Khama promises 7,000 jobs in Phikwe
Tefo Pheage | Tuesday November 8, 2016 17:59
Khama made this revelation in Kanye on Thursday in a Kgotla meeting where he also touched on a few national issues.
Khama regretted the decision to close the Mine, but said it was not possible to continue operating it.
“We have not despaired and no one should. Phikwe has not been abandoned; our projections are that we will be able to generate around 7,000 jobs in Phikwe,” he said. Khama further said the move will give BCL workers hope as most of them will be considered for those jobs.
The President further revealed that the former Bank of Botswana governor, Linah Mohohlo, who is the Coordinator of Selebi-Phikwe Economic Revitalisation/Recovery programme, will play a pivotal role in bringing Phikwe to its good days amid fears that the town may turn into a ghost town. Khama expressed trust in Mohohlo saying with her unparalleled immense experience in the financial and economic fields, she will greatly contribute to the economic recovery of Selebi-Phikwe.
Mohohlo assumes her new responsibility with immediate effect and will be based at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. Mohohlo was twice chosen as Central Bank Governor of the Year for her region in 2002 and then by Euromoney in 2003. Meanwhile, there are questions from some quarters on the establishment of Mohohlo’s programme, with some calling it duplication of the SPEDU’s efforts.
SPEDU was set up to secure a long-term survival of Selebi-Phikwe region beyond the closure of the BCL Mine and smelter through actions and initiatives which may bring sustainable new employment and investment to the region and hence broaden and underpin its economic and social base. The SPEDU Regional Economic Development Agency was set up to achieve further economic development and regeneration of the Selebi-Phikwe region, to promote business efficiency, and competitiveness in the region, inward investment and trade facilitation and promote employment.
Responding to a question in Parliament, the Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Biggie Butale said SPEDU is indeed still working within its mandate.
He said the number of jobs SPEDU helped to create total 286 constructions and project implementation jobs as well as 334 permanent jobs.
“The cost of running SPEDU office including staff and operations is P32 million per annum,” he said.