No BR procurement involving Project Office at OP

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, told Parliament yesterday (Monday) that Botswana Railways is an autonomous body that undertakes its own procurement processes. He said that as the minister responsible, he has not been briefed about the procurement goings on at Botswana Railways, as his powers are limited to appointing the CEO and the board. Although he denied that the Project Office at the Office of the President is involved, the minister admitted that there is an official from the Project Office serving on the BR Board, which conducts oversight of procurement at the organisation.

“I wish to state that, to date, no multi-million-pula contract has been awarded by Botswana Railways. Accordingly, there has been no procurement process requiring involvement from the Project Office at the Office of the President in this regard,” the minister said in response to a question asked in Parliament yesterday.