Anxious wait for CAF stadium report
Friday, February 17, 2023 | 180 Views |
CAF red flag: Obed Itani Chilume Stadium is due to host the Zebras’ match against Equatorial Guinea next month
The Zebras are due to play Equatorial Guinea in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on March 26. The Obed Itani Chilume Stadium has been registered as the facility that will host the match.
However, the facility recently failed a CAF inspection to determine its suitability to host international matches. The continent's soccer governing body recommended that the stadium required an upgrade to be certified to host Category Three and Four matches. Immediately after the CAF inspection, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) began attending to the areas of concern in the stadium.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...