17 Mar 2026

Mayor of Gaborone City Council, Mr Oarabile Motlaleng, has announced the establishment of a new council-owned company aimed at unlocking investment opportunities, creating jobs and strengthening the city’s revenue base.

Addressing councillors during the opening of the full council session on Monday, Mr Motlaleng said the initiative was introduced in response to prevailing economic challenges and government calls to stimulate economic activity.

He said through the company, the council had begun generating revenue by leasing strategic assets such as market stalls, commercial plots and advertising sites to private investors.

Mr Motlaleng revealed that five plots had already been leased to companies for development across the city.

He said the projects included a 25-year lease awarded to Granatum Investments for Plot 22113 in Gaborone West, where the company planed to manufacture PV-LED solar products.

He said LECO Technology (Pty) Ltd had secured Plot 54382 in the Central Business District for 35 years to develop a 12-storey vertical tower, an arena featuring an ice rink and a central green square.

Another company, Temo-thuo Retail, has leased Plot 22114 in Gaborone West for 35 years to establish a manufacturing and distribution facility focusing on fertiliser supply and horticultural support.

“Glowing Aces will develop a modern abattoir at Plot 4723 in the Madirelo Industrial Area, while Apex Fuels has leased part of Lot 14381, known as the Old Mortuary plot in the Gaborone West Industrial Extension I bus rank precinct, for the construction of a fuel depot,” he added.

Mr Motlaleng said the developments were expected to stimulate economic activity, attract private sector investment and create employment opportunities in the capital city.

“Importantly, once the lease periods expire, all these developments will revert to the Council, thereby strengthening the Council’s long-term asset base and financial sustainability,” he said.

Mr Motlaleng said the council continued to face financial constraints that had affected its ability to consistently meet service delivery obligations, noting that the situation had negatively impacted overall performance.

He said the council had not yet received the government grant for the period January to March 2026, amounting to P97.4 million.

However, the Mayor reported progress in revenue collection, saying the council had so far collected P125.68 million from its P170.02 million own-source revenue budget, representing a 74 per cent collection rate.

He further said a recent property valuation exercise was expected to significantly increase the council’s revenue.

Mr Motlaleng said billing for the 2025/2026 property rates was completed in February 2026, and early payments had already begun improving revenue inflows.

Historically, the council collected around P90 million annually from property rates, but with the new valuation roll, revenue was projected to rise to approximately P300 million, representing a 333 per cent increase.

Mr Motlaleng explained that the sharp increase was largely due to the previous valuation that was conducted in 2008 and implemented in 2014, which left many new developments and properties unaccounted for. ENDS