Govt ups efforts to monitor mega-projects
Keikantse Lesemela | Tuesday June 24, 2014 17:41
The launch of PMO comes on the backdrop of numerous bungled government mega projects with some of the delays and poor delivery blamed on lack of skilled project managers, inability to attract and retain skilled project engineers and lack of project management processes.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of a US grant to finance the PMO held in Gaborone yesterday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Boikobo Paya said the government continues to partner with the private sector to deliver infrastructure but some of the companies do not add value to the economy. “They are characterised by poor supervision, poor tender documentation, deploying less skilled personnel whilst charging high rates for skilled professionals,” he said.
He said the only way to deal with these challenges and ensure meaningful contribution for the economy is by having a watertight and best value procurement process.
“For the project management to be successful, project managers need to understand both the art and the science related to the project. Such a combination centrally involves the socio-cultural and technical dimensions of the project management,” said Paya.
He said this programme provides a valuable service to the ministry and to the government of Botswana by increasing the capacity and professionalisation of its procurement workforce.
The grant will fund two senior advisors to help MMWER receive best value for money in upcoming water and energy procurement under the PMO.
MMEWR is charged with huge infrastructure projects to be delivered in the next five years such as the Chobe-Zambezi transfer scheme. The second NSC pipeline, North West Transmission Grid strategic Oil Storage is at Tshele hills.
The United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant of $807,320 (P7 million)as part of the Global Procurement Initiative to support the programme.
Michael Murphy, US Charge d’ Affaires said the initiative is part of a sustained engagement with the government of Botswana.
“We launched this initiative here because we believe and much of the world believes, that Botswana is capable of making the right choices, that when it matters most it does not make decisions based upon narrow interests, bad information or secret kickbacks,” said Murphy.
The Global Procurement Initiative (GPI) is designed to help government entities like MMEWR design objective criteria to evaluate projects in ways that take into account not just the bottom-line cost of a tender offer, but also whether the proposed project will perform as needed. In March 2014 USTDA provided training for 37 officials from Botswana Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board and nine government ministries, including the MMEWR. The GPI will also advance the government of Botswana’s goal of becoming a centre for excellence in public procurement in Southern Africa by 2018.
Murphy said the grant is provided to allow MMEWR to find the most qualified experts to enable its newly established PMO to design, develop and ultimately implement infrastructure projects of national importance. This includes the latest extension of the North-South Carrier pipeline, which will help relieve the persistent water shortages in Gaborone. “I am happy to say that trade between Botswana and the United States is stronger than ever. Whatever you do, know that you are not alone, the United States has always stood with you and we will continue to stand with you as you grapple with the challenges ahead,” said Murphy. A recent World Bank report states that Botswana will need to spend some $785 million(P6.8 billion) per year for the next 10 years if it is to catch up to the rest of the world in infrastructure to support economic development. Botswana will need new highways, water treatment plants, information technology infrastructure, airport upgrades, dams and power plants.