21 Aug 2024

Government is considering leasing vehicles from citizens as well as citizen-owned companies in the next financial year.

To that end, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works has proposed a budget to be provided for each ministry to be able to lease vehicles in order to ease the burden on government to procure, repair and maintain vehicles while at the same time empowering Batswana and creating the much needed jobs.

This was revealed by transport and public works Minister, Honourable Eric Molale answering a question in Parliament on Monday.

Honourable Molale indicated that there were currently 2 677 vehicles parked in all Government Fleet Management (GFM) stations, former Central Transport Organisation (CTO), countrywide with some awaiting public auction and others awaiting repairs.

He said following decentralisation of maintenance of government vehicles, ministries were currently responsible for ensuring that their vehicles were roadworthy by providing the required maintenance funds, including making plans to repair them using repair garages in the private sector.

He explained that shortages of funds for vehicle repairs as well as lack of vehicle replacement budgets for four years caused many vehicles to be kept beyond their optimal utilisation, thus leading to high maintenance costs.

“In an effort to address the issue, my ministry has successfully advocated for replacement budgets to be provided to ministries in the current financial year and it is expected that procurement of vehicles is ongoing,” he added.

Palapye legislator, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi had asked the minister to update Parliament on the number of vehicles parked at CTO stations countrywide and state the reasons for the status quo despite shortage of vehicles in all government ministries. ENDS