26 Jun 2023

About 212 Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) under contruction in Kazungula are expected to give the village a new look.

The housing development project comprises 176 standalone housing units and 36 high density housing at a total cost of P155 million.

The first package is expected to be completed in August 2024.

Conducting the ground breaking  of the project recently, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale stated that the project was a response to the basic needs of Chobe District owing to the fact that many Batswana were converging in Kasane and Kazungula for employment and business opportunities.

He highlighted that the emerging opportunities in Kasane and surroundings resulted in shortage of housing which compromised the welfare of individuals, families and government employees based in Chobe District.

The minister said government and private sector were committed to addressing shortage of accommodation in urban centres and growing villages such as Kazungula.

“We are compelled to come up with ways in which we can maximize the use of the limited land resource and build multi-residential units to accommodate more people as in the case with this development.”

Mr Molale stated that the project had been unbundled into four packages and allocated to four citizen owned companies being, Ramodisa Projects awarded 60 housing units, Moseba Building Construction allocated 51 units, FTR Engineering undertaking 36 units while the last package of 65 units was currently at tender evaluation stage.

This, he said, was a clear demonstration of government’s commitment towards empowering local contractors by allowing more to participate in such projects.

Furthermore, he said the corporation would undertake construction of internal roads, storm water drainage and water reticulation to connect all the houses.

BHC board chairperson, Mr Moemedi Gabana said the housing development would change the look of Kazungula and provide accommodation for the people in the district.

He said the corporation offered sustainable and affordable accommodation with security hence Kazungula residents were fortunate to be beneficiaries of a BHC housing development.

The chairperson indicated that BHC had committed that wherever they carried out a project, it would capture the essence of that particular area and stimulate a sense of pride and ownership.

Mr Gabana stated that the housing development was named, Unzovu Estates, a Sesubiya name for an elephant.

For his part, Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni expressed joy over the housing development noting that accommodation shortage would be a thing of the past once the project was complete.

“Batswana will stay in affordable housing to rent and buy and the housing also allows government departments and private sector to open offices here in Kasane now that accommodation shortage has been addressed,” said Mr  Shamukuni.

He stated that the estate design was state-of-the-art befitting Chobe as a tourist destination and a growing district.

Mr Shamukuni encouraged contractors to work hard and complete the project on scheduled time.

Kgosi Morgan Makhanga of Kazungula expressed gratitude for the development and further called contractors to honour contractual terms with their sub-contractors and employees to avoid disputes. Ends