Save the city from economic collapse � Kgalajwe
Chakalisa Dube | Thursday November 23, 2017 15:57
Former mayor and now nominated councilor, James Kgalajwe made the call yesterday during a full council meeting.
Almost all the councillors backed Kgalajwe’s presentation and agreed that they should work on organising a timely special forum to extensively deliberate on issues that can help revive the city’s economy.
“Following the closure of Tati Nickel Mining Company (TNMC) our economy thrived through Zimbabweans traders who came here to buy goods to resell in their own country. Now that former president, Robert Mugabe has stepped down the economy of Zimbabwe will most likely be revitalised and Francistown’s economy will inevitably be doomed,” he said.
Mugabe stepped down as Zimbabwe president on Tuesday raising strong sentiments that Zimbabweans who had fled because of misrule will soon be returning home to rebuild their country. Kgalajwe said, “It is time for authorities and businesspeople in Francistown to be proactive and come up with initiatives that can help revive Francistown’s economy. Failure to do that will be catastrophic. Time is not on our side. We now have to show visionary leadership”.
TNMC, a copper and nickel mine, which used to support the economy of the city, ceased operations late last year, in the process shedding over 700 jobs. Some businesses that directly and indirectly benefited from the mine closed while others retrenched hundreds of workers.
Kgalajwe said that stringent business regulations might also drive investors to Zimbabwe.
“We must now relax some of the regulations in order to retain traders who are still operating. Many business owners have often raised concerns regarding the Francistown City Council’s stringent regulations. Owing to current economic dynamics, we now do not have the luxury to continue having very strict business regulations.”
Kgalajwe further noted that Francistown should also use its strategic position as a gateway to Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe to its advantage. He said Francistown’s geographical location places the city in a good position to operate as a business logistics hub , amongst others.
“The FCC should speed up the implementation of the vision 2022 because part of its aim is to turn Francistown as a logistics hub to service Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.”
The FCC, through a company called Francistown Investment Company, drives the vision 2022 that was launched in 2015. The company is yet to fully take off. Two months ago, the council said that it was still working on appointing the company secretariat.
Since the economic meltdown in Zimbabwe started, approximately 15 years ago, Francistown businesses, particularly Chinese traders have benefited from Zimbabwe business operators who purchase goods in the city to resell in their home country. The Chinese shop-owners have also created employment for hundreds of Batswana. Other Batswana are employed at warehouses keeping stocks for the Chinese traders.
Batswana who are in the transport industry and those in the informal sector have also benefited from Zimbabwean traders coming into the country thanks to Francistown’s proximity with the Ramokgwebana border. Now, there is fear that the revival of Zimbabwe’s economy might result in Zimbabwean traders ditching their business trips to Francistown.