10 Feb 2019

Minister of Transport and Communications, Ms Dorcus Makgato says the maintenance project of the Mathangwane-Nata road, which started in January last year in a piece-meal manner now required a different approach that covered the A3 Road from Francistown to Maun.

In response to a question by Nata-Gweta MP on February 8, Ms Makgato said currently the portion from Sowa junction to Nata was under maintenance, adding that work on it was expected to run for 12 months, but had been delayed by lack of accessibility of burrow pit materials.

She noted however that works were continuing and that the contractor had requested for an extension of time; a request that she said the Department of Roads was considering.

The minister explained that the road maintenance project in question dated back to 2006, but had suffered a lot of challenges which resulted in the ministry adopting a different approach.

One of the setbacks, she said, was that after the tender was awarded, the bidder to whom it was awarded declined the contract.

“Because of the contract offer being declined, it became necessary for the works to be put to re-tender, with the works being planned for in the financial year 2008/9. Due to the effect of the economic meltdown of 2008, the planned maintenance was deferred with other and similar national development projects,” she said.

Ms Makgato said the adverse effects of the Dineo floods, the duration to maintain the entire A3 Road had become fluid.

She said instead of thinking about one section of the road, it was necessary that the entire A3 Road be rehabilitated, which she said had gone beyond its 20-year design life period.

The minister observed that in order to aid movement, the ministry had to intervene with works which were presently ongoing between the Sowa junction and Nata, as well as the Mathangwane-Nata section.

These works, she said, were being carried out at the time at which planning for the reconstruction of the entire A3 Road was being done.

Ms Makgato said the ministry had to rely on its maintenance budget to remedy any dilapidating sections of the road, adding that the ministry would continue to monitor the situation to ensure that traffic movement along the road was not disrupted.

MP Polson Majaga had asked the minister to state the commencement and duration of the Nata-Mathangwane road maintenance project. ENDS