21 Jul 2019

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development has employed 29 people living with Disabilities.The Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Vincent Seretse told Parliament that out of 29,  one male officer was living with albinism.

He said Botswana Housing Corporation establishment did not have any employees with disabilities or with albinism.

“Of all the twenty-nine people with disabilities employed in the ministry, thirteen are based in Gaborone, five in the Central District and four in Francistown, Kgatleng, South East and Ghanzi have two employees each while Bobirwa has one employee with disability,” he said.

Mr Seretse stated that the dates of employment of the twenty-nine employees ranged from 1982 to date.

“People with disabilities are not discriminated against during employment and I am optimistic that this country will achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal No.8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by 2030,” he said.

Further, Mr Seretse said interventions would be put in place during NDP 11 and NDP 12 to ensure compliance. With regards to Botswana Housing Corporation, he said recruitment was based on competency requirements for the vacant position, and persons with albinism and other disabilities who meet set requirements would be considered.

He was answering a question from Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile who had asked the minister to apprise Parliament as to how many people living with albinism and other disabilities were employed under his ministry and Botswana Housing Corporation, and provide a breakdown by district, date of employment and gender.

He had also asked whether the number of people met the country’s target of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No.8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by 2030, to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all and when the target will be met for compliance. Ends