The choice of the theme for the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry
and Manpower (BOCCIM) 12th biennial national business conference that kicks
off in Francistown today, “Interrogating Implementation – WHY is it a
CHALLENGE?”, is by all accounts appropriate for the times we are in.
This is especially so given that while the issue of project implementation
in Botswana has remained one of our greatest economic challenges, it has
never before been propelled to these high levels of attention and debate.
It is encouraging that, at long last, BOCCIM has realized the importance of
addressing the nagging issue of project implementation with all its
attendant economic costs.
By choosing this topical theme, BOCCIM is finally asserting its rightful
position as the voice of the private business sector charged with the
responsibility of driving Botswana’s economy.
We can no longer rely on government to do that role.
Results have shown that governments do a shoddy job when asked to run
businesses.
What they should be confined to is to providing a conducive regulatory
framework.
Equally inspiring for the conference is the choice of the speakers – former
Ghanaian President John Kufour and our own President Ian Khama, who, as
vice-president, was at some point charged with the responsibility of
overseeing the implementation of government projects.
The vice-president was obviously tasked with that responsibility on the
realization of the immense challenges that manifested in the implementation
of government projects. Given the importance of project implementation, it
was appropriate that such a task be assigned to a high ranking official in
the person of the vice-president.
It is our hope that in addition to the two statesmen, BOCCIM has been able
to source other experts in the field of project implementation who will
unravel the dynamics involved in the subject to the benefit of the
conference.
We hope that Khama will share his previous experiences particularly
challenges he confronted during his tenure as the principal driver of
government projects implementation.
While we may not be privy to the many challenges plaguing government
projects implementation, we are aware that a good number of projects in this
country have not been implemented within schedule and budget.
It is a fact that too many projects are completed behind schedule and way above the budgets.
Worse, some projects are never completed invariably necessitating
re-tendering at added cost to government. Cost overruns which for the most
part can be avoided have become a liability to the tax payer. They gobble
funds that would otherwise have been channelled into other projects of
national importance.
It must be said that though Botswana in the past recorded significant budget
surpluses, some of the contributory factors were linked to implementation of
projects.
A lot of projects were deferred from one National Development Plan to the
other because of implementation bottlenecks.
It is, therefore, commendable that BOCCIM, in conjunction with government, has
found it fitting to address this topical issue and confront it head-on.
The matter is as much an issue for government, who are the client, as well as
the business, who are the implementers.
A failure to implement projects on time has immense economic costs to the
country, which is still reeling from the effects of recession.
Failure to execute projects in time also negatively impacts on the delivery
of social services. It is important that projects are completed on time so that
beneficiaries are not made to suffer at the whims of implementation failure.
Take, for instance, delayed delivery of serviced land that impacts negatively
on the provision of shelter to many Batswana. It also breeds squatting and
corruption as some people are tempted into cutting corners in order to
access such services.
Take, for example, the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, which is now
many years behind schedule. The upshot of it is that it curtails the
development of other sectors like tourism and, of course, aviation.
Take, for example, the many sports facilities that remain unfinished.
The net effect of it all is to undermine the credibility of the nation in
international forum.
The decision by BOCCIM to confront this issue head-on is, therefore, highly
commendable.
