20 Mar 2018

Minister of Transport and Communication Mr Kitso Mokaila has promised to engage relevant stakeholders in consultations on issues pertaining to the impending P450 million dual carriage way planned for Molepolole.

Addressing Bakwena during a recent joint kgotla meeting with Minister of Lands, Housing and Water Sanitation Mr Prince Maele at the main kgotla, minister Mokaila said undertaking of the project was hindered by consultation processes involved such as compensations that will as well require huge sums of unspecified amount. He said  the P450 million was mainly for the dual carriage project while the bypass was estimated to cost over P280 million.

“The Molepolole dual carriage way has never been an issue as it is planned for under the National Development Plan Eleven (NDP11), but the issue is what can be done to sort out traffic congestion in the village,” highlighted the minister.

He assured Bakwena of the fact that the 13 kilometre dual carriage project from Blue Bows to Scottish Livingstone Hospital was underway with 2020 as its completion time with the intention to reduce traffic flow within the village.

The bypass according to the minister has never been considered as the other option as the study around the project revealed high usage of the Molepolole internal road indicating 87 per cent of vehicles in the village of Molepolole while a mere 17 per cent were for vehicles  coming outside.

Minister Mokaila however, highlighted a number of factors such as power line, water pipes, business structures and residential plots as major impediments to expediting the project.

Minister Mokaila also the specially elected member of parliament attributed scoping of projects as one of the challenges contributing to delayed implementation of projects in his ministry, arguing that they were often bound to inject more funds into the project than anticipated.

He therefore acknowledged delay in the undertaking of the project arguing that some projects end up getting more allocations than the initial budget resulting from constant delivery of shoddy work by some contractors.

Molepolole North MP Mr Mohammed Khan said was high time there was action on the Molepolole Basic Development Infrastructure, arguing that they have long been overtaken by events.

“I am however delighted by deadlines set by ministers on the said undertakings, noted Khan.

Former councillor, Mr Rex Motshwening called for the speedy implementation of the Molepolole dual carriage way and the bypass arguing that forfeiting one of the them will be a great disadvantage, looking at the fact that

Molepolole had long been left in the lurch as far as development projects was concerned.

 “We had hoped to benefit from the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) like most areas of the country, but we are disappointed that carrying out development projects in Molepolole had remained a challenge”, remarked Motshwening.

Kgosi Gobusamang Lebang, was of the view that looking at the status of the Molepolole main road, there was dire need for the dual carriage way to address the prevailing state of affair.

Mr Segakolodi Leshona, called for action on promised projects arguing that Bakwena have long been patient and it is time promises were fulfilled. Ends