Botswana Housing Corporation’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Professor Selinah Busang, has come out strongly in defense of the corporation’s housing developments, dismissing recent criticism over the aesthetic appeal of its homes.
Busang emphasized that BHC’s projects have significantly transformed communities, enhanced neighborhoods, and created lasting value for homeowners nationwide.
Her remarks followed comments by Honourable Mabeo in parliament, who questioned the beauty of BHC homes. Busang challenged critics to visit the areas where the corporation has completed its housing projects.
Speaking at the launch of the BHC Roots & Roofs Campaign; which also introduced the sale of old stock houses and the Kgale View Self-Funded Residential Plots Development; Busang urged a broader perspective on housing. “Housing should not only be viewed as a physical structure but as an investment,” she said. Drawing attention to visible community transformations, she added, “Honourable Mabeo used to say our houses are not beautiful. But when you visit some areas, those areas are very beautiful, and you can see how they transform people’s lives.”
Busang underscored that BHC’s impact goes beyond building houses. She pointed out that the corporation’s developments spur social and economic growth in surrounding areas as new communities take shape.
Homeownership, she said, remains a vital investment for individuals and families alike. She encouraged Batswana to see property ownership as a long-term asset that offers security for future generations. “We have built homes, developed communities, the lives of thousands of people. And this lets us be proud as the whole nation. As our country and political nation, we have a responsibility to manage all the assets for cooperation, to raise the innovation, and to ensure that the cooperation remains sustainable like continuing to use this national service of our future children, grandchildren,” Busang said.
The Roots & Roofs Campaign symbolizes the foundation a home provides families, with ‘roots’ and ‘roofs’ representing stability, shelter, and future growth. “We built on the roots, which symbolizes below me to food a certain shelter, stability as a foundation upon which families build their future,” Busang explained.
She also highlighted the need for collaboration across government, the private sector, and citizens to achieve meaningful progress in the housing sector. She acknowledged government support in crafting policies that foster housing delivery and economic participation. “Ladies and gentlemen, this country’s successful individual and on our partnership. One, the contributive support of the government, whose policy creates enough environment for housing,” Busang said.
BHC officials described the Roots & Roofs Campaign as a platform to widen property ownership options through diverse housing models. This includes selling old stock houses and developing residential plots at Kgale View, enabling qualified buyers to build their own homes.
Senior Estates Officer and Property Surveyor Oabile Mathaio clarified that homeowners purchasing plots under the self-funded residential model will bear clear responsibilities, while BHC will assist with land allocation, planning, and estate coordination.
Mathaio explained that buyers must demonstrate financial capacity to acquire and develop their properties in line with development guidelines designed to maintain estate standards. He stressed these guidelines aim to support coordinated development and protect property values, rather than restrict homeowners. “There is a need to have development guidelines, which basically will guide those who have acquired the plot on what to build on which particular plot. And I must mention that these guidelines are not prescriptive, but they are a tool that will help us to have a coordinated approach in terms of developing the estate,” he said.
Additionally, Mathaio noted that buyers must adhere to development timelines, with a 36-month covenant attached to plots to ensure projects are completed within a reasonable period.
The campaign launch coincides with BHC’s ongoing efforts to expand housing access while encouraging private sector involvement and promoting sustainable urban growth. For Busang, the value of housing extends far beyond bricks and mortar, with success measured by the positive transformation of communities and the lives of citizens.