20 Mar 2014

Ministry of Transport and Communications continues to facilitate development and implementation of policy and regulations to enhance smooth delivery of transport and communications services.

Presenting his ministry’s budget proposal for the 2014/15 financial year on Wednesday, March 19 the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofho Molefhi said the Road Traffic Act as well as the Road Transport Permit Act are under review.

He said regulations of use of mobile phones whilst driving a motor vehicle, transportation of dangerous goods, road traffic signs, limit of alcohol and seat belts were under implementation.

Minister Molefhi said the ministry was drafting the regulations for driving schools and driving instructors that would be implemented during the 2014/15 financial year.

Furthermore, he said, Botswana Savings Bank (BSB) Transition Act had been promulgated and this enabled the bank to embark on registering the entity as a company.

He noted that the Botswana Postal Services Transition bill of 2013 was approved by Parliament last year November and when operationalised, it would allow Botswana Post to be registered as a company.

Mr Molefhi said the ministry has completed road projects during the current financial year, which include Western Bypass circle - Metsimotlhabe, Gaborone-Tlokweng border gate, Sua-Junction -Sowa Town and Kang and Hukuntsi projects, while the Nata-Kazungula is substantially complete and opened for traffic.

On transport services, he said, the Botswana Integrated Transport Project (BITP) that was implemented in partnership with the World Bank has made a notable progress as a contractor for the major project component, the Output and Performance-based Road Contracting (OPRC) is at award stage.

The minister said the contract was for the implementation of a pilot OPRC road works covering a total of 335 kilometres (km) in the Southern region and would commence in April 2014.

Mr Molefhi said the ministry was also implementing other BITP project components that include Traffic Signals Improvement and Establishment of Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) in Gaborone as well as the three interchanges along the western bypass road.

On public transport services, he noted that they have extended to Lobatse and Palapye automation of driver theory tests in addition to Gaborone and Francistown. SMS are also being used to notify customers about expiry of their critical documentation like drivers licenses, he added.

Minister Molefhi said following the identification of two significant safety concerns (SSCs), the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has undertaken to take air operators through a five phase re-certification course, with 12 out of the 13 having been licensed to fly in and out of Botswana.

He highlighted that Botswana has Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with 27 countries around the globe and only 12 BASAs have been signed, whilst the remainder has been initialed thus allowing international operators to fly in and out of Botswana.

Mr Molefhi said Air Botswana is currently not performing well due to among other factors, the use of equipment which is not fit for purpose but were doing all they can to restore its performance.

He said to this end, a management consulting company has been engaged to assist Air Botswana to improve its efficiency and performance.

The minister said on Information Communication Technology (ICT), the country has set itself a clear and compelling roadmap for digital inclusion to achieve sustainable social, economic, cultural and political transformation through leveraging opportunities provided by new technologies.

On privatization of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC), the minister said the process of separating the functional roles was at an advanced stage.

He said the process has resulted in the formation of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) and BoFinet, each with a clear mandate.

Mr Molefhi told the House that upon completion of this process, BTCL shall list up to 49 per cent of its shares on the Botswana Stock Exchange through Initial Public Offers (IPOs) and five percent of the shares would be reserved for Batswana and BTCL employees. ENDS