14 Oct 2019

 Government is in the process of building a professional, credible and responsible construction sector that will have a positive impact on the economy.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Vincent Seretse, said this at a Construction Youth Pitso in Palapye recently.

Minister Seretse said ‘youth are the future of this country and those in the construction sector should play a meaningful role in the development of this country.’

He said the ministry held the pitso to capacitate youth in the construction industry so as to sharpen their skills.

He said a great number of youth construction companies had taken part in the industry and while some had done so in a satisfactory manner, others had not done well due to some circumstances.

In addition, he said this was due to lack of understanding of complying with legislation governing professionals in the construction industry.

This, he said, led to cost over runs, delay in completion of projects and poor quality works. Such problems had remained a challenge to the ministry and the government, he added.

Minister Seretse said following that, strict contractual measures were put in place such as levying penalties to deal with defaulters, adding that in some cases contractors were forced to redo their work at their own costs while some project contracts were terminated.

He also called on youth contractors to avoid corrupt practices and abide by the law.

Furthermore, the minister said in order to avert that problem, ‘the ministry holds construction pitso events to capacitate contractors and build a professional, credible and responsible construction sector.’

The pitso, he said, aimed at educating young entrepreneurs about the legislation and guiding professionals in the construction sector.

He stated that previous meetings, covered company directors registered in the ministry, but this time around invitation was extended to individuals with vocational skills, students from vocational colleges and brigades studying construction related subjects to prepare them for the future.

It also targeted students preparing to graduate from BIUST and vocational colleges intending to enter the construction industry as professionals.

Minister Seretse stated that besides youth contractors playing a role in the development and economy of the country, his ministry and government in general inspired youth in the construction industry to export their skills.

He said this would be another way of developing Botswana because earned income would in turn bring money back to Botswana.

For his part, the ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Dikagiso Mokotedi called on youth to engage meaningfully in the meeting to empower themselves with legislation and the industry’s needed requirements. ENDS