An example of policy failure

| Monday December 19, 2011 00:00

No sooner had government started implementing the revised Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) project than they also started to implement a turn-key program for the needy.

As is the case with several new programmes before it could be pilot tested the turn-key housing scheme was implemented on a large scale among some of the largest districts with the highest population of the needy. As if that was not enough, the respective councils awarded the 'tender' to Habitat to build the 200 houses in 12 months - as if the NGO is a profit making private construction company.

Although Habitat has been in existence in Botswana for many decades government - and the Ministry of Lands and Housing in particular - never attempted to fully understand and appreciate its mode of operation. The result is that what started as a noble idea to build descent houses for low income earners at low cost later turned disastrous to both the beneficiaries and the NGO. 

It all started with the poverty stricken people of Borotsi, Chadibe, Machaneng, Matlhako and Sefhare in Tswapong South. The beneficiaries from these villages continue to suffer after they were given mortgage loans by Habitat under terms that were worse than SHHA and commercial banks. I never understood how a loan housing scheme that was meant for low income earners ended up targeting the poorest of the poor. For this reason I have quarrelled with Habitat ever since - as a special advisor to the victims on a 'Homeowners Write-off Loan Campaign.'

The manner in which Habitat dealt with the so-called defaulters irked many people. In fact it severely dented the image and reputation of the NGO. The last time I checked the mortgage loan arrears stood at P1.8 million. The Mmegi Monitor editorial comment of 9 November 2009 described Habitat as thoughtless, vulgar, insensitive, cruel, and barbaric. I shared the same sentiments at the time and I still feel that way today.

While they partnered with Serowe North Development Trust in Serowe and district councils to build houses for the needy they mortgaged the poverty stricken families of Tswapong - ensuring that they live in perpetual debt and destitution.

Putting their past mistakes aside, I believe that the Habitat have a good  potential of building houses for the needy. It could actually save government millions of money by building more houses with limited funds.

More importantly the Habitat model has a component that inculcates the spirit of self-reliance. Beneficiaries are organised into housing cooperatives contributing their labour, locally available materials as well as moulding bricks.  This potential can be tapped if the housing departments could open their eyes just a little bit and think outside the box.

As Botswana Christian Council (BCC)takes over the functions of Habitat they must be alive to the fact that they will also be inheriting a brand that is fading due to past mistakes. 

I would therefore urge the BCC to urgently consider writing-off outstanding mortgage loans of poor families in the Tswapong area in order to start on a clean slate. By taking such an initiative, BCC will be living up to one of the Christian core values of extending kindness to one another. 

Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang,Gaborone*Dr Gobotswang is writing in his personal capacity