16 Jul 2020

Lobatse leather park project tender will be awarded end of this month, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Keganele Malikongwa has said.

Speaking before Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in Gaborone on July 14, Ms Malikongwa said initially, government had a model where a technical partner was in place to contribute financially.

However, she indicated that it was clear that the model was not feasible, hence decision to come up with a new model where government would finance everything.

Ms Malikongwa noted that everything was on track and construction of the project was scheduled to start as soon as the tender was awarded.

She stated that construction was scheduled to take 18 months.

Explaining implementation of the special economic zones (SEZs), Ms Malikongwa said her ministry was constructing a road and other amenities within the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA), adding that the Pandamatenga silos construction was ongoing.

Furthermore, she said the SSKIA project was expected to produce 120 plots on a 100ha space.

She said authorities would negotiate with companies and stakeholders who had shown interest to set up business in the area.

Ms Malikongwa said the P101.5m SSKIA project would be constructed in phases, saying first phase completion was expected end of August whilst the project would be completed October.

She said the road, servicing area and entrance monument components would be part of phase one of the project.

On the Pandamatenga silos project, Ms Malikongwa noted that the project would be completed in February 2022 with 12 silos.

On another issue, she said they needed a target based on the number of companies that had shown interest when implementing the strategy on the SPEDU revitalisation.

She said they encountered challenges with processes that were to be followed since there were many stakeholders in implementation of the strategy.

Ms Malikongwa noted that they had 29 operational companies, with 20 of them in the manufacturing sector and nine in other businesses.

On performance and progress of the operational companies, Ms Malikongwa indicated that the companies were monitored by SPEDU.

She said few companies had not taken off because of incentives, but those in operation were progressing well.

Ms Malikongwa indicated that government, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, was on an exercise to rationalise parastatals.

The PAC had enquired about delay of the leather and the Bobonong legislator Mr Taolo Lucas said the project had not delivered on the promise saying there had been lack of commitment to kick start the project.

Mr Mephato Reatile of Jwaneng/Mabutsane wanted to know about the plots to be allocated with regard to the SSKIA SEZs project.

He also enquired on the number of operating companies under SPEDU. ENDS