15 Oct 2018

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Vincent Seretse is in Dakar, Senegal for the African Ministerial Forum on Housing and Urban Development.

A news release from the ministry state that the Ministerial Forum for Housing and Urban Development is an African countries’ initiative where ministers responsible for housing meet and share notes on best approaches to achieving the ideals of the new United Nations Urban Agenda, which is an instrument for strengthening South-South cooperation and partnership between African states.

Following the UN-HABITAT III conference held in Quito late 2016, United Nations member states agreed to take appropriate steps that would ensure sustainable growth of cities and settlements in a manner that would not put the lives of inhabitants at risk.

The release states that in line with the first United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which has an exclusive urban focus, countries are encouraged to make their cities more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable through a range of metrics, indicators, and evaluation systems.

“It is in this spirit that Minister Seretse has been invited to the Ministerial Forum for African ministers in Senegal so that with his colleagues from Africa, they could share notes on how best to meet the aspirations of the UN HABITAT of creating safer cities for their inhabitants,” states the release.

The release further states that the minister’s trip comes a few days after the ministry, together with the Ghanzi District Council, held a successful commemoration of the World Habitat Day, which sensitised Batswana about the importance of ensuring that their homes are clean, safe and habitable at all times.

The minister is accompanied by the ministry’s permanent secretary Mr Dikagiso  Mokotedi and they are expected back home on October 19. ENDS