11 Nov 2020

Kweneng District Council (KDC) Chairperson, Mr Motlhophi Leo, has expressed concern about some council procurement processes that impact negatively on service delivery. 

Speaking during a breakfast meeting with members of the Molepolole business community on November 10, Mr Leo expressed disappointment over delays caused by some service providers who contend awarding of tenders for projects. 

He decried the situation where appeals against awarding of tenders continued to haunt the council, thereby negatively impacting on timely delivery of projects, budget and price escalations.

He challenged the Kweneneg district business community to provide quality services and products. 

“I promise to do all in my power to ensure ease of doing business with our local business community, to help in minimising hurdles to business operations,” he said. 

Kweneng district commissioner, Ms Bernice Berman-Mosime challenged members of the business community to strengthen business platforms to help in creating wealth through employment opportunities. 

She called on local businesses to improve their operations to avoid being in conflict with the law and ensure compliance to set COVID-19 regulations. 

Meanwhile, Molepolole Business Council chairperson, Ms Priscila Sibisibi called on government to come up with strategic ways of supporting small businesses to enable them to grow and contribute to the district economy.

“Let us jealously guard against considering the awarding of tenders to outsiders, leaving local businesses on the lurch, while at the same time they are expected to give back to communities within which they operate,” advised Ms Sibisibi.  

She called on officers to develop a database of the local business community, for Business Botswana to access and monitor, which she said would help them monitor and provide guidance, where possible. 

She further emphasised the need to capacitate local businesses to enable them to understand what is required of them and reduce complaints.

Kweneng district deputy council secretary for operations, Mr Eric Puskas assured the Molepolole business community that Kweneng District Vestures was not their competitor, but a company established to generate income for KDC through investment.    

The Molepolole/Lentsweletau Administrative Authority assistant council secretary, Mr Douglas Sesimanyana said the workshop was aimed at getting feedback on services rendered by the business community and to map a way forward on how things could be improved. 

 Giving a vote of thanks, Letlhakeng Sub-district council chairperson, Mr Meshack Tshenyego said although he was of the view that local companies needed to benefit from major projects, it was important for them to desist from delivering poor service.

He said the government was concerned about the conduct of some local companies, which delay paying their employees, thus impacting on timely delivery of projects. Ends