Drogba headlines ambitious Zotus project
Pauline Dikuelo | Monday October 13, 2025 06:00
Drogba’s appointment as 'Global Ambassador' was made by Zotus Group CEO Davison Simango during the Pula Global Expo 2025 Conference, held alongside the Global Expo Botswana.
The Kalahari City project, located at Junction 44, promises to transform Gantsi into a “world-class smart city, integrating renewable energy, advanced logistics, technology innovation, and community-driven initiatives”.
Zotus is a United Kingdom-registered entity, with online company records there indicating Simango as the sole director.
Briefing the media on Wednesday, Simango revealed that once fully operational, the project would represent an investment exceeding $50 billion and the creation of more than 20,000 construction jobs and 75,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities over the next decade.
“The smart city is designed to position Botswana as a global hub for innovation, trade, tourism, and sustainable growth,” he said, adding that the initiative will help diversify the economy, strengthen regional trade, and open opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Drogba, who also holds a stake in Zotus Group, expressed enthusiasm about his new role.
“I am honoured to join Zotus City as Global Ambassador. This is not just about building a city; it is about building hope, opportunity, and a new chapter for Africa. “Botswana is showing the world what visionary leadership and partnership can achieve, and I am proud to stand with Zotus on this journey,” he said.
During the Expo, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Zotus, the Gantsi District Council, the Trans Kalahari Corridor, and the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) to advance the project’s implementation.
Zotus City says it has partnered with some of the world’s leading firms, including Surbana Jurong of Singapore, renowned for urban projects such as Kigali Innovation City and Singapore’s Smart Nation programme, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) of Denmark, designers behind Google’s California headquarters and Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya giga-project and King & Spalding LLP, a United States-based global law firm specialising in Special Economic Zones and giga-projects.
Other analysts, however, have said the planned project is excessive in terms of ambition and short in terms of details.
“The area where this project is planned, the infrastructure, the logistics, water supply and feasibility of the opportunities being promised, are all disincentives to investors,” an investment analyst tracking the developments told BusinessWeek. “Investors also look at the track record of those involved. “The agreements with BITC and the local authority are a plus for the project proponents, but getting closer to reality is going to be a major task.”
Amongst other objectives, the Global Expo Botswana, which took place from Wednesday to Sunday, sought to showcase high-potential projects that will shape the future of the country, whilst providing a platform for engagement between the project proponents and global investors.