25 Mar 2021

 Despite the financial challenges induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo says his ministry is committed to improving the country’s road network.

Mr Segokgo expressed these sentiments when tabling his ministry’s budget estimates for the 2021-22 financial year, which was approved by Parliament on Wednesday.

The ministry was allocated approximately P1.8 billion for the recurrent budget and a further P1.8 billion for the development budget for the coming financial year.

Road infrastructure at P1.3 billion was apportioned the largest development budget, including the upgrade of three roundabouts, traffic signal modernisation and centralised traffic control project being undertaken in Greater Gaborone. The Mmandunyane-Mathangwane and Motopi-Makalamabedi roads as well as Mohembo bridge among others.

Over P300 million for ICT infrastructure and P49 million for civil aviation infrastructure projects had the second and third largest share of the development fund.

Mr Segokgo said his ministry would have to do more with less, including in addressing the condition of the country’s roads.

“My ministry is alive to the fact that most of our road network is not in good condition, mainly due to the rains that are being experienced around the country. However we aim to do more on maintaining the existing and damaged road network with the budget we have been apportioned,” Mr Segokgo said.

He said over the past financial year his ministry had planned to develop 2 310 km of roads at a cost of over P1 billion, but that due to financial constraints 1 153 km of the planned roads had been deferred with 583 km now due to be constructed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

Mr Segokgo said the country had a number of policy initiatives to drive the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and contribute to economic diversification. He named the Maitlamo policy.

He noted that the national ICT policy included several pillars among them e-government, and those covering business, agriculture, education, community access and development as well as tourism. Mr Segokgo said his ministry would work with relevant ministries covering the different portfolios to ensure their success.

He said they had rolled out community ICT access through the Kitsong Centre projects, but that the performance had been mixed with youth operated centres doing well and less success for those run by Village Development Committees (VDCs).

As MPs debated the ministry’s budget vote, Minister of Basic Education and Shashe West MP, Mr Fidelis Molao said his constituency needed the construction of the Mandunyane-Mathangwane road to be implemented as it would link many villages.

He said with the completion of the Kazungula Bridge, it would assist with the road link for commercial trucks to utilise and reduce the burden on the Francistown road.

He also said it was important for the A1 road to be opened up into a dual carriageway as intended through the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan (ERTP). He called for the A3 road from Francistown to Nata to also be speedily constructed.

Sefhare/Ramokgonami MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang commended government for the completion of the Mahalapye-Machaneng and Dibete-Machaneng roads, and said similar attention needed to be given to the upgrading of the road from Ngwata to Mokobeng and Chadibe as well as from Radisele to Pilikwe.He also called for smaller roads that were between 10 and 15 kilometres to be paved such as the one linking Chadibe, Borotsi and Matlhako in his constituency. ends