08 Mar 2020

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo says a decision has been taken to upgrade the Tutume-Goshwe road using block paving instead of bitumen.

Answering a question from Member of Parliament for Nkange, Dr Never Tshabang, the minister said government currently had no plan to upgrade the Tutume - Goshwe road into bitumen standard.

Mr Segokgo said a decision to upgrade the road had been delayed because procurement for paving blocks was delayed due to the introduction of the integrated Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB).

He further clarified that when the invitation to tenders (ITT) was submitted to the Ministerial Tender Committee for vetting, the procuring entity had been asked to use the new system instead.

He however noted that during the capturing of bill of quantities in the IMS, it had been discovered that some of the measurement units necessary for the tender had not been created in the system.

After a short period, the minister clarified that the procuring Entity (PE) had decided to submit the manual ITT but was again stopped when the IPMS corrections were complete.

Minister Segokgo said the vetting was completed noting that the tender floated in the IPMS.

He further said the evaluation was completed in December and the Ministerial Tender Committee (MTC) considered the submission in January.

According to the minister, there were clarifications required and these were submitted and the MTC would consider the submission for adjudication at its next sitting.

He further said that construction was expected to start in April.

The Nkange legislator, Dr Tshabang had asked the minister to update Parliament on when government would upgrade the Tutume-Goshwe road to bitumen standard and what caused the delay. ENDS