12 Dec 2016

Completion of the P64 million Shakawe Primary Hospital staff houses is expected to alleviate shortage of accommodation.

Speaking during the handover of 65 staff houses Shakawe on December 8, the Minister of Health and Wellness, Ms Dorcas Makgato said completion of the project would culminate in commencement of the second phase being construction of the main hospital early next year. The houses comprise of 60 LA II and five LA III.

Ms Makgato said the hospital was expected to employ more than 400 employees; noting that the houses would not only adequately meet the accommodation needs, but they would greatly help alleviate accommodation challenges in the district.

“My ministry has taken a decision to temporarily accommodate some of the ministry’s officers as well as other government departments until the second phase of the hospital is completed”, she declared.

The minister expressed hope that the arrangements would temporarily relief Shakawe public officers as a whole as they also face accommodation challenges.

Furthermore she said projects of this kind were vital as they benefit Batswana since they were a source of employment, one of the main objectives of the Economic Stimulus Programme.

“I have been reliably informed that about 136 locals were employed in this project since its inception in March 2015, and that 90 per cent of the employees are residents of Shakawe”, she said.

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said he was happy to be witnessing the handover of the first phase project to the client ministry which was now ready for immediate use.

He said although there were some delays, he was satisfied that the project was completed satisfactorily and he expeced the end product to meet the needs of the people of the area.

He said their desire to empower citizen contractors who were first engaged in the project delayed the project as the contractor failed to carry out his contractual responsibilities resulting in a different civil works contractor being engaged.

He added that lack of power and water connectivity at the project area also contributed to the project not being delivered on the scheduled time.

The owner of Hitecon, Mr Hu Zhongwen said during the ground breaking ceremony they promised a good quality work to the ministry the more reason why they did their best to deliver a satisfactory product.

“There is no geometrical instrument that can be used to measure my happiness at this moment”, said Kgosi Mutemo Mbambo of Shakawe who could not hide his happiness at the handing over ceremony. ENDS