2020 World Habitat Day

Hon. Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development Mmusi Kgafela

Viewers at home.

Good morning.  Ke dumedisa ka Pula!

1.    I am excited to observe together with you, my first World Habitat Day as UN Resident Coordinator in Botswana. Thank you for the opportunity to share this platform with you all.

2.    The purpose of World Habitat Day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities, and on the basic right of all people to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.This year the focus of World Habitat Day is on the importance of housing as a driver for sustainable urban development. This year’s theme, Housing For All: A Better Urban Future, is particularly critical in light of the ongoing global pandemic.

3.    In the spirit of World Habitat Day, I want to share some reflections on 3 areas and I urge you all to also have similar discussions. a) What is sustainable urban development?, b) how has COVID 19 changed our thinking, c) the importance of a partnerships in achieving housing for all and a better urban future.

4.    Sustainable Urban Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The needs of future generations in Botswana may not be dissimilar to the needs of people today. Safe, affordable homes, with basic amenities such as power, water and sanitation to live a life of dignity, as well as connections to internet and public transport to allow access to education, work, recreation, healthcare, and other services. For future generations however, more challenges will exist. Land and house prices are likely to increase exponentially, distances from workplaces may increase as cities expand outwards, more cars will have to fit on the same roads and so on. I read recently that every 10 years The urban populations of Botswana will grow by up to 230,000 people. Or 700,000 in 30 years, when our newborns today will look for their first homes.

5.    We need to look carefully at what the land, housing, service needs will be then. For example, planning extensive public transport networks and protecting green spaces for access to healthy leisure areas for all will require a real forward thinking by planners, lawmakers and developers today, for future generations.

6.    As the COVID pandemic continues, there is growing concerns that pandemics of this nature may become a recurring reality, in which case, lockdowns may come and go for years or decades.

7.    Having an adequate home is now, more clearly than ever, a matter of life and death. As COVID-19 continues to spread, people have been told to stay at home to stay safe. But this simple measure is challenging or impossible for people who do not have adequate housing.

8.    COVID-19 has reminded us that home is much more than just a roof. To make us feel safe and enable us to continue living, working and learning, a home needs to be secure, to allow us to access basic services and infrastructure for hygiene measures and to have enough room for physical distancing. It should also be located in a way that enables residents to access public green and open spaces, employment opportunities, health-care services, schools, childcare centres and other social facilities.

9.    People living in inadequate housing conditions - informal settlements and temporary structures - are hit hardest during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to the stressful home stay environment in small and crowded housing, the disruption of social and protective networks and decreased access to services increase the risk of violence for women and children. The absence of basic services and the prevalence of stress and unhealthy living conditions also contribute to poor health.

10.Structural inequalities have been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, showing how people with lower incomes, minorities, and migrants are disproportionally affected by housing instability, overcrowding and homelessness.

11.In August I had the chance to travel to various parts of the country including Ghanzi, Maun and past Nata. The landscape was dotted with mud and stick huts and houses built of reeds. Even here in the capital Gaborone when you go to Old Naledi location you can spot glaring disparities.

12.These experiences showed me that the provision of affordable urban housing in Botswana continues to be inadequate. The high population growth rate and rapid urbanization has resulted in housing backlog as housing supply does not equal demand. Some of the challenges that Botswana face is the shortage of serviced land especially in urban areas coupled with the excessive infrastructure costs which I understand has greatly hampered private developers' efforts in the provision of housing in Gaborone. Some of these challenges are inevitable, given the vast and landlocked nature of the country. Other challenges require bold investment, forward planning and joined up thinking.

13.Inclusive, affordable and adequate housing is the key to sustainable transformation of our cities and communities. Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims for resilient, inclusive, safe, diverse cities by 2030 and one of the targets is access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services for all by 2030. The pandemic offers new opportunities for all stakeholders to participate.

14.Minister, I believe that Housing is a shared responsibility. We all have a role to play. Adequate housing for all will depend on strengthened and coordinated efforts including from national and local governments. Local authorities are key actors in ensuring that all citizens stay safe and protected. National governments are critical for supporting local decision-makers by empowering them to take preventative action and make effective decisions. Others should contribute also. Civil society organizations building partnerships with residents; private sector mobilizing resources for options including rentals, housing preservation and rehabilitation. The international community can bring experiences from across the world, for better and more innovative planning that makes sure no one is left behind.

15.The Government can reshape policies, strategies and legislation to ensure diverse housing solutions for all, for today and for future generations. Let us work with all people in Botswana to consider our needs today and in 30 years, especially given what we know about population growth, the rising shift of people to urban areas, climate change affecting our resources, and the likelihood of recurring pandemics.

16.One indicator of the success of the housing program in Botswana would be the availability of affordable housing for all citizens and residents without exception. Through collective action, we can achieve a world that works towards reducing inequalities and poverty levels and providing access to adequate housing for all, as a catalyst to achieve other fundamental rights.

17.Honourable Minister, I look forward to the United Nations continuing its support to the Government and people of Botswana in the development of Housing policies that look forwards, include diverse people in the planning process, and most of all, leave no one behind when it comes to that basic need, that basic right of all people to have a safe and healthy home in which to live in dignity and achieve their full potential.