25 Sep 2016

There are still some challenges that need to be attended to towards the development of Gaborone Central Business District (CBD), Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele has said.

Speaking at CBD official launch on Friday September 23, Mr Maele said, “Top in the list is the access into the block or the CBD. We may realise that entrance into the area is only from the western side and one way in and out at the South. This scenario is not bringing joy to the CBD patrons, and it calls for immediate interventions.”

To this end, he said it was government’s hope and desire that CBD could be developed as an attractive commercial centre that could lead to spin offs in other development activities.

The CBD official launch by President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, the minister said was a special time in the country’s calendar, with only six days away from Botswana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

“The space that we are standing upon, referred to as the Independence Park, accommodates Three Chiefs and the CBD Rock Monument and is essentially a public recreational park. The ministry is desirous to develop it and a master plan is being prepared to outline the complete picture of the park when fully developed,” Mr Maele revealed.

Coming up with the magnificent development of this public recreational park, he said, was not easy, adding that Batswana companies and to some extent, multinational organisations, had invested their resources in CBD through the advice and guidance of CBD Advisory Committee.

For that reason, he commended the committee, CBD stakeholders and developers, in their various capacities, ‘for their commitment in ensuring that the City boasts of beautiful buildings that we see today, hovering lots of business and employment opportunities.’

Minister Maele also thanked all those who were involved in the development of CBD for their invaluable efforts.

“Today, we are excited to have gathered here to recognise the value of the CBD, as one of the developments worthy of celebration, as the greatest achievements we have ever had since independence,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, Gaborone city mayor, Mr Kagiso Thutlwe said the opening of CBD in the City clearly demonstrated the business community’s continued commitment as a partner in the Gaborone’s economic development

“The benefits of this investment to the people of Gaborone and to the country at large will only be realised when the customers receive the standard and the quality of service to which they are entitled,” he added.

He called upon all CBD developers and all tenants to ensure they maintain the highest standard of service and enthusiastic reception to all who visited the area for business, leisure or just passing by to impress the eye.

Mr Thutlwe applauded all CBD stakeholders for their tireless efforts and commitment towards availing such a world class mixed use facilities to the City of Gaborone.

He also encouraged all CBD plot owners whose plots remained undeveloped to expedite the development of their plots, as their undeveloped status affected the beauty of the city.

Giving a vote of thanks, CBD stakeholder, Mr Kabelo Ebineng of Smart Partnership Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, thanked government for its vision and foresight for making the CBD land available for private sector development ‘and more importantly for actively and successfully pursuing this objective.’

The CBD, Mr Ebineng said continued to be recognised by citizens and international visitors as vibrant, new age and exciting.

“In the spirit of Botswana’s 2016 goals of a ‘Prosperous, Productive and Innovative Nation’ the investment in CBD by developers, I am advised, now exceeds P10 billion and it is still growing,” he added.

In terms of employment and job creation, he said CBD currently employed an excess of 5 000 people. This achievement, he said was only made possible by the enabling environment created by government and private sector’s will to invest.

“It is our wish and prayer to the government that this same spirit of cooperation that has made the Gaborone CBD development possible be confirmed, nurtured and redeployed in all future projects across the country,” he added. ENDS