Improve project implementation -BOCONGO

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Friday February 15, 2008 00:00

Speaking during a public debate under the theme 'Strengths and Weaknesses of the 2008/9 National Budget', BOCONGO's programmes manager Barulaganye Mogotsi said there are still some administrative bottlenecks and a need for improved performance by both parastatals and the private sector. He said that budget implementation starts in April but projects take too long to start. 'The tendering process takes up to five months, identification of a company to execute the project takes another long process, leaving only a few months to the end of the financial year.'

Mogotsi said unless and until the administrative bottlenecks are addressed, the country will continue to be haunted by incomplete projects. He noted that there is also a tendency by private companies to leave projects incomplete and that communities, who are supposed to be the beneficiaries, suffer. 'Our main concern is accelerated performance by the private sector. BPC cannot provide sufficient electricity despite Morupule Colliery having been in existence for a long time.

The BDC has built empty factory shells that have turned into white elephants. It should speed up their demarcation for the benefit of small businesses which cannot afford the rentals. The BHC only provides for a certain class of people, who can afford its skyrocketing selling prices.' He said the country's inflation rate of 7.1 percent compared to 11.6 percent in 2006 is a positive development, though it has attracted many challenges. Mogotsi argued that the SADC free trade area, that will be launched in August, is going to affect the country. He added that it also includes human resource, so it implies that locals will be competing with neighbouring countries. 'It will provide the local market, but how will local businesspeople compete regionally?' He said SACU trade is heavily skewed in favour of South Africa.Mogotsi said BOCONGO is happy with the agricultural reforms put before Parliament, but said those reforms should be geared towards benefiting locals in rural areas. He said Malawi has a surplus of maize because of 100 percent subsidy by the government that includes proper machinery. He said it is impossible for locals who get small assistance like ALDEP to compete regionally. Mogotsi said a lot of money has been injected into NAMPAAD, but only four projects are progressing. 'NAMPAAD's mandate is not even clearly explained.'

The programmes manager said CEDA is one area of concern and that since its inception, it has supported only 1,800 projects. Mogotsi said preference that has been given to countries like Botswana has come to an end, citing the beef industry as an example. 'Batswana will be affected.

The Ministry of Agriculture should go to the people and explain what is happening and the likely implications.'He said policy frameworks that are intended to enhance foreign direct investment are still in draft form. Citing the FDI strategy, the FDI law, the National Trade Policy and the National Export Strategy as examples, Mogotsi expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing rural electrification project, saying it does not benefit the rural people because it is too expensive.