Africa-Press – Botswana. The significant expansion of the income eligibility bracket for the Bonno National Housing Programme is the reaffirmation of government’s commitment to foster inclusive economic growth.
Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi, made this observation at the stakeholders’ consultative forum on the Bonno National Housing programme in Tlokweng yesterday.
The aim of the meeting was to consult stakeholders in the housing property development sector and to share and exchange ideas to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
Mr Ramogapi said the strategic income threshold adjustment aimed to broaden access and enable more households particularly those within the middle-income range benefitted from the programme.
“By raising the income threshold we are reaffirming our commitment to inclusivity, enabling more citizens to enhance their living conditions and contribute to the well-being of their families and communities,” he added.
He said the upper income threshold had been increased from P52 000 to P95 000 per annum for the low-income group and from P95 001 to P282 120 for individuals within the D4 scale and below or their equivalent.
Minister Ramogapi said the programme was an integrated platform that brought together a range of schemes to address the diverse housing needs of the population.
He said these included the revitalised turnkey development housing loan scheme, the home improvement housing loan scheme, the integrated poverty alleviation and housing scheme and the D4 scale and below or equivalent housing loan scheme which targeted the working class on the D4 scale and below.
“Across both urban and rural landscapes the demand for adequate housing continues to outpace supply. This shortfall has had far-reaching consequences not only on the quality of life of our citizens but on public health, education and social cohesion. This programme is our collective response to this challenge,” he said.
To achieve the vision of the national housing scheme, he said government was leveraging public land through reduced land costs and long term leases to incentivise developers.
He said they were also streamlining approval processes and cutting red tape to fast track project implementation by consulting stakeholders to succeed through collaboration.
Briefing delegates on objectives of the forum Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement, Ms Bonolo Khumotaka, said the aim was to establish a dynamic and inclusive platform for meaningful engagement for key stakeholders in the housing sector.
She said the forum was convened to facilitate strategic dialogue on the implementation of the Bonno programme to ensure coherence with national development goals and alignment with the lived realities and aspirations of citizens.
She said it was convened to harness collective insights and sectoral expertise to inform and strengthen policy frameworks and operational strategies.
“It is also meant to foster robust, cross sector partnerships and reaffirm our shared commitment to addressing housing challenges across the country with a focus on uplifting vulnerable communities in a manner that upholds human dignity and generates lasting impact,” she said.
For More News And Analysis About Botswana Follow Africa-Press
