23 Mar 2022

Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga has called for the establishment of a dedicated national road agency to provide direction in construction and maintenance of road infrastructure in Botswana.

Debating the 2022/23 financial year budget proposal for the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Tuesday, Mr Majaga said it would be difficult for government to effectively develop the road infrastructure without such organisation.

He pointed that other countries had such agencies.

“We will only succeed if we can have an agency responsible for roads in this country.

Other countries have that strategy, with an agency responsible for developing roads, toll gates and public private partnerships for road infrastructure,” he said.

The legislator decried the state of Francistown-Nata-Maun highway, saying it required urgent attention.  

Okavango MP, Mr Kenny Kapinga urged government to treat reconstruction of the Sehithwa-Shakawe highway as an ‘emergency’.

“Government should take a decision that this road requires urgent funding because the importance of this road to the region cannot be over emphasised,” Mr Kapinga said.

He added that roads in the Okavango constituency were generally in a deplorable state.

He asked that the Mohembo-Gudigwa road in eastern Okavango be tarred.

For his part, Mmathethe/Molapowabojang MP, Dr Edwin Dikoloti asked for improvements to network connectivity in his constituency.

He also asked for the dualling of A1 highway from Boatle up to the Ramatlabama border post, and tarring of the Kgoro-Gathwane road. He also said the states of Selokolela-Lerolwane,

Jwaneng-Maokane and Lorwan-Molapowabojang roads should be improved.

Dr Dikoloti also said the Kanye-Mmathethe highway was full of potholes and needed to be improved.

Letlhakeng/Lephepe MP, Mr Liakat Kablay thanked the ministry for maintenance of Boatlaname-Sojwe-Lephepe road in his constituency.

Mr Kablay, however, requested for frequent grading of roads in Moshaweng, Malwelwe, Ngware, Botlhapatlou, Monwane and Leologane. He said roads were so bad that they damaged vehicles.

He also requested for the tarring of Matlagatsi-Mantshwabisi road.

In response, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Thulagano Segokgo assured legislators that the ministry was committed to improving the state of road infrastructure around the country.

Consequently, MPs thumbed up the requested budget, comprising P1 815 365 850 for recurrent expenditure and P1 872 472 000 for development expenditure. ENDS