the regional representative.

Mr Goya further explained that the decision to dispose of the house was premised on amongst others, security concerns, and the cost of maintenance and refurbishment required for the aging property.

It was in that regard that the property had been vacant from August 2015 to date, he stated.

The assistant minister said the BITC regional representative currently resided in a rented apartment at a cost of P335 000 per annum, pending the sale of the main property.

He added that the board took a decision to sell the property to cut on maintenance costs and use the proceeds from its sales to purchase a habitable house for the regional representative.

Selebi Phikwe MP Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked whether BITC owned a fully furnished official residential property that housed a regional representative in South Africa.

If true, Mr Keorapetse wanted to know the cost of acquiring the property and the cost of refurbishment.

He had also asked the minister to state the length of time the property had been vacant since acquisition.

Further he had wanted to know whether the regional representative in South Africa was currently accommodated in a rented apartment and if so, what the cost of the rental property was per annum. ENDS