09 Oct 2014

The executive director of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) at the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Mr Lonely Mogara says Francistown has been moved from phase three to two in SEZ rollout.

Addressing Francistown special full council meeting on October 7, Mr Mogara said the city was moved from the last phase to the first because of the work already done. He said SEZ reforms could help weed barriers to trade and investment attraction by addressing restrictive policies, bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure and problematic access to land.

Mr Mogara said according to the phasing of the SEZs, in the first phase was Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and Selibe Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU), in the second phase was Lobatse, Palapye, Pandamatenga and Fairgrounds while Francistown and Tuli Block were in the last phase.

He further explained that Francistown is earmarked for mining and logistics Hub and the downstream value-addition hub.Mr Mogara observed that according to the Francistown investment strategy, the city is not only a gateway to Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Namibia but is also a region with the highest mineral deposit such as gold, diamonds, uranium and coal.

He noted that the greater Francistown also boosts international airports in Francistown, Kasane while the Maun one is being upgraded.

He however, said some challenges such a shortage of skilled labour, poor infrastructure, poor ICT infrastructure, lack of world class entertainment and lack of world class conferencing facilities among others have been identified. Mr Mogara said the region managed to come up with ways that the challenges could be mitigated. 

For his part, the Mayor, Councillor James Kgalajwe updated the councilor about the city’s newly registered company, Moiplek (PTY) Ltd saying in the next financial year the Francistown, North East, Tutume and Tonota will each budget funds towards that for use as capital for the company.

He said the company’s board of directors together with the City Vision 2022 council members will be appointed in the near future and the company will benchmark from SPEDU.

On the investment interim committee, the Mayor explained that it would be dissolved as it was established to deliver the forum which took place in August. ENDS