09 Dec 2020

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo has said a number of projects earmarked for the Kweneng District cannot be undertaken due to budgetary constraints.

Responding to questions from the Kweneng District councillors during a council meeting in Molepolole on Tuesday, Minister Segokgo said government was only able to undertake sustainable developments, that would generate additional revenue, such as the Mohembo bridge project.

Amongst the projects requested by councillors were the Thamaga-Molepolole road, Molepolole-Gaborone dual carriage way, Lentsweletau-Molepolole, Lentsweletau-Hatsalatladi and Letlhakeng-Khutse roads.

The minister said the Molepolole-Gaborone road design had been completed and only funding delayed the tender award and the commencement of the project.

He however said the Molepolole by-pass and the Lentsweletau-Molepolole roads had not been included in the National Development Plan 11 (NDP 11).

Further, Mr Segokgo said investigations by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services over the Mogoditshane-Mmankgodi road project tender had also caused delays.

He said the development of the Letlhakeng-Khutse road to bitumen standard, as promised by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi during the run-up to the 2019 elections, still stands.

The minister further said the 10-kilometre road to Mmokolodi had been affected as funds were diverted to the flyover at Kgale, which was not in the initial plan.

For her part, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Alicia Mokone said Thamaga-Molepolole road had also been affected by court cases over tenders. She said the court processes took long, resulting in further damage to the road, leading to the need to change the scope of the project.

She further said funds for the A12 Road, Molepolole-Gaborone road, had not yet been secured, adding they still had to compensate 123 people affected by the project.

Kweneng District councillors had earlier called upon the minister to undertake various road infrastructure developments in the district, saying some like the Kopong-Bokaa and Kgope-Rasesa provided alternative routes, while the Letlhakeng-Khutse road passed through several villages and also played a vital role in the promotion of tourism.

They said government had long promised them a dual A12 road and further suggested for the funds to instead be used to undertake road infrastructure developments within Molepolole. Ends