Phikwe Revival On Track
Onalenna Kelebeile | Monday September 11, 2017 16:11
It is evident that everyone is now playing a role to dispel the myth that the town is dying.
A team of former BCL employees and some residents of Selebi-Phikwe residents have formed a company called Theolex Properties, which has come up with a concept to establish a university college as part of economic diversification of the SPEDU region.
The college chief executive officer, Costein Mandizvidza said during an interview that the idea to establish a university was conceived on the backdrop of the Mine’s limited lifespan, which rendered dependent industries non-functional and their ultimate closure in October last year.
He said they conducted a feasibility study that discovered that challenges that the SPEDU region is facing in diversifying the economy is lack of skilled manpower in the tourism, agriculture and manufacturing sector, hence Phikwe University College (PUC)was conceived. The project is estimated at P2.1 billion.
He added that they started off by inviting the Mine’s ex-employees who are adversely affected by the closure for a meeting and the response was impressive. He said the aim is for those without skills to be promoted into entrepreneurs and for them to come up with business ideas so as to be assisted with business plans in order to access funding from financial institutions.
He said once the university is established, ex-BCL employees will be considered for enrolment. The project started in August last year before the Mine closure, and the Board of Directors, according to Mandizvidza, have already been allocated a piece of land along Sefhophe road that was initially earmarked for the College of Applied Arts that was later relocated.
He said they have already approached commercial banks for funding, which he said have shown interest in funding the project once their requirements are met. “We are currently working on meeting those requirements. Once we show proof of funding SPEDU would then facilitate land ownership change.” He said the land was identified through the assistance of Department of Surveys and Lands.
He further said that they are currently soliciting government’s intervention in achieving the course of reviving the economy through community empowerment. “We intend for the project to start early 2018 with the construction phase that is anticipated to take three to four years. The budget for the construction alone is P1.3 billion and is expected to create 3,800 job opportunities while the enrolment capacity would be 3,000 students.” He added that they would spend P500 million on infrastructure while P300 million would be used to cushion the university to survive during the period when the university would not be fully operational to sustain itself. “During the construction phase, contractors who are former Mine employees will be given priority,” he added. The PUC, according to the CEO, will be peculiar to other academic facilities in the country, as it will provide its graduates with practical and vocational courses while imparting skills for the employment and entrepreneurship market. He said graduates would be ready to set up their own businesses while most of them will be absorbed by businesses that would have been setup.
“We also intend to propose to government to use the mine facilities to setup a faculty of mines from which the country will benefit because there is no mining school in Botswana,” he said.
The CEO explained that Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) has provided them with a list of courses classified under occupations in high demand. The university will offer over 102 programmes recommended by HRDC to the Department of Tertiary Funding who subsequently approved them as courses qualifying but not limited for student sponsorship by government. “We are also in the process of affiliating to reputable international institutions,” Mandizvidza said.
This adds to the off taking by Brite Stars, air craft manufactures that has already signed a MoU with SPEDU and other stakeholders for the development of the P1.4 billion aviation project in Selebi-Phikwe.
Brite Star is among the 13 projects that SPEDU is currently involved in. In total the companies are expected to invest around P277.5 million of which P17.5 million will be financed through CEDA and other funding agencies while the rest is own investment. Three of these companies have been offered BDC factory shells.
One of the projects expected to start operating here is Pumet Unique Designs that specialises in textile production for fashion and corporate wear. At full production the company will employ over 700 people and the required investment for the project is P8.5 million for both investment and working capital.
Motloutse Farm electrification project entails the development of a powerline from Bobonong farms and another line servicing Selebi-Phikwe farms along Motloutse River involving 44 farms. Already 30 farmers have applied for connection. The line is complete on the Bobonong side. The contractor is waiting for farmers to make payments so that they can be connected. Three transformers have been tested and commissioned on the Selebi-Phikwe side.
National Agro Processing Plant, though not operating at a capacity, has already started procuring produce from local farmers in the region. It has also secured market from various supermarkets such as Choppies, Daily Needs and Sefalana Group. Discussions around possible privatisation of the plant are underway. The Platjan Bridge construction is also one of the projects expected to improve the economic fortunes of the SPEDU region. SPEDU is facilitating the agreement between the landlord and the contractor to enable the project to start. SPEDU has approached the Lands department to expedite the land acquisition issue.
The much expected pharmaceutical plant has already been allocated land and is expected to create 900 jobs during construction and 300 more once fully operational. The environmental impact assessment process was due to be completed at the end of August. Developers are already preparing for construction.
Deputy mayor Dorcus Letlhogela has applauded all efforts in place that are meant to revive the economy in the SPEDU region. She said these are the good news that the town eagerly waits to hear. “Now it calls for every stakeholders to play his part to ensure that all processes are smooth sailing to avoid losing investors to other areas,” she said.