20 Oct 2020

Selebi Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) in partnership with Nickelhead Pty Ltd will develop a state of the art shopping mall in Selebi Phikwe. 

The project also entails refurbishment of the existing bus and taxi terminal.

The SPTC’s Public Relations Officer Mr Tsholofelo Mogale said in an interview that the concession period  was for 36 years in which Nickelhead was obligated as per the contract to design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer an integrated development consisting of the Bus rank, taxi rank, market stalls, amphitheater, shopping centre within plot 19252.

He said the duration of the project was three years with a cost of about P192m and a projected employment creation of 300 jobs during construction and 80 jobs post construction.

Further, he said SPTC was  awaiting the program of works from its partner which would advise and give direction in terms of phasing of the project and its implementation, adding that the second leg of consultations would follow after to take on board those affected by the project directly and indirectly.

Mr Mogale said the project came about as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between SPEDU and SPTC, adding that the two signed a five year MoU in 2017 with the main goal of facilitating development of specific strategic land parcels to stimulate the town’s economic growth.

“SPEDU’s specific role was to attract investors with capacity to finance and develop or re-develop the facilities on behalf of SPTC alongside other land parcels in the town’s land bank,” he said

He said the targeted property included the bus rank with market stalls and Lekadiba, stadium, show ground, makhubu recreational facility, residential development and recreation centre.

To date only a single investor was identified by SPEDU for plot 19252 where the bus and taxi rank, market stalls and lekadiba are sitting.

Mr Mogale said the project would help revamp Selebi Phikwe’s Central Business District.

He said a refurbished bus and taxi terminals and a shopping centre would also help attract either local or foreign investors to Selebi Phikwe or the SPEDU region and would relieve the community of Selebi Phikwe from travelling long distances to Francistown or Gaborone for their shopping.

He also added that the commencement date would be shared once consultations had been completed.

The community of Selebi Phikwe in addition commended SPTC and SPEDU in their efforts to lure investors to Selebi Phikwe.

Ms Chamati Lekwapa, who runs a textile business in Selebi Phikwe, said infrastructure development was critical in attracting investors. She said Selebi Phikwe needed a facelift thus efforts by SPTC to look for partners to help develop the town were commendable. ENDS