28 Feb 2021

The Okavango sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Mpoke Karapo says the recent downpours have exacerbated the bad state of the 37-kilometre Nokaneng-Gumare road.

Addressing a council meeting recently, Mr Karapo said the road had been in a bad state for a long time, hence in November 2019, an Asphalt Overlay project tender was awarded to Evergreen Contractors (Pty) Ltd at the sum of P53.5m.

He said the 12-month project, which commenced in November 2019, had an expected completion date of October 2020, and was currently running outside the contract period by three months.

He said the project progress as at end of January 2021 was  49 per cent.

“The project is more than five months behind schedule and the extension of time is to be considered in this regard to validate the reason behind delay for further contractual action,” he said.

On a related matter, the chairperson noted that the maintenance of internal roads through council, had an allocation of P1.5m for maintenance of two projects, being spot improvement of Gumare internal roads and hauling and processing of gravel at Gunotsoga.

“Tenders for these projects have been awarded,” he said.

Mr Karapo further noted that dry and wet grading of Shakawe, Mohembo West, Tubu, Gumare, Etsha 1 to 13, Ikoga and Sepopa internal roads was successfully completed.

However, he said the quality of gravel material in the district was found to be fragile hence frequent maintenance was required.

As for the 148 km Gumare-Mohembo road, Mr Karapo said it was in a bad state as it had long exceeded its life span. 

He said an in-house team had been engaged to maintain the section during the months of November 2020 to January 2021, but due to recent heavy rains, all the team’s efforts were in vain.

On another note, he said tendering for the 340km dry grading and spot improvement of Mohembo-Gudigwa, Qurube-Nxaunxau and Qangwa-Dobe-Xaixai roads was at evaluation stage.

Under constituency community projects programme (CPP) 2017/2018 financial year, the council chairperson said a total of 56 out of 60 projects were completed, while the remaining four were ongoing at various completion stages.

Similarly, for the 2018/2019 financial year, he said 46 out of 62 projects were completed, 13 ongoing also at various completion stages, while the remaining three had not started.

“Projects under 2019/2020 financial year, 14 out of 46 projects are complete. For the 2020/2021, a total of 75 projects would be implemented by different departments and handing over of sites to artisans is ongoing and expected to be completed by end of February 2021,” said Mr Karapo. Ends