The Office of the Auditor General has come to the conclusion that Gaborone City Council has failed to develop a maintenance policy that would be used as a guiding framework for the city’s maintenance works.
The damning report by the Auditor General comes in the wake of endemic public complaints to the effect that GCC is failing, in many respects, when it comes to the repair and maintenance of public works.
The audit on the maintenance of Gaborone City roads was motivated by factors such as potholes, warn-out road signs, faded road markings and poor drainage of water which is usually found at roundabouts.
Among the key findings of the report are that the City Council has not developed a maintenance policy.
The Office of the Auditor General thinks such a policy is vital, and its absence only makes the management of maintenance work by the GCC more difficult.
It has also been determined that GCC has not developed a Strategic Plan which would assist in planning for and addressing maintenance issues.
Furthermore, it has been found that the City Council’s Roads Department has a backlog of 80 outsourced projects which have accumulated over 3 years.
The concern is that the backlog will naturally render the projects more costly in the long run.
Gaborone City Council is mandated with the provision, operation and maintenance of all basic services (including roads) and infrastructure within their area of jurisdiction.
The Office of the Auditor General made several recommendations and concluded by stating that although GCC is entirely dependent on Government for financial resources, “nevertheless, where funds are available it needs to be proactive in maintenance works.”
