Morwaeng at pains to explain Tautona Lodge purchase
Govt unshaken with decision
The nation will have to wait a little longer in order to know the exact nature of use and, or research that government will embark on at Tautona Lodge Farm that was bought recently at over P58 million.
The purchase of the farm is currently a subject of debate after Member of Parliament for Maun West Dumelang Saleshando asked the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Kabo Morwaeng to confirm whether it was true that the government had bought the farm. The final settlement amount for procurement of the Farm including Value Added Tax was P58 240 000. Although he dealt with questions from several Members of Parliament, Morwaeng’s answers revealed the government’s weakness in disseminating information regarding national projects. Even when probed, Morwaeng was not forthcoming. The response did not only lead to more MPs especially from the opposition asking many supplementary questions but equally opened room for speculation.
Answering a supplementary question from Saleshando, Morwaeng said the research to be done on the farm forms part of the government’s future strategy.
He explained that technical experts were engaged to do the due diligence and evaluation to see if the price set is the correct one before the farm and lodge were bought, adding that the property is strategically located.
“The purchase of this farm was planned for, we have always been searching for a suitable place and we finally settled for this farm. It belongs to government 100 percent, and will be used by other Ministries who need to do research related to agriculture”.
Member of Parliament for Sefhare- Ramokgonami, Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang raised concern about
the identity of the owner of the farm and whether there was any tendering done. He said the government recently took land in Okavango that they had reserved for resorts.
Morwaeng said the government is not in the tourism business but instead encourages tourism. He said the government wants to encourage tourism as international visitors who visit the area on government business will also encourage others to visit Botswana upon completion of this project.
He said those who are already engaged in the tourism business in the area stand to benefit more. Morwaeng added that the acquisition of the facility followed the government’s procurement procedure as prescribed by the PPADB Regulation 61 which provides for direct appointment.
“The primary consideration for acquisition of the facility was its location, which provides vast serviced land, that is, electricity connection, an access road to primary road, water and wastewater services including proximity to a hospital and an airport”.
Morwaeng explained that the land and hotel belonged to a company called Horseshoes Ranches Pty Limited, but refused to state the owner. He was cagey when it came to whether the acquisition was a cabinet decision.