31 Oct 2013

Government is pursuing options of overcoming challenges of poorly managed construction projects, says Mr Dikagiso Mokotedi, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology.

Speaking at the Number One Builder Awards by PPC Botswana on October 30, Mr Mokotedi said the poorly managed construction projects were mainly the public infrastructure.

He said government needed help from the private sector, particularly the construction industry, to overcome the challenges of poorly managed construction projects.

Mr Mokotedi, who was speaking on behalf of Minister Jonnie Swartz, thanked PPC for having intervened at the right time. He commended the company for having pursued search for the betterment of the industry over the years.

He called upon other private companies in the construction industry to join hands with government, as PPC did, for the betterment of the construction industry.

He said the annual ceremony would provide all partners with an opportunity to celebrate the successes of those that accepted the call for excellence.

He said the celebration would crown the winners of this year’s PPC Botswana Number One Builder competitions and also reflect on the future and the fast changing face of the construction industry.

He said competition was high, hostile takeovers were prevalent and it was difficult for small construction firms to stay afloat. The only thing that could ensure the space of both big and small players in the hostile environment is excellence.

Mr Mokotedi said PPC’s idea of leading the way in branding excellence in the construction industry was good move in the right direction because it would facilitate easy reference when the best were being sought to build the country and if they were local companies, they will be able to permeate the global arena in this field and be ambassadors that Botswana could be proud of.

He said there was need for a concerted effort from all to ensure that bad elements were eliminated from Botswana’s construction industry.

This year’s PPC Botswana’s Number One Builder Awards in the civil engineering category went to Murray and Roberts for the construction of the I towers in the Central Business Development and won a Toyota Hilux double cab, one tonne of PPC cement and a PPC hamper.

In the building category, the prize went to Wharic Construction for the perfect build of the Ismail residence and got seven-tonne truck, one tonne PPC cement and PPC hamper. ENDS