29 Nov 2022

Government has been asked to revive mining activities in Francistown to address the city’s economic challenges.

Addressing the Francistown full council session on Monday, Mayor Godisang Radisigo said the city should be accorded a similar dispensation as Selebi-Phikwe region to boost its economy.

Mr Radisigo said it was unfortunate that no efforts were being made to reopen mines such as Tati nickel.

Turning to other matters, he told councillors that the school digitalisation programme was gaining momentum with Mater Spei College and Francistown Senior Secondary School (FSSS) having received 1 954 and 1 753 laptops for learners respectively.

“In addition, Mater Spei teachers will receive 120 laptops and FSSS 143 laptops. Coupled with this initiative is capacity building to improve uptake and positive results from the initiative,” he said.

Mr Radisigo said erection of porta cabins had started in four junior secondary schools being Montsamaisa, Goldmine, Setlalekgosi and Donga.

The mayor explained that the Donga project would be completed end of December, while the contract for the other three schools failed after the contractor deserted the site.

The process of engaging a new  contractor had started, he said.

He informed the meeting that the Francistown Petroleum Depot Fuel Expansion Project was progressing smoothly.

“This is indeed one of the developments that gives us confidence that our plans to develop the city into a special economic zone in transport and logistics will be realised,” he said.

Mr Radisigo said the existing Francistown Depot had a 30 million litres capacity and the aim was to expand it to 60 million litres at a cost of P9 million.

The expansion project, he said would create employment and investment opportunities for the city.

“My request is that local employment and skills transfer be given priority for the benefit of our community,” he said.

Councillors heard that Botswana Oil’s mandate was to ensure security and efficiency supply and primary distribution of petroleum products in the country.

“They do that by managing state-owned strategic reserve facilities, strategic stocks as well as bulk storage and distribution,” he said.

Regarding the Youth Development Fund (YDF), Mayor Radisigo said 161 proposals were received this financial year.

The proposals, he said, had gone through the appraisal stage and were awaiting adjudication next month.

He revealed that YDF would be relocating to the Ministry of Entrepreneurship next financial year.

“This is a welcome development which indicates that the programme will now be geared more towards entrepreneurship than social empowerment,” he said.ENDS