28 Mar 2017

Heavy rains and water logging at the site for package 2 of the Kazungula bridge project has caused delays in construction.
This was highlighted by the district officer (development) Mr Mpho Leboane when briefing full council on Monday.
He noted that as a result the project was 10 weeks behind schedule.
Package 2 of the project consists of construction of one stop border facilities in Botswana. The project is expected to cost just over P440 million and expected to completed by September next year.
Generally, the overall construction of the Kazungula bridge project is four months behind schedule according to the District Development Committee report, which was presented to council.
“Challenges causing delay range from poor safety record of the contractor (Daewoo E & C Company), shortage of skilled manpower and constant breakdown of key equipment,” Leboane said.
While the project was initially envisioned to hire an equal number of both Batswana and Zambians, the latest figures indicate that of the 412 employees on the first phase of the project, 313 of them are foreign nationals including Zambians.
Only 99 employees are Batswana, a figure which represents less than a quarter of the staff employed.
Still at the meeting, council also heard that some Youth Development Funded projects were not doing well.
In Lesoma, seven of the eight funded projects have failed and are non-operational.
In total, 24 of the 60 projects funded have collapsed, translating to 40 per cent.
Four projects mostly fishing-based have since relocated to other districts.
The report further indicates that the collapse of the projects is mainly attributed to high rentals and lack of commitment by beneficiaries.
Chobe district is synonymous with some of the most exorbitant rental prices.
Even parastatal organisations desiring to open offices in Chobe have in the past complained about highly priced operating spaces.
It therefore comes as no surprise that high rentals are a contributing factor to the collapse of youth-owned businesses. ENDS