The case for affordable housing

Lands minister Nonofo Molefhi said this week that the Botswana Housing Corporation would introduce an Instalment Purchase Scheme (IPS) for people who do not qualify for mortgage loans and that such people's monthly payments would convert into a purchase instalment.

We say Godspeed to this noble endeavour! Botswana's economy has been growing steadily over the years now. While this growth has brought prosperity to many, it has also led to land speculation as manifested in land and housing prices skyrocketing beyond the means of low-income families and entry-level graduates.

The result has been that only the rich or those commanding high-bracket salaries salaries can - and do - respond to adverts placed by estate companies, including the BHC. In this insouciantly free market, we have an ever-thickening mass of homeless people. IPS should surely address this problem, at least in part. It is our hope that the programme will not only facilitate home ownership but will also give people a choice of where they want their homes to be.

Editor's Comment
Inspect the voters' roll!

The recent disclosure by the IEC that 2,513 registrations have been turned down due to various irregularities should prompt all Batswana to meticulously review the voters' rolls and address concerns about rejected registrations.The disparities flagged by the IEC are troubling and emphasise the significance of rigorous voter registration processes.Out of the rejected registrations, 29 individuals were disqualified due to non-existent Omang...

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