The minister of transport and public works, Eric Molale has revealed that government is currently receiving expert advice on the redesign of the deplorable Francistown-Nata-Maun to Mohembo road also known as A3 road.
Responding to a question in Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Molale revealed that consultancies have been started to enable the redesign of those roads.
Kgosi Rabagamang Rancholo of Tutume region, had asked the Minister if he is aware that the Francistown-Nata-Maun, Kasane road as well as the Nata Bridges are in a bad state of disrepair yet the department of works is always in the vicinity but the situation does not improve. He asked if the minister will consider engaging a different company to maintain the road.
In response the minister acknowledged that the Francistown-Nata-Maun to Mohembo is in a bad condition, but indicated that the short term of the project is to fix the potholes on the road, while the medium term is to redesign the areas that have been severely affected like the 64 km patch in Nata-Kasane road. He said after the completion of the patching process which has commenced, a tender will be awarded to the construction companies so that they can fully maintain the road.
Molale said he expect that very soon parts of the two roads will be awarded to the construction companies to be fully maintained ahead of the patching process which is of temporary basis and currently not enough. He highlighted that for now the Francistown-Nata road is patched but admitted that it was not enough as such they will soon redesign the road.
“As stated in the recent budget speech, in the long term we are going to redesign the roads from Francistown to Mohembo and from Nata to Kasane, through the National Development Plan (NDP 6) we intend to prioritise the redesign of these roads as such the design process and other works related have started to make the road ready for construction,” said Molale.
