22 May 2014

Francistown City Council (FCC) has adopted a motion calling on the Department of Lands to consider reducing the purchase price of industrial and commercial plots as they are currently above what the market offers.



Tabling the motion at the on-going full council meeting on Tuesday, May 20, Councillor Raoboy Mpuang of Monarch East said industrial and commercial plots at Gerald Estate surpasses the P1 million price tag as some of them range between P1.5 million and P1.7 million. 



Cllr Mpuang said people who bought those plots were to provide a down payment of 10 per cent and were given a period of two years to have cleared the remaining balance for them to be issued with the title deeds. 



He said since financial institutions require title deeds to fund people, the plots have remained undeveloped.



Cllr Mpuang proposed that the purchase price be reviewed to enable Batswana to buy the plots. 

He however expressed fear that the owners might consider selling the plots to those with financial capabilities, which in most cases would be foreigners.

They would be doing so to avoid the repossession of the plot by the state, he added.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Ace Ntheetsang of Kanana ward in Gerald Estate said Gerald has remained without shopping complex since its establishment because of the high prices for industrial and commercial plots. 



He noted that with a population of 10 000 people, it was disheartening that the residents of the location are still forced to travel to the city centre to buy their necessities.



Cllr Ntheetsang said it was about time the government took into consideration the high prices of plots to stop Batswana from selling land.  ENDS