By ‘Majirata Latela
The Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro, on Monday, led a sod turning ceremony to mark construction of the new Senate building. The M209million three-block building will be erected just behind the new Parliament building.
Speaking at the inauguration, the minister of public works and transport, Lebohang Monaheng said the long awaited Senate building will take three years to complete.
“I want to urge people to take note that if projects get postponed for reasons that include the awarding of the tender, the project then gets very expensive as prices escalate over the years.
“For example, this project in 2012 would have cost the government M76million, but now after nine years of challenging the tender process the project now costs the government a whopping M209million; the difference has changed drastically,” he said.
Majoro, on the other hand, indicated that the Senate house being very close to parliament will make operations smoother for both houses.