Airport refurbishment works underway – Lesotho Times

thirty

…Moshoeshoe Airport 1 will become an economic free zone

Mpesi Harvester

King Moshoeshoe I International Airport to undergo major renovationsAims to transformitEntering economic freedom–The region is being developed to revive Lesotho’s troubled economy.

The plan is to modernize the dilapidated airport so that it can accommodate larger aircraft such as the Boeing 767 that can carry at least 300 passengers.

Matjato Moteane, Minister of Public Works and TransportassistancedayEgyptThe project aims to attract foreign manufacturers to Lesotho, allowing them to produce products locally and then export them globally.

hedescribeCurrently, the airport’s runway lights and air control systems are not functioning properly, making it unsuitable for trade.

In 2020, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) threatened to close the airport if it was not renovated.itIn a state of disrepair.

In June 2022, an investigative report by a South African publication revealed that the Department of Transport had awarded a controversial R33.6-million contract to the liquidated Lesedi Technical Engineering Consultants (LTE) of dubious South African businessman Thulani Majola for an airport overhaul.

As early as August 2, 2023, Motine revealed that the government was exploring loopholes to terminate the LTE contract, saying that the deal was flawed from the beginning.

Initially, the contract was won by Mr Majola’s LTE Consulting Engineers on November 11, 2021, but the company allegedly changed its trading name to Lesedi Technical Engineering Consultants before being awarded the contract.

Mr Motine said the same day (August 2) that the government had engaged the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) to review the multi-million dollar Maloti contract and advise Lesotho on how to extricate itself from the shackles of the deal.

ALSF is an international organization established by the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, at the request of African countries, to provide support for contract negotiations between governments and investors.

Furthermore, the Minister disclosed that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Directorate General of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEO) and the police have also been involved in investigating how the lucrative contract was awarded to Lesedi/LTE.

thislesotho times Prior to this, it was confirmed that the government paid Lesedi/LTE RM8.4 million in May this year for preliminary works for the airport, which included a feasibility study.

LTE Consulting Engineers was already in provisional liquidation when it was awarded the contract, a deal that was allegedly illegal. The company was placed in provisional liquidation on 9 June 2021 and the liquidation was completed in February 2022.

On June 10, 2021, a day after the Gauteng High Court issued a provisional liquidation order, Lesotho’s then Ministry of Transport announced LTE Consulting Engineers as the preferred bidder for the project.

However, Motien said this week that the governmenthaveStop using LTE due to the following reasonsThe company’sunderperforming, and decided to manage the project in-house.

“We are no longer working with LTE. They have not done a thorough job and we cannot afford to pay for such an inadequate service,” Motien toldlesotho times.

“It’s easy to terminate the contract because they didn’t do anything.OKWork. WestWe must do thisElectronic workWe won’t pay them.scamServeAnd their failure…HeyNoProvide us with good service…EraoweonlyPay themEgyptOfficially recognized.

“We need to set up a special economic zone at the airport for the export, import and processing of goods. This is not even mentioned in their study. This means they don’t quite understand what they should do,” he said.

He added:used to beWe’d better cancel that contract.. ifThey’re going to sue us.,I have no ideawattWill they win? I heard in the beer hall theyinsteadexistyesThey’re worried I’ll sue them.Because of their shoddy workmanship.I don’tanyinterestexistSue them. Historyo,I don’t think anybody is going to sue anybody.”

Mr. MotianexplainICAO inspections to take place next year.Hkindness,AIRPORTshouldyesRedesignEmergency avoidancethispossibilityOperations were suspended due to non-compliance with international standards.

“We last checked in 2007 and next August ICAO willFor inspection.If we don’t meet the standards, we will be shut down.

“Our runway is currently 3.2 kilometers long.shouldExtended to 4.2 km.SecondBut first wemustDetermine if this is to our benefit and therefore whether we will allow larger aircraft to use this airport. I hope that by 2028 we will have completed the renovations.”

ministerexplainUpgrading the airport to an economic free zone willpossibleIncrease traffic.

Special economic zones or free zones are geographically demarcated areas where companies are subject to special rules that differ from the rest of the country. Investors operating in these zones often receive tax breaks, duty exemptions and other financial incentives.

He said the government was working hard to transform the King Moshoeshoe I International AirportAims toPromoteBritaineconomy,Transform it into a busy international trade hub, improving security and infrastructure to accommodate larger aircraft and increased traffic.

“Lesotho Airport lacks passenger traffic. If this problem is not addressed, upgrading the airport will only increase costs without corresponding benefits. Developing it as an economic free zone will attract manufacturers to bring raw materials here for processing and export finished products.

“The person we started talking to wasmanufacturerHigh-value items such as computers, mobile phones and other small valuablessIn a country with reasonable education level, this can be done….

“We may not be able to afford Samsung devices, but at least having them produced in our country would be helpful. We are now positioning our efforts, which requires a lot of work,” he said.

riceat the same time,Moteane added that improving safety is crucial. Runway lighting and air control systemsshouldTo ensure the reliability of the airport to foreign investors.

“We have to make the airport as safe as Bloemfontein Airport, capable of night landings and properly instrumented. Currently, the runway is underutilised because of its poor condition.

“Currently, flights to LesothoReese33 people, and because the runway is too large, they did not run the entire runway. The current runway is 3.2 kilometers long.,there’s only usBritainIt’s less than half that. If we stretch it out, we’d get to 4.2 kilometers to accommodate something likeBoeingThe 767 can carry about 300 passengers. Going from the current 33 passengers to 300 passengers is a pretty big change. People will be happy.

“A contractor has started repairing the runway lights at a cost of RM1.5 million, and more contractors from South Africa are set to upgrade the airport.

“Currently, about five projects are underway, including a major upgradation of the airport building. The chief secretary will soon provide details of the contracts that have been awarded,” he said.