MOLEBI OBONYE
Following a consultative meeting in the North West District by the Assistant Minister of Health Sethomo Lelatisitswe, Members of Parliament in Maun have proposed the termination of a tender awarded to Net Builders Company on the construction and refurbishment of Maun General Hospital.
MPs Carter Hikuama and Dumelang Saleshando have called for the termination of the contract since the company has failed to meet the deadline which was 2018.With the advent of COVID-19 and shortage of quarantine facilities in Maun the hospital was to be used an isolation center since February and to date construction is ongoing .
The MP for Ngami Hikuama said that such tours are important as they enable Ministers to see exactly what is taking place. He also added that Health facilities continue to be lacking in the district as Letsholathebe II Memorial hospital since its official opening in 2008 still does not have an Intensive Care Unit since it was inherited from its construction company. He said that Net Builders which is currently working on refurbishing Maun General Hospital is a perfect candidate for tender termination since they have surpassed their deadline by three years. “The government keeps fueling money in projects that never complete.
One of the issues raised was that the company has not paid its employees citing lack of funds.MP for Maun West Dumelang Saleshando says it is common for tours to take place and no change has been done so far. He said that the situation at Letsholathebe has been the same for a long time with lack of specialist and utilities therefore more work has to be done in implementing projects and personnel.
Net Builders Site Agent Tatenda Dandara said the reason why they have not met their deadline is due to funds from the government as the funds take long to be credited, he also said theft is a major concern as most of their material especially electrical wires are stolen. Additionally he added that with lack of funds employees will not be paid on time causing them to miss work. Dandara also said the sub-contractor company which was in charge of electrification was called 10 months after the project started leading to delays. The project is currently left on the electrification level. Important entities like the mortuary and kitchen have been left out by the contractors.