The section that is supposed to be open today starts from the Dibete veterinary cordon fence gate, the director of Arab Contractors Botswana, Mohamed Azzad, told Mmegi yesterday afternoon. However, the Ministry of Works and Transport say they are not aware that the road would be open today. The ministry's spokesman, Samuel Mbaiwa said yesterday that he came back from a site meeting on Wednesday and the contractors never indicated they would be opening the road today.
The project's engineering consultants, Bothakga Burrow Botswana were also uncertain of the opening of part of the 83km road. Their resident engineer, Kennedy Machite said that by 4pm yesterday, he was still waiting for a report from his charges. The P171 million project has been marred by false starts - four of them this month. Mmegi is reliably informed that when the Minister of Works and Transport, Lesego Motsumi met the contractors on September 4, she was assured that the first section would be opened three days later. But this was not to be as the date was postponed to September 12, then September 15, and then again to September 17.
