25 Sep 2016

The official opening of Pilane Crossing Mall comes at a time when Botswana is preparing to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of independence. 

Speaking during the official opening in Pilane on Thursday September 22, the chairperson of Prime Time Property Holdings Ms Petronella Mangope said the development of a modern centre mall was long overdue in the Kgatleng District. 

“This is why at Prime Time we saw the need to develop a one stop shopping centre which will provide services to Bakgatla in general,” she said. 

Ms Mangope further said the mall would not only help residents of Pilane but the entire district including the main town of Mochudi.

The chairperson added that developments such as shopping centres brought with them development that would give status to the village and district while at the same time giving the youth a chance to enter into business.

Ms Mangope said the times had changed and there had been a change in lifestyle where many people were working hence the need for a mall like this to service them.

The chairperson further said the mall was envisaged to create more than 150 jobs and had been anchored by Choppies, First National Bank Botswana, Barclays Bank, Puma petrol station, Cash Build and OK Furniture.

She said they were also expecting multinational companies among them Jet, Mr Price, Clicks and others who were awaiting their licensing.

Ms Mangope said they had also left space for youth entrepreneurs who would be running their boutiques and salon at the mall.

In his welcoming remarks Kgosi Zacchaeus Kaeparura of Pilane said they were happy for the development especially that the opening happened just before the celebration of the 50^th anniversary independence giving them more reasons to celebrate. 

He also used the opportunity to request the company to assist tribal offices in his village with resources among them a computer and photocopying machines to serve his people well.

When giving a vote of thanks, Member of Parliament for Mochudi West Mr Gilbert Mangole told Bakgatla of the importance of the mall and that they were the ones who could ensure that the mall served its purpose by purchasing goods at the outlets in the mall and securing employment of others.

Prime Time donated P5 000 to Pilane village development committee towards the celebration of independence and further donated P50 000 to Kgatleng District Council who will identify a children’s school or organisation as a beneficiary. ENDS