Africa-Press – Botswana. The 27-kilometre Mogoditshane-Gabane-Mmankgodi Road project awarded to Zutari, October last year under the Development Manager (DM) model, is among those permitted to proceed, subject to negotiations on financing and the delivery method.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae informed Parliament on Monday that the project, the scope of which entailed design, construction, supervision, and delivery of works remained, following Cabinet’s revocation of implementing the DM model.
“My ministry has since established a task team to engage with the development managers and provide recommendations to government on the way forward,” said Mr Salakae.
He said the current physical or construction progress of the project stood at one per cent against the planned four per cent, while detailed design works were progressing concurrently with construction, with actual design progress at 95 per cent against the planned 100 per cent.
Mr Salakae said the total amount expended on the project to date was P177 258 737, including VAT, and the amount had primarily covered road maintenance works during the last rainy season, design works, land expropriation, and relocation of services.
The project anticipated to be completed in October 2028, the minister said was within schedule.
However, he said the payment frequency as a result of the constrained fiscal situation, presented a significant potential risk to the project as it impacted the cash flow of the contractor and subcontractors.
He said to date, road maintenance costs paid to the contractor amounted to P 4,318 285 including VAT, and that the figure comprised P2, 310 393 for road widening and P2, 007 891 for pothole repairs.
The pothole repairs were undertaken during the early part of 2025 and completed at the end of April 2025.
Mr Salakae said no payments have yet been made towards traffic management, as no major construction activities had commenced.
He said the ministry had engaged with the contractor, having observed the recent development of potholes along Roads A10 and A129 of the project since the onset of the rainy season in October, a development that necessitated urgent intervention to restore and improve road conditions for safe travel.
Mogoditshane East MP, Mr Letlhogonolo Barongwang had asked the minister to update the House on the ongoing 27km Mogoditshane-Mmankgodi dual carriageway with specifics to when the project commenced and the volume of work done against what was planned, total amount spent thus far and expected completion date,
Mr Barongwang also wanted the minister to state if he foresaw the project being completed on time and on budget considering the progress rate, how much itemised maintenance and traffic management costs to the existing road had already been paid to the contractor and if the minister.
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