25 Jun 2014

Government has placed the provision of adequate facilities, trained workforce, simplified and predictable work processes as necessary pre-conditions for effective and efficient service delivery.

Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr Kenneth Matambo said this during the ground-breaking ceremony of the BURS head office in Gaborone on June 23.

He said it was for this reason that when Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) applied to the government to be allocated a plot in 2006, his ministry readily supported the application and recommended its approval by the Town and Country Planning Board.

Mr Matambo said he was delighted that the board approved the recommendation notwithstanding the fact that there was an overwhelming demand for land in the Central Business District (CBD).

He said the construction of the P452 million head office came at the right time and will help BURS to operate under one roof as it had been renting offices in different buildings within Gaborone.

Spread as they were, he said the offices were not only inadequate but were not fit for purpose of a revenue service.

Minister Matambo said the construction that would be done in phases, saw the first phase which included the commencement and conclusion of all pre-construction work such as architectural drawings,  site surveys and other related services being completed at a cost of P27 million.

He said construction of the BURS headquarters at the cost of P425 million has been earmarked for the second phase which entails the provision of a modern office complex comprising a three level basement, an eight storey corporate headquarters tower block, two-three storey office blocks and a three storey ancillary block which will house a cafeteria, gymnasium and conference rooms.

The minister said the new complex has been planned to house all BURS head office divisions and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) and highlighted that new offices will ease provision of services to taxpayers strategically located within the Gaborone CBD.

He said the provision of a modern headquarters building for BURS is in recognition of the critical role they play in mobilising the resources needed for the development of Botswana and said since its establishment in 2004, BURS has managed to meet and in some years exceed its revenue collection targets.

For his part, the commissioner general of BURS, Mr Ken Morris said they were very pleased to witness the beginning of a journey to build the future home of BURS and know that once completed this headquarters would not only bring BURS services under one roof but provide an excellent work environment for the BURS head office staff. ENDS