02 Dec 2020

Gaborone City Council (GCC) in 2016 invited companies to submit proposals for participation as partners in the development, operation, maintenance and management of 20 selected public open spaces, including Tsholofelo Park.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele, told Parliament that the invited companies were 100 per cent citizen owned or 100 per cent citizen joint ventures.

He said expression of interest was open and advertised in the Government Gazette to solicit interest from potential bidders in the management of the park.

Mr Modukanele explained that the Extension 27 community was not consulted while authority for the management of the park by the private sector was granted by full council.

“I am aware of a proposal that was submitted to Gaborone City Council before the management of the park was privatized, but it was not considered as it was an unsolicited bid,” said Mr Modukanele.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister to state the procurement process followed in the privatization of Tsholofelo Community Park.

Mr Mmolotsi also wanted to know if the community of Extension 27 was consulted, and if so, to clearly state the dates, venue and how the consultation was done.

He had asked if other interested parties were also given a chance to compete for the management of the park and whether the council was aware of any proposal that was submitted before the park was privatized and why such proposal was turned down. ENDS