The Ministry of Transport and Public works has acknowledged the bad state in which some government infrastructure are currently on across the country. The ministry has since assuring that the it is committed to continual enhancements in addressing maintenance issues.
This was said by the minister of transport and public works Eric Molale when responding to a question by Gaborone North Member of parliament Mpho Balopi who had inquired if the minister was aware that public infrastructure is generally dilapidated and not well maintained.
Balopi wanted the minister to state the reasons maintenance of the government infrastructure, especially buildings were often delayed, compared to private sector infrastructure. He further wanted to know if there were any plans to streamline processes, especially the procurement process, with a view to reducing the length of time taken before damages or worn-out infrastructure was attended.
Molale noted that a decision was made for each ministry and department to take charge of their own maintenance duties, leading to the establishment of ministerial technical units. However, he explained that the units were understaffed, hindering their effectiveness in carrying out maintenance tasks.
He further highlighted that the units are also faced with challenges such as delayed emergency maintenance, issues with procurement methods, and limited capacity to address maintenance promptly, exacerbated by insufficient collaboration between agencies.
Molale explained that there are ongoing efforts in conducting condition surveys to identify maintenance requirements and the development of comprehensive facilities management frameworks, including among them maintenance management guidelines and facilities classification guidelines.
He emphasised that these guidelines aim to improve the functionality, safety, and efficiency of maintaining government buildings further pleading for private sector participation. Further noting that that involving private companies aligns with the government’s strategy of engaging external expertise for tasks suited to the private sector.
Molale further noted that in other districts the Ministry has grouped people with various infrastructure development skills which include among them architects, civil engineers from various government departments to take responsibility of all government infrastructures in their district.
