31 Jul 2017

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi says the ministry conducts two types of quality audit inspections, which include new developments and office or accommodation or rental acquisition.

Mr Molefhi explained that the new developments category ensured that projects were free of defects at practical completion stages.

Through the office/accommodation or rental acquisition category, he said they ensured fitness for purpose. From 2014 to date, he said inspections were conducted in eight facilities.

“Inspections included fit for purpose inspection of constituency office at house 1 365 Plateau, Kasane, for Member of Parliament for Chobe on March 4, 2015.”

He said the ministry also conducted condition survey of proposed offices in Kasane for the then Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture on August 19, 2015.  

He said inspections included the agriculture service at Parakarungu, extension to the Kachikau Clinic and construction of six staff houses for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks at Sedudu

Wildlife gate in Chobe National Park, both done done on June 9, 2016.

Furthermore, he said they inspected a porta cabin at Kasane for the Department of Agri Business promotion on June 10, 2016.

A fit for purpose inspection was also done on a building in Kasane to be used as office accommodation for the Department of Road Transport and Safety in the Ministry of Transport and Communication on September 22, 2016.

Inspection was also carried out on a proposed office in Kasane for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development on February 8, 2017.

He further told Parliament that there were some major deficiencies and remedial actions that were recommended following the audit inspections on some projects.

He said for all construction projects there were no major defects identified, but only minor defects relating to building, electrical or mechanical components of the projects were identified for the contractor to rectify before handing over the project for occupation.  

On fit for purpose inspection, the minister said there were no major defects found in the existing facilities.

He said audits mainly identified that the existing buildings needed  partitioning to fit the client’s requirements.  

With respect to progress on remedial works and associated costs, Minister Molefhi said projects were completed and handed over to beneficiaries except the Kachikau Clinic project.

He noted that there were no costs associated with rectification of minor defects since they were all done at the main contractor’s account.

Meanwhile, he said the ministry was not aware of whether the respective ministries subsequently ended up renting or buying the properties inspected for fit for purpose.

Member of Parliament for Chobe, Mr Machana Shamukuni wanted to know the number of projects inspected, major deficiencies identified and remedial actions recommended and associated costs.

Mr Shamukuni also wanted to know progress on remedial works recommended and associated costs. ENDS