Khato Civils sets up in Botswana
Constructs headquarters in Mmamashia Will use Batswana professionals in regional, continental projects
Hard on the heels of the successful completion and commissioning of the Masama- Mmamashia 100 kilometers water pipeline, the chairman of Khato Civils group, Simbi Phiri has announced that he is in Botswana to stay.
The company is already constructing a multibillion headquarters in Botswana. The structure is composed of a modern workshop and warehouse and will be followed by executive offices.
However, this does not mean he is closing shop and relocating from Johannesburg, South Africa where Khato Civils and its sister company, South Zambezi are currently based and operating from.
In an interview with Botswana Guardian, Phiri revealed that there are numerous reasons why he wants to settle in Botswana. Firstly, he deems it fitting to invest in his motherland as his mother is from Tonota in the Central District.
Further, this will serve as a regional office because Botswana‘ s location makes it a gateway to the regional market. Botswana is also renowned for its democratic credentials, absence of foreign exchange controls, and observance of the rule of law which are some of the prerequisites for investors to set up in a country.
Giving an example Phiri revealed that his company has already secured contracts in Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Sudan. He said it will be easier for him when buying materials from abroad either in South Africa or anywhere in the world to secure the foreign currency needed to purchase the materials than in some of the countries where he is operating from.
Besides announcing that Khato is here to stay, Phiri also shared the good news that all Batswana professionals and technicians currently working for the company and those that will in the future be absorbed and or posted in regional and continental projects wherever the company has been engaged.
So far, Khato has been awarded tenders in Malawi where they are doing a 300 kilometers water pipeline, and in South Sudan where they are working on two water treatment plants in different places, as well as in Zimbabwe.
The tender for the construction of the treatment plant which is meant to increase the capacity of the existing plant in order to accommodate the water from the NSC 2 water pipeline was originally awarded to a joint venture between China Jiangsu and Unik Construction at a cost of P875 million, but the tender was terminated for security reasons.
It was later in accordance with the tender guidelines awarded to Khato at a cost of P806 million.
The guidelines called for the short- listing of three companies in their order of preference on how they fared before the adjudication board.
This was so that in the event that the preferred company fails to take the project for whatever reasons, there would be no need to call for re- tendering as the company that came second best must take over.
Answering a question on whether Khato will be able to assist Bakgatla who are currently seeking assistance to build a modern all- weather Leobo
( shelter) at the main Kgotla
in Bakgatla capital village of Mochudi, Phiri pledged their assistance.
Kgosi Bana Sekai had appealed to Phiri and Khato to assist his tribe to complete the building of an all- weather modern leobo
- to be the biggest in the country, during the commissioning of the MasamaMmamashia pipeline by President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi last Friday.
Through their Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR), Khato Civils gave back to the communities of four villages of Leshibitse Artesia, Rasesa, Bokaa which the pipeline passes through. In addition, they built a house for a destitute family, electrified a library, and provided porta caravans to be used as offices at a local clinic.
Phiri also announced that Khato will through CSR give a named project to the Kgatleng East constituency whose jurisdiction covers Mmamashia.