Turnstar to expand Game City Mall
Isaac Pinielo | Thursday October 30, 2014 16:18
Yesterday the company’s managing director, Gulaam Abdoola said the construction contract of this process was in the process of being awarded.
He revealed that negotiations with two short-listed contractors are ongoing for the award of the construction contract. Although the exact date of starting the project is unknown, the expansion is expected to be completed end of 2015.
According to Abdoola, the expansions would include additional retail space, a fashion avenue, restaurants area including a food court, entertainment areas and a parkade. The authorities have approved the building plans.
“The redeveloped shopping centre will have additional 8,500 square metres of rentable space which will comprise a fashion avenue for brand savvy clients, a well-designed restaurant area with terrace sitting, a multi-function entertainment area and kids play area,” explained Abdoola.
He added that the restaurant area would be the destination of choice for fine dining, and would cater for nightlife with a safe and retro urban environment overlooking the panoramic Kgale hill.
Game City is one of the busiest malls in Gaborone. The mall is situated at the foot of Kgale hill, at the confluence of major roads from Lobatse and busier areas of Kgale View, Naledi, Commerce Park, Gaborone West industrial and Gaborone West residential areas.
The mall has over 120 shops including Game store, cinema, supermarkets, fast food restaurants and clothing shops.
Expansion of Game city was prompted by the arrival of news malls such as Airport Junction, Sebele and Rail Park mall, which pose serious competition.
Abdoola also mentioned that they were also expanding Mlimani City, a shopping mall in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He said after expansion the mall would include additional retail and commercial space including basement parking, additions to the conference centre, and a botanical garden.
Mlimani City is the largest mall in Tanzania with an area of 19,000 square metres. It opened its doors in November 2006 and is the country’s first indoor mall.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) listed company shows in its consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the half year ended 31 July 2014 that the company made revenue of P114.8 million.
Group profit before tax increased by 8 percent to P64.5 million from P59.9 million the previous year.
Earnings per share (EPS) are 11.1 thebe and a tax charge of P1.5 million comprises wholly of deferred tax charge. Abdoola noted that the Tanzanian subsidiary, Mlimani Holdings Limited, had contributed P50 million to the total group revenue, representing a 44 percent contribution.