09 Aug 2016

A Francistown interchange consultant, Mr Keobatile Sabokone has revealed that the project, which is also known as spaghetti to the locals, is 25 weeks behind schedule.

Briefing a Presidential inspectorate task team on government projects, Mr Sabokone said the project which commenced on February last year was expected to be carried out in a period of 18 months and completed this month.

He, however, said the relocation of services such as Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and Botswana Botswana Telecommunication Corporation Limited (BTCL) lines took longer than expected leading to the delay in the commencement of the project.

He attributed the other delay to weather conditions such as rainfall but indicated that the contractor has come up with mitigation factors such as working on weekends and at night up to 10pm.

Mr Sabokone indicated that the contractor has since applied for the extension of the project for up to February next year but no formal approval has been granted.

He said all foundation work of the project has been finished with four structures of the interchange above the ground and the contractor is currently working on the super structure above the ground and the approaching roads.

The interchange is part of the Tonota/Francistown road construction, which started in October 2012 and the total cost of both the road and the interchange is P1 billion. 

The inspectorate team also toured the P118 million Gerald secondary school and the P15 million staff houses. A works superintendent, Mr Ishmael Othusitse explained to the team that the new  secondary school, which is built by a local company, has 30 classrooms.

He briefed the team that the school project started in October 2014 and was supposed to be completed in January 2016. 

However, hindrances such  as unavailability of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and shortage of some raw materials delayed the project.

He explained that at some point the project had to be suspended for a period of two months to avail the EIA. Mr Othusitse indicated that some of the challenges faced during the project were shortage of labour explaining that although there are a lot of bricklayers in the country it is not easy to get those who can work with face bricks.

He however indicated that the staff houses were completed and will be handed over to the authorities this Friday.

North East District educational regional director, Mr Galesenngwe Mohube noted that the students were supposed to start at the beginning of this year but due to the delay in completion, they were temporarily accommodated at Gold Mine secondary school.

He said the school head and the deputy have been posted to the school to start working on required logistics and the rest of the teachers will be posted in December.

In an interview, the leader of the inspectorate team, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri said he was impressed with the school and that teachers’ accommodation was available. Ends