28 Apr 2021

Chobe MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni has commended all stakeholders in the district for their efforts in the COVID-19 fight.

Speaking in a consultative meeting with heads of departments (HODs) on Monday, Mr Shamukuni said the geographical location of the district  made it easy for it to become the epicentre of the disease, but that through the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, it managed to keep COVID-19 numbers low.

 He said the purpose of the meeting was for him to appreciate progress of developments in the district and to share with HODs any issues that needed to be communicated with residents.

The MP urged HODs to closely monitor projects in order to ensure that they were delivered on time and within cost.

On the Kasane/Kazungula re-development project, he called on public servants to find ways of ensuring that residents relocated from Kgaphamadi.

Kgaphamadi is a low income high density area and Mr Shamukuni said residents should be empowered to get new livelihoods at Nyungwe.

Briefing the MP, principal district officer, development, Ms Nobuhle Mbusi said the evaluation and award of tenders for geo-tech investigations, design of sewer line and irrigation system were complete, and that the council received a preliminary report of the investigations and was awaiting an approved report from Botswana GeoScience Institute.

She said the works were planned to take 60 days, after which structural drawings would be prepared and invitation to tender documents for construction floated.

Ms Mbusi informed the meeting that the engineering design project for the new Kasane hospital re-commenced following delays due to challenges with the layout.

She further noted that the ministerial tender committee approved the award of contracts to prepare building designs for new offices for various government offices that were being relocated by the Kasane/Kazungula redevelopment project. She noted that they were segregated into eight packages at different sums with all contracts signing expected to be completed by May 2021.

She said the district council’s workshop, Department of Veterinary Services, Department of Finance and Procurement and Department of Forestry and Range Resources were awarded P1.3 million. 

Ms Mbusi said the relocation of the Central Transport Organisation workshop in Kasane was awarded P3.2 million while institutional housing in Kasane was awarded P7 million.

She said the new Botswana Prisons Services facilities in Pandamatenga were awarded P1.9 million, new regional education centre in Kazungula P2.3 million, Chobe Brigade in Kasane P3.2 million, new government enclave P2.8 million and the relocation of the Department of Facilities and Management in Kasane P736 000.

Ms Mbusi said procurement of engineering services for the design of infrastructure services in Kasane and Kazungula was at tender vetting stage and that the tender was expected to float in May.

For his part, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) general manager, Mr John Frouse decried the water bill arrears for Chobe. He said they had increased from P8 million prior to the state of emergency to P14 million. He said the public was not paying their water bills. 

He, however, said they had come up with a strategy to encourage clients to pay by reducing water pressure for those in arrears.

He said the strategy would not frustrate COVID-19 protocols of washing hands regularly, but would disadvantage defaulting users from using water for other purposes.

Council chairperson, Mr Amos Mabuku pleaded with various departments to always take councillors on board in terms of planned developments, saying it would be amiss for councillors to observe and not be part of developments in their district.

Cllr Mabuku thanked the Chobe DHMT for the successful administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to those aged 75 years and above, health workers and other frontline workers. Ends