05 Dec 2024

Construction works on Francistown-Nata A3 road started on August 21 and are expected to be completed on April 8, 2027. 

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae informed Parliament on Wednesday that Francistown-Nata road project was awarded on July 4, 2023, and the Development Manager Agreement was signed on October 24, 2023 following contract negotiations. 

Mr Salakae indicated that the project was awarded to Okavango Africa Consortium as the Development Manager. 

The road construction works, he said, was unbundled into seven sections, out of which four were awarded to sub-contractors such as section one-Unik/Liftoff. Investments/ Evolution Engineers JV were awarded a 30km carriageway from Francistown Toyota traffic lights to Mathangwane, whilst on section three, TKM Engineering or JumpCorp JV was allocated a 39km carriageway from Sebina junction to Kutamogree.

Mr Salakae noted that under section four, Lobcom Investments was awarded a 33km single carriageway from Kutamogoree to Mosetse. On section five, Rhino Plant Hire were allocated a 34km single carriage way from Mosetse village past Sowa A3 junction.

He said the procurement process was still underway for the remaining three sections, being the 18km single carriageway section two which starts from Mathangwane to Sebina junction, as well as the 36km single carriageway section six from Sowa A3 Junction to Nata-Maun-Kazungula A3 junction. 

He further indicated that section seven of the project entails construction of new bridges across Tati and Shashe Rivers, including repairs of existing bridges along the entire Francistown-Nata road. 

The approved cost of the project was about P4 billion and the total amount of awards to the sub-contractors stood at P2.2 billion. 

Minister Salakae stated that with regards to the final drawings for the project, it would be availed by his ministry upon completion of the project as built or as constructed drawings. 

He stated that works contract for the construction of Mandunyane-Shashemooke- Borolong-Chadibe-Mathangwane road, including access road to Natale and Makobo (65km) was scheduled to be completed in June 2025. 

He reiterated that government had pronounced that the application of the Development Manager would be reviewed to ensure fiscal sustainability, as mentioned on the State of the nation address. 

Shashe West MP, Mr Jeremiah Frenzel had asked him to state the actual expected completion date of Francistown Nata (A3) road. 

Mr Frenzel also asked the minister to state the name of the contracting company that was awarded the tender of the aforementioned road construction. 

He further asked about the actual cost of the project, the expected infrastructural drawings of the road and the expected completion date for Mandunyane-Mathangwae road including Makobo and Natale access road. Ends