13 Jun 2022

Government is working towards transforming Botswana’s transport system into one of the best in the region.

This will not only ease movement and reduce accidents, but will also encourage economic development, social cohesion, inclusion as well as ameliorate problems caused by traffic congestion as well as loss of productivity and air pollution.

Two deputy secretaries in the Ministry of Transport and Public Works said this at a recent consultative workshop on the Draft National Multi-modal Transport Master Plan and the Greater Gaborone Transport Master Plan. Said Deputy Permanent Secretary, Transport, Mr Isaac Moepeng;

“It is for this reason that we have invested resources to develop an evidence-based, demand-driven national transport master plan.” With specific reference to Greater Gaborone Transport Master Plan, he said it was designed to ease traffic in the city.

In fact, government’s renewed commitment to the prosperity of the nation through the RE-SET agenda called for efficiency, inclusiveness and beneficiation across all sectors, hence the push to overhaul the transport system, which is central to the country’s prosperity, said Dr Obolokile Obakeng, deputy permanent secretary for project management.

“These evidence-based demand-driven transport master plans are meant to facilitate the development of a sustainable transport system going into the future, while at the same time meeting the needs of a modern economy,” he said.

The two master plans will serve as strategic frameworks for the development and management of a sustainable transport system, he said.

Dr Obakeng said in developing the two documents, the ministry consulted with only key production sectors, hence the need to consult other stakeholders.

The World Bank funded the development of the two plans while Canadian firm, CPCS Transcom Limited facilitated the process. ENDS