Over P12million to be spent on Gaborone streetlights

The ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through the Gaborone City Council has set aside over P12.2million budget for street lighting during this financial year.

This was revealed by Assistant Minister in the Ministry, Botlogile Tshireletso in Parliament last week. Tshireletso who was responding to the former Mayor of Gaborone, also Legislator for Gaborone North, Haskins Nkaigwa explained that the Ministry through GCC has entered into a Public Private Partnership contract for replacement of existing High Pressure Sodium (HPS) streetlights fittings with energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) street light fittings in Gaborone.

“The budget allocated is P12,294 450.00. The project will include complete refurbishment of non-functional streetlights and a 10-year maintenance contract. Areas to be covered are Partial, Extension 19, 21 and 22. Maintenance at Extension 27 is still on-going,” she told Parliament.  

Block 10 and Tsholofelo Extensions are dark due to cable theft. Maintenance of street lights was completed on the 4th of October 2016 at Tawana and Tsholofelo Extension 31, whilst maintenance crew is still at Block 3. However, routine maintenance is being provided at other areas of Gaborone North including Ledumang, Marang and Block 8.

Nkaigwa had wanted to establish what is being done to address the problem of streetlights in Gaborone, as residents in some areas have been living in darkness with dysfunctional streetlights for a long while. He also wanted to know the budget allocated for this work.