27 Aug 2024

The groundbreaking ceremony for reconstruction of the A3 Road between Francistown and Nata under the Development Manager model is a significant milestone for the country’s infrastructure development, says His Excellency President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi.

The ceremony held in Mathangwane on Monday follows the contract signing in October 2023 for a suite of infrastructure developments to be constructed under the Development Manager model.

“We are here to start construction activities for a major road project, a regional project, and an international corridor that does not only carry goods and services from our neighbouring countries but also carry goods and services from across the globe,” said President Masisi.

The implementation of the road project, he said, not only ushered in hope for a better tomorrow but was also key to trade facilitation and the progress of human development capital.

This, Dr Masisi noted, was in spite of the many challenges that Botswana was experiencing, such as the regional and global economic uncertainty, that had impacted negatively on the sale of diamonds.

 The President said government was closely watching the developments and would continue to nonetheless deliver on its promises.

He said contrary to some people who intimate improper motives on government expenditure, the government was in fact prudent in its spending to make sure Batswana received developments.

Meanwhile, President Masisi  lauded the Minister of Transport and Public Works Honourable Eric Molale for turning things around in the ministry he led. 

He urged him and his team never to lift their feet off the paddle in their quest to build a high-performance culture and render quality services to Batswana.

He described Minister Molale as a true compatriot and servant of the people who had worked tirelessly and selflessly to develop Botswana.

Also, President Masisi blamed drinking and driving, which had resulted in road carnages and the loss of lives on roads, as a bad culture that needed to be kicked out.

According to President Dr. Masisi, stringent measures in terms of traffic violations would have to be taken to deal with perpetrators once and for all.

“Road crashes and accidents that have occurred on this road over the years have become national, regional, and international concerns,” he said.

It is to this end that he stated that the government had resolved to move with speed to improve and widen the 200 kilometre stretch of road.

Minister Molale echoed President Masisi's words, saying the reconstruction of the Francistown-Nata Road was born out of the reset agenda, whose aim was to transform Botswana to a higher pedestal.

He said the ministry he led needed an overhaul because it was in a mess with cost overruns, while unfinished and low-quality projects were the order of the day, hence the need for a transformation strategy as a matter of urgency.

Development Manager, Mr Moemedi Gabana promised that the consortium he led, the Okavango Africa Consortium, would work tirelessly to ensure the project was delivered on time, on budget, and of good quality.

Area MP, Mr Fidelis Molao, talked about the  number of projects achieved throughout Shashe West constituency, including the reconstruction of the Francistown-Nata Road  saying it was testament of government commitment to the people.

Kgosi Batisani Moeti of Mathangwane was appreciative that the long-awaited project had finally started. Ends