Delays in college construction irk Phikwe cllrs

MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent | Wednesday July 9, 2008 00:00

 

The councillors made the plea when Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Baledzi Gaolathe, addressed a special full council meeting on Monday.

The civic leaders expressed their dismay at the slow pace of the P200 million-project, but the minister promised that the new (Khama) administration would speed up construction.

Gaolathe said it was unfortunate that construction was behind schedule, but indicated that work should begin by next February.

Bontleng ward councillor, Tshiamo Ikaneng said it was worrying that the project was being held back. He said the government had long promised to get the project off the ground. Kopano ward councillor, Mogae Ketshogile urged the government to fast-track the construction of the college. He said this was essential to the nation, as it desperately needs skilled manpower.

'We request that the construction of the college be speeded up as we are looking at its output. This country needs to produce artisans looking at the growth of the mining sector,' Ketshogile said.

He expressed reservations about the government's arrangement of centralising supervision of projects, saying doing so gives local authorities less control.

Tlhakadiawa councillor, Evelyn Kgodungwe, urged the central government to decentralise to avoid delays in project implementation. She said such delays lead to cost escalations.

Kgodungwe said it is incredible that President Ian Khama's initiatives are taking precedence over other projects that have been in the pipeline for a long time. Minister Gaolathe said it is the government's wish to see the college built as soon as possible.

'We will be pushing it (construction of the college). The contractor should be on site in February 2009. We will award the tender before the end of this year,' said Gaolathe. He said the government is working towards ensuring speedy implementation of projects. 'In terms of project approval we have gone a long way towards lubricating the system,' Gaolathe said, adding that cabinet is committed to reducing the time frame of approving and releasing funds. He dismissed Kgodungwe's assumption that President Khama's projects were being given top priority. 'We work on emergencies. There are times when such situations are unforeseen and become pronounced,' Gaolathe said.

The college has been largely viewed as compensation for Selebi-Phikwe after the government's decision to build the country's second university in Palapye.

However, the Selebi-Phikwe community is getting restive over the delays as the construction of the college is seen as a giant leap towards the diversification of the town's mono-economy based on mining. Education has been targeted as one sector, which is crucial to the town's diversification drive. Other sectors, according to a consultancy report, that offer abundant opportunities for diversification include tourism, horticulture and agro-processing, and heavy industry.