Controversial Moti Group pushes for construction tender

A South African company, Moti Group, belonging to President Duma Boko’s friend, wants a tender to build clinics and schools, linked to a 17-year deal, reports Mmegionline. The company will deliver ready-made clinics and schools made from renovated shipping containers. It will be a lease-to-own arrangement. Although it is unclear how many schools and clinics the Moti Group plans to build, the total cost for a single clinic is P9.1m ($668 078), while a single school will cost P36.4 ($2 672 316). The company belongs to South African businessman Zunaid Moti, who financed Umbrella for Democratic Change’s 2019 general election bid. In terms of the proposal, the company, through its African Hero project, proposes to finish the m i l l i o n pula project in one or two months, 20 times faster than the current Botswana brick and mortar construction concept. Last month, Boko said he was looking to avoid the normal tendering process due to delays. Boko said he was ready to defend direct appointments in court if he has to. ‘Some of the decisions we are going to take are going to shock some because, in some instances, we are not going to use normal tendering. Normally, a tender is advertised for up to six months, followed by an evaluation stage which lasts for three months. When the tender is awarded, one of the unsuccessful companies appeals the decision, and the matter ends up in court and is resolved after two years.’ he said.

Full Mmegionline report