09 Feb 2023

- Government is yet to appoint a development manager who will oversee procurement of consultants, contractors and sub-contractors needed for execution of the identified projects in line with the Public Procurement Act.

Answering a parliamentary question on Wednesday, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale said an Expression of Interest had been floating since December 28 and was scheduled to close on February 17.

He explained that the appointment of the development manager followed recent approval of the use of the Development Manager Model as one of the methods to use in project delivery.

On the percentage of the total cost of the Transitional National Development Plan and monetary value, Minister Molale said the development manager cost would ultimately be dependent on the extent of the project portfolio and pipeline, adding, ‘it is premature to allot percentage cost of plan to the development manager’.

On other issues, the minister said he would not preempt the procurement process where the company appointed was foreign.

“In this case the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, the Economic Inclusion Act will be fully applied including local preferences.

If the development manager is foreign, he will develop skills locally such that the requisite expertise is developed locally,” he said.

He told Parliament that government had not lost confidence in the capacity of citizen consultants to assist implementation of projects.

“The use of the development manager is mainly to cushion government from the financial risks associated with project implementation and delivery,” he explained.

Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/Mabutsane, Mr Mephato Reatile had wanted to know if government had implemented a portfolio of projects under the Transitional National Development Plan and if it had also identified or appointed a development manager. ENDS