Budget sidelines S/Phikwe's arts college

MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent | Thursday February 5, 2009 00:00

 

Government authorities have remained mum on the project, which was supposed to take off in 2007 with the hope of diversifying the economy of Selebi-Phikwe.

The global economic downturn has further dented hopes of the project taking off. The government has been shelving certain projects, channelling funds allocated to them to projects believed will ensure economic growth.

When the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Baledzi Gaolathe delivered his budget speech on Monday, there was no mention of the college envisaged for Selebi-Phikwe.

Although the Ministry of Education received a substantial share of the budget - P7.57 billion or eight percent - most of the funds will go to secondary school programmes and colleges of education.

Among the projects are construction of four senior secondary schools at Mogoditshane, Nata, Mmadinare and Shakawe.

A Selebi-Phikwe resident, Molimisi Molau, argues that because the second university was 'taken away' from Selebi-Phikwe, the government should consider the college of applied arts as a priority.

Construction of the project would add to the diversification of the local economy, Molau says.

Another resident, Lucas Sekani, says whether construction of the institution had been shelved, 'Such projects provide hope for diversification, but if the government remains mum, it is a setback,' Sekani says.

The Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit had identified construction of the multi-million pula project as one that would boost the diversification programme.

An entrepreneur who does not want to be identified says uncertainty surrounding the project is likely to dent investor confidence.

'There are direct and indirect benefits to be derived from the construction of such an institution,' he says. 'The construction sector benefits directly while sectors like banking also stand to reap rewards downstream.'

However, the man remains hopeful that the government will resume the project before lifespan of BCL Mine - which is almost the sole anchor of the local economy - elapses in 2013.

Selebi-Phikwe politicians have long complained that the project was delayed. Among them is the Councillor for Bontleng, Tshiamo Ikaneng, who raised the issue in a council meeting in 2007.

Immediately after Gaolathe's speech on Monday, the President of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), Gilson Saleshando, said the uncertainty surrounding the project spelt doom for the mining town.

'This shows lack of will and we begin to suspect the government never intended to construct the facility in the first place,' Saleshando said. 'It was an appeasement after we lost the second university.'

He challenged the government to announce a stimulus package for Selebi-Phikwe because BCL Mine is in the grip of the global financial crisis.

The Publicity Secretary of the Botswana National Front (BNF), Moeti Mohwasa, said Selebi-Phikwe deserves special consideration because of its mono-cultural economy.

'We are a town under threat and there should have been consideration (of this) in the budget,' Mohwasa said.