22 Aug 2024

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works is planning to carry out debushing and vegetation control along national roads twice a year.

This was said by Honorable Minister Eric Molale when answering a question in Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Molale said the first intervention was planned for the first quarter of the financial year, from April to May and the other one would be done in the third or fourth quarter, from November to February, just before the end of the financial year.

“This would however, depend on the occurrence of bushes after the last intervention,” he said.

Minister Molale admitted that there were delays to carry out vegetation control in the Ngami constituency as observed over the years.

However, he said mitigation measures were put in place to try and speed up the process through engaging Village Development Committees (VDCs) and Community Trusts to augment contractors and include communities in the maintenance of roads.

“I am however, informed that the engagement of the Community Trusts and VDCs experienced some teething problems as there were some delays to pay some of them. My Ministry is currently looking at internal processes that will ensure timely payments to VDCs and Trusts,” he said.

He added that plans were underway to start debushing in Ngami constituency from August 19 and the evaluated contractors would debush sections of 10kms for the whole road reserve width.

He said the first priority was the A3 road starting from Maun up to Kuke (180km) then the A35 from Sehithwa up to Gumare (80km).

Member of Parliament for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama had wanted to know the ministry’s plan on debushing and vegetation control along roads and highways in the country. ENDS