LAME BOGATSU
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Thapelo Olopeng says he is unhappy with local entrepreneurs who hike up prices when bidding for Botswana’s 50th anniversary celebrations flag designing tenders.
Olopeng said this when addressing media on his Ministry’s road map to prepare for Botswana’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
“I made it very clear to Procurement that for the BOT50 celebration tenders, first priority should be given to local people. However, when my office shared the prices that were quoted, the prices were flagged really high, they were ridiculously quoted,” he said.
Olopeng said he was aware of the marketing prices because he was once in the private sector.
With the independence celebrations just a few months away, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture said it engaged the youth, locally owned businesses and players in the local entertainment industry to be involved in as many projects as possible in Botswana’s journey to celebrate BOTS50.
“To make this possible we decided to float tenders for different services and I am disappointed that what we tried to do to empower our own people is going to be a hindrance to our main goal,” he continued.
Olopeng revealed that P54 million was allocated for the BOTS50 celebrations project. Projects he said would benefit include the refurbishment of heritage sites, coffee table book with photography of Botswana’s history, tv and radio debates, as well as revival of national symbols among other things.