Bonno Housing targets low- to middle-income earners

The Bonno National Housing Programme, a transformative initiative set to deliver 100,000 affordable and decent housing units across all 61 constituencies by 2028, has been officially launched. Unveiled through a series of nationwide events, the programme is being hailed as a landmark step towards ensuring dignity, prosperity, and inclusion for every Motswana.Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Matlapana ward in Maun, Assistant Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Motsamai Motsamai, described Bonno as “a symbol of vision, coupled with action and progress.”He said the development represents the aspirations of families who will soon call these new houses home and aligns with the government’s commitment to providing safe and affordable housing for all.“This is not just a housing project, it’s a nation-building initiative, driven by our collective desire to ensure that no Motswana is left behind.”The Bonno Programme is designed to benefit especially low- to middle-income earners, enabling them to access and ultimately own quality homes. The initiative aims to build not just houses, but thriving communities-safe havens where children can dream, elders can rest, and families can flourish.The key objective of the programme is to significantly reduce Botswana’s longstanding national housing backlog. The project is expected to create over 200,000 jobs in its first year alone, spanning construction, infrastructure, supply chains, and related services.All workers involved will receive a living wage of P4,000, ensuring that those building the nation’s homes can also build better lives for themselves.The Matlapana event, which will yield 55 new houses, is one of several simultaneous launches. The main event, officiated by President Advocate Duma Boko, was held at Extension 11 in Palapye.Additional launches took place in Tatisiding (30 units), Mabutsane (20 units), and Peolwane (Block 7) in Gaborone, where a high-density development will deliver 174 units. All events were broadcast live on BTV, reflecting the national importance of the initiative.Head of Facilities Management at Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), Benjamin Olebile highlighted the Maun Housing Development Project, affectionately known as Ohanja Estate, as a significant milestone in Botswana’s collective pursuit of inclusive, affordable, and dignified shelter for all Batswana.“This project is part of the Botswana Housing Corporation’s contribution to the national target of delivering 100,000 housing units by 2028, as directed by the President and articulated in the Government’s commitment to accelerating social development and economic inclusion,” Olebile said.Ohanja Estate will serve as one of the launch sites for the broader initiative to construct 61,000 housing units across Botswana’s constituencies.The estate is a tangible response to the call for accelerated housing delivery, representing a deliberate investment in housing and infrastructure that supports livelihoods, stability, and economic mobility.Currently, the project is commencing the development of 55 units as the second phase of the estate, following the first phase of 45 units launched in October 2024, which is now at an advanced stage of completion. Together, these two phases will yield a total of 100 housing units.To promote optimal participation from citizen contractors, the 55 units have been divided into five packages reserved for contractors of various grades, including Grade OC, A, B, and C.All contracts have been awarded to 100 percent citizen-owned contractors with the necessary experience and expertise, with the project timeline set at seven months. The development is expected to create approximately 100 jobs in Maun.Olebile noted that Maun’s growing population and its emergence as a strategic housing hub due to spill-over demand from surrounding areas calls for forward-looking and regionally balancedhousing investments.He added that, internal demand surveys by BHC confirm that in emerging peri-urban areas like Maun, public-sector housing is crucial for service delivery, workforce mobility, and community stability.Consequently, the development will prioritse rental stock, aligning with national housing priorities and market realities.“This project is not just a project; it is a symbol of joined-up governance and responsive public investment,” Olebile said.“It represents a commitment to bringing housing to where it is most needed with a deeper understanding of community realities,” he added.As Botswana advances toward its goal of 100,000 housing units by 2028, each development like the 55 units in Ohanja Estate adds a vital building block to the foundation of a more equitable and inclusive nation.Through such projects, the Government of Botswana continues to demonstrate its commitment to reducing overcrowding, supporting workforce deployment, and providing dignity to public servants and ordinary citizens alike through homeownership, according to Olebile.“Botswana Housing Corporation remains steadfast in working closely with the Government, local authorities, and strategic partners to deliver this vision-house by house, village by village, town by town, and city by city,” he said.Recognising the scale of the challenge, the government is inviting private developers, investors, financial institutions, and community-based organisations to participate.The Ministry and Botswana Housing Corporation have issued an Expression of Interest to attract stakeholders.The government has pledged to provide land, expedite regulatory approvals, facilitate access to infrastructure and utilities, and offer policy support to ensure the programme’s success.“This is a collective national effort. The government cannot do it alone,” Motsamai stated. “We are ready and willing to work with investment consortia and financiers,” he added.

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Bonno Housing targets low- to middle-income earners