16 Jun 2022

 Announcement that the 25 kilometres of internal roads in Mogoditshane is finally being planned for is not only a welcome gesture to Kweneng District Council but it is a milestone towards achieving a township status thanks to President Masisi’s Economic Reforms and Transformation Programme (ERTP).

Through the programme, government intends to improve transport links in the country and Mogoditshane and Tlokweng were some of the villages earmarked for such.

Council chairperson Mr Motlhophi Leo briefed councillors during the second session of the ordinary full council on Monday on the latest development and noted that the over P27 million tender had been awarded to a local company Pula/Lesedi Consulting Engineers Joint Venture.

The tender entails detailed design, pre-contract, construction supervision and post-contract services for the project.

On Wednesday the consultants were handed the site accompanied by Kweneng District Council civil and mechanical engineers as well as Mogoditshane/Thamaga sub-council leadership.

In an interview on Tuesday, KDC Chief civil and mechanical engineering officer Mr Gaborone Phiri said the scope of the project entailed 25 kilometres of tarred roads, associated storm water drainage and street lighting.

 He further said the duration of the project was divided into three stages. The design stage will take approximately seven months while supervision of the project will take 30 months and 12 months of defect and liability process to conclude the project.

He also explained that Mogoditshane was considered for this project solely to decongest the A12 road (Gaborone-Molepolole) to ease traffic flow considering that currently most of the internal roads were earth or un-engineered roads.

Mr Phiri said the envisaged 25km of these roads would be spread across Mogoditshane.

“When considering this project, we were mindful of the aspect of revamping the economy, especially the Mogoditshane industrial site. We wanted to upgrade those roads so that industries can be energised,” he said.

He nevertheless clarified that KDC was not doing this project in isolation, but that other government institution and the private sector were involved. 

He said they had consulted both tribal and political leadership of Mogoditshane as well as other stakeholders such as the land board and were yet to consult the community.

Since these anticipated roads would be constructed in a build-up area, he said, there would be need to consult residents after the design process was completed to know the extent of land expropriation that needed to be carried out.

He added that once the design was complete, it would then be approved by the council within a seven-month period after which the council would engage the contractor for phase two of the project which was envisioned to start next year.

Some of the roads envisaged to be constructed are Nkoyaphiri industrial, Mogoditshane Sefalana roads including Lesirane clinic loop and Tsolamosese as well as parts of Ledumadumane.

For his part, Mogoditshane sub-council deputy chairperson Mr Bakang Matlho was delighted that finally, the project was about to start.

 He said since Mogoditshane experienced rapid growth in the past, internal roads needed to be upgraded and the project would aid the whole process of Mogoditshane acquiring township status.

 “The project will also change the landscape and the look of the village,” he added.

He further commended the President for this initiative saying once complete the project would help attract people to invest in Mogoditshane.

Meanwhile, during the handing over of the site to the consultants, Mr Brooklyn Masutha, a resident of Tsolamosese had rushed to the site to witness for himself the start of a milestone project that would impact on their lives.

He said since Tsolamosese area was adjacent to the city, there was an influx of people seeking accommodation there, and it was proper that smaller roads linking residential areas with public institutions such as schools, clinics and police offices be developed for easy access.

“Everybody is staying here, we want a proper sewerage system alongside proper roads,” he said expressing how dire the situation was and how badly they needed infrastructural development in the area. ENDS