12 Dec 2023

The Assistant Minister of Local government and Rural Development Mr Sethabelo Modukanele has told Parliament that the Lobatse Regeneration Plan Guidelines and Standards 2019-2036 is in the custody of the Lobatse Town Council.

He explained that it was a comprehensive strategic plan which comprised several projects, activities and initiatives aimed at turning around the town’s economic fortunes and improving its physical appearance. Given the comprehensive nature and scope of the plan, he said its implementation was in the hands of multiple stakeholders that included government, parastatals and the private sector.

Mr Modukanele stated that the collaboration of these economic actors was paramount for the attainment of desired outcomes.

He said there had not been any special funding package earmarked for the plan but noted that some substantial developments had been made possible using normal programming that included the Constituency Community Programme (CCP), Ipelegeng and the Revenue Support Grant.

The assistant minister noted that the council optimised the utility of resources provided through the above-mentioned funding sources by engaging in Public Private Partnership arrangements.

He said the CBD pedestrian bridge over the railway line was done through a collaboration between Lobatse Town Council and Botswana Railways in 2020 where some monetary contribution was sourced from CCP.

Mr Modukanele said the bus rank was upgraded into a mixed-use precinct through a partnership with EMRE retail developers in 2021 where resources from Ipelegeng were used. 

He said the ministry would continue to support similar partnership approaches for other activities under the Regeneration Plan. Just like any developmental project, he said the Lobatse Regeneration Plan was subjected to the National Development Planning process where there were competing needs against limited resources. Consequently, he said some projects would not receive funding from the government adding that it was for this reason that they looked to the PPP model to reduce the existing financing gap because government alone could only do so much. 

Mr Modukanele said the above-stated projects were a demonstration that collaboration between the public sector and private sector could be instrumental in achieving significant progress in the country’s development agenda.

He said in the coming District and Urban Development Plans, his ministry would support and facilitate PPP projects from councils that had the potential to unlock economic growth and promote development.

He also stated that the National Spatial Plan 2036 was a long-term strategic plan designed among other things to address the issue of the Urban National Development Strategy to support the overall development of the urban centres in Botswana and for equitable development across the country.

He said through the guidance of the National Planning Commission it was anticipated that the National Spatial Plan would influence the thrust and direction of the upcoming NDP 12.

MP for Lobatse Dr Thapelo Matsheka had wanted to know the ministry’s position on the Lobatse Regeneration Master guidelines and standard; 2019-2036 developed in partnership with the Lobatse Town Council but remained unfunded given the funding model between the central government and councils.

He asked whether the minister considered that this inhibited the development of Lobatse and the upgrade of most areas to town and city status. He asked whether considerations were being made to review or develop an Urban National Development strategy to support the overall development of key centres of Botswana and equitable development across the country. ends