He was officiating at the Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) Construction Sector Annual General Meeting (AGM) last Thursday.
“Government and the construction sector have a responsibility to develop this country. This can only be possible if you (construction sector representatives) deliver quality service on time,” said Tumelo.
The PS regretted the slow growth of the economy, which posted a low 4-5 percent, but he assured attendants that government will ensure the sustainability of the industry. The theme of the meeting, which was attended by about 60 BOCCIM construction stakeholders was “Government’s position in funding development projects.”
“This financial year is going to register stagnant growth,” Tumelo warned, adding that it does not mean that the construction sector will experience slow growth. Quite the contrary. “If the economy does not grow, this does not mean that the construction industry will not develop,” he said promising that government will take initiative to support the construction industry’s dwindling tendencies.
The mining sector, which is the engine of economic growth did not perform desirably. This was attributed to an aggregate under performance of the entire economy. Skilled manpower within the construction industry is a sine qua non to the performance of the sector, Tumelo said.
In order to ensure that government boosts the ailing construction industry, the PS revealed that from the government expenditure of P4.5 billion, between P2.7 and P3.15 billion (about 60-70 percent) will be directed to the construction industry. “The construction sector will still grow,” Tumelo said.
He was however optimistic that the next financial year would do much better. “You should pay taxes so that the economy performs desirably,” he advised.
Meanwhile, members of the BOCCIM construction sector lamented government’s lack of consultation regarding the inception of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concept. “Government did not engage us,” a participant said. He stressed that government exclusively formulated the PPP terms of reference.
Other participants complained to the PS that public funds are not used accountably as some projects fail to finish on time.
Sanjeez Miglane, a representative from Tswana Construction in Gaborone raised a concern to Tumelo that the tendering process takes long to complete.
Tumelo concurred and said, “I sometimes feel embarrassed. This is also government’s concern”.
He however rebutted other arguments and said that the construction sector should also take the blame. “Your projects also take long to finish. This becomes costly to government. It sometime costs four to five times the normal price,” he lamented.
Tymon Katlholo, Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), who also attended the AGM emphasised greater transparency in the awarding of tenders. BOCCIM through various sectors including the construction will continue working with the DCEC, Katlholo said as he closed the gathering.
The meeting ended with Marina Batholeng-Mookodi retaining her position as chairperson of BOCCIM Construction Sector.
