03 Mar 2022

Construction of a mall, situated on the banks of Thamalakane River at Borolong ward in Maun, will start soon.

This followed the groundbreaking event graced by the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela, on Wednesday.

Construction of the mall, by a 100 per cent local company, Tame Malls, is set to commence on May 1 and to be completed by September 2023.

Mr Kgafela said Tame Malls  had footprints in delivering quality projects and creating employment, adding that it had built malls in Nata and Mahalapye in 2012 and another one in Palapye in 2018, creating about 15 000 jobs.

He said the mall of Maun project would help improve lives as it would not only create employment, but also attract tourists.

Mr Kgafela urged Tame Malls to look beyond the local market and find investment opportunities outside Botswana.

Batawana Regent, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi said the mall project was a welcome development as it would provide a one stop shopping experience for the Maun community and help create employment for the locals.

Tame Malls chief executive officer, Mr Seloma Tiro, said the project aimed to create employment and improve infrastructure in the Ngamiland district. Mr Tiro said , the mall project would create about 2000 jobs at construction stage and about 2500 jobs once the mall starts operating.

He said Tame Malls had engaged a company that deals with environmental assessment because of the sensitivity of the area, close to the river, adding that they would use conveyance tanks instead of sewage pipes to avoid polluting the Thamalakane River.

Mall of Maun is expected to service the Maun community as well as the Okavango, Gumare and part of Boteti. ENDS