05 Apr 2023

Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) in their recent densification project in Phase 4 Gaborone built eight small offices to facilitate the sale of high density units to Batswana.

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale informed Parliament  on Monday in response to a question from the Member of Parliament for Thamaga-Kumakwane, Mr Palelo Motaosane.

Mr Molale said the offices were to be used as administration offices by the sectional title scheme corporate body to support running of sectional title schemes and not to be rented separately.

He explained that the BHC currently had two unoccupied offices in Gaborone being plot 4773 (former BHC head office at Mmaraka road, station) and plot 1211 (former BHC sales office along old Lobatse road, Industrial).

The minister told the House that plot 4773 was being renovated for occupation on rental by the District Health Management Team (DHMT), whilst plot 1211 was being prepared for partial owner-occupation by BHC and leasing to citizens and citizen-owned companies.

Furthermore, he said he would discuss with BHC to explore the possibility of short term rental or lease of the facility, consistent with the land use of the area, pending conclusion of the sectional title sales. BHC had assured the ministry that there were no other unoccupied offices elsewhere in the country except industrial units at Lobatse and Jwaneng that had been advertised for lease.

MP Motaosane had asked the minister if he was aware of the numerous small offices constructed by the Botswana Housing Corporation in Gaborone that were never used at all.

He also wanted the minister to state if it was possible to get those offices to be used.

He further wanted to know if the minister was aware that BHC in their recent densification project in phase 4, Gaborone, which was completed in 2019, which included a two roomed offices with kitchenettes and shower rooms were not being used to date.

The minister was to also explain  the reasons for not using the offices and for constructing them in the first place.

Furthermore, the legislator  asked the minister to consider instructing BHC to lease those offices to the youth or small business citizens instead of leaving them as white elephants. MP Motaosane also requested the minister to consider checking all other similar plots belonging to BHC elsewhere. ends