FRANCISTOWN: Councillors here have expressed their unhappiness with the slow progress of development projects around the city saying that the original timelines for the completion of the projects are never adhered to.
This was during the first day of the full council meeting on Monday.
The councillors emphasised that they are not supposed to be lamenting on delayed projects, but rather discussing implementation of new ones. These projects include among others, Francistown-Tonota road project, which stands at 65% completion and is expected to be completed by November, the Francistown stadium, and maintenance of schools, pothole patching and maintenance of streetlights.
Specially elected councillor James Kgalajwe doubted the completion of the Francistown-Tonota road on deadline, as the report stated that there is still a lot of work to be done in regard to that.
“It was said that the road will be completed in October this year and the date was revised again to November 26, but still I do not foresee any completion of the road this year, maybe next year. We shall see,” he said.
He further said the community holds local authorities accountable for such issues. It therefore becomes a burden for them to try and assure the community of progress even though it is clear there is none.
Councillor Shadreck Nyeku of Philip Matante East also shared Kgalajwe’s sentiments saying that the national stadium project is an embarrassment.
He however blamed the Chinese construction company that was contracted.
He said that the performance of the contractors in the development of the infrastructure is a major challenge and a source of great anxiety as it often results in cost over runs.
“The Francistown stadium should be 100 percent complete by now. It was said in 2010 that it will be finished ahead of the 2010 South Africa World Cup but it’s been four years with no progress”, complained Nyeku.
He further said that it is about time the government hired skilled companies to do major construction work. He cited the Judges houses that are always being renovated.
He noted that if properly skilled companies were engaged, there was not going to be need for renovation time and again at such short period.
Lesego Kwambala of Itekeng lamented the issue of potholes around the city and added that pothole patching is a major concern in the city.
“Instead of patching the potholes, humps are created hence making roads more dangerous as well as making the city look dirty,” he said.
He added that Francistown, just like other towns, should be given priority more so that it’s the second city. He said the city’s developments are of low standard unbefitting its status.
