01 Mar 2018

Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development is engaging Basic Education ministry on the restoration of electricity at Tutume Brigade.

Answering a question in Parliament on February 28, Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development said in 2014, a contractor was engaged to do maintenance work at Tutume Brigade while it was under the former Ministry of Education and Skills Development.

Minister Tshenolo Mabeo said the project duration was from April 18, 2014 to October 3, 2014, but the completion date was revised to January 2, 2015.

He said after re-organisation of the ministries in October 2016, the project remained at the Ministry of Basic Education and ‘this is still the case now.’

Minister Mabeo also told the House that the information obtained from the Ministry of Basic Education was that the contractor who was carrying out maintenance work at the brigade abandoned the work on April 4, 2015 after disconnecting electricity to the eastern side of the institution.

The affected areas included the gate, kitchen, three classrooms, storeroom, auto mechanics, carpentry and joinery workshops.

He said the contractor was engaged on the matter by the Ministry of Basic Education to complete the outstanding works, but had failed to do so.

Consequently, he said the ministry has arrived at the decision to terminate the contract before the end of April, 2018.

In addition, the minister said the period of cyclic maintenance of the facilities would be determined after the termination of the current contract by the Ministry of Basic Education.

MP for Nata/Gweta, Mr Polson Majaga had asked the minister if he was aware that Tutume Brigade has no direct electricity supply since 2014, when power was cut by a contractor who was awarded a contract to do maintenance work at the institution but abandoned the work.

Mr Majaga also wanted the minister to indicate whether the electricity would be restored at the institution; and when to expect the work to be completed. ENDS