BHC Board sabotaged Bonno Housing - Ramogapi

The Minister of Water and Human Settlements, Onneetse Ramogapi, says he decided to dissolve the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) Board of Directors because they were a stumbling block in the delivery of the Bonno Housing Scheme.He said the actions taken were necessitated by exceptional circumstances arising from the corporation's failure to effectively align its operations and strategic direction with the Government's national housing priorities, notwithstanding repeated guidance and policy direction from the Ministry.“In taking these decisions, due regard was to the provisions of the Botswana Housing Corporation Act, the principles of accountability, transparency, and good governance, as well as the need to ensure continuity of leadership and the effective discharge of the Corporation's statutory mandate,” the Minister told ParliamentHe assured that due process was observed throughout, and that every decision was guided by the overarching objective of restoring effective governance, strengthening institutional performance, and accelerating the delivery of the Government's housing programme for the benefit of the people of Botswana.“BHC is a government parastatal under the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement, and its Board is accountable to the Minister. As a parastatal, the Corporation is required to align its strategic priorities and operations with the priorities and policies of the Government,” Ramogapi said when responding to a question from MP for Molepolole North Arafat Khan who asked the Minister to state the reasons and circumstances that led to the dissolution of the Board of Directors of BHC.He revealed that one of the Government's key priorities was the delivery of 100,000 housing units within three (3) years, with the envisaged Single Housing Authority expected to spearhead this initiative.However, despite numerous policy direction and guidance provided by the Ministry, the Corporation's direction, approach, and sense of urgency did not align with the Government's expectations or priorities, the Minister said.He added “in the circumstances, it became necessary to part ways with the Board in order to safeguard the achievement of this national priority. The Minister invoked section 6 (3) of Botswana Housing Corporation Act which states that; Notwithstanding the provision of subsection {2), the Minister may at any time for reasons that appear to him to warrant such action remove a member from Office.”Section 4 (1) of the Botswana Housing Corporation Act (Cap. 74:03) provides for the appointment of a Board comprising not fewer than seven (7) and not more than ten (10) members who possess the knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to the successful direction of the affairs and operations of the Corporation.Section 4(3) of the Act provides that, subject to any special or general directions of the Minister, the Board is responsible for the overall direction of the affairs of the Corporation. Ramogapi said in addition, the power to appoint includes the power to remove, "is a core rule of statutory construction".He also highlighted that under the Interpretation Act No. 20 of 1984 of Botswana, this means that any authority granted the power to make an appointment is also presumed to have the power to suspend, dismiss or re-appoint that individual, unless a contrary intention appears.He revealed that the Acting Chief Executive Officer and the Minister mutually agreed that the Acting Chief Executive Officer, who was left with one month to retire be released early by paying his one-month remainder of the contract and all his benefits.

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BHC Board sabotaged Bonno Housing - Ramogapi