24 Mar 2019

Minister Dorcas Makgato of Transport and Communications has requested Parliament to approve budget estimates amounting to P3.7 billion for the ministry for the 2019/20 financial year.

Presenting the proposals on March 23, Ms Makgato said the amount comprised P1.9 billion for the recurrent budget and P1.8 billion for the development budget.

The minister hastened to indicate that while the budget appeared to be relatively large, it did not match the ministry’s obligations or public expectations in respect to delivered outcomes.

Regarding the recurrent budget, she explained that the largest share would go to the Department of Information Technology with P505.1 billion followed by Central Transport Organisation (CTO) with P498.2 million and Corporate Services at P414.9 million.

As for the development budget, Ms Makgato requested P1.8 billion, the bulk of which would go towards the financing of ongoing projects. Citing some of the projects for which funds were being sought, she mentioned the Kazungula and Mohembo bridges, the Gaborone-Boatle dualling project, the Botswana Integrated Transport Programme and the Traffic Signal Modernisation and Centralised Traffic Control for Greater Gaborone.

In addition, she indicated that the other projects included Maun airport refurbishment, the aeronautical mobile services project and the improvement of aviation security systems.

On the ministry’s performance during the 2018/19 financial year, Ms Makgato expressed contentment that BotswanaPost was now operating profitably after 10 years of consecutive deficits.

She said the turnaround had enabled the institution to increase its service bouquet by introducing exciting initiatives such as PosoPay, and online payments for services such as vehicle licensing.

Regarding the Kazungula and Mohembo bridges, she noted that the former was progressing considerably well while the latter was relatively behind schedule at 35 per cent against the planned 90 per cent. On the Maun airport terminal, she said the delays experienced were due to protests by unsuccessful bidders; a situation that she indicated had resulted in re-tendering, with last award made in February 2019.

On Air Botswana, Minister Makgato noted that as part of its fleet replacement and enhancement strategy, the airline had procured two ATR72-600, new generation turbo-propellers and an Embraer E170 jet, adding that the process to secure a second E170 was currently underway and was expected to be completed in June.

On another matter, the minister said during the current financial year, CTO had accredited 235 private garages and 48 dealerships.

However, she said 59 private garages had since been delisted due to various non-compliance to the accreditation standard and the service level agreement.

Further, she said the exercise of engaging the private sector in the provision of fuel to government vehicles through private service stations was being handled through PEEPA. She said consultations had been held in Selebi Phikwe, Francistown, Maun, Ghanzi, Kang and Gaborone.Ends