19 Jan 2014

Projects to diversify the economy of the Selebi Phikwe region and to boost the economy of the country and create employment are under way says Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi.

Addressing kgotla meetings in Botshabelo and Ikageleng in his Selebi Phikwe East constituency, Mr Molefhi said a project to construct a railway line to Mozambique via Zimbabwe was on the cards. He said a goods train and its carriers would be bought to transport coal from Botswana to Mozambique, using the planned railway.

From the Mozambican seaports, the Botswana coal will go to Asian markets. Mr Molefhi explained that the project would cost more than P81 billion. He also said a coal storage facility would be established in Selebi Phikwe where the commodity would be stored pending transportation to Mozambique. He said Botswana was negotiating with Zimbabwe and Mozambique to make way for the project.

Private entities will be given the task to raise funds for the project and to implement it while government will be the overseer. Mr Molefhi also said the re-introduction of passenger train was still in the pipeline. A feasibility study is going on. The cost of the train and passenger carriages is expected to be P25 million and P8 million each. He said construction of the Kazungula bridge was due to commence, and would last three to four years.

Thereafter, the government will consider a railway from Mosetse to Kazungula to transport agriculture produce. Another railway project that is under consideration is the one to link Botswana with Namibia. He said had it not been for financial constraints, the government would rehabilitate some roads in the country.

He explained that it costs P5 million to P7 million to tar one kilometre of road. He added that P1 billion had been set aside for the expansion of the Francistown-Tonota road, which includes the construction of Shashe bridge. ENDS