01 Jul 2014

The project to expand the Selebi Phikwe airport is on cards.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Ikageleng Ward in Selebi Phikwe on June 27, the area MP, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said the project would go a long way in boosting the economy of the region because a faster and more convenient transportation system could have a positive impact in the business sector.

Mr Molefhi said with the airport on cards, Batswana had an opportunity to venture into air transportation business. “Some Batswana have shown interest in engaging in the lucrative business and have already approached the relevant authorities for consideration,” he said.

He also explained that some Batswana had also shown interest in opening a flight or piloting school in Selebi Phikwe after the airport expansion project was complete.

However, he said the issue would be decided as time goes, adding that the ministry of education, was in the process of negotiating to open an aviation school in Botswana in partnership with the Indian government.

He said that came about after the Indian government had sent a proposal to the African Union requesting to set up an aviation school for Africa in one of the African countries and when no African country showed interest, Botswana did.

Mr Molefhi, also Minister of Transport and Communications, further indicated that the project to set up a coal wash plant in Selebi Phikwe and construct a railway line via Zimbabwe to Mozambique to open way for goods such as coal for export to Asian countries was also on the pipeline.

He said ministers of transport and communications from the three governments of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique were still due to resume negotiations on the project.

However, he noted that the railway line project would be financed and undertaken by private investors from the three countries. On other issue, the legislator mentioned that the project to set up a college of applied arts in Selebi Phikwe had been put on hold because the population of scholars to utilise the college was too small; as such it would be under utilised.

He noted that the country had a shortage of lecturers in disciplines such as engineering, which also had a negative impact on the project. He also noted that the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) was set up to identify the type of human resource needed in the economy and advise government on improving the situation.

He said currently the country was facing shortage of human capital in areas such as engineering, science, medical and mining, among others. He explained that the HRDC had called on government to introduce more disciplines in academic institutions to deal with engineering and technology advancement among other learning fields.

He said the government would sponsor more people for higher education in disciplines such as engineering to bring improvement in human resource needed in the country’s economy.

Minister Molefhi also acknowledged the fact that horticulture produce processing plant would be set up in Selebi Phikwe to produce items like tomato sauce from tomatoes, among others. He also expressed concern that the amount of tax paid for petrol by motorists in the country was low compared to other countries.

He said in Botswana people were taxed 20 thebe per litre of fuel purchased compared with other countries where the tax was around P2 per litre.  He said this was too low resulting in the country making less money from fuel tax to build roads, and maintain others.

He said annually government raised money only enough to construct about 20km of road. ENDS