11 Mar 2026

Government has initially planned to implement 148 projects under the Development Manager (DM) procurement model but only 16 remain on site and 132 has been suspended. 

This was said by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae in response to a question in Parliament from Member of Parliament for Bobirwa, Mr Taolo Lucas on Monday. Mr Lucas had asked the minister to apprise Parliament on the total number of DM model projects that had been cancelled, considered for cancellation or were still being negotiated.

He had also asked whether or not cancelled projects or contracts attracted penalties or costs to government and if so, how much money was lost to cancelled projects or owed contractors of cancelled projects. Mr Lucas had further requested for the total number and titles of DM projects that had been allowed to continue and the criteria employed in making such a decision.

 In response, Minister Salakae refuted that the precise financial implications for the suspended 132 projects would be determined through the ongoing negotiations with the respective development managers and Parliament would duly be informed upon conclusion of the engagements which were expected to end in May.

 “Sixteen (16) ongoing DM projects relating to roads and schools’ infrastructure were allowed to proceed as they had reached advanced stages of implementation, including construction,” he said. 

He added that the decision to allow projects to proceed was informed by the potential job losses for workers and subcontractors, should the projects be terminated, demobilisation costs and contractor claims associated with terminating projects already under construction, risks relating to deterioration of partiality completed works and site security as well as the likelihood of increased project costs, should the projects be re-tendered in future due to inflationary pressures. 

On the total cost of the projects that had been allowed to continue and the conditions for such continuations, Minister Salakae said the estimated cost required to complete the 16 projects currently at construction stage was over P11.47 billion (P11,470,654,576.59), which would be spread across budgets up to 2027/2028.

 “However, government continues to engage the respective development managers to explore alternative project delivery methods and funding arrangements that may reduce the financial burden on government while ensuring continuity of critical infrastructure development,” he said. 

Regarding whether or not government would consider using DM model in the future, Mr Salakae told Parliament that government had revoked the Presidential Directives that authorised the use of the DM procurement model.

“Therefore, government will not be using the DM model in future. However, government remains committed to ensuring that public infrastructure projects are delivered efficiently and sustainably in the best interest of the citizens of Botswana,” said Minister Salakae. BOPA