Construction of Charleshill-Ncojane road begins
Leinanyana Tsiane | Monday September 14, 2015 15:27
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Macheng Macheng said yesterday at the Ghanzi District Council full session that Zak Construction will do the 109-kilometre stretch road.
According to Macheng, the cost of the project is more than P436 million and it will be completed in 36 months, having started on September 9, 2015 and is expected to end September 18, 2018.
“We handed the project over to the contractor after a three-year delay and the same contractor will be responsible for the design and building of the road, while Bothakga Burrow will supervise the whole project at the tune of P33 million,” said Macheng.
The delay of the project came after some companies who had tendered protested the awarding. The case was only resolved this year following a High Court judgement.
The construction of the road, however, may force some people to relocate depending on the assessment carried out to which Macheng said residents of the area should cooperate with the contractor.
He also said villages that are located 10 kilometres away from the main road will have access routes. He added that though it is tradition to respect the dead buried on that land – there are four graves at Kole and Makunda – if the need arises they may be moved to another location.
Furthermore Macheng said because of the current water shortage in the country, the contractor will hire high-yield boreholes in the area and urged all the owners to work hand-in-hand with the contractor for the project to be completed on time.
“We also urge companies and contractors to offer employment to youth in this area to make use of this opportunity at all costs,” he added.
Village Development Committees at the said villages are expected to give a monthly report on the progress of the project to various councillors.
The councillors welcomed the move and said this will be an opportunity for the unemployed youth to find employment.
They said it is their responsibility to make sure that the road is completed within the said period, as many lives have been lost along the gravel road from Charleshill to Ncojane.