UN WORLD HABITAT DAY - PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO UTILIZE PUBLIC SPACES

Date: 
05 Oct 2015

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day. The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns. This year commemoration was themed, “Public spaces for all”.

As Partners in cities around the world host different activities and events to celebrate World Habitat Day 2015, the Ministry of lands and Housing, BHC together with stakeholders converged in Palapye in the Central District at Kediretswe Grounds on Monday 5th October 2015 to celebrate this day and sensitize on how citizens and different departments can utilize existing public spaces to increase social cohesion.

UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Fitsum Abraha said the theme was chosen to call attention to the frequently overlooked importance of public spaces. He further said high-quality public spaces encourage people to communicate and collaborate with each other, and to participate in public life, hence there is the need to advocate for these spaces to ensure that they are free and accessible to everyone, regardless of their age, race, gender, ability, or socio-economic status adding that they should be designed and developed with these principles in mind.
 
Speaking during the event, the Minister of Lands and Housing Honourable, Prince Maele said it is of paramount importance to know and use public spaces as purported because they form part of the landscape. “They are landmarks where various cultural activities take place like the parliament square and the three Dikgosi monuments in Gaborone. However, this country is experiencing challenges in management of public spaces solely because of undesirable human activities that have emerged over time,” he said.

These spaces, he said have been planned for recreational purpose and to provide a sense of living in neighborhoods and play a crucial role in people’s lives in that they help promote social interaction and improve socio-economic levels.

The Ministry of Lands and Housing, Landboards, Departments and Botswana Housing Corporation set up stalls to interact with members of the public and educate them about product and services as well as other initiatives.