Response by Hon. Minister for Defence, Justice and Security to Parliamentary Question No.844, asked by Hon. Mr. M.M. Goya, MP for Palapye

source: Republic of Botswana (16/8/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 21 of 2009
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
“Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline”


D5) 12/8/09: RESPONSE BY HON. MINISTER FOR DEFENCE, JUSTICE AND SECURITY TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO.844, ASKED BY HON. Mr. M.M. Goya, MP for Palapye

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Defence, Justice and Security:

(i) What measures have been put in place to ensure that citizen owned and controlled companies are not marginalised in the Botswana Police Service facility, which is under construction in Palapye, notwithstanding that the main contract has been awarded to a multi-national company; and

(ii) Why the digging of trenches/loading and collection delivery of backfill, sand and gravel cannot be reserved for citizens with the help Citizen Entrepreneurial Agency (CEDA)

ANSWER: Mr. Speaker, the new Palapye Police Station project was awarded pursuant to an open tender. In the ITT, there was no stipulation as to what content of citizen participation was required as a pre-requisite for award of contract. It therefore, remains that any structure/process of citizen empowerment would be that as stipulated under various government instruments such as Cabinet Directive Cab. 37/95 which directed that 30% of government projects in the construction business should be set aside for citizen contractors. It is my belief that all citizen empowerment considerations were made by the PPADB in accordance with the ITT, Government Policies and the PPADB Act. May I also note that a citizen empowerment policy will soon be prescribed to Cabinet by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for consideration. This is the policy that will layout the general framework of citizen empowerment in Botswana with regard to government projects. I thank you Mr. Speaker.