22 Aug 2019

Ministry of Transport and Communications is reportedly facing a number of challenges that hamper efforts to deliver to expectations.

The minister, Ms Dorcas Makgato told a kgotla meeting in Motopi recently that her ministry was marred by issues of corruption, particularly in the department of roads, hence the delay in implementing some of the planned road projects.

She observed that they had experienced some irregularities in tendering processes, where some officers connived with some consultants and some contractors to rip the government off.

She said some officers influenced companies, which did not win tenders, to protest and lodge complaints with the courts, leading to most planned road projects not being implemented on time. She stated that some of the issues were under investigation, while some were before the courts.

Ms Makgato told residents that efforts were being made to deal with corruption and push the development agenda, adding that the culprits within the department would be dealt with.

The ministry, she said had been given the mandate to facilitate the economy and thus should operate under a clean environment.

She said they had been in discussions with Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) to see if they could reinforce the law to ensure some ‘play under protest just like in sports. We want projects to continue even if there are some contractors protesting tenders to avoid project delays’. Projects delivered on time, she said would not only improve service delivery, but would ultimately cut costs.

Ms Makgato said other challenges which hampered their efforts included costs overruns as some project failed to kickstart on time and the scope of the project ended up changing.

She noted that when some roads were handed over to department of roads from Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), there were no additional resources attached.

Going forward, she said her ministry was working with the MLGRD on possible sharing of resources. Ms Makgato said since her ministry had the budget, they would discuss if they could fund the local authority to maintain machinery and implement some of the road projects.

She also revealed that she had recommended that the ministry be divided to be more effective. 

The ministry, she said was broad and that the government could establish a road authority, which would solely focus on road construction and maintenance, while the ministry focused on e-infrastructure development.

Ms Makgato also told residents that the ministry was connecting the country through transport, air services, roads, telecommunications, railways and postal services.

Earlier on, Kgosi Balekanye Kenewendo had complained about the delay in completion of  the Maun/Francistown road reconstruction and the access road from Maun/Francistown road to Motlopi.

It was reported that the 600-metres access road remained during the resurfacing project. 

With regard to Maun/Francistown road, he said they were informed that construction was to start beginning of the year, but expressed concern that the contractor might end up attracting costs overruns.

Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Joris Kehatlhilwe complained about lack of road signs and pedestrian crossings in the village. 

He also called on the relevant authority to increase bus stops and speed humps as well as the improvement of Botswana Postal Services, noting that Maun post office in main mall was overwhelmed by payments of Ipelegeng workers, VDCs locally and those from surrounding villages.

Mr Kehatlhilwe further called for a new post office in Motlopi to also cater for people from surrounding villages such as Moreomaoto, Kumaga and Makalamabedi.

In response, Roads Department chief technical officer, Mr Unabatsho Matenge explained that the contractor was on site on the Maun/Francistown road, which was overseen by the roads department in the North West. 

 

He added that the access road to Motlopi was included in the Makalamabedi/Phuduhudu Asphalt overlay project ,which forms part of the A3 highway. ENDS