03 Aug 2017

 The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi says the three original contractors that were engaged by Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) for the construction of some of the 30 houses under the Public Officers Housing Initiative (POHI) have abandoned the project.

He said Balesang Investments abandoned two houses in Ditshegwane and that KR Investments abandoned four houses at Salajwe while SJT Construction abandoned two houses at Salajwe breaching their contracts.

He said as such any additional costs resulting from seeking replacement contractors would be deducted from their retention monies.

“We are in the process of engaging replacement contractors and hopefully they will start work towards mid-August,” he said.

Mr Molefhi said the ministry was not aware that there were employees who had not been paid by the said companies, but added that employees with grievances regarding the contractors were usually advised to engage the Department of Labour.

The minister further said where other ways of resolving conflicts had failed, BHC had in some cases helped in resolving conflicts around payments by agreeing with the contractors to facilitate for direct payment to employees provided there were funds due to the concerned contractors.

He said in the case of the contractors concerned in the Takatokwane constituency, there were no prior arrangements between BHC and the contractors to make direct payments to the employees.their respective villages.

However, the minister noted that it had never occurred that where there were complaints regarding non payments to employees engaged directly by contractors, BHC reported such to the village chiefs.

The MP for Takatokwane, Mr Ngaka Ngaka had asked the minister if he was aware of the contractors who left BHC houses incomplete, and wanted to know which companies were responsible and what action was taken against them.

He also asked how the employees would be paid by the contractors, and whether the village chiefs were informed. ENDS