Litigation Slows Poverty Reduction

OLIVER MODISE
Staff Writer | Monday April 16, 2007 00:00

Kwelagobe told the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower gathering that though everyone is entitled to legal recourse when aggrieved, the situation in the construction industry was getting out of hand.

In many instances, tenderers were prompted by their own failure to accept that they had lost the bid.

Many cases are still pending against the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) at the High Court.

'Unfortunately, such litigation consumes a lot of time and energy, and tarnishes the good image of some of our institutions,' Minister Kwelagobe said.

Kwelagobe also censured the slow implementation of approved projects by construction companies for impacting badly on economic growth and poverty reduction.

He identified delays in land allocation and in payment by Government as factors contributing to the slow implementation of projects, and therefore, in slacking economic growth and poverty reduction.

'There is a need for close collaboration between Government and the construction industry to find solutions to the challenges faced by the construction industry,' he said.
Minister Kwelagobe advanced public-private partnership as a means to improving the delivery of development projects.

'We look forward to the day when our own construction companies will compete effectively within the region and beyond,' Kwelagobe said, adding that Government was removing structural impediments such as access to land and environmental impact studies.