16 Jun 2016

SPEDU chief executive officer, Dr Mokubung Mokubung, says his organisation is facilitating and coordinating high impact projects to promote investment.

When responding to queries from Central District Council chairman, Mr Peter Williams, Dr Mokubung said SPEDU started major operations in 2015 where they set out priority areas to exploit. 

Such priority areas included manufacturing, horticulture and mining beneficiation as well as infrastructure development. 

Infrastructure development was said to be integral to smooth and improved service delivery.

Infrastructure to develop included Platjan Bridge, and Selebi Phikwe airport. 

Dr Mokubung informed CDC councillors that plans were underway to float tender for the development of Platjan Bridge, which was earmarked as a tourists’ gateway to Okavango.

The SPEDU CEO explained that construction of the bridge would avail job opportunities. 

SPEDU would also request for funds to construct a 20km road from Platjan Bridge to Mathathane for ease of travel.  

The contract for bridge construction was expected to be signed by September and the CEO informed councillors that he wanted the bridge to be a turn-key project.

Dr Mokubung was upbeat that when the bridge was successfully constructed, the tourists’ route to Okavango would have commercial spinoffs in the form of resorts, lodges and baskets weaving. 

Also under infrastructure development SPEDU intends to develop the dilapidated Selibe Phikwe Airport for ease of travel by tourists, businesspersons and general public. Availability of flights at the airport would help tourists access Mashatu Game Reserve, the CEO said.

SPEDU will exploit the availability of Thune, Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong dams for water-based tourist in fish farming, canoeing as well as resorts.

On other projects carried out by the SPEDU Dr Mokubung informed councilors that they intended to make SPEDU region a breadbasket of Botswana in fruits and vegetables since the area is endowed with fertile soils that stretch up to Limpopo. 

To achieve their intention SPEDU is reportedly in an experimental project of electrifying farms at Motloutse Basin for irrigation and processing machines. 

The move is to substitute imports of vegetables, fruits and their products. 

The CEO revealed that SPEDU has met face to face with farmers with a view of developing the sector to render Botswana self-sufficient in vegetables and fruits.

On other issues, the CEO said that they had already advertised 74 plots in the industrial area for companies to start businesses with a view to diversify economy in the region that boasts 193 000 people.  

The SPEDU region covers Selibe Phikwe itself, Bobirwa region, Sefhophe, Mmadinare and Tswapong North. 

The regions in question have 52 villages.

The council chairperson  had wanted to be informed of tangible deliverables and or achievements of SPEDU since tits  establishment in 2008.ENDS