GCC owed P9 million by advertising companies

Gaborone City Council is owed arrears amounting to P9 million by advertising companies, Deputy Mayor for Gaborone City Council, Lotty Manyepedza said this week.

Manyepedza said the Council wrote demand letters to owing companies in September 2020, and they have observed significant improvement in collection, while other companies commit to payment plans. “Finance Committee has resolved to give advertising companies that are not in arrears two months payment holidays as a relief to the COVID- 19 Lockdown impacts and also as a motivation to companies in arrears to clear up,” Manyepetdza said.

Addressing a full Council meeting, Manyepedza said the Modernisation and Provision of a Centralised Traffic Control ( CTC) project overall progress is estimated to be on track at 68 percent. The project is expected to help in managing and improving traffic congestion including road safety.

He said this week that installation and commissioning of 89 intersections have been completed to date with work ongoing on seven intersections. The construction of the structure of CTC building on the other hand, is at completion stage and the project is expected to be completed in March 2022. According to the Deputy Mayor, during the 2020/ 21 through the constituency funding and recurrent budget, the council managed to upgrade gravel roads by paving them with interlocking bricks, construction, de- silting and clearing of concrete lined storm water drains in different roads across all constituencies.

Through the road levy fund, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has allocated Council funds amounting to P20 million comprising of P15 million for Asphalt overlay, P3 million for Tower lights and remaining P2 million for Solar Street Lighting. “We have managed to appoint a Contractor for execution of Asphalt Overlay, Resealing and Road Marking Works of 10Km Gaborone Internal Roads at a cost of just over P14 000 000.

“Installation of tower lights has been done and 15 out of the 23 have been powered while the rest are waiting for BPC connection. One hundred and eighty- one security cages out of 300 have been installed and materials for the rest have been procured and are awaiting delivery from South Africa, which is expected in two weeks”. The project is to be completed by 31st July 2021. Another Contractor, according to Manyepedza has been engaged to install solar powered streetlights at a cost of over P1 700 000. The Contractor has managed to install all the street poles and is awaiting supply of light fittings.