03 Nov 2022

Kweneng District Council (KDC) has commissioned construction of two primary schools in Kumakwane and Mogoditshane to decongest schools that are already over populated owing to urban sprawl. 

The two primary schools, which are part of the 12 schools that will be built across the entire country during NDP 11, will each have 22 classrooms and 24 houses for teachers’ accommodation. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony at both Kumakwane and Mogoditshane on Tuesday, local government and rural development assistant minister Mr Sethabelo Modukanele applauded Kweneng District Councillors for prioritising the construction of new schools in Mogoditshane and Kumakwane alongside other national priorities through the Economic Revitalisation and Transformation Plan (ERTP). 

Mr Modukanele said in light of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy, government took a bold decision to come up with ERTP, whereby it would develop and support restoration of economic activity, as well as accelerate economic transformation. 

He said government was continued to work around building resilience of the economy, hence its decision to build the schools. 

The assistant minister said while the 2022 Population and Housing Census saw a decline in the share of the national population for some of the urban areas, those that are proximate to the city of Gaborone rgistered an increase. 

Kweneng East, for example grew by 14.1 per cent. 

Further, he said, the same census report has pronounced Mogoditshane as the largest village in Botswana with an estimated population of over 88 000 people. 

The ever-increasing population of Mogoditshane and its catchment areas necessitated the construction of more educational facilities, he said. 

“Even with this number that has been approved for construction, we remain with more demands for new schools,” he said. 

MP for Thamaga/Kumakwane Mr Palelo Motaosane thanked KDC for its decision to build a new school in Kumakwane. 

He said there was only one primary school in the village although it was experiencing an influx of people from the city. 

He called on the contractors to abide by their contractual obligations and complete the project within allocated time and budget. 

MP for Gabane/Mmankgodi Mr Kagiso Mmusi also expressed happiness for the construction of a new school in Diagane area. 

He said the school would reduce the distance previously travelled by learners and cut transport costs for families. 

KDC chairperson Mr Motlhopi Leo said the plan to build the schools dated back to 2018 after Kweneng District Council received a request from the ministry to determine which areas needed additional schools. 

He said the district council took a decision after consulting relevant structures to build seven fully fledged schools in Kumakwane, two primary schools in Mogoditshane Block 9 and Tsolamosese; two schools in Molepolole at Legononong and Lekgwapheng areas as well as in Kopong and Thamaga villages. 

He explained that the ministry approved construction of the two schools in the financial year 2021-2022. 

However, he said, commissioning could not start as following approval of funds, some of the bidders took the council to court, resulting in a 12-month delay. The court ruled in favour of the council, hence the commissioning of the projects, he explained. 

Mr Leo appealed to contractors of the two schools to complete the projects on time and within budget. Both schools are due for completion by June 2024. 

The contractors have also pledged to construct the schools on stipulated timelines and within budget. 

Speaking for one of the contractors, Mr Baboloki Tumedi of Banco Enterprises promised they would keep to stipulated timelines and budget. 

He also pledged support to local businesses by sourcing material from them. He also promised that they would hire labourers from the local community. 

Only citizen-owned companies have been awarded the tenders. 

The Mogoditshane school tender for construction works, totalling over P69 million has been awarded to Banco Enterprises while electrical wiring and reticulation component has been given to to A-Villa Engineering (Pty) Ltd at over P8 million. 

In Kumakwane, Ossy & Sons Investments (Pty) Ltd have been given the over P70 million tender for construction works, while Tswana Passion (Pty) Ltd will do the electrical works at a cost of over P7 million. ends