Over 400 BHC houses vacant
Baboki Kayawe | Friday October 28, 2016 16:18
Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Nonofo Molefhi said Gaborone has 159 vacant houses. Reacting to Francistown West Member of Parliament (MP) Ignatius Moswaane’s inquiry on why these houses were not rented out to public officers at affordable rates, he said BHC was not in a position to rent the units out.
“This is so because the houses are tied to other third parties already,” he said.
Of the 159 unoccupied Gaborone BHC units, 71 have been sold out to individuals, 38 due for demolition where the corporation is to build multi-storey units under the Densification Programme.
Densification refers to increased use of space, both horizontally and vertically, within existing areas or properties resulting in increased number of housing units. The programme has been identified as a viable solution for accommodation shortage in cities and towns.
The then Minister of Lands and Housing, Prince Maele told participants at a Housing Pitso earlier this year that, “This move will curtail the uncontrolled sprawl of our settlements and reduce the cost of infrastructure provision”.
He explained that the capital city Gaborone had ample space, which could be utilised in the implementation of densification.
Fifty of the total empty houses in the capital have been allocated for rental, however, water connection has resulted in lack of occupation, according to Molefhi.
“In Francistown there are 128 vacant houses, all of which are at Gerald Estate, and 34 have recently undergone maintenance and are part of the sales stock to the Ministry of Education,” Molefhi explained.
“Another 14 are still undergoing maintenance to be rented out, while 80 of the houses await repairing. Once they are all ready, their sale will be concluded with the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Botswana Police and Accountant General,” he said.
Serowe has 61 vacant units, of which 20 have been offered to the Botswana International University of Science and Technology for rental, 18 to the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology for sale and 23 sold out to individuals.
Mahalapye has 23 vacant units, of which 19 have been offered to the Auditor General and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology while four are on offer for public rental, explained Molefhi.
Of the 40 vacant houses in Gantsi, 38 have also been offered to the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, and two offered to the public; though one is still to find a buyer.
He reiterated these houses appeared vacant because they were tied to third parties. “I hasten to add that there will from time to time, be instances where members of the public and indeed MPs perceive BHC houses as unoccupied for the simple reason that even where sale or rental transactions have been concluded, the buyers or tenants sometimes take time to occupy the houses,” he added.