13 Oct 2025

Botswana’s desire to recalibrate the economy from long reliant on diamond exports toward sectors like sustainable industrialisation, green energy and trade is gaining momentum.

This owes to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Land Transfer between Ghanzi District Council, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre and Zotus group toward the establishment of the US$50 billion smart city in the Ghanzi region by Zotus group.

The agreement follows a high level meeting between President Advocate Duma Boko and Zotus Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Davison Simango at the World Economic Forum in Davos early this year.

The 4 000-hectare city, modelled after Dubai’s economic success, will be a world class investment hub aimed at diversifying Botswana’s economy, currently reliant on diamonds exports.

With this multi-billion dollar project, the city will serve as a centre for trade, tourism, technology, and green energy, thus creating employment opportunities.

Speaking at the singing of the MoU during the Global Expo Botswana, Mr Simango indicated that vision was to develop Africa, a new hub of innovation and trade which is anchored in Botswana strategic location along the trans Kalahari corridor as the corridor was a link to the entire Southern Africa region thus presenting the best opportunities.

“ We are building a logistics hub, we are trying contribute in the country’s economic diversification drive from the over reliance on diamonds and most importantly, the project will be people centered, aimed to transform lives,” he said.

The city, he said was designed to transform Botswana’s economic landscape and position the country as a leader in sustainable development and innovation through attracting international investments to establish business operations locally.

“The Zotus group is committed to empower local communities through meaningful employment and skills development opportunities as we are going to have scholarship and programmes geared toward empowering the locals and enriching livelihoods,” he said.

Though not disclosing the project’s timelines, Mr Simango stated that the Zotus City was more than a development but rather a statement that Africa can shape the cities of tomorrow with the same calibre of partners that build Silicon Valley, Singapore, and Saudi giga-projects.

He said the plan was to develop the Ghanzi airport to international standards to attract direct flights to Ghanzi.

“By bringing together visionary leadership, global expertise, and strategic partnerships, we are laying the foundation for a city that will create more than 20 000 jobs, attract billions in investment and inspire the next generation to dream big,” he said.

For his part, Ghanzi District chairperson, Mr Thabiso Kebadile expressed delight over the prospect of the project, citing that it would transform Ghanzi into a modern financial district with opportunities for fintech, digital economy, and innovation.

Mr Kebadile said the project would create the much need employment for the locals with additional benefits to small businesses and supply chains.

He said he was optimistic that the project would also boost the  sectors of tourism, aviation, entertainment hubs and cultural attractions to position Botswana as a leading African tourism and business destination.

Additionally, BITC CEO, Mr Keletsositse Olebile emphasised that the tripartite agreement positioned Botswana as the strategic heart of regional trade and innovation, adding that Zotus city would be a magnet for global capital, technology and opportunities. ENDS