27 May 2013

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology is to introduce a construction industry regulator.

The permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr Dikagiso Mokotedi said the regulator would be responsible for overseeing the construction industry.

He said the establishment of the regulator would ensure that contractors and other stakeholders comply with ethical standards.

Mr Mokotedi said the construction industry has no legal framework, and that it is difficult for contractors to be taken to task.

He said voluntary institutions such as associations for architects and quantity surveyors were not legally recognised, and cannot take legal action against contractors who fail to deliver.

Mr Mokotedi said the initiative would also result in the establishment of a construction registration board, adding that it would be different from the one set up by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB).

He said the board would comprise members who have qualifications in construction.

The permanent secretary said the primary goal of coming up with the interventions was to screen construction companies. He added that the ministry had delegated BOCCIM to come up with modalities for company registration.

“We need to have confidence in these people. This country has a problem because people do not get value for their money,” he said.

Mr Mokotedi said the new reforms came as a result of a study conducted by Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis, adding that the study recommended the establishment of a construction regulator.

He said the study noted that the industry was open to everybody, and was therefore crowded with people who had no qualifications.

He said the ministry was working towards re-aligning the construction industry, adding that the engineers’ registration bill was ready for submission to Parliament. Mr Mokotedi also noted that architects’ registration bill had been submitted whilst the quantity surveyors’ act had just been approved by cabinet.

He said by the end of the year, the engineers board would call on engineers for registration, adding that the screening process would take place.

In addition, he said registration would also extend to contractors, bricklayers and artisans.

However, he said contractors would have their own body which would register contractors.

Mr Mokotedi therefore encouraged youth in construction industry to get qualifications for different fields they were engaged in, saying that those without qualifications would in the long run be struck off the list. ENDS