The multi-million Sebele Shopping Center in Gaborone North is now at in advanced stages of construction and is expected to open its doors at the end of May 2011, the developers said.
In an interview with Sunday Standard, Commercial Projects Director, Brett Marlin, said the they had planned to have two phases in the development, the initial 9000m2 and second phase of 10000m2.
“We believe that the catchments areas are from the central town, Block 6 and the northern part of the city,” said Marlin.
“We may also capture some people from the southern portion of town who could find it easier getting to the Sebele Centre rather than some of the other shopping centers.”
The shopping centre is also expected to have a number of office suites.
According to Marlin, the mall will accommodate, among others, Pick ‘n Pay grocery store, Woolworths, some restaurants, hardware and a bureau de change.
Marlin revealed that Prime Time Properties, a Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) listed property fund, owns the mall.
The developer of the mall is Time Projects. Marlin observed that there are no conveniently placed shopping centres on the northern portion of the city.
“We are positioned on the A1 with a four way intersection as our main access point so it does not matter where you are coming from,” said Marlin.
The site of the mall is said to be more than 27 000m2 and the centre shop area is 10 000m2, as the letting of the 1st phase has gone well.
“Having Pick n Pay and Woolworths and other fantastic tenants in such an easily accessible centre, will naturally make Sebele Centre the first choice centre in the area,” added Marlin.
The construction and full operation of the mall has been hailed as a significant project that will complement Botswana’s employment creation and economic diversification efforts.
The mall is located along one of the busiest roads in the country, used by a lot of motorists and cross boarder transits.
The mall opens at a time when progressive new developments of block 10 and block 8 industrial sites and also Gaborone north residential area are nearing completion.
The shopping centre, which is paving way to compete with about 10 other shopping malls in Gaborone, will be built at a cost of P100 million.
