07 Mar 2013

Parliament has approved the Ministry of Transport and Communications budget of over P3.7 billion to cover both recurrent and development budgets in the 2013/14 financial year.

In response to Members of Parliament comments, the portfolio minister , Mr Nonofo Molefhi thanked them for their support and assured them that his ministry was making efforts to improve service delivery.

Some MPs had raised concerns about the poor state of roads, not only in their constituencies but also around the country. They also requested the minister to look into upgrading and maintenance of roads in the country.

To that, Mr Molefhi told MPs that most of the roads had reached their design life while other road projects were in their final stages of execution.

He added that they had developed a road maintenance manual which he said would assist them to undertake periodical maintenance of roads and in turn improve their status.

Also, he said there were ongoing assessment exercises which would help them improve roads, adding the ministry would also, in the next financial year, buy 10 graders to complement the already existing ones which he regretted were not maintained well.

Further, the minister told members that the ministry was currently in an exercise to raise P180 million per year from the petrol levy which he said would also assist them in road projects.

However, he said if other members supported him to increase the charge from 20 thebe to P1.00, the ministry would raise about P900 million a year.

On government transport, Mr Molefhi told members that the impending fleet tracking, maintenance and management system would ensure proper use of vehicles. The system, he said, would link all Central Transport Organisations (CTOs) to improve maintenance of vehicles and curb delay in buying parts for vehicles.

Meanwhile, under the recurrent budget, the ministry will use over P709 million for CTO while roads department will get over P556 million.

The department of information and technology will use over P278 million while the balance will be shared between the ministry headquarters, telecommunications and postal services and road transport and safety.

The ministry will use the development budget of over P1.8 billion for implementation of ongoing projects, especially roads projects.

Major projects to benefit from the development budget resources include the Nata-Kazungula road which is expected to be completed this month , Tonota-Francistown road which started in October last year, the Botswana Integrated Transport (BIT) project as well as the Kazungula and Thamalakane bridges.

The air transport programme will use over P635 million and major projects under this programme include terminal buildings and air traffic control towers at the Maun and Kasane airports, procurement of equipment and systems upgrade to improve security and safety in aviation sector as well as continuation of the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport terminal building after termination of the initial contract.

Development of the ICT programme will use P274 million with the e-government and GDN III being major projects.

The ministry will spend P40 million on international connectivity as well as conclusion of the Nteletsa II project.

The remaining balance of over P52 million will be used to implement various projects under consultancies, facilities, computerisation and transport control and road safety programmes. ENDS