19 Sep 2016

 Sowa Town civic leaders have appealed to Botswana Investment Trade Centre (BITC) for partnership as an arm established by government to lure investors.

 Nominated councillor, Mr Botho Ntirang said Sowa Town with its vast natural resources of soda ash has the potential to attract investors who can make industries which will add its development.

Speaking during a full council session on September 15, he noted that the town had been left behind in terms of development despite having something to offer. He added that one major factor which had been a hindrance was its 3 500 population comprising of mainly employees of the mine, council and central government. 

In addition, he highlighted that another disadvantage was lack of serviced land which could be utilised to bring developments to town. 

He thus noted that they have appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Housing to help them develop their town by allocating Self Help Housing Authority (SHHA) plots to people. 

Councillor Ntirang noted that although there was an agreement in that regard, nothing had taken off the ground concerning 200 plots set for allocation in Block 3 due to internal issues between the ministry and Public Procurement and Assert Disposal Board (PPADB).  

He therefore appealed to BITC to join them and assist in addressing issues so that there could be progress.

Commenting on the proposal, the chief executive officer of BITC, Mr Letsebe Sejoe said they were ready to help change the economic landscape of the town with the support of the leadership of the town. 

Mr Sejoe said for the past 50 years Botswana had adopted a value chain in which natural resources were exported as raw materials. And as an organisation, established by an act of Parliament in 2011, they are mandated to turn the tables around and have Botswana raw materials refined locally to make finished goods which would be consumed locally and exported as finished products.   

In terms of Sowa, he said with soda ash they have identified different opportunities ranging from industries making chemicals, fertilizers and detergents among other things which can be made from the salt. 

He noted that though there were local companies which manufacture products made from the salt, some of the imports come from as far as China. And they have since approached such companies to consider buying locally, he added. 

Regarding the small population, he said that should not be a concern because with industries opening in the areas they would attract people from the surrounding places and far.  And this, he noted would reduce the number of people migrating to cities in search of employment. ENDS