04 Nov 2013

Government continues to tackle challenges besetting the construction sector.

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama said this when delivering the State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, November 5.

President Khama said the quality audit teams put in place to scrutinise claims had had substantial positive effect. He said audits carried out from December 2010 to March 2013 uncovered 62 717 minor and major defects, with an average of 532 defects per inspection.

“It is estimated that the first year of inspections saved government over P100 million, covering time saved, material and personnel to make good these defects. We continue to achieve substantial savings through this exercise,” he said.

The President noted that between April and September 2013, inspections had uncovered an additional 1 721 defects in 30 projects, demonstrating the need for continued monitoring as well as a general improvement in compliance.

To further root out corruption, while improving on the delivery of public infrastructure projects, President Khama said government intended to create a new department to focus on project planning and coordination in addition to the already established Project Management Office.

He further stated that following consultations with the private sector, as well as within government, an autonomous agency to oversee project implementation was to be established.

President Khama noted that further interventions had included new and amended legislation for construction industry professions, such as Architects, Engineers and Quantity Surveyors to facilitate self-regulation and protect public interest.  

He also said government continued to engage youth enterprises in maintenance and rehabilitation of facilities.

The President also said since April 1, 2013, 26 Youth owned construction companies, as well as 26 individuals were thus engaged in facility rehabilitation projects to the value of nearly P 22 million, out of the P51.4 million set aside representing 15 per cent of the maintenance funds this financial year.

He noted that the private sector engaged four youth owned companies in projects worth over P 7 million and this has generated employment for 417 people while the total spent on these programmes since 2009 amounts to P93.7 million. ENDS