05 Jul 2023

Government is aware of the shortage of houses for public officers nationwide and that it hampers effective service delivery as some public officers decline transfers for various reasons, including shortage of accommodation, says Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale.

Responding to a question Palriament, Mr Molale said his ministry intended to intensify partnerships with the private sector to address the accommodation issue as agreed at the Housing Pitso in February.

He noted that the Housing Pitso explored the delivery of more houses by the private sector using liquidity in the market and various building technologies.

He also said to alleviate the shortage, government leased houses from the private market, Botswana Housing Corporation and Village Development Committees to augment the housing stock for public officers.

Furthermore, he said the private sector and the public were encouraged to venture into the development of houses for rental.

He added that government had also made available schemes such as the Government Employment Motor Vehicle Advance Scheme (GEMVAS) and SHHA for public officers on scales D4 and below and SHHA home improvement among others to encourage public officers to build their own houses, including those who work at their home villages.

On public officers housing allowance being below the market rental rates, Mr Molale said it was a matter for the public service bargaining council.

However , he said the allowance was never intended to be at par with housing rentals in the private market, but to partially cushion the officers.

He also said government was desirous to provide an environment where other players could provide houses that could be rented to public officers.

He noted that the construction of government houses was subject to availability of funds whilst construction of BHC houses was largely influenced by the ability to levy cost recovery rentals.

Parliament also heard that the number of pool houses under local government was approximately 4 000 and 5 600 for central government.

In Ghanzi North in particular, Mr Molale said, there were 236 and 201 houses respectively.

Ghanzi North MP, Mr John Thiite had asked whether the minister  was aware that there was a nationwide shortage of accommodation for public officers which hampered effective service delivery as public officers declined transfers to areas where there was shortage of accommodation.

Mr Thiite also wanted to know strategies that would be implemented to ensure full accommodation of public officers on a non-sharing basis as well as whether the ministry had noted that the housing allowance paid to public officers on A,B and C salary scale was below market rental rates. 

He asked if it was not prudent for the ministry to partner with private companies under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to build more houses to address the public officers accommodation issues. ENDs