Mayor commends traffic police

Staff Writer | Friday May 7, 2010 00:00

Nyeku was speaking at this year's annual retreat Operations Division of the Botswana Police Service held here this week.  Nyeku said though major projects like the Francistown Stadium and the upgrading of the airport were underway, the city's road network was left behind. Rush hour traffic jams have become a daily problem here. 'Our road network has reached capacity and needs upgrading,' the Mayor said.

The recent opening of Marimavu Road,  which connects the area between Tati River Lodge and several neighbourhoods to the town centre does not seem to have improved the situation because all feeder roads still lead to the A1 and the Thapama Hotel traffic circle. 

Nyeku commended the police for taking it upon themselves to control traffic at peak hours and at month-ends at the notorious circle and at traffic lights around the city.  'We would like to commend you for sending officers to regulate traffic at congested areas on a regular basis,' he said. But he pointed out that manning traffic would prove unsustainable as a solution in the long run.

'Our hope is that once our economy fully recovers, we will be able to resuscitate our programme of upgrading roads within the city,' he said. 'Once that is done, I believe no one - investors included - will have an excuse not to choose Francistown when a choice has to be made.'