After failing to attract developers to transform the old Francistown Golf Course into a Central Business District (CBD), Francistown City Council (FCC) has announced that it intends to package the development into land servicing and lot development.
This was revealed by Francistown Mayor Godisang Radisigo during a full council meeting on Monday.
“The process is expected to be completed by end of November 2020. This should cover the funding model followed by advertising of lots,” he said.
The unkempt old golf course (Plot 2531) which is owned by the city council has been idle for years providing habitat to criminal activities. The city council proposed to develop the under-utilized 42-hectare plot into a CBD in 2013 as part of its vision to diversify the ailing economy of Francistown and bring about the much needed jobs for the residents.
The mayor said that the cadastral survey of the link roads is ongoing and expected to be complete by the end of December 2020.
He explained that this will assist the city council to complete the estimates for services and other associated works. On usage of open space and parks in the city he said the city council awarded 19 open spaces to youth in 2018 for development into various activities over a period of 5 years. He expressed worry that that there is slow development due to lack of funding and relocation of youths.
“We are therefore appealing to the business community to assist in funding such projects. The last batch of open spaces targeting the youth will be re-tendered in the next financial year. The council is involving other stakeholders like Water Utilities Corporation and Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development to assist in removing barriers to development of open spaces by the youth.
The mayor also expressed concern over the state of Francistown roads. He said most them are below the approved road condition index. He added that this is aggravated by the fact that the city council continues to receive limited funding in spite of its needs. Radisigo said the money that they have been receiving as Road Levy funds since 2016/2017 cannot address all their needs concerning roads.
“This being the case we shall continue to do more with less by prioritizing those areas that are heavily affected. This therefore calls for cooperation and teamwork in the spirit of seeing the bigger picture,” he said.
He explained that the city council has an ongoing contract for pothole patching and edge repairs in some areas within the city. The said areas are Phase 6, Block 6, 7, 8, Somerset and Gerald Estates, Bluetown, Monarch and Gerald Estates. The Mayor revealed that another tender for resealing about 8km and 2km asphalt overlay respectively will be signed by December 2020. Furthermore he said there are on-going storm drainage projects at Block 1, Block 7 and Seleppa and another one at Satellite, Monarch and Light Industrial in front of Trident wholesalers. The progress for both projects is 75 percent and 80 percent respectively.
