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Kazungula Bridge Project: Gov$$t leaves Batswana contractors in the lurch.

$22$nd May $2023$

ByThobo Motlhoka

Some of the Batswana companies that were contracted to carry out works under the Kazungula Bridge Project have been

left stranded without full payment for completed projects.

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works has especially been accused of failing local companies by refusing to liaise with

their Zambian counterparts to ensure the Zambian government pays their part of the deal.

This failure to pay has reportedly affected service delivery as affected contractors refuse to carry out routine maintenance

services, turning equipment into white elephants.

$$Some of us are drowning in debt because we cannot afford to pay bank loans,$$ one contractor said. They also accuse

Kazungula Bridge Project Office $($KBPO$)$ of failing to carry out its mandate. There were $11$ lots for supply and service

provision contracts awarded to Botswana and Zambian companies. $$We have contacted the Office of the President for

intervention without any luck,$$ the contractors have said.

According to the contracts signed with the contractors both countries are to share the costs of the work on a $50/50$ basis

with Botswana paying $25$ percent and the other $25$ percent paid by Japan International Cooperation Agency $($JICA$)$ which

co$-$financed the overall project. But the Zambian government$$s Road Development Agency has so far failed to pay their part

for some of the projects. Now local contractors are up in arms after being sent from pillar to post by KBPO and the Ministry

of Transport. The Botswana government has refused to assist the contractors, sending them back to KBPO for answers.

In one of their letters to a contractor, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works makes it clear that Botswana has carried

out its share of the deal and the contractor should contact the Zambians for the balance. However, nowhere in the works

contract does it indicate part payment by either country.

Part of the contract $($Terms of Payment$)$ indicates: $$The Supplier$$s request for payment shall be made to the Purchaser in

writing, accompanied by invoices describing, as appropriate, the goods and Related Services delivered, and by the

documents submitted pursuant to$...$ and upon fulfillment of all other obligations stipulated in the Contract. Payments shall

be made promptly by the Purchaser $[$The Ministry of Transport and Public Works and Road Development Agency Zambia$],$

but in no case later than sixty $(60)$ days after submission of an invoice or request for payment by the Supplier, and after the

Purchaser has accepted it$.$ There is no mention of split payments between the two governments.

In a letter written to one local contractor Bareng Malatsi, Acting Permanent Secretary of Transport Ministry, tells the

contractor the government of Botswana has settled its part of the contract and is therefore no longer indebted to the

company.

$$The Employer in the contract is both Botswana and Zambia liable for $50\%$ of the funding and payments. On the basis of the

foregoing, we advise that you contact KBPO in Kazungula to facilitate settling the outstanding payment from Zambia,$$ the

Acting Permanent Secretary wrote. In response to the letter one of the contractors argues that the Conditions of Payment

Section of the contract explicitly state that $100$ percent of the contract price shall be paid within Sixty $(60)$ days after delivery

and acceptance of goods by the Purchaser. That nowhere in the provisions or any documents made pursuant to the

contract does it state payment arrangements in portions.

$$The obligation of service delivery was fulfilled in terms of the contract and a practical completion certificate issued by the

client as a form of acceptance,$$ the contractor wrote.

$$A commitment by the Ministry on behalf of the Government of Botswana to support, protect aTable of Contents

$1)$ Introduction

A$.$ Purpose of the Report

B$.$ Scope and Objectives

C$.$ Overview of Resource Planning Management

$2)$ Executive Summary

A$.$ Key Findings

B$.$ Recommendations $-$ Critical Issue requiring action:

$3)$ Background

A$.$ Brief Background

B$.$ Challenges

$4)$ Methodology

Note: $($Students are allowed to make informed assumption or use their own discretion$)$

$5)$ Current Resource Situation

A$.$ Overview of Existing Resources

B$.$ Resource Allocation and Utilization

$6)$ Resource Planning Strategies

A$.$ Resource Allocation Models and Techniques

B$.$ Resource Prioritization Methods

$7)$ Resource Optimization

A$.$ Strategies for Maximizing Resource Efficiency

$8)$ Risk Management

A$.$ Identification and Assessment of Resource Risks

$9)$ Stakeholder Engagement

A$.$ Communication and Collaboration with Stakeholders

$10)$ Monitoring and Evaluation

A$.$ Key Performance Indicators $($KPIs$)$

$11)$ Conclusion

A$.$ Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations

$12)$ Sign$-$off

$13)$ Appendices

A$.$ Supporting Data and Analysis $($if any$).$

B$.$ Additional Resources and References.