For over five years the vendors have been resisting calls to relocate as they argue that other alternative spaces offered by the council are not suitable for their businesses.
On the other hand, council authorities have argued that the land where the market is situated can only be fairly rewarding if turned into a new state-of-the-art central business district.
In 2020 Amasa, a 100% citizen-owned company, was awarded the rights to build a modern business complex at the central market plot under a 25-year lease during which the firm will pay the CoFC a fee of P28,000 a month. However, the redevelopment of the market has been hampered by vendors who are reluctant to move.
Briefing councillors in an ordinary full Council meeting this week, Francistown Mayor, Godisang Radisigo, revealed that the local authority was recently granted an eviction order against 26 market stall owners out of 46 on the plot.
“The remaining 20 respondents were served with notice of heads on September 11, 2023, and the hearing on the matter sat on September 18, 2023. “The final judgment will be delivered on December 14, 2023,” Radisigo said.
He added the council plans to find suitable spaces for vendors to operate in.
“We intend to revitalise the city centre and create conducive and sustainable spaces for both the formal and informal sector,” he said.
The long-running standoff between the local authority and the vendors prompted the Council to approach the Francistown High Court in May in a bid to secure an eviction order.
Meanwhile, Radisigo also told the full Council that the developer of another area in the city known as the Mummies Plot, has made substantial progress. The lease to redevelop and run the plot was awarded to Petrohyper. Bank Gaborone financed the project from the development phase to the operational stage.
“I am happy to highlight that the developer is preparing for the official opening of phase one of the project which comprises two, five aside pitches, children’s play parks, picnic areas, fuel filling station, retail shops, games room and associated facilities,” he said.
The P35 million project is expected to boost economic activities in the city. The partnership between the city and Petrohyper will run for 25 years, subject to renewal through negotiations.
