02 Sep 2018

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development Mr Vincent Seretse has commended Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) for contracting Batswana owned companies for the construction of housing units in Tsholofelo East and Tsholofelo West.

Speaking after visiting the housing project, Mr Seretse said the corporation was engaged in the construction of a total number of 750 units for Instalment Purchase Scheme (IPS) for youth at large.

He said government through the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) directed that all projects be undertaken Batswana owned companies at Grade E level, youth businesses too engaged in some of the projects as part of empowerment efforts.

He said it was evident that the project was on progress and that some housing units were expected to be complete and ready for occupation by October this year.

“What is pleasing is that all this construction companies consult each other whenever there is a problem to come up with a contingency plan and map a way forward to deal with the problem,” he said.

Minister Seretse commended BHC for assisting youth companies with guidance and financial planning as they paid suppliers directly and contracted youth company would just collect material for the project.

On the issue of the ability of youth to purchase such housing units, the minister said that consultations and research were made in relation to Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) and discovered that it excluded youth under 35 years.

He said since BHC was in business, youth wishing to buy such housing units should approach banks and other lending facilities for loans the purchase outright which was good investment since land value always appreciates.

Botswana Housing Corporation chief executive officer Mr Reginald Motswaiso said 25 per cent of the houses would be allocated directly to youth and that the youth would also have an opportunity to compete in purchasing of the remaining 75 per cent.

He said initially when the project started, the intention was for these houses to be paid on monthly installments for twenty years, but during further consultations with stakeholders, it was suggested that this would make it impossible for BHC to start other projects in other parts of the country, hence the units would be a once-off full payment

Project architect Mr Tumelo Molatlhegi said the 750 units are divided into three plots, the first plot being Phase 1 which is closer to the railway line and has 372 units, the second has 264 units whilst the third plot has 114 units. ENDS