Boko could ‘snub’ local contractors in mega projects
Spira Tlhankane | Monday November 17, 2025 06:00
Delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Boko revealed that the government is weighing a proposal to reserve some major transport and infrastructure projects for international contractors, a move he said stems from recurring problems of poor workmanship and project delays on citizen-led projects.
Boko indicated that one Member of Parliament (MP) has motivated that such big road projects be kept away from local contractors as much as possible. He indicated that they may quarrel and differ with the proposition in relation to the solution, but they will not dismiss the submission.
“I listened to him and I felt that if you take what he said at face value, you might not understand the point he is making. It is a profound and fundamental observation that the work in our infrastructure projects has been substandard, and it’s a fact,” Boko stated.
While the President stopped short of endorsing the controversial suggestion, he conceded that the argument “has merit and substance,” sparking renewed debate over the readiness of local contractors to handle billion-pula projects.
As Botswana pushes to transform itself into a regional transport hub and tap into the 360-million-strong SADC market, Boko said the government intends to improve the national road network through high-quality tolled roads to ensure the sustainability of road development and maintenance in Botswana.
He said work on the A3 road has already commenced, while feasibility studies for the 600-kilometre A1 dual carriageway toll road are expected to begin before year-end. However, the President’s remarks come amid rising tensions between local contractors and foreign multinationals, who have long dominated the lucrative infrastructure sector.
The uneasy relationship between government and local contractors has been marked by mistrust, project delays, and sometimes billion-pula costly overruns. Authorities have repeatedly accused citizen contractors of abandoning projects or delivering subpar work, often forcing the government to step in with financial interventions.
“In some of the projects that are taking time to be completed, we engage and bring in various mechanisms to support citizen contractors,” Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Permanent Secretary (PS) Kgakgamalo Ketshajwang told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) earlier this year. “In some cases, we even release retention funds early to help them stay afloat,” he said.
But local players insist they are being unfairly scapegoated. Citizen contractors say foreign companies continue to corner the biggest projects, leaving little room for Batswana to grow their capacity. “There is no Motswana multinational in construction. All these billions spent on mega projects end up in the hands of foreign firms, and the money flies straight out of the country,” lamented one local contractor last year.
With the “tender war” between citizen contractors and foreign firms intensifying, Boko’s remarks are likely to reignite a fierce national debate over economic empowerment, quality control, and the future of the industry.
With Botswana racing to modernise its infrastructure, the debate now is whether Boko’s administration should prioritise quality at all costs or protect its citizens in pursuit of local empowerment and economic sovereignty.
As the bulldozers roll and billions of pula are poured into new mega road projects, Boko also added that Botswana’s strategic location positions it as a vital hub for trade and connectivity. “As a transit country, Botswana is poised to play an important role in facilitating intra-Africa trade as the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement has commenced. Our transport legislation and standards are to be reviewed, harmonised, and aligned with regional economic communities’ expectations,” he further revealed in his SONA.
Boko also said that Botswana’s position in the Southern Africa region provides a distinctive benefit of being a hub for trade and connectivity. He indicated that as the country advances economic transformation and integration, rail transport is becoming increasingly critical to unlocking new markets.
Boko added that to support this, the government is developing alternative railway lines. The Mmamabula-Lephalale Railway Line and the Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone line as part of SADC’s Strategic Plan of the North-South Corridor (NSC).
“Upon taking office, this government urgently reviewed the Development Manager Model to assess its fiscal sustainability. The review, completed in March and published in August 2025, revealed serious flaws including procedural gaps, weak stakeholder engagement, and misalignment with legal frameworks,” he noted.
Boko noted most concerning were the financial implications, as the structure and magnitude of associated fees placed an unsustainable burden on public resources. In response, he disclosed that the Government revoked all three Presidential directives that had approved the model and its governance structures.
“Sixteen projects already under construction will continue, using alternative delivery or financing methods. This ensures continuity while reducing fiscal risk and improving oversight. For the remaining 132 projects still at the conceptual stage, a thorough reassessment is underway to explore better-aligned options. The goal is to ensure value for money and consistency with national priorities. Given the current fiscal constraints, the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has become essential for delivering key infrastructure projects without overstretching government resources. To make it more responsive, the PPP Framework is being strengthened through the BETP, to make it more inclusive, transformative, and private sector-led,” Boko further pointed out.
The President also revealed that over the next twelve months, urgent milestones include tabling the PPP Bill, deploying PPP functions, resourcing the PPP Unit, and operationalising the appropriate governance structure.
“These steps will ensure that PPPs deliver value, efficiency, and impact. Infrastructure development is critical to attaining long-term economic and social goals. As a “land-linked” country, Botswana provides critical connectivity in Southern Africa, being a key transit route to countries such as Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and South Africa, through the North-South and Trans-Kalahari corridors,' he pointed out.