02 Apr 2019

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on April 1 celebrated his one year in office with residents of Francistown.

Dr Masisi, who was inaugurated the country's fifth president on April 1 last year, outlined a number of mega projects that would be undertaken by government.

  Some would boost the city’s trade in the SADC region, he said.  

Francistown, the President said, ought to be one of the strategic routes and logistical hub centres, not only in the production of goods and services destined for the north but also to the south en route to the rest of Africa. 

He said because markets were growing fastest in the north, Francistown was in a strategic  position as much as “vital organs are positioned in the body.” 

Among the country’s mega projects President Masisi mentioned the Kazungula bridge and the Mosetse/Kazungula railway line to boost regional trade between Botswana and its northern neighbours. He revealed that Zimbabwe was now showing interest in the Kazungula bridge, a decision he said must be supported.

President Masisi observed that teething problems were being experienced in the construction of the bridge especially with regard to payments but explained that Botswana had been meeting its financial obligations without fail.

President Masisi informed Francistowners that government had sourced funds to rebuild some major roads in the country connecting the city  with the northern corridor. They  include Francistown/Nata and Nata/Maun roads as well as Sehithwa/Mohembo in the Okavango sub-district.

Extolling the attributes of Francistown, the President explained that the most memorable revolution in southern Africa occurred in  the city which he said should be celebrated even though they were casualties.

“You are casualties of the mining revolution and I celebrate you because you survived the affliction and consequences of the brutal revolution when your earth was turned upside down and wealth taken away,” he said.

He promised that if the economy improved, his government would correct past imbalances such as landlessness, because the residents of Francistown deserved it.

However, President Masisi said in making the corrections, government would have to be smart and leapfrog into the fourth industrial revolution using Information Communications Technology (ICT).  

“Francistown is a nodal town, which connects Botswana to other regional trading blocks such as Zambia and Zimbabwe, apart from being an aviation capital and it is the only town where a major air disaster took place,” he added.

President Masisi noted that Francistown had produced some of the laudable and remarkable human capital in the likes of former High Court Judge John Mosojane and his wife Ludo as well as former cabinet minister and renowned lawyer Mr Phandu Skelemani. 

Saying Francistown was not sufficiently acknowledged and perceived in the context of its potential, the President said it was the first town to be raided by the arrogant white minority regime of the then Rhodesia and was also used for transiting icons of southern Africa’s liberation movements such as former Namibian president Hefikepunye Pohamba, current President Hage Geingob and his vice.

He appealed to residents to market the city for its greatness, saying incredible potential for old mining tourism existed in Francistown.

The President thanked the city elders for their selflessness and brilliant service to the country. ends