08 Nov 2020

The long-awaited Tutume Sub-district Independent Electoral Commission regional office has been opened after three years of delay.

Officiating at the handing over of the office in Tutume on November 5, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Mmusi Kgafela, said it was disappointing that a project scheduled to take seven months had taken longer to complete.

He highlighted that the project started on March 2017 and was to be handed over in October of the same year.

He said the delay in completion forced his ministry to take charge of the financial management of the contract by purchasing material so that there could be progress.

Minister Kgafela reiterated government’s commitment to citizen empowerment, adding that it was for that reason that when local companies failed to deliver as agreed, the ministry often came on board to assist and ensure completion of the project.

He, however, emphasised that it was imperative that contractors adhered to the condition of agreements rather than relax.

In the past, he noted that many projects of high magnitude had been given to foreign companies and government did not want go to back to that route, but wished citizens could double their efforts.

In addition, the minister stated that despite the long time taken to deliver the over P1 million project, there were no cost overruns and it was completed with less amount.

Receiving the completed project on behalf of IEC, Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Dumezweni Mthimkhulu said the office would address office accommodation challenges, which had been a concern in the area.

Mr Mthimkhulu said across the country many departments faced office accommodation challenges and the government was working hard on taking services to the people.

He commended IEC staff for having worked in the old porta cabin for years and continued to serve the nation well.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Nkange Dr Never Tshabang appreciated efforts made by the ministry to push for the completion of the office.

Dr Tshabang said that was a welcome development in constituencies of Nkange and Nata/Gweta, which would benefit from the services.  

He however urged government to tighten screws for project implementers who failed to deliver on their jobs. ENDS