11 Oct 2016

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says government is committed to ensuring that Selebi Phikwe does not become a ghost town.

Addressing BCL Mine management, senior government officials and business community in Selebi Phikwe on Tuesday  (October 11) , Mr Masisi also introduced representatives of KPMG liquidators who will be handling the provisional liquidation process of the mine.

Mr Masisi said the closure of the BCL Mine, which was the main contributor to the economy of the town, did not mean that the town was dead.

He reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring that the economy of Selebi Phikwe got up on its feet, adding that government would be working hand in hand with SPEDU to bring up viable sustainable projects that would impact positively on economy of the mining town.

The Vice President said government had planned to utilise close to P30 million on a monthly basis in Selebi Phikwe to cushion the town’s hardships until the provisional liquidation of the BCL Mine had been completed. Some of the funds would pay salaries of BCL Mine workers. Mr Masisi noted that the liquidator would also determine how the creditors of BCL Mine would be paid.

He said KPMG was engaged to oversee the liquidation process of the mine, determine what government could salvage from the mine, what assets the mine had as well as determine the exit packages of employees.

Mr Masisi called on BCL management and employees as well as Selebi Phikwe business community to cooperate with the liquidator until the liquidation process had been completed.

He explained that the BCL Mine was part and parcel of the economy of the mining town and country. The closure had impacted on every Motswana especially the employees and their families. He said the liquidation process should be treated with seriousness and caution as it involved the lives of people.

Earlier on, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry held a meeting with the Selebi Phikwe business community where the ministry’s permanent secretary Ms Peggy Serame informed them that the closure of the mine was unavoidable. She appealed to investors and business community not to relocate as there were various business opportunities that could be ventured into to contribute to the economy of the mining town.

She said through organisations such as CEDA, Botswana Development Cooperation, Botswana Investment Trade Centre and SPEDU, the ministry had projects earmarked for the region that would boost the town’s economy such as tourism and manufacturing.

She also called on the business community to cooperate and work together with government to resuscitate the economy of Selebi-Phikwe. ENDS