FIRST EVER INSTALMENT PURCHASE SCHEME (IPS) & YOUTH HOUSING PROJECT BEGINS IN GABORONE

The Ministry of Lands and housing through Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) projects will construct a total of 750 units targeted for Instalment Purchase Scheme (IPS) and the Youth.
The Ministry has projects under broad categories of Land Servicing (encompassing both Peripheral and Minimal Land Servicing) and Housing Development which cover SHHA Turnkey, Public Officers Housing Initiative, Instalment Purchase Scheme (IPS) & Youth Housing, Third-Party as well as Housing Maintenance.

This week the Ministry in conjunction with the Botswana Housing Corporation, which will coordinate the project hosted the official commencement of the construction of 750 Instalment Purchase Scheme (IPS) & Youth Housing project here in Gaborone, Tsholofelo (Ledumang). Speaking at the official ground breaking ceremony, the Minister of Lands and Housing, Honourable Prince Maele said that housing development is one of the critical activities under this Ministry by which they hope to empower Batswana. This project is the first of its kind in Botswana and it specifically targets those earning between P 3000 and P 7000. “The original plan was to build a total of 1000 housing units, however due to limited funding the number was scaled down to 750 houses of which 250 will be reserved specifically for the youth”, he further pointed out.
 

The Minister said the objective of this project is to provide low income groups and the youth with affordable accommodation. “I am however aware that many will argue as to why we are targeting this specific groups earning between those ranges I stated earlier. I must emphasize that this was not an easy decision as indications are that many Batswana are in dire need for affordable accommodation. My Ministry continues to come up with ways in which we can improve the housing situation through various products, which are designed to address the plight of many citizens across the length and breadth of our country. Initiatives such as SHHA, POHI in particular meant to try and augment our efforts to housing Batswana,” said Maele.
Hon. Maele further said that the Ministry’s commitment is to ensure that they provide affordable housing to the nation and indeed this project is a clear demonstration that the Ministry of Lands and Housing continues to find ways of addressing shortage of accommodation among Batswana and in particular low income groups and the youth. “We believe that upon completion this project will empower many people with homeownership opportunities”.
 

The plot will accommodate 156 units’ flats. The total plot size is 4.2 Ha. The project makes a portion of building works for the whole plot which comprises of a total number of 372 units. The remaining other portions of the site will be allocated to three other local contractors at 60, 84 and 72 units building works respectively and it is expected that these will be awarded in a month or two after all the necessary processes are fully met. The main contractor of the initial 156 units is Engi-Con (Pty) Ltd a 100% citizen contractor at a total construction sum of P 64, 4 Million. The duration for the construction of these initial units is 90 calendar weeks, which means they will be delivered in December 2017.