Khama's housing project off to slow start

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday October 26, 2010 00:00

 

The Chinese, whose businesses are found on every street corner and other Batswana are nowhere to be seen, at least in the list published recently in the Daily News. However the chairman of the Botswana Chinese Friendship Association, Miles Nan says their plan to support the president's appeal is complete but said at this juncture they are not yet ready to go public about their support to the initiative. 'We have a plan concerning that. We have already met with the Office of the President concerning our role in this project', Nan said yesterday.

The Indian response is not coming from a particular group, it cuts across the religious divide and comes from companies, Trusts and Foundations, as well as individuals coming forward to lend their support to the call to house the needy.

Since the Housing Appeal, headed by Colonel Duke Masilo at the Office of the President and Botswana Democratic Party treasurer Satar Dada, and Paul Paledi, another senior BDP official, was launched a few months ago, participation of citizens has been poor.

However of the 254 houses pledged so far Batswana have pledged only two houses by Basadi Mokoto, and Albert Mbayi, while one Lesedi Moruti pledged P1,000 only.

Of the 254 houses pledged, the Choppies group, owned by local Indians and some Batswana including Festus Mogae, has contributed 138 houses. CA sales, owned by Ian Thompson and Jagdish Shah have pledged to build 72.  GIPS owner Arjinder Pal Singh, has pledged to fund 10 houses. Another local investor Willy Kathurima Associates has pledged five houses, along with Muhamed Dada, Motor Centre(six).

Interestingly, while a lot of money is being spent on Chinese companies that build roads, schools, dams, and other multi-million Pula government projects, the list that has been circulating for two months now, does not have a single Chinese company or individual coming forward to support the President's call.

Paul Paledi one of the three overseers of this presidential call says they will be in a position to shed light as to how many more people have shown commitment to the call by President Ian Khama by Thursday, but questions remain as to whether the number of Batswana will improve or yet again local Indian investors will continue to lead the way, to express their commitment to building a better Botswana?

A local citizen entrepreneur, speaking on condition of anonymity, tells Mmegi that he would have loved to throw his weight behind the President's call. ' But there is no money. Maybe this initiative will show how broke we are'However the P1,000 cash by Lesedi Moruti perhaps contradicts this assertion.

One thing however that seems like it will stand out at the end of this call is the local foreign investors' reaction, especially the Indians' response.