23 Nov 2017

Francistown Mayor, Ms Sylvia Muzila has informed the city councillors that the over P25 million street lighting of Gerald Estate Blocks 5 and 6 have commenced.

Speaking at the on-going full council meeting, Ms Muzila said the P16 million Block 6 project was awarded to Powa Com Engineering and is expected to finish in July next year while the Block 5 project, awarded at over P8 million to Rainville is expected to complete in May.

She explained that the project administrative process had taken too long, noting that upon completion it would help the people of Gerald Estate who had been living in darkness for a very long time.

On the improvements of roads, the Mayor said a tender for asphalt for the Domboshaba Road was still at evaluation stage.

She said she was hopeful that the project would be speeded up as the state of the road was bad.

Ms Muzila said there was a possibility of the project being impacted negatively by the rainy season, hence the need for the adjudication and evaluation committees to speed up the procurement process to avoid inconveniences.

She further informed councillors that P4.9 million had been released to augment roads fleet that should be used in maintaining roads in the city.

On Gerald Estates-Aerodrome Link Road, Ms Muzila stated that the tender for appointment of the project supervisors was closed in September and awaiting the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services.

Regarding the development of the central market, Mayor Muzila explained that in 2004, the council entered into an agreement with a private developer for the development of the market but the development never took off owing to the developer’s inability to comply with the provisions of the agreement.

She said therefore the council served the developer with a six months’ notice of termination in October as stipulated by the contract agreement between the two parties.

She however said although it might seem unreasonable the condition of the contract should be abided by.

On other developments, Ms Muzila said as part of implementing the adopted policy on restricted parking an expression of interest for the development of paid parking on seven identified plots for communal parking had been developed and submitted for vetting.

She said the communal plots are three in Nswazi Mall, one behind Galo Mall, two by Metcourt and one by the Botswana Unified Revenue Services.

She said Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) had offered to do part of development on behalf of the council.

Ms Muzila called on councillors to continue encouraging other stakeholders to explore the development of the parkings as an opportunity to invest, provide employment, generate revenue as well as creating a lively adorable parking environment in the city.

On other issues, the mayor said 13 open spaces had been identified and set aside to be used as play grounds in Area W, Selepa, Ntshe, Coloured, Kgaphamadi, Block 8, Block 1, Somerset Extension, Railways and Boikhutso.

She however said the identifying of playgrounds in the remaining wards is on-going and expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Ms Muzila raised concern about the number of vacant posts in the council, adding that there were 40 posts as at end of October and she requested the management to give the matter the attention it deserved. ENDS