PAC queries role of Mohohlo�s Phikwe taskforce
Pauline Dikuelo | Thursday June 1, 2017 16:08
Yesterday, the committee interrogated the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry’s (MITI) permanent secretary, Peggy Serame on the procedure, which led to the establishment of the programme as well as the appointment of the coordinator.
“What is the difference between SPEDU and Economic Revitalisation Programme because it seems like they are doing the same mandate hence the reason why we want to know why it was established?” questioned PAC member, Bogolo Kenewendo.
In response Serame told the committee that the Economic Revitalisation Programme was set as an emergency to help revive Selebi-Phikwe following the closure of the BCL Mine, which was the mainstay of the town.
She assured the committee that procedure was followed as a committee established by her ministry suggested that an additional office would be needed to rescue the situation at Selebi-Phikwe, which is expected to last three years.
“We as the committee within the ministry came up with a strategy which proposed that an additional office would be needed to rescue the situation at Selebi-Phikwe but there was no recommendation of who should be appointed,” she said. The Economic Revitalisation Programme was established late last year following the closure of the BCL Mine. By then the government approved an Economic Revitalisation Strategy, which is expected to yield 6,856 jobs in the SPEDU region, including a number of projects in agricultural production and processing, tourism and related services as well as manufacturing.
The committee also learnt that the former central bank governor, Linah Mohohlo, who was appointed as the coordinator of the programme, earns a higher salary than the permanent secretary in the ministry with her salary for three years amounting to P1.6 million.
Further when commenting on the developments at Phikwe, Serame said progress has been made noting that some of the big five projects, which are meant to create jobs in Phikwe, have already commenced.
“Progress can be noticed as some will start operations in June while some in July and even when we started we never expected to see results this soon,” she said. Of the five projects, Serame said three are in information and communication technology while two companies are in agriculture. In addition she said in the long term, they have also identified 20 more business in the pharmaceutical, tourism and manufacturing to also help revive the town.
SPEDU’s drive is to ensure long term survival of the Selebi-Phikwe region beyond mining which will bring sustainable economy, employment and investment with a view to broaden the economic activities through tourism, agribusiness, manufacturing as well as infrastructure development.