P1bn needed for Gaborone �Diamond City� upgrade
Setshego Gaobolwe | Tuesday June 24, 2014 17:02
The Diamond City dream involves the transformation of Gaborone into a tourism and investment hub, with world-class assets, infrastructure, amenities and services in line with the recent relocation of global diamond activities to the city.
Addressing the opening of a full council meeting yesterday, Nkaigwa said the ‘Diamond City’ status that Gaborone aspires to is still a world away due to dilapidated structures and other sub-standard assets such as roads.
“To reach the status that we want as a ‘Diamond City’ we need more money in today’s prices and that still remains a challenge for the Council,” said Nkaigwa.
“The city is struggling to maintain its roads and the dream to be a tourism hub remains elusive as we continue to be hampered by limited funding,” he said.
He added that a recent study had shown that P500 million was need to maintain the roads alone, and a further P300 million to upgrade them to world-class standard.
“As such it is very difficult to be able to maintain these to a standard that is line with the ‘Diamond City’ status,” said Nkaigwa, adding that, “We have a problem with flooding that the city often experiences and this is contributing immensely to the deterioration of roads”.
The Mayor said some progress was being made on branding Gaborone as a Diamond City, explaining the Council is in advanced talks with the Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) on this front.
“It will be of great value to the country for our city to be recognised worldwide as the city of diamonds,” Nkaigwa said.
The Mayor is proposing the establishment of a diamond museum in the city to attract both local and international visitors. The museum would boost the urban tourism goals that the Council is pushing for.
“Although Botswana prides itself as the best diamond producer, it is sad that many Batswana have never seen a diamond,” Nkaigwa said, adding that, “It is our wish that developments in the city moving forward, should take the shape of a diamond”.
However, Nkaigwa said the lack of funds had not entirely hamstrung the local authority, as it has taken a decision to start small-scale paving of roads, especially in Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) areas.