Sello Motseta
22nd April 2025
Investors ONGOS group from Namibia have partnered with the new Botswana Government and the Botswana Housing Corporation(BHC) to develop 50 hectares of land in the Kgale View area, to build 1 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom stand alone houses at affordable rates.
It is expected that 30,000 direct and indirect jobs will be created during the life of the developments expected to last 48 months with P3billiion invested in infrastructure project. Houses are expected to be sold for a starting price of P400,000 for smaller units.
President Advocate Duma Boko said that employees working for contractors building an estimated 3,000 houses will be expected to be paid a minimum wage of P4,000 monthly.
“This country will look and feel spectacularly different three years from now,” said Boko.
He said, “We want to afford every citizen an opportunity to own property.”
Boko lamented that Botswana’s low wage economy had not attracted foreign direct investment but generalized discontent amongst professionals such as doctors, teachers, police officers and army officers. These were characterised as historical and systematic injustices.
“We need to wrestle with them,” said Boko. He said, “We cannot run away from these challenges.”
Government officials maintained that despite scepticism they have honoured a commitment to reduce water tariffs by 30% and granted a debt amnesty to those in arrears.
Onneetse Ramogapi, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, said “We expect to create 100,000 jobs within 12 months.”
Jobs are expected to be created in areas as diverse as SHE Officers, Builders, Plumbers and Electricians. The second phase of infrastructure project is expected to start in 16/9/2025.
Reagon Graig, Chairman of ONGOS Group, said “We want to be at the forefront of the African renaissance that elevates human dignity by providing solutions such as affordable housing.”
He said, “We recognize the nature of property and that it provides a basis for intergenerational wealth. If is for my children and their children.”
