25 Sep 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has encouraged Gaborone Central Business District (CBD) plot owners who have still not commenced development within their plots to regroup and develop them, to allow CBD to perform fully as expected.

Officiating at the CBD launch at the Independence Plaza on Friday September 23, President Khama described the CBD launch as another major development achievement in Botswana within the last 50 years.

President Khama commended CBD developers whom despite the 2008 economic recession, went ahead and put up land mark projects.

All this, he said was “made possible by concerted efforts from property developers, financiers, a bit of government pressure and of note, the CBD Advisory Committee under Ministry of Lands and Housing.”

The CBD Advisory Committee, as the first point of interaction of government with developers, he said had ensured that CBD was developed in a coordinated manner “as they provided technical guidance to both developers and the Gaborone City Council alike, steering them towards an envisaged future as we see today.”

Gaborone CBD, President Khama said, was envisaged as a Business Park meant to contribute to the country’s economic development.

The site where CBD is located, he said was chosen through its strategic location to serve as an extension of the Main Mall and Government Enclave.  “It was envisaged to be the focal point of the city in terms of business and entertainment for greater Gaborone area, while also serving the Southern Africa region. As a consequence, the SADC headquarters was located within the CBD,” he added.

However, while Gaborone CBD is one of the youngest CBDs by age, compared to many CBDs in other countries, President Khama expressed gratitude that it had surpassed many expectations through accelerated development.

“In its current state, the CBD concept comprises icon buildings with good space utilisation creating an attractive and vibrant place to be,” he said. The idea to develop CBD, President Khama said was first proposed through the 1979 Gaborone West Structure Plan. Subsequently, he said a master plan was prepared in 1995 and named: “The Independence Plaza”.

The CBD now comprises of 44 plots, of which 22 have been developed, eight under development, while 14 are yet to be developed. The first CBD building, on a site now referred to as: “The Square”, was built in 2008, followed by SADC House and many others.

Meanwhile, still at the launch, President Khama also unveiled a monument called the: “Rock Monument”. This CBD Rock Monument, he said was a symbol that CBD was a bedrock or foundation for doing business in Botswana’s capital city.

The Monument is surrounded by five pillars. The first and shortest pillar expresses how Bechuanaland Protectorate, now Botswana, was established in 1885 under the British government where during the preparations for independence in 1960 the Legislative Council decided to establish Gaborone as the capital of the Protectorate.

The new capital site was chosen because it was located in an area with plentiful cow land between the camp and the railway station, as well as adequate dam site.

The second pillar depicts the planning of the first 20 year development plan for present day Gaborone, which was prepared in 1963 and it was meant to accommodate up to 20 000 inhabitants at that time.

The third pillar showcases how rapid growth of Gaborone necessitated a 1979 structure plan for expansion of Gaborone. The plan advocated for the expansion of the Town to the Western side of the railway line towards the Bonnington farm. It is within this 1979 structure plan that a site for the CBD was identified.

This was envisaged to be the heart of the city for business and entertainment. The fourth pillar demonstrated the acquisition of CBD site by government seemingly changing the freehold farm, formerly known as the Cotton Fields, and used as a private car racing track in the 1970s into state land plot to pave way for the development of CBD.

The fifth and tallest pillar showcases how in 1985 the master plan of Gaborone CBD was prepared with 20 year development vision. The CBD is essentially an extension of Government Enclave, African Mall and Gaborone Station- together they are the heart of Gaborone city.

President Khama also revealed that he was a proud owner of an album depicting the visit of the Three Chiefs when they went to London, which he showcased at the launch.

He said, “Inside when you open it, you can see newspaper cuttings, which were taken from the actual newspapers at the time of their visit and pasted in the pages of the album.”

The album, President Khama said showed the pictures and all the various news articles by various newspapers, back from September 1895.ENDS