Francistown Oriental Plaza remains idle
Friday, June 16, 2017
White elephant: The building has not been fully operational since 2011
The shopping complex was denied an operating licence by the then Ministry of Trade and Industry and has since been used by Chinese business people as warehouses.
Responding to a questionnaire on why the complex is not yet licensed, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Peggy Serame said they only issue trading licences to individual businesses and not to building complexes.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...