UB’s vandalised property is an eyesore
Campus Services scurries to refurbish the property
The University of Botswana’s Institutional Planning Department was jolted out of its slumber by an enquiry from this publication to swiftly address the eyesore caused by their unkempt, dilapidated and vandalised property in Gaborone’s Extension 9 suburb.
Evidently, the area residents had justifiably raised complaints about the property - Plot number 2570 – as it was attracting all sorts of criminal activities due to its state of disuse. Petty thieves and junkies had found in it a safe haven.
The grass in the plot had grown over a metre tall, while the trees formed a canopy over the house hiding it from the view of passers-by. When The Midweek Sun confronted the University on February 17th this year about this eyesore, an officer of the Department of Institutional Planning, Doreen Mafosi confirmed that indeed the plot belonged to the University. Mafosi said that the house was vacated in 2019 when the UB Institutional Planning Department was intending to redevelop it into multiresidential units for students because of the plot size. “Unfortunately the project did not succeed and the house was vandalised while awaiting the process,” she admitted. Mafosi said they have since engaged a private consultant who is “currently working on our property portfolio in alignment with the new UB strategy which will also assist management in making a sound decision about plot 2570.”She said that the exercise started in January and was expected to finish by end of March. However, Mafosi would not be drawn into divulging the name of the private consultant or how much UB had lost in monetary value since the plot was last occupied preferring instead to refer this publication to the Acting Director, Campus Services. Thankfully, The Midweek Sun’s enquiry about the property, which is located next to the magnificent Falcon Crest Lodge, elicited a quick response from the University as the plot has since been cleared of the thicket and grass.