FCC to appoint CEO for Vision 2022 project
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday August 26, 2015 15:45
The company was established following the enactment of the Local Government Act of 2012, which allows local authorities to form private companies in a bid to improve economies of their localities. One of Moiplek’s objectives is to help spearhead the Vision 2022, which is the brainchild of the FCC whose aim is to improve the economic vibrancy of the city.
An advertisement to appoint the CEO will be out soon, according to the mayor. “If things go according to plan and the CEO is appointed, I believe we will be able to conduct further consultations with the community in order to come up with a sound investment strategy for the city,” Muzila said when addressing a full council meeting on Monday.
Last month, Muzila told Mmegi that the city council was still drawing up a job description for the CEO. The mayor added that since the beginning of the year the city council has received many proposals from companies that wanted to set up in the city to support the Vision 2022. She said the council was still assessing the proposals to identify those that will bring economic vibrancy to the city.
“As part of supporting the Vision 2022, a land bank that includes an 83 hectares land at the Gerald Estates CBD and the Francistown golf course, which is 42 hectares, have been developed,” she said.
The District Commissioner (DC), Cordeliah Mpape who is among those appointed to spearhead the Vision 2022 project, yesterday told a full council meeting that Moiplek would assume total autonomy from FCC once it is fully operational.
“The company will operate as a real private sector entity with its own staff for it to produce the vibrancy and desired results without any redtapes and excess regulatory obligations that always stifle government organisations,” she said. Mpape noted that the company is in the process of changing the name of its directors from the previous mayor, James Kgalajwe to that of current mayor Sylvia Muzila. The other director is the town clerk, Israel Lebuile.
The DC also made a request that the name ‘Moiplek’ be changed to Francistown Investment Company, which she said is more appealing. The DC also stated that the company has not received enough money to start operations. “It was determined that P10 million will be necessary to kick start the vision through the company. The city council had to provide funding or come up with ways of getting it during the 2014 budgetary session. However, this was not possible due other priorities,” she stated.
Mpape said only a small amount of money, which she did not specify, was set aside to support Moiplek. “The little amount is what we will use to engage the CEO and facilitate his operations to kick start the company operations,” she said.