About 20 government houses mysteriously abandoned in Sebele
Many houses have been left abandoned and unkempt at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) while most Batswana are struggling to find accommodation in the capital city, Gaborone.
Close to 20 houses seen by this publication have been vacated, abandoned and neglected. What was once a community of residents, is now a bushy area, almost forest-like, all covered with trees and shrubs.
The BUAN employees that this publication spoke to, said the abandoned houses have been vacant for a very long time and it seems the institution is not ready to do anything about them.
“Those houses belong to The Ministry of Agriculture, while others are for BUAN. We do not know what their intentions are but as you see, the entrance is completely blocked by trees, the houses are all bushy.
“But it does not mean that we have accommodation, many of us are struggling yet those houses remain as they are. They have abandoned them, one lady recently asked to be allowed to renovate one of the houses for herself and she is busy with it right now, but the dirt that is coming out of the home she will soon be occupying is disgusting,” the employees said.
They claimed that some people now dump garbage of used pads and baby nappies in the abandoned houses taking advantage of the bushy area. This poses a health hazard to BUAN employees and those who live near the neglected houses.
When contacted, the Ministry of Agriculture was unable to respond to the matter despite a questionnaire sent to them three weeks ago.
Minister Fidelis Molao also did not respond to messages left for him on the matter. BUAN equally did not respond to a questionnaire sent to them.
Meanwhile, the people of Sebele ward in the Gaborone North Constituency have asked the Gaborone Mayor Austin Abraham to speak to both BUAN and the Ministry of Agriculture.
The mayor was told during a crime prevention meeting that criminals are now taking advantage and hiding in the abandoned houses.
Students are also said to be using the houses as hiding spots for all things naughty, they smoke and drink beer there.
“I have already started making enquiries and will share once I have answers,' Abraham said this week.