Minister of Infrastructure, Science and Technology Nonofo Molefhi will not commit himself to the timeframe work the much awaited Francistown stadium will be completed and ready for use by the residents.
Save to say the stadium is due for completion 08 June 2015, Molefhi will not know when the facility will be handed to the people of Francistown.
“The stadium will have to be handed to the Ministry of Sports who will then have the responsibility to hand the facility to the people of Francistown,” he said.
“I will therefore not commit myself to the date the stadium will be handed to the people of Francistown. The work is not yet complete,” he argued, pressed much more over the issue by the Francistown South Member of Parliament Wynter Mmolotsi.
Commissioned in 2008, the multi-use stadium was expected to finish well in time for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa as some competing teams were expected to make use of the facility in preparation for the coveted tournament.
That was not to be.
Almost four years down the lane, construction is still going on with completion of the stadium now split into two components for ease of implementations and monitoring.
Comprising of the running track, soccer pitch and associated infrastructure, the stadium arena works started on 12th June, 2014 and is scheduled for completion on 31st April, 2015.
Current physical progress is assessed to be 68% with the running track and soccer pitch complete except for laying of the rubber track and irrigation pipes respectively.
The crowd control facilities alterations and renovations and associated infrastructure comprising of 38 ticket booths, 14 tuck shops, waterproofing and renovation of ablutions on the East and West stands started work on 30th June, 2014 and is due for completion on 8th June, 2015.
“Current physical progress is assessed at 28% with out of 38 ticket booths and tuck shops for crowd control completed,” Molefhi further said.
He added: “The major outstanding works are the electrical installation and renovation of ablutions.”
With the previous company having failed to complete the stadium in time, a new company took over expected this time around to finish the project in June 2015.
Molefhi was answering a question from Mmolotsi who is concerned about the ever postponement and delay of the opening of the stadium.
Built at around P175m, Francistown stadium adds to other state of art multi-purpose stadiums which will far exceed the estimated time of completion due to sub-standard workmanship bordering on corruption and fraud.
After years of take off and much impatience, the National stadium was recently opened but not after costs over runs.
