Govt to develop first phase of BIUST alone

26 January, 2009 in Botswana, Education, Palapye, Palapye University

source: Mmegi
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer

After many delays, government is finally forging ahead with construction at the site of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) in Palapye without a private partner (PPP).

The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board last week approved a decision by the Department of Building and Engineering Services to award a P429 million tender to a Chinese contractor for a period of 18 months.

The Vice Chancellor of what is to be Botswana’s second university, Professor Kweku Bentil, yesterday explained that the government is starting the first phase of the university without a PPP, while the second phase will be done with the participation of a PPP.

The government has previously explained its snail’s pace on the ambitious project in terms of its huge financial outlay, saying it preferred mobilising public private partners to develop the university.

But with time running out for the scheduled opening of the university in March 2011, the government finds itself without [continue reading]

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