03 Apr 2022

Public officers, must reciprocate government’s investment in them through appropriate behavior underscored by diligent and professional delivery. 

Minister for Defence Justice and Security Mr Kagiso Mmusi said this on Thursday when officiating at a handover of 14 houses to Botswana Police Service (BPS) by Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC). 

He said government continued to provide necessary resources for effective service delivery to the public, and it was for public officers to ensure that such service reached the people. 

The units, built at a cost of P12.5m, would go a long way in improving police accommodation, he said. 

He challenged BPS and local leadership to ensure optimal allocation of the units as well as their care and maintenance. 

Minister Mmusi explained that project implementation was delayed due to various challenges, principally the outbreak of COVID-19. 

Nonetheless, he appreciated that the project was completed within its initial budget of 12.5 million, adding there were no variations in the construction process. 

BHC Deputy CEO Operations, Mr Nkaelang Matenge said construction of the houses commenced on 18 October 2017 and was completed 16 March, 2022. 

The units consist of two LA2 type stand-alone houses, two type 82 stand-alone houses and 10 type LA2 semi-detached houses, he said. 

He explained the units’ design was influenced by consideration to build more in a small piece of land given its shortage. 

Mr Matenge said that the project was awarded to MMAP Investments, a 100 per cent citizen owned company, in adherence to government’s efforts to economically empower citizens. 

He noted that the project experienced some challenges at the beginning, which included difficulties in sourcing gravel from Tsabong. 

This, he said, led to delays in delivery as the contractor had to find an alternative area to source the gravel. 

“Building materials were also a source of concern as it was mostly sourced from as far as Gaborone, which posed logistical and financial challenges to the contractor,” he said. 

Furthermore, he said they experienced manpower challenges leading to stoppage of some works. 

To tackle such challenges he said, BHC came up with several interventions to minimise delays. These, he included direct payment for material to suppliers to ease cash flow issues on the contractor’s side, he said. 

“We also appealed to the contractor to look elsewhere within the country for skilled manpower so that the project could be completed. We believe that by working closely with the contractor, it has paid dividends in delivery of the units on behalf of our clients within the specified times and within budget,” he said. 

Tsabong Kgosi David Toto II, appreciated the housing development despite resource constraints, adding Tsabong was gradually developing. 

He called for improvement of the temporary Botswana Defence Force camp in Tsabong to become a fully-fledged permanent camp as well as upgrading of Tsabong police office. 

Furthermore, he called for increase of police personnel for effective policing. 

Kgosi Toto II pleaded with the minister to consider urgently relocating Tsabong Prison, which he said was in the middle of the village and needed to be moved to a more open and spacious area. 

Member of Parliament (MP) for Kgalagadi South Mr Sam Brooks, appreciated the development, and said it would go a long way in alleviating shortage of poice accommodation in the area. 

He suggested that legislation must be reviewed to ensure that the police and members of the armed forces were adequately resourced to prevent them from becoming susceptible to corruption. 

MP Brooks said Kgalagadi District faced unique accommodation challenges, and called on BHC to set up a satellite office in Tsabong to meet the demand. BOPA