18 Mar 2014

Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake has requested Parliament to adopt a budgetary proposal of over P1.2 billion for his ministry for the 2014/15 financial year.

Of this amount, over P735.9 million is for the recurrent budget and P501.4million for the development budget. Under the development budget, Mr Mokalake said the proposed funds would be utilised for completion of on-going projects, with the bulk of this budget earmarked for land servicing projects and low income housing programmes.

Mr Mokalake said the largest share of the ministry’s proposed development budget would be allocated to land servicing project at P312.5 million which represented 62 per cent of the budget.

The amount would be utilised to implement infrastructure developments of Metsimotlhabe Block 4, Palapye- Extension 11 and also to cater for final accounts for the Shashe Mooke Bridge.

The remaining balance, he said, would be used to undertake power reticulation projects of Francistown (Gerald Block 5 and 6), Jwaneng EU 8, Lobatse Airstrip plantation, Kasane and Sowa infrastructure projects.

The designs for the nine areas of Maun Central Business District (CBD, Mmopane Block 1, Gaborone Extension, Gerald Estates CBD, Tsolamosese Block 4, Mogoditshane Block 9, Ghanzi Extension, Kasane Waterfront and Palapye Extension 10 would also be covered.

Mr Mokalake further told Parliament that the second largest share of P108.3 million would be allocated to the low income housing programme.

Under this programme, Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) would be allocated P20million for SHHA Home Improvement Loans for an estimated 444 beneficiaries, at the maximum ceiling of P45 000. per beneficiary while P83.3million would cater for 1000 Turnkey Projects.

In addition, he said, P5million was being requested for the implementation of two new poverty alleviation housing projects at P2.5million each.

Under the recurrent budget of over P735.9million, Mr Mokalake said a total of P391.7million which represent 53 per cent of the budget, is for Revenue Support Grant for the twelve land boards and their subordinate land boards.

He said part of the money would be used in the improvement of Land Administration Procedures, Capacity and Systems (LAPCAS) project, adding that a major component of the LAPCAS project is the National Land Registration which started with tribal land.

“To date 131 393 parcels of customary land have been surveyed across the Land Boards and ownership of 52 933 plots have been verified,” he said.

He said the sorting of land boards is expected to be completed by the end of 2014, an essential task that he said was necessary for other envisaged improvements and improved service delivery.

Mr Mokalake further said the remaining P344.1million is for the ministry’s departments and will be used for the Revenue Support Grant, rents, BHC Pool, office partitioning and replacement of vehicles. Ends