Most national development projects collapse because of failure to prioritize developments on the strength of the country’s socio-economical potential.
This was said by Lekwalo Mosienyane, president of Botswana Confederation of Commerce Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM), last week at a press briefing organised by the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST). He said greater involvement of the private sector in the planning and management of pre and post implementation of infrastructural development projects is crucial in the understanding and commitment to socio economic impact and implications.
“Better conceptualization, planning, design and improved project management are some of the key factors that can align service level investment and maintenance cost implications of infrastructures,” he said.
Mosienyane added that budgets for capacity and skills development in implementation of all national projects must be developmental for the benefit of Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s). He further encouraged value addition of supervision by experienced and knowledgeable personnel as that would promote inclusive approaches on citizen ownership of projects by both the planner and implementer.
As a suggestion, Mosienyane said the way forward for government, in terms of better project management of huge projects such as BIUST, Morupule B and Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, would be to increase participation of the local private sector in management and financing.
“Private Public Partnerships must be engaged at all levels. Government must first and foremost remove all opportunities and incentives for corruption,” said Mosienyane.
He encouraged BIUST and Ministry of Education and Skills Development to lead the advocacy for skills development through national infrastructure development projects.
“This could help in eliminating the culture of looking for profit more than professionalism,” said Mosienyane.
