28 May 2026

Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) has successfully licensed three investors to operate within the Lobatse Meat and Leather City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) who will bring in an investment worth of P437.1 million.

Addressing a full council session on May 25, Lobatse mayor Mr Aron Ganakgomo said the development of the Lobatse Meat and Leather City SEZ remained one of the key priorities under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP). He said the development of the Lobatse Meat and Leather City SEZ had been included in the National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12) for implementation with the first phase targeted at the design and servicing of 100 hectares of land.

He revealed that development of the SEZ was progressing well as SEZA had thus far licensed three investors. Out of the three licensed, he said, one investor was already operational, while efforts were underway to facilitate the operationalisation of the remaining two investors in collaboration with Lobatse Town Council. He highlighted that the operating company manufactures car harnesses and had invested P89.3 million, creating 303 employment opportunities.

The remaining two investors were expected to invest a combined P347.8 million and would create 122 employment opportunities once operational. Mr Ganakgomo revealed that their projects included an export-oriented abattoir, a leather processing plant and a tannery.

Mayor Ganakgomo underscored that government continued to deepen private sector participation towards a diversified and export-led economy highlighting that a feasibility study for the infrastructure development of the nine SEZs nationwide which included Lobatse has been completed to identify suitable Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models. Additionally, he said the report was currently under review by relevant Ministries and was expected to be finalised during the second quarter of the current financial year.

He highlighted that adoption of the PPP model would be subject to Government approval, as well as fulfilment of key conditions such as land ownership, and confirmation of the contingent liability implications by the Ministry of Finance. As such, he appealed to all stakeholders with economic muscle and land parcels to ready themselves for opportunities that will be created by such initiatives.

He said SEZA was holding conversations with an experienced international developer interested in developing three SEZs in Botswana which included the Lobatse SEZ through the PPP model. “These endeavours demonstrate progressive developments towards positioning Lobatse as a key industrial and investment hub that will contribute to economic growth and stimulate job creation,” he said.

On other local economic development issues, he said the country was currently immersed in dealing with the recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Zone 11 which has resulted in the temporary closure of the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) plant at Lobatse. “Not only has this affected the employees of the BMC, but the broader spectrum of the economy even at the household level,” he said.

He said Department of Veterinary Services has followed FMD protocols and has ordered closure of the plant which was expected to remain closed for a period of between three and six months. This situation, he said placed financial and operational pressure on the Commission and impacted economic activity within the town.

In addition, he expressed optimism that while the FMD set back might slow down some of the progress the town had made over the past year, it would not diminish the resolve to continue to economically revitalise the town adding that other significant developments within the sector continued to make progress.

“The Tannery Revitalisation project is now at 94 per cent completion rate and remains on schedule for final completion in September 2026. This project represents an important investment towards industrialisation, value addition, and economic diversification within Lobatse. Once completed, it is expected to unlock job opportunities,” he said. ENDS