28 Oct 2023

Kgalagadi South MP, Mr Samuel Brooks, has called for the fast tracking of the completion of the Tsabong Multispecies Abattoir. The project was due for hand over last month following construction extension. MP Brooks ,who was speaking during a  tour of the abattoir on Thursday, said time was running out as the project, which started in 2021, was supposed to have been completed in July 2022.

He noted that  the contractor was given extension to April 2023 and a further extension to September 30.

He said the community was eagerly waiting to make use of the abattoir thus he called on the Ministry of Agriculture to fast track the completion of the project together  with  the construction of the Bray Community Farm which was also behind schedule.

He said  government spent millions of pula on the projects and therefore it was critical for contractors to complete them on time. MP Brooks highlighted that small stock farmers were expecting the project to be ready in September and were prepared to supply the abattoir.

He said the delay had adversely affected farmers, as they were  compelled to sell their stock to millers who buy at a lesser price. Abattoir sub-contractor, Agri Holdings Botswana site agent, Mr Buckley Molefe, said the project was almost complete but left with a few finishing touches. He said earthworks for access roads were at 100 per cent completion rate while the remaining components of the road that leads to the abattoir were 91 per cent complete.

He added that internal roads were at 96 per cent completion rate. Mr Molefe said the abattoir peripheral buildings, which consisted of two guard houses, livestock receiving area, administration block, kitchen and canteen civil works, were complete but were left with a few finishing touches.

As for the main abattoir, he said civil works were at 100 per cent  completion rate, adding that the rendering building stood at 100 per cent  completion rate. In an interview, the Tsabong Multispecies Abattoir project engineer, Mr Ofentse Kgaogano, admitted delays, which he said were due to various factors. He, however, said they were working round the clock to circumvent them. He said the project started in 2021 during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, which caused delays as borders were closed. He said materials were procured from as far as Finland and Hungary.

He said the frequent power cuts subjected the site to unprecedented levels of load shedding. The Tsabong power network is connected to the South African Power grid supplied by Eskom. Mr Kgaogano highlighted that the abattoir designs required high voltage electricity or industrial electricity for testing equipment and so it took time as the area experienced frequent power outages. “For these reasons, the Botswana Power Corporation was forced to change the electrical scope of the project which has led to the delay,” he said.

Nonetheless, the project engineer said the abattoir, in its current state, was ready to be handed for practical completion but first had to go through other stages such as commissioning after being handed over. “Effective November we will start the phase of testing and commissioning of equipment in conjunction with the Botswana Meat Commission and the Veterinary Department. When Veterinary Department is satisfied with the processes, the abattoir will then be certified,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said assessment by the Veterinary Department had started as officers had been coming to assess animal health standards. He added that in general, the project stood at 95 per cent completion rate and so far P136 million had been expended out of the P161 million budgeted for the entire project…ENDS.