12 May 2016

The Minister of Lands and Housing, Mr Prince Maele has informed the residents of Francistown that the city is one of the areas that will benefit ftrom the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP).

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for ESP projects on May 10, Mr Maele said under the programme, 470 hectares of land that covers pipe laying of 26 kilometres in length will be done to the tune of slightly over P19.9 million for a duration of six months effective March 14 to September 13 this year.

Mr Maele said the bulk servicing of the land will be done in Gerald Estate Block 1 and the Central Business District (CBD) covering 3632 plots of mixed uses.

He said by bulk servicing, his ministry is providing a conducive environment for the private sector to participate in land servicing through Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

Mr Maele explained that the project has generated employment to a total of 35 citizens and it is expected that the number will increase as the project progresses.

He said still under the ESP, his ministry will develop 118 Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) Turnkey housing units in Francistown at the amount of over P10 million, creating 590 jobs.

The minister said the Francistown West constituency will have 113 units, Francistown East and Francistown South will each have three and two units each respectively.

He explained that Francistown West will get the highest number of housing units because of the availability of plots in the area while the other two constituencies have limited space.

Mr Maele further said his ministry will finance the Gerald Estate/Aerodrome link road through ESP but could not reveal the cost because the project is at initial tendering stage of procurement.

The Managing Director of Aquaducts Engineering Services, a company that has been contracted to carry out the project, Mr Wilson Ketjebile said a total of 25 local youth and nine women were employed.

He said as the project progresses, a total of 50 people will be employed, adding that apart from the jobs, the residents of Gerald Estate benefited as the company has rented a total of 11 houses.

Mr Ketjebile said the company and its counterparts contribute to the economy of the city through purchase of materials and hiring of plant and equipment.

He assured the residents that his company will deliver the highest standard of quality, within budget and set timeframe.

Mr Ketjebile thanked the government for empowering the citizens through ESP and at the same time building the national infrastructure.

In her welcome remarks, the city mayor, Ms Sylvia Muzila said the servicing of land brings hope to the residents of Gerald Estate that they will have shops.

She said the project will boost the city’s aim of attracting investors and help in diversification of the economy from the mining industry.

Ms Muzila called on the ministry to establish why some commercial plots that were allocated in Gerald Estate and other areas in the city were not yet developed. ENDS