23 Mar 2014

Parliament has approved the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology’s (MIST) budget proposal of P917.4 million for the financial year 2014/15.

Debating the proposed budgetary request, MP for Tati East, Mr Samson Guma asked government to consider prudence management of resources before thinking economic growth. He said he did not understand the rationale behind government’s expenditure on huge buildings without realising any return on investment.

“You cannot talk about economic growth if you do not manage your finances in a manner that will give you growth. Otherwise you will be taking all the cash and the reserves that you have and tied it to fixed assets,” he said.

He also said government was burdened by maintenance of such buildings; hence the economic growth that it desires becomes stagnant.

Mr Moyo said government should consider outsourcing construction of huge buildings to the private sector because by so doing, it would be able to accrue money from the rates because currently government was exempted from rates. He said government should from now onwards consider defining parameters from the beginning before undertaking big projects such as the construction of the Morupule B.

MP for Shoshong, Mr Phillip Makgalemele implored the Botswana Innovation Hub to set clearly defined projects for the rural communities, for them to benefit. He said government should have learnt a lesson that projects that drag for too long bear huge opportunity costs on government, such as the stadia’s building around the country.

MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi said he was worried the construction industry was confused because it was the only industry with no ground rules as there was what he termed free entry and exit because anybody could pursue it.

He said this has had negative implications in the country’s construction industry because anybody could tender for construction.

Botswana cannot be an innovative society if young people cannot be identified at a young age to enroll in schools of excellence for research purposes in future, he said. He further commended the ministry for the reforms made to improve service delivery adding that he hoped savings were realised.

MP for Kweneng South, Dr John Seakgosing commended the ministry for Building Control Act as most government buildings were below par. For his part, the MP for Ngwaketse West, Mr Mephato Reatile questioned the composition of boards within the ministry, saying they served selfish interests. He urged the minister to put an eye on the composition of boards.

MP for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi called government to maintain Nyangabwe hospital and expedite the completion of the Francistown Stadium. He further said a wide array of government buildings needed refurbishment.

Nata-Gweta MP, Mr Rayner Makosha called on the ministry to trace profiles of contractors that were awarded tenders arguing that most of them did shoddy jobs. He also called for maintenance of Nata School adding that there was shortage of water and that reticulation of water at ablutions remained a big problem at the school. ENDS