Gaborone can be attractive

Mmegi Editor | Thursday March 27, 2014 12:05

This cannot be enough for the service of our capital city.  Granted, the country does not have an abundance of resources to develop and efficiently maintain the city.

 

But the budget is just too little for a city that is trying to sell itself as next Antwerp, the Belgian diamond capital.

 

The capital city is our country’s reception, and therefore deserves a better budget, particularly that from November last year, into the future, we will be hosting diamond dealers following the relocation of the Diamond Trading Company from London.

 

The way our city looks has a serious bearing on the country’s image, and its potential to investors from abroad.

 

In revealing his budget, the mayor Haskins Nkaigwa stated that the funds will be used to repair streetlights, potholes, traffic lights, and other important matters that need urgent attention.

 

However, the mayor didn’t say much on the introduction of parking meters in the city centre such as the main mall. He also said very little about putting maps around the city to guide first time visitors. He didn’t even mention any plans to make the city attractive at night.

 

It is our view that during his three years in office, the mayor has had a chance to travel to other cities in the region and beyond.

 

World cities are bright and active at night. They are beautiful and interesting to visitors, making them want to stay longer.  While we appreciate the budgetary challenges that our country is going through, we are of the view that some new innovations can still be tried.

 

The mayor said that approximately P13 million has been approved for the lighting of the newly developed Central Business District. “We expect this project to improve the quality and efficiency of night lighting on the streets of the new CBD as well as enhance its aesthetics.

 

It will also improve visual comfort as well as road safety and personal security during the night especially that this area will be a major meeting point for the newly established Diamond Centre”, said the mayor.  The promise is our hope. Our wish is that the council not only ensure the city is not fully connected to lighting but also that the facilities are well maintained afterwards, otherwise what has been the trend with malfunctioning street light will continue.

 

Also of great concern is the state of roads leading into the city. These are not attractive, well-planned or even well taken care of.  In major cities around the world, visitors enter through well designed highways and freeways.

 

Not in Gaborone. Another area that the GCC has failed to explore is the parking meters in busy areas such as the city centres. This is not only an income generating venture as many drivers park in public parking lots hours on end, but could also address parking congestion as many would be forced to observe times.

 

There are many ways the city can generate income, all that is needed is for officers to think outside the box.

 

 

Today’s thought 

“For those who are lost, there will always be cities that feellike home.”

 –Simon Van Booy, Everything Beautiful Began After