15 Sep 2024

The P300 million envisioned bitumen road from Modipane to Mabalane has sent communities in and around the vicinity of the 30km road into jubilation.

During the groundbreaking of the road infrastructure network in Dikwididi on Friday, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said the road was a vehicle to ensure the participation of Batswana in their economy.

He added that the road was meant to empower Batswana and that it was his priority since assuming office in 2018. The road project will benefit the youth, women, and other marginalised groups, providing them with increased access to economic opportunities.

Addressing residents President Masisi said roads were critical to any development as they enabled people to run their errands with ease and made villages accessible as well as stimulating economic activities.

President Masisi encouraged the residents to embrace the opportunities the new road would bring. He said government would allocate up to 60 per cent of some development projects to citizens, ensuring they gain from their economy.

“The same principle of citizen economic empowerment that I advocated for during the new De Beers deal negotiation will apply across various sectors of the economy,” he affirmed.

President Masisi reiterated the government’s commitment to the Reset and Reclaim Agenda, which envisioned a Botswana characterised by effective infrastructure and a citizenry equipped with globally competitive skills. 

He also explained that the Development Manager model for infrastructure projects aimed to empower Batswana with the skills needed to manage large-scale projects, potentially expanding their reach to international markets.

“I want Batswana to be able to exploit opportunities in other countries,” he said.

In addition, President Masisi outlined plans to address backlog road projects that were postponed due to financial limitations, including those affected by Cyclone Dineo, specifically the Nata-Gweta-Maun, and Pandamatenga roads.

He also mentioned that the Chinese Road and Belt Initiative, supported by a US$10 billion loan from the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), would aid Botswana’s road infrastructure endeavours.

The Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale, said  the road would be constructed using the Development Manager model.

He emphasised that the project would be completed within budget and would also facilitate skills transfer to Batswana.

He noted that the national spatial plan aims to decongest major roads, highlighting that the Sikwane-Mmaphashalala eastern bypass would connect Kgatleng with villages in the Central District.

He encouraged residents to take advantage of the opportunities brought about by these developments, such as building fueling stations.

Mr Molale also informed residents to prepare for personalised number plates, which are part of ongoing developments in the transport sector.

Mr Thabang Mbembele, the Development Manager and Chief Executive Officer of Pro-Serve Consulting Botswana, stated that his company’s priority within the entire infrastructure ecosystem is to act as a social facilitator and to establish labour and enterprise desks at the dikgotla of all affected villages.

He emphasised that skills transfer was a crucial component of the 30-month-long project.

“We intend to implement the project in a manner that centers on the community, empowering youth, people with disabilities, and women, among others,” he explained.

Mr Mbembele added that the Development Manager approach they had adopted would ensure that locals were engaged throughout all phases of the project, promoting skills transfer and the use of local products to ensure that goods and services were procured from affected communities.

Former MP for Mochudi East, Mr Mabuse Pule, expressed delight that the project had finally commenced.

He praised President Masisi for supporting the initiative and expressed satisfaction that the Modipane-Mabalane road was part of the 149 projects being implemented nationwide.

He said the road would reduce travel costs. “We will now see more residents commuting due to the ease of movement,” he observed. Ends