09 Feb 2020

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Dr Douglas Letsholathebe has confirmed that his ministry entered into a five-year lease agreement for office rental in Gaborone’s Central Business District (CBD).

He told Parliament that the agreement commenced on September 1, 2018 and the delay to move to the said building was due to the fact that the building was acquired as a shell and required space customisation to partition it to the ministry’s requirements.

Dr Letsholathebe explained that for that reason his ministry could not occupy the building straight away, adding that the design for customisation was completed and approved by the Gaborone City Council on February 22, 2019.

“Subsequent to the approval, there was a dispute between the designer and the contractor regarding payment terms. 

The construction commenced on May 2, 2019 after the dispute between the designer and contractor was resolved. 

Completion of construction was scheduled for June 28, 2019 following which my ministry would immediately occupy the building,” he said.

Furthermore, he explained that what also led to the delay was that during construction, another dispute arose between the contractor and the ministry regarding customisation specifications.

Dr Letsholathebe also highlighted that the first quarterly rental was expected on September 1, 2018, and his ministry honoured its obligation by paying the rental on the date. 

He added that monthly rentals of P665, 397.60 continued to be paid on a quarterly basis in terms of the lease agreement.

“My ministry realises the need to account for public funds and has already sought intervention from the Attorney General and Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing in addressing the construction disputes with the contractor. 

To this end, the contractor has since indicated that the remaining works will be concluded in three months for immediate occupation by my ministry,” he said.

In addition, he told the house that the ministry was established in October 2016, following the re-organisation of government ministries. 

Its headquarters is housed on the third floor of the former Ministry of Education and Skills Development building, commonly known as Block 6, sharing with the Ministry of Basic Education, Department of Mines and that of Information Technology.

He said due to inadequate office accommodation for the ministry staff in the current location, they saw it fit to find alternative office accommodation.

Dr Letsholathebe was answering a question from MP for Tonota, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, who had asked the minister to confirm whether his ministry entered into a lease agreement with a certain landlord at Central Business District to occupy some premises in September 2018.

The minister was also to state what delayed them to move to the said building and whether indeed monthly rentals had continued to be paid and if so, how much?

MP Moatlhodi also wanted the minister to state if he did not consider such to be wastage of public funds and further explain when they intended to address the problem. ENDS