Awarding tender without budget haunts gov't :: Mmegi Online

Whilst the people in Kgalagadi North and Charleshill constituency were given hope that the days of dry taps would be over, it turns out that government was just fooling them as there is no money left to quench their thirst.

What turns out to have been intended to appease voters ahead of the 2024 polls by the then-Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) administration is causing massive distress for the current government. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government is currently trying all in its might to get a tender initially issued at P1.8 billion cancelled as it was awarded despite there being no funds to execute it. Even Motsamai Motsamai, the Assistant Minister for Water and Human Settlements and legislator for Charleshill, who promised his constituents potable water, is unable to convince government otherwise as the financial situation is dire.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water and Human Settlements, Bonolo Khumotaka, recently told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that they have approached the Court of Appeal (CoA) to cancel the award of the tender to TAWANA Joint Venture (JV) at P1.5 billion on the basis that "there is no money".

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