Govt launches statutory structure to tackle project overruns

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Friday June 11, 2010 00:00

The permanent secretary in the Ministry, Carter Morupisi, announced this yesterday at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi that the newly appointed board would guide foreign companies on issues of project timeframes, among other duties.

Morupisi said once involved, CRD would have statutory powers on contracts between the ministry and contractors.

The development was an initiative of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) that is responsible for both foreign and citizen contractors, he said.

Under the new system, companies will be assessed at the end of every project and will have to present an End of Project Activity Report to show their performance. 'The report will then be presented to PPADB, who will determine whether or not the company can continue being contracted,' Morupisi said.

 The initiative was meant to tackle the problem of infrastructure project overruns, especially social development projects like schools, hospitals and roads, he explained. Construction of the much-vaunted Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and the upgrading of the National Stadium were cited as examples, the latter a glaringly disastrous one that had resulted in Botswana being unable to host any World Cup team.

However, Morupisi acknowledged that part of the problem has been lack of supervision by the ministry.  'This has been one of our weakest points,' he said.

Things should get better because the introduction of CRB was coming with a reshuffling of staff to separate people who had become close, he disclosed.