11 Nov 2026

Three development projects earmarked for Molepolole under the Development Manager (DM) Model are awaiting funding following the revocation of the programme in August 2025.

The projects, comprising Molepolole internal roads, the Molepolole bypass and Department of Forestry and Range Resources offices and staff houses, had not progressed beyond feasibility or concept design stage when Government revoked the model through Presidential Directive CAB 22B/2025.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Keoagile Atamelang, told Parliament that the three projects fell under the mandate of a task team established to oversee the close-out process following the revocation.

He said final accounts for services already rendered on the projects had been submitted and agreed with the responsible development manager, DEVMCO, with payments awaiting direction and expected to be made from close-out funds.

Mr Atamelang clarified that the projects had not been delayed in the ordinary sense, but that their implementation under the DM Model had ended following its revocation.

He said no construction funding had been allocated to the projects, adding that their future implementation would depend on securing funds through the normal budgeting process or private sector financing.

He said it was therefore not possible to predict their completion dates.

Meanwhile, two other projects earmarked for Molepolole under the model, the new primary schools at Legonono and Lekgwapheng, were authorised to continue and are currently under construction.

Giving an update on Legonono Primary School, Mr Atamelang said as of October 2026, the project had an approved budget of P119.77 million, with P57.70 million spent and a balance of P62.07 million.

He said physical progress stood at 68 per cent against a planned 75 per cent, with completion expected in February 2027.

At Lekgwapheng Primary School, the approved budget was P119.28 million, of which P51.3 million had been spent, leaving a balance of P67.97 million.

Physical progress stood at 55 per cent against a planned 65 per cent, with completion expected on May 8, 2027.

Mr Atamelang said both projects had approved budgets and were provided for in the 2026/27 development budget.

However, construction at the two schools was interrupted in May 2025 due to financial constraints cited by the development manager, with work only resuming in May 2026.

He said the 12-month interruption had left both projects behind schedule, with Legonono trailing by seven percentage points and Lekgwapheng by 10 percentage points.

Mr Atamelang further informed Parliament that Government revoked the DM Model in August 2025, when the programme comprised 148 projects managed by nine development managers.

He said the projects were divided into two categories, with the first comprising 132 Phase One projects that were still at feasibility or concept design stage and were being closed out by the task team.

The task team had reviewed project budgets and was verifying services already rendered by the development managers to facilitate agreement on final accounts. Negotiations on all 132 projects were targeted for completion by November 30, 2026.

The second category comprised 16 projects authorised by Government to continue. As of October 20, 2026, five had been completed, nine were under construction, one was at contractor appointment stage and one was on hold.

Mr Atamelang said final accounts had so far been agreed with three development managers, while negotiations with the remaining six, including the manager responsible for the Molepolole portfolio, were ongoing.

Molepolole North MP, Mr Arafat Khan, had asked the minister to update Parliament on the implementation status of the DM Model and projects earmarked for Molepolole, including their funding, progress, expected completion dates and reasons for delays. ENDS