03 Dec 2020

Mmopane Primary School, constructed through a Chinese government grant, will be ready for enrolment in January next year.

The project was a result of good diplomatic ties between Botswana and China.

Briefing councillors during a tour of the school on December 1, Kweneng District Council deputy council secretary, Mr Eric Puskas, said the two countries had been enjoying mutual beneficial cooperation for many years.

Mr Puskas said the fully-fledged primary school with 22 classrooms and 24 teachers’ houses was built at a tune of P120 million.

He indicated that the project also consisted of a kitchen, dining hall, computer library and administration block which would all be fitted.

Again, he said major works at the site had been completed and the school head had been identified.

He said the school, which was started in 2018 would enroll its first learners in the first term in 2021, adding that other preparatory assignments were underway to ensure that the school was ready when schools opened next year.

Furthermore, Mr Puskas said during construction, the council provided technical support in line with government’s education policies, adding and as part of the grant agreement, the council also provided amenities such as water and electricity for the project.

He added about 80 per cent of unskilled workforce was from the Kweneng district, which was done deliberately to benefit the local community.

Meanwhile, Kweneng District councillors also visited Gabane internal roads infrastructure project, which comprises tarring of the 21 kilometers Gabane roads, stormwater drainage and street lights.

At the site, Mr Puskas told councilors that the P240 million project started in 2017 under Economic Stimulus Package and was nearing completion.

He added that the project had encountered delays as a result of relocation of households and amenities as well as the national lockdown.

At the project, some councillors expressed misgivings about the contractor’s lack of corporate social responsibility initiatives and they encouraged him to do more for the community. Ends