05 Nov 2013

Government continues to strive to provide shelter for the needy.

In his State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said government had begun construction of 451 destitute houses during the financial year 2012/13. For this financial year 2013/14, 404 houses at a cost of P45 million will be constructed. Out of these housing units, since the financial year 2012/13 to-date, 416 were for the needy in RADP areas.

President Khama said the Presidential Housing Appeal had so far constructed 316 houses through contributions from the private sector, individuals and public officers, while another 200 houses were pledged.

He said government had further approved construction of 481 houses for destitute persons who were victims of floods in various districts. On Self Help Housing Authorities (SHAA) he said, local authorities had initiated 2 606 SHHA home improvement projects, out of which 1,938 were completed, 502 ongoing, with just over P19 million disbursed to 472 beneficiaries last year.

President Khama said government also continued to implement the Poverty Alleviation and Housing Programme, through which participants build their own homes through revenues and material they receive from brick moulding.

“Since its inception, this programme has resulted in the construction of 120 housing units,” he said. President Khama said, during the previous financial year, Botswana Housing Cooperation (BHC) completed a total of 402 houses, while 259 units are at different stages of construction. Another 153 houses are being built by the BHC through the SHHA Turnkey project,” he said. ENDS