New Lobatse mall to be built early
Tumelo Mouwane | Tuesday April 25, 2017 16:21
Kebonang said if all the necessary procedures are followed well in time or the contractor considers alternative measures to avoid delays, construction might begin sooner than later.
“In 2014, Lobatse Town Council saw the need to engage in public-private partnerships to help develop our town. As a result, a relationship between Lobatse Town Council and some investors from Botswana and South Africa has resulted in an agreement to construct a mall at the bus rank. “There are some assessments that need to be followed and they take time, for example the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) may take up to two years.
That may cause delays in commencement of construction, but the company engaged may consider other alternatives to avoid delays like applying for a waiver.
The council will then take responsibility for environmental monitoring and construction may begin,” she said. Kebonang further said the land would be leased to the investor for 25 years.
“The plot belongs to Lobatse Town Council and it will be leased for 25 years to the partner of which he will be paying rentals. The council will decide after 25 years whether it extends the lease or it runs the mall on its own,” she added.
Quizzed on the criteria used to select the company engaged to construct the mall Kebonang said restricted international bidding was followed.
“Since 2008 some companies have been showing interest to build a mall in our town. It was then decided that the companies must be approached to tender for construction of the mall under international restricted bidding,” she said.