We’re autonomous – GCC
Amidst allegations that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is interfering in Gaborone City Council’s (GCC) procurement, the city council has asserted its autonomy, clarifying that the ministry’s role is limited to financial oversight.
Responding to enquiries on the Department of Finance’s involvement in property valuation services, Molebogi Ramatlhare, GCC’s Chief Physical Planning and Estate Management Officer, outlined the Council’s procurement process.
“The documents are then submitted to the council procurement division for vetting and titled with a tender number.
The tender is then gazetted for 10 working days. If everything is in good standing, then the tender is floated. Between 10 to 21 days after the floating of the tender, the bids are evaluated by the Council evaluation team. The evaluated bids will then be submitted to the Council oversight committee for recommendations to the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk, after assessment, will then decide on the tender,” he explained.
Ramatlhare clarified that, as per the Public Procurement Regulatory Act (PPRA) of 2021, Town Clerks/Council Secretaries have delegated powers over procurement at the local level.
Regarding the ministry’s Finance department’s role in the Property Valuation project, Ramatlhare noted that they are project funders and stakeholders but emphasised that the Council reports the project’s financial status to them, not for them to reevaluate tenders.
Asked why valuations had not been done since 2008, Ramatlhare attributed it to the Township Act, which is no longer in use.
He explained that the Local Government Act of 2012 and its Regulations (Valuation roll) of 2019 empowered local authorities to undertake their valuation projects.
On the potential loss of uncollected rates due to the failure to value properties, Ramatlhare acknowledged the challenges. “Since 2008 to date, the city has been developing rapidly, and that is money lost in rates,” he said.
He, however, couldn’t provide an exact figure due to the lack of valuation.
Meanwhile, Ramatlhare said the valuation project is progressing well, keeping up with the expected timelines. Currently, it’s in the phase of physically inspecting individual properties.
This inspection involves measuring the building plinth area, creating a photographic record of the building facades, and visually inspecting and describing interior finishes and fittings. However, Ramatlhare acknowledged a few hiccups in the project, including limited access to individual properties in Gaborone for valuation consultants during physical inspections. He also noted constraints in accessing property information at the Deeds Registry Department and the unavailability of landlords, which hampers the valuation exercises. While the office accused of interference in local government procurement insists that seeking information about ongoing tenders and contracts is part of oversight, the ministry, represented by spokesperson Masego Ramakgati, gave its clarification.
“The ministry is not privy to this matter. However, the ministry subscribes to the highest standards of professional conduct and expects its personnel to adhere to ethical conduct at all times,” he said.
Asked why valuations had not been done since 2008, Ramatlhare attributed it to the Township Act, which is no longer in use