20 Dec 2024

Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi says government is putting the lives of people at the centre of their business to ensure every Motswana is satisfied.

Mr Mmolotsi said this during a courtesy call on Chobe District leadership on Thursday, before going on a familiarisation tour of the Kasane/Kazungula redevelopment project sites.

He said it was imperative that all public service employees upheld the highest standards of governance and Botho and adopt an open door policy where customers were listened to.

He further said Botswana was in a critical economic crisis with the Government Investment Account as diamond sales declined with no sales for 11 months. As such, he said government took a decision to suspended 70 projects issued through the Development Manager model while 78 would continue as they had already been mobilised.

He said the DM model presented price hikes three times the value of the project cost, which could completely cripple the already ailing economy. However, he promised that the 70 suspended projects would be reviewed and delivered to Batswana through a tendering process that would be suitable.

Chobe MP, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga said he believed that whatever model government would adopt to deliver projects would serve the best interests of Batswana. He expressed gratitude to the minister for visiting Chobe to appreciate the Kasane/Kazungula projects sites adding that Chobe had lost many opportunities due to contractors’ failure to deliver projects.

The minister was accompanied by Mr Mapulanga, Botswana Tourism Organisation CEO, Ms Keitumetse Setlang, senior officials from Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Chobe District leadership among others to appreciate the Kasane/Kazungula redeployment project sites.

The project entails the construction of offices, which were relocated from the Chobe riverfront and main road to pave way for the Kasane facelift. The team also visited 150 institutional houses and integrated office block as well as the recently commissioned Kasane water treatment plant, government fleet management workshop and the riverfront area where properties were relocated. ENDS