24 Aug 2014

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake says although his ministry supports the concept of reserving land for investment, it is critical that such land should be put to productive use.

Speaking at the just ended Francistown Investment Forum, Mr Mokalake said Francistown was one of the local authorities that approached his ministry with some economic diversification initiatives that needed availing land.

He said it was in the interest of his ministry that the city should put in place some monitoring mechanisms to measure the economic impact that the reserved land would create.

Mr Mokalake sensitised Francistown authorities about the challenges that could result from the reservation of land. He said such challenges include the resale of virgin land, reluctance in the repossession of undeveloped land, planning land use balance and funding for compensation.

Still at the forum, a UNDP consultant with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Dr Vincent Hungwe said there was a need for the Francistown leadership to collect evidence that would justify investments and attract investors.

Dr Hungwe said an analysis and assessment of the business climate was a prerequisite to attract investors.

He noted that investors were not interested in the use of colourful language, but on evidenced based strategy.

He said in order for Francistown to achieve Vision 2022, there was a need for the forum to come up with partnerships with all stakeholders.

He said the central government, local authorities and the community should come up with interventions to revamp the economy of the city.

He said the city council should integrate and absorb the objectives of the city’s Vision 2022 to ensure continuity, noting that efforts of a vibrant economy for Francistown could become nothing should the informal and small business be excluded.

For her part, Francistown District Commissioner, Ms Cordelia Mpape implored the private sector to be the main driver towards the realisation of Vision 2022.

Ms Mpape said the vision was built on the five pillars of effective investment networking, economically vibrant city, healthy, safe and secure city, skilled, innovative and productive city and a united and proud entity.

In her closing remarks, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso expressed hope that the resolutions made at the forum would have a bearing on the lives of the people of Francistown and the hinterlands.

Ms Tshireletso implored the private sector to continue to include community development in their strategic plans.

She said her ministry has a developmental plan specific to Francistown and that there was need for concerted efforts from both the government and the private sector for its realisation.

She called on her audience to take advantage of the developmental plan to make sure that the Francistown community develop and grow to levels that they would be able to employ themselves and eradicate poverty.

Ms Tshireletso said investing in Francistown would not only impact in the city’s population, but would also transform the lives of people in areas such as the North East District, Sowa and the Chobe District. 

The three-day forum was part of the build up to the realisation of the city’s Vision 2022, which seeks to transform Francistown into an investment centre of vibrance by 2022. 

It is also envisaged that the initiative would get the city and region into a regional economic hub, a commercial destination of choice an industrial entity of excellence. ENDS