15 Jun 2014

Deputy chief executive officer (operations) of the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), Mr Nkaelang Matenge says the corporation will work closely with all stakeholders to identify and address challenges facing Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) projects.

He told the Boteti councillors that the corporation will work closely with all concerned stakeholders to defeat all challenges delaying SHHA projects. Mr Matenge was addressing concerns raised by councillors at the recent sub council meeting at Letlhakane that BHC even though operating as a parastatal it was not profit orientated as  whatever was generated it was ploughed back into related housing projects.

He said in most cases, BHC was allocated virgin land to develop and therefore spent millions in serving the land before constructing habitable structures.

“I believe that working together will help address challenges currently leading to delays in completing turnkey houses under SHHA programme,” he said.

Mr Matenge said BHC appreciated concerns raised by councillors adding that ongoing projects would not be abandoned before completion. He had also appreciated that most houses were being completed with the P60 000 loan when the programme was still under council even though faced with some challenges. 

As such, Mr Matenge said BHC would benchmark in local authorities on how they managed to address some of the challenges.

He said going forward the corporation would work closely with the council, reporting progress of ongoing houses on a monthly basis, adding that where there was a need for clarity some of their personnel would report in person. “Our clerk of work who is responsible for supervising SHHA housing projects will ensure that ongoing projects even though already delayed are monitored and completed to the satisfaction of our clients,” he said.

Mr Matenge described BHC as a choice provider of housing solutions in Botswana, adding that the corporation was allocated P60 million to construct 1 000 turnkey houses under SHHA programme throughout the country. He said 17 houses will be constructed per constituency per annum.

He however said the P60 000 loan given to beneficiary had proved to be insufficient as an average cost of the recommended structure was about P90 000. 

Mr Matenge said in Boteti, BHC was equally disappointed by the slow pace at which the projects were going.

He had also noted that in some villages construction was going at a snail pace due to shortage of water adding that transport was another challenge. 

Mr Matenge said some of the contractors abandon projects along the way while in some instances there was a delay in delivery of materials.

Mr Matenge also admitted that BHC received SHHA projects at a time when they were not prepared. Councillor Batoli Manyuni for Tsienyane West has advised BHC to address kgotla meetings so that the community could appreciate challenges that they currently face. 

Councillor Odirile Tawana of Letlhakane North West ward said if BHC could not cope with challenges of SHHA projects, it should be reverted to council. Cllr Tawana also advised BHC to consider constructing houses in Letlhakane to rent and even sell to the community.

Cllr Lawrence Chebani of Mokubilo/Mmea ward said BHC could not cope with SHHA projects as its aim was to make profits. He added that there was no proper consultation from the onset when BHC took over from the local authority as some of the challenges encountered now could have long been addressed. 

Cllr Thomas Kgethenyane of Moreomaoto/Khumaga ward appreciated that SHHA projects were handed over to BHC indicating that houses constructed by the council were of poor quality. Mr Kgethenyane said there were rumours that BHC was handed SHHA projects while already engulfed in financial woes and therefore could not cope with the work load. ENDS