SONA empty rhetoric - councillors
Chakalisa Dube | Wednesday November 8, 2017 13:44
The councillor for Itekeng Ward Lesego Kwambala said that based on the dynamics within the city in recent months, he was expecting more than what the President delivered on Monday afternoon. “Francistown has been hard hit by the closure of the Tati Nickel Mining Company (TNMC). The city needs special intervention. I was hoping that the President will introduce measures meant to rescue the economy of Francistown like he did with Selebi-Phikwe.
“The economic situation in Francistown is increasingly becoming worse and need serious intervention of the government. Businesses continue to close and some are shedding jobs,” Kwambala said.
Phillip Matante East councillor Uyapo Nyeku shared Kwambala’s sentiments yesterday.
“I thought like Selebi-Phikwe, Francistown would be given attention by the President. The mood in the city is now somber because of the declining economy. I was hoping that Khama will announce the roll out of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) project which we believe would power the city’s economy but it appears as if the project will not be commissioned anytime soon,” Nyeku said adding that there was nothing new in most of Khama’s speech.
Last year, Khama said that a board for the Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZA) has been appointed and has already engaged a technical advisor for the roll out of the zones.
Under the SEZ initiative, Francistown would be turned into a logistics and mining hub. However on Monday, Khama said that the government is continuing with the setting up of the SEZA. “We have developed and are now implementing the Authority’s structure, business development and marketing strategies,” he said. Donga Ward councillor Ben Mpotokwane said, “I will only credit Khama for improving the infrastructure of Francistown. In terms of improving the city’s economy he has fared badly. I did not expect much from him in terms of addressing the city’s economic woes. I expected the rhetoric”.
The declining economy of Francistown since the closure of TNMC last year October has often been a source of worry to the city’s councillors.
Nearly two months ago the council passed a motion calling on the government through the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to consider giving a special economic aid to Francistown just as it is the case with Selebi-Phikwe. The councillors bemoaned that the economy of Francistown is on the brink of collapse. They also expressed worry that the government seems to be giving special aid to Selebi-Phikwe leaving Francistown behind.
They said lack of economic activity in the city could worsen unemployment and crime.
Since the closure of Tati the real estate sector has taken a heavy knock, as evidenced by the high vacancy rate of offices and residential properties.
In total over 500 employees at TNMC lost their jobs as a result of the liquidation of the BCL Group. Companies subcontracted to TNMC mine also closed and in the process shedding of hundreds of jobs.