22 Feb 2017

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has implored youth in the construction industry to desire growth and participation in the economy of the country.

Speaking at the Youth Construction Pitso held in Francistown recently, Mr Molefhi said  government was committed to ensuring the youth contractors exceled in the industry.

Mr Molefhi said it was his desire to see the youth carrying out mega projects in the country instead of foreign contractors from countries such as Italy and China doing them.

He noted that as a way of empowering youth construction companies, the government came up with a policy that ensured that 15 per cent of all projects was set aside for youth owned companies and that they were given the opportunity to compete with other companies in the remaining 85 per cent.

Mr Molefhi cited that in the coming financial year, over P87 million was budgeted for maintenance and about P13 million was set aside for youth owned companies.

He further said as proof of the government commitment to supporting youth companies, in the first phase of the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), 21 youth companies benefited and he was hopeful that even in the second phase the number would increase.

He said while the government was committed to supporting youth companies, the youth must be mindful that projects be of quality, completed on time and within budget.

Minister Molefhi said the youth should change their mindset towards projects awarded and ensure that mobilisation funds availed at the beginning of each project were used solely for the intended works and should not be viewed as personal.

He said the construction industry should not be seen as a quick way of making money and contractors should always follow the bill of quantities. 

He observed that although some youth companies should be commended for job well done, some continued to fail and cited the Machaneng BHC tender that was not completed on time.

Mr Molefhi said contractors should also pay attention to using quality material and noted that he would go around the country addressing kgotla meetings to sensitise the communities on using Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) accredited bricks. 

He said Batswana should also make sure they conducted soil testing prior to construction in order to avoid some disasters.

On other issues, Mr Molefhi implored the youth contractors to familiarise themselves with labour laws and laws and policies that regulated the construction industry.

Earlier, in her welcome remarks, the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Ms Halakangwa Mbulai said the pitso came about to capacitate the youth contractors on issues affecting the industry as they realised that there was lack of capacity.

She said the pitso brought together different experts in the industry in order to close the gaps and help build the contractors into competent individuals who would grow the industry.

The managing director of Focused Engineering Solutions, Mr Mothusi Lekgetho, who is also a youth, noted that the pitso came at an opportune time as it came at the beginning of the National Development Plan (NDP) 11.

He observed that for youth owned companies to grow, they needed incubation programme in order to take advantage of opportunities availed to them. He said incubators should be based in areas such as Selibe Phikwe, Francistown, Maun, Gaborone and Palapye.

Mr Lekgetho said youth contractors should be mentored on leadership development, business management, project management, financial management and Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board requirements. He encouraged youth business owners to be disciplined and innovative.

The theme of the pitso was Changing Youth Mindset in Construction Industry.  BOPA