Govt audits Palapye glass project

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has instituted a due dilligence exercise at the Palapye glass project and will establish the actual risk of loss and damage pertaining to the project, assistant minister of Trade and Industry Keletso Rakhudu has said.

Rakhudu said that the exercise will look into the current value of land, buildings, equipment, payments made to date including outstanding payments.He asserted that this will assist the ministry to make informed decisions regarding the completion of the project.  Rakhudu further said that when the project was stalled, it was physically estimated to be 70 percent complete and the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) had at the time approved funds and guarantees to the project to the value of P740.8 million and has to date disbursed the sum of P438.6 million toward the project.

"BDC is progressing with the market study to validate market information and assess the market viability of the project.  A final draft report is expected by end of March 2013 and the project equipment has already been delivered," he said.Rakhudu said this in response to a question by MP for Francistown South Wynter Mmolotsi who wanted to know the progress made on the project and the costs incurred.  He had also queried when the project would be completed. Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Gloria Somolekae said that in 2001 a Bentley was purchased and is currently in use.  She said according to information from the Central Transport Organisation (CTO), the vehicle has never been reconditioned, whereas there were plans to refurbish two Presidential Vintage Daimlers until the decision was rolled back.

Editor's Comment
BDP primaries leave a lot to be desired

The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up