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COVID-19 sets back BR properties

Botswana Railways (BR), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leonard Makwinja
 
Botswana Railways (BR), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Leonard Makwinja

BR Properties first announced plans to build the multi-million-Pula Francistown mall in 2014 that is expected to be like the capital city’s Rail Park mall.

The state-of-the-art mall will feature a hotel, piazza, filling station, mini football pitch, transport terminal and other developments.

In a media briefing, Makwinja revealed that the construction of the mall was supposed to have long commenced but was postponed due to a number of   reasons, one of them being the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He promised that the ground breaking for the multi-million Rail park type  mall for the second city would be   held on the   first   quarter of next year.

He added that   they have   received all the   bids and they were so far working on   appointing a development partner. 

Makwinja said that P300 million worth mall   would be constructed   in phases. 

On completion, the mall would employ 287 people during the construction phase and 235 workers post the construction stage.

On another note, Makwinja said plans are underway to move to a   new dry port   behind Phillip Matante International airport.

He said that the new dry port will moved to a bigger piece   of land hence creating more   space for construction of the mall.

Earlier when addressing different stakeholders during the Southern Africa Railways Associations (SARA) commemoration, City of Francistown mayor Godisang Radisigo said that they were eagerly still awaiting the commencement of the construction the Rail park type mall.

He wished for BR to accumulate retained earning so that the project to kick start in order to stimulate the city economic activities in future.