Chamber of Commerce moves in to save Phikwe

Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday November 4, 2016 18:45

 

A leaked Chamber of Commerce report by the local business community that is destined for Parliament also says that as an immediate action for government to assist the mining town, former BCL employees be re-skilled to rehabilitate the mine’s dumping sites. Their position is also that VAT be deferred for BCL creditors who are waiting to receive payment from the liquidator.

The Chamber of Commerce also called on government to relocate some departments that have disposable income to Selebi-Phikwe and to also develop a steam train business to attract tourists. They say that this is a non-core BCL asset that can be advanced with the appointed liquidator.

They also stated that SPEDU board of directors need to be re-constituted and that it should include members of the region to demographically represent the region. The report says that a P500 million loan fund must be immediately put in place for projects in the region and that CEDA must relax its terms on security for loans.

The report further says that CEDA must undertake to either approve or reject applications within two weeks of the application submission and that the agency must commence funding process within seven days of the approval of a successful application.

The local business community’s position is that Botswana Investment and Trade Centre official be assigned to Selebi-Phikwe and be placed at the SPEDU offices immediately. The officer must avail to the public a full list of potential investors who are looking to partner with Batswana to invest in Selebi-Phikwe.

The business community’s position is also that in view of the vulnerable economy of the town Botswana Power Corporation and Water Utilities Corporation connection charges for SPEDU region be drastically reduced to encourage business expansion and new investments and that the turnaround time for new installations be reduced to speed up business start ups and expansions.

They also suggested a subsidised cost of electricity and water to all business consumers by providing a 50% rebate.

“The period should be for 10 years and there should be a response turnaround for this region and initial capital investment. All Botswana Development Corporation owned property in the region for industrial activity should be P3 per square metre. This should clearly be for manufacturing and industry and SPEDU’s 74 light industrial plots should be fast-tracked for establishing additional warehouses using SPEDU land bank,” it says.

The Chamber of Commerce also recommends that the cost of shipping goods by rail where origin of shipment is Selebi-Phikwe or where final destination of shipment is Selebi- Phikwe should be subsidised at 50% rebate.

Their position is also that all Selebi-Phikwe-based companies should be given a 25% price advantage on all government, parastatal and local government tenders. Their position is also that SPEDU land bank be fast-tracked and a budget for SPEDU-owned factory shells be provided and transferring the BDC shells to SPEDU must be urgently considered as well as to speed up the SPEDU investor facilitation.

They also stated that SPEDU should make Selebi-Phikwe the education, agriculture and teacher training centre and that a tuition grant for 2017 should be provided to cushion the effect of the loss of students of BCL parents.

They also feel that investors should be given long term residents and work permits and felt that the current atmosphere in the country is not very receptive to foreigners hence Batswana need change.

The business community is also of the feeling that council must commercialise the road entering into the mall and that BCL should sell their houses along that road so that the mall area can be extended. They also want Botswana Railways and the Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) to sell their property in town for commercial use.

They noted that the BDC should divide their property into 50,100 and 200 square metres light industrial to be leased to young entrepreneurs so that a commerce park can be built in Selebi-Phikwe. 

They also feel that rental of property should be reduced and no 10% escalation for five years and that Botswana Railways should provide incentives for transportation of industrial minerals such as sand, granite, and concrete to consumption areas. Their position is also that BITC must put Selebi-Phikwe on top of the list for investments and that all the conferences must be directed to Selebi-Phikwe as soon as possible.

“Massive agriculture investments for import substitution on projects at Thune and Lotsane dams must be carried out as well as identity and lease prospecting boreholes within SPEDU areas to farmers. Soil sample and testing should be done throughout the year for free and it should be done for agriculture alone and a laboratory is needed in the region,” states the report.

The local Chamber of Commerce also calls for accelerated implementation of projects to end of this month. For instance, Mmasebotse Poultry Cooperative Abattoir be implemented at the end of this month to the tune of P10 million and their request to the OP for P4.1 million, Mmadinare Diary Cooperatives request for P3.5 million, Mmadinare Development Trust’s request for P27.2 million as well as Badikolobe Cooperatives request for land be accelerated to the end of this month.

They also want farmers who have been allocated plots within the BCL mining lease area be assisted by SPTC, Mmadinare Sub land board and department of lands. They also want the Platjan border post to be made a commercial port of entry.