Call for price review of commercial, industrial plots
Chakalisa Dube | Friday May 23, 2014 13:43
The councillors adopted a motion calling for the prices to be reviewed by the Ministry of Lands and Housing on Tuesday this week during an ordinary council meeting.
Currently, those interested in acquiring the plots have to part with between P1,5 million and P1, 7 million for the industrial and commercial plots respectively, to obtain title deeds before any development is carried out. Tabling the motion, Monarch East councillor Raoboy Mpuang said that the current huge prices for the plots were unaffordable for most Batswana investors.
“It has been 13 months since the ministry, through the city council advertised the plots through a tender process, but business personalities have shown little interest in acquiring the plots because of the high prices required from them to acquire title deeds.
“Most foreign business owners are the ones who can afford such plots but if they are to be allowed to acquire the plots, it will go against the government’s plans to empower citizens.
“The ministry should review the prices for acquiring the plots to suit local needs. It will also be a way of empowering them,” he argued. Mpuang also said that the prohibitive prices of the plots have delayed the development of facilities such as shopping complexes in the area. “With a population of over 10,000 it is almost inevitable for the location to have a well-developed Central Business District (CBD) supported by independent investors or a new state-of-the-art shopping complex,” Mpuang said.
Francistown Central councillor, Ephraim Maiketso and Ace Ntheetsang, the councillor for Kanana ward, which falls under Gerald Estate, also echoed Mpuang’s sentiments as almost all councillors supported adopted the motion.
Meanwhile the Francistown City Council Principal Economic Planner Iye Moakofi early this year said that the design of the CBD, in Gerald Estates, solely funded by the government, will be catered for in the 2014/2015 budget.
Gerald Estate residents continue to suffer due to lack of a shopping complex in their area. Currently the residents travel long distance to do their shopping.