04 Aug 2025

Contractors engaged in the construction of 55 housing units in the Maun Housing Development Project have been encouraged to accelerate delivery of quality units aimed at providing inclusive, affordable and dignified shelter for Batswana.

Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi made the remarks during his recent visit in Maun to appreciate progress of the project, which was launched on July 8. Following the groundbreaking of the project, he said expectations were that contractors should be on site commencing the project and not mobilising resources, as it was the case with some. 

About 14 citizen contractors have been engaged to develop 55 housing units, which were unbundled into packages. Package one comprises 22 housing units reserved for 11 grade OC contractors while package two has two units and reserved for one grade A contractor. Package three has 16 units, reserved for two grade B contractors, package four reserved for one grade B contractor to do infrastructural development while package five has 15 units reserved for one grade C contractor. Located at Matlapana area, the project is the second phase of the estate as the first phase comprising 45 units, was launched in October. The project is expected to be completed in June 2026.

Minister Ramogapi expressed gratitude with progress of the first phase, which commenced last year and currently at the roofing stage. He was informed that the project was on schedule and 25 per cent complete. The project comprises 17 low-income, 24 medium-income and four high-income houses. He highlighted that the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) was the only authority spearheading the Bonno National Housing Programme.

However, he said government could not achieve the objective of the initiative alone, hence he appealed for the private investor involvement. The ministry, he said, continued to source land as the intention was to build 1,000 housing units in each constituency, adding that at the end of the programme, at least 100,000 housing units should be achieved in two years.

The government, he said also encouraged such investors to hire locals in an effort to meet the commitment of achieving creation of over 100,000 jobs.  He also urged BHC officials to conduct regular monitoring to ensure projects were completed within budget and schedule.

Earlier, Maun BHC area manager, Mr Shimane Mongati explained that the contractors had been on site since July 26 and were awaiting payment to suppliers to source material to pave way for construction, while the one allocated 15 housing units was currently mobilising machinery to commence the project.

Meanwhile, the minister also toured the ongoing water projects to assess progress and challenges. They visited the Gweexwa water treatment plant where they were informed that the project was progressing well.

“Currently, the project is awaiting electricity connection so that we connect all the boreholes. Once we complete that, we will ramp up its commissioning so as to improve water supply in Maun and its satellite villages,” said the deputy director of Technical Services, Mr Vincent Kinnear.

He anticipated that the project would be completed in November. ENDS