Makwala Stadium construction stalls
Chakalisa Dube | Saturday September 3, 2022 06:00
This week the Sub-District Council Secretary, Milton Keitshokile said the source of the dispute is that one of the contractors, Cressiando (Pty) Ltd has submitted a proposal for an increase in the initial budget.
The contractor reportedly feels that the costs of the project have since skyrocketed owing to inflation. Supply challenges because of the Ukraine-Russia war have contributed to a rise in commodity prices since the beginning of the year. “The contractor in question has left the site of the project. We are still assessing his proposal for an increase in money allocated to the project.
The goal is to try to find common ground with the contractor,” Keitshokile told Mmegi Sport. Cressiando (Pty) Ltd was given a tender to construct the boundary wall of the sports complex while Aureole Works (Pty) Ltd was engaged in the construction of change rooms. The project started in November last year after experiencing several delays.
It was delayed after some Tutume residents had differences over the location of the facility before they settled for the Magapatona ward. The Council Secretary emphasised that the dispute with the contractor is manageable and has not reached a crisis stage. Late last week, Tutume Sub-District Council chairperson, Anthony Chebane told an ordinary council meeting that the construction of the facility is behind schedule.
He said the project has stalled due to contractual issues that require to be ironed out with the council. He expressed hope that the dispute will be resolved soon to allow the first phase of the project to be completed and pave way for the second phase.
The construction of the P5 million facility was expected to last between 15 to 16 weeks for both phases. The idea to construct the Makwala Sports Complex was initiated in 2018. Then President Ian Khama said the government would honour the performance, zeal, and determination Makwala demonstrated at the 2018 World Athletics Championships in London by naming the planned sports complex after the Tutume native.
Khama’s remarks came after Makwala was prevented from running the 400m race after being diagnosed with a stomach ailment. Makwala later qualified for the 200m final after the then International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decided to allow him to run a solo time-trial race.