18 Sep 2024

Development of 30 housing units in Rakops by Botswana Housing Corporation bore testimony to government’s commitment to deliver on the promised mandate.

During an event to break ground for 30 low cost BHC houses in Rakops on Tuesday, Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the government had prioritised infrastructure and housing in many areas across the country to accelerate social and economic development particularly in the newly established districts such as Boteti.

He explained that the aim was to turn rural villages into urban villages.

Mr Tsogwane said the project was a bold and deliberate effort by government to address the inequalities that have hindered many of the citizens from accessing opportunities that existed in Botswana’s growing economy.

Provision of housing, he said would relieve many departments, as they had to build institutional houses when embarking on projects.

“Apply mindset change, move away from institutional housing and use BHC as a vehicle for the provision of housing,” he said.

The Vice President said public officers and Batswana in general, had been burdened by shortage of housing, leading to delayed deployment of much needed services and personnel to many areas across the country. 

“Today, we are taking a pivotal step towards changing that reality,” he said. The Rakops ceremony follows the groundbreaking for construction  of 30 housing units in Nata and another 200 units in Pilane which were performed by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

“As I have said, we are here in Rakops for 30 housing units, these projects are a testimony of government’s commitment to deliver on the promised mandate,” the Vice President said.

For his part, the Minister of Transport and Public Works Mr Eric Molale said the objective of the project was to address shortage of accommodation in Rakops, to promote home ownership by Batswana through the sale of completed housing units.

The development he said, would also contribute to citizen economic empowerment in line with the reset agenda, through creation of employment opportunities for the local community as well as imparting knowledge and skills to the local construction sector.

He said such a move would change the economic landscape of Rakops and uplift its status.

The project sits on a chunk of land measuring 15.9 hectares, a plot allocated to Botswana Housing Corporation in November 2019.

In response to government’s commitment to citizen economic empowerment, all contracts have been exclusively reserved for 100 per cent citizen-owned contractors. The project has been divided into 14 contracts at over P22 million.

He said the corporation took a deliberate decision to unbundle the project and assign the works to small contractors at grade OC domiciled in the Boteti District.

Minister Molale indicated that by engaging local contractors, they were supporting local businesses and creating job opportunities.

As a way of responding to government’s call for inclusivity and youth development, most of the contracts were awarded to female owned contractors and the youth.

Out of 14 contracts, seven have been awarded to female-owned contractors of which four are youth while another seven contracts are awarded to male owned contractors with one being  youth. 

Minister Molale said the project was expected to create over 100 jobs. Ends