13 Oct 2025

 Members of the disciplined forces and teachers are eligible to apply for the Bonno Housing Scheme, despite residing in institutional houses.

The Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi announced this during the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture Pitso held recently that the government’s decision aimed to address an anomaly that previously excluded the individuals from the scheme due to their accommodation status.

“Unlike other officers who stay in pool houses and are allowed to buy those houses, disciplined forces and teachers are not permitted to purchase institutional houses,” he said.

However, with the new development, members of the disciplined forces and teachers can now apply for the Bonno Housing Scheme. He explained that if their applications were approved, government would engage an investor, pay them, and the officers would then repay government in monthly installments.

The Minister stated that government had realised that it was unfair to sideline these individuals from the scheme simply because they reside in institutional houses. He said the inclusion of disciplined forces and teachers in Bonno Housing Scheme was a positive step towards providing them with a sense of security and home ownership.

Mr Ramogapi said the move was expected to benefit many members of the disciplined forces and teachers who have been waiting to own their own homes. The scheme, he added, provided opportunities for them to acquire a property through a flexible payment plan which allows them to pay in installments.

Speaking at the event, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ignatious Moswaane emphasised the importance of land equity and inclusivity in Botswana. He highlighted that land was a vital resource that served as a foundation for livelihoods, economic development, and cultural identity.

Mr Moswaane noted that government had introduced various programmes to promote equity and inclusivity, including the youth land allocation scheme, which provided residential and agricultural land to youth. 

Additionally, the Community-based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) and tribal land management system (TLIMS) have been implemented to enhance access to land and promote sustainable land management.

The government, he said, had also introduced initiatives to empower women and marginalised communities, including the provision of land and credit facilities.

Mr Moswaane appealed to land boards across the country to expedite land allocation, particularly for residential plots, and to work hand-in-hand with communities to ensure that land was allocated fairly and transparently.

The minister emphasised that land was not just a physical asset but also a symbol of empowerment and identity. He encouraged local institutions, including land boards and traditional authorities, to play a critical role in promoting land equity and inclusivity.

The government’s efforts aim to address historical inequalities and modern challenges, such as urbanisation, youth unemployment, and climate change. By promoting inclusivity and equity in land allocation, the government sought to ensure that all citizens had access to land and opportunities for economic development.

He said the initiatives were expected to have a positive impact on the lives of Batswana, particularly the youth and women, and to contribute to the country’s economic growth and sustainable development.

The Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Dr Edwin Dikoloti also informed the meeting that he was in agreement that there was corruption in Land Boards and that government was putting a hawk eye on the matter.

He cited an incident in which one of the Land Boards compensated a commercial plot with 30 residential plots, which he said was against the law. He also adviced Land Boards to take stock of themselves about these complaints including poor service delivery and negligence.

However, he appealed to Batswana to have a mind set change and put to good use the available land allocated to them. Minister Dikoloti said government was working to find modalities on how the 45 000 hectares of land acquired from Tati Company in the north east district would be distributed.

He said the distribution was not an event but a process that required time, adding that the ministry had appointed a team working on the modalities of how this long awaited land would be distributed. He said the ministry made a target of raising the cattle herd to five million but human Wildlife conflict was a challenge.

Kgosi Gunny Moses informed the meeting that it has been two years since government acquired the land from Tati Company and Batswana were eager to know how plots would be allocated. He informed the meeting that some people had taken law into their hands by grazing their animals inside these farms. ENDS