10 Nov 2020

Construction of Botswana Railways (BR) properties mall in Francistown would start next year.

Speaking to the media recently, BR chief executive officer, Mr Leonard Makwinja said a ground breaking ceremony was scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.

He said the state of the art mall would cost Botswana Railways Properties close to P300 million and will be built in phases.

Mr Makwinja said BR had received all the bids and was working on identifying development partner.

He said construction of the mall, which was supposed to have commenced early last year was postponed due to a number reasons, one of them being the outbreak of COVID-19.

The mall stands on a 11.6 hectares and the first phase comprises of rental offices, retail shops, a filling station, a hotel, piazza shop, a football court, clinic and a mini bus rank.

BR Properties, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Botswana Railways (BR), in 2017 released an expression of interest for companies to partner in developing the mall in its plot west of the railway station.

It is expected that 287 jobs would be created during construction period while 235 jobs would be created post construction period.

Another project by BR properties, Mr Makwinja said, is the construction of a new dry port in Francistown because the current one is located at a small space.

Mr Makwinja explained that BR has been allocated a new a spacious land behind Phillip Matante International Airport adding that as soon as funds permit, the construction of the dry port will commence. ENDS