10 Feb 2015

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo has emphasised the need for the optic fibre expansion project in Chobe to be completed on time and within budget.

Mr Mabeo said this at a groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Kachikau on February 8. He warned that non-performing contractors would be eliminated from any government contracts, emphasising the need for the project to be performed as per specifications.

Minister Mabeo appealed to the contractor, 4 Arrows, to utilise the local resources in terms of employment and buying locally produced commodities in order to uplift the standard of living of the local communities.

“I want to emphasise that the communities affected by this project must benefit from it,” he said adding that “therefore you must not source any skills outside the country if there are people with the same skills here in Botswana.”

He was happy that the contracted company intended to use a method that was environmentally friendly for the fibre installation, adding that while that might reduce the need for employment, it was a welcome development.  

The company, he said had also made a provision to give back to the Chobe community by pledging to furnish the community hall with computers as well as connecting free Wi-Fi internet for anyone member of the community to access it.

“Services such as trucks for loading materials and catering must be sourced from the district,” he added.

Giving a background on the project, Mr Mabeo noted that the Maun-Ngoma fibre expansion project is one of the three that the government through Botswana Fibre Networks (BOFINET) has decided to kick start in this financial year. The other two are Sehithwa-Mohembo and Sekoma-Tsabong.

The project will cost P76 million to kick-start the development of 362 kilometer long optic fibre from Maun to Ngoma.

“This project is intended to upgrade the current communication system between Ngoma and Maun with a broadband fibre optical network system, and provide new infrastructure in the villages of Sankoyo, Shorobe, Khwai, Mababe, Kachikau, Mabele and Kavimba,” he said.

The minister stated that the expansion of these projects would increase the optical fibre infrastructure by 1000 kilometers, in addition to the existing 6 000 kilometers, already managed and operated by BOFINET.

In Kasane, Mr Mabeo said that government was implementing fibre to the businesses and commercial, adding that later this year, the fibre network would be expanded to Satau and Parakarungu, bringing optical fibre connectivity to almost all the villages in the Chobe district.

He said such initiatives compliment government’s efforts to create an enabling business environment and promote ease of doing business in Botswana through effective use of internet.

For his part, the managing director of 4 Arrows, Mr Monare Gaborone said that they would engage as many Batswana as possible and that they were liaising with Village Development Committees to help them in this endeavor.

“We can guarantee that the ratio of foreigners to Batswana will be 1:6 at any given time,” he explained. He also gave his word that they would finish the project within the specified time and within budget.

Mr Gaborone added that their idea of giving back to the Chobe community through a fully-fledged computer centre with free Wi-fi internet is a way of leaving a legacy for the community.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Mr Ronald Shamukuni expressed delight at the government’s decision to take on the project this year, and thanked 4 arrows for the envisioned computer centre.

However, he noted that the district still needed a tarred road connecting Kachikau to Satau all the way to Parakarungu.
The fibre expansion project is expected to be completed by July 2015. ENDS