Tender failures cost more than money

As Mmegi’s investigation lays bare – from the consultant’s inexplicable rock miscalculation to the anguish of homeowners facing blasting and unfair compensation – this is a clarion call to everyone involved in public procurement: Do the right thing. Lives depend on it.

The core failure is breathtaking. A consultant reportedly estimated rock density at eight percent when reality screamed 80%. As Director Raitoko rightly stated, rocks littered the surface – visible to anyone. This was not a hidden fault; it was a fundamental, avoidable error that should have been caught in the design phase. Proceeding without thorough geotechnical checks, as admitted, was reckless. The result? Costs ballooned from the initial P707 million to P3.4 billion – a burden shouldered by every Motswana taxpayer.