Africa-Press – Botswana. City of Francistown has partnered with Tati Company Limited for an alternative bus rank.
This was revealed by the Mayor of Francistown, Mr Godisang Radisigo during a full council meeting in Francistown July 26. Mr Radisigo stated that the move is meant to de-congest the existing bus rank, saying discussions were ongoing on the project with regard to location, development and operation of the bus rank.
Regarding the maintenance and provision of street lights, Mr Radisigo the city is challenged with poor illumination levels, which currently lie at an average of 45 percent.
He said due to a limited budget, only a total of 100 LED fittings have been ordered to replace the burnt fittings at Somerset SHHA,, Naledi Motors route, Selepa, old Matsiloje route, and Satellite Mosu Panel.
“The delivery of these fittings is expected by end of July 2023. The replacement of these fittings will be done in-house and the works are expected to be completed by end of September 2023”, he said.
Mr Radisigo further said the fittings in other locations will be replaced in the next financial year funds permitting, and that the recurrent budget will also be used to take care of a total of 45 BPC streetlights at Satellite and 30 at Donga and replace them with solar streetlights.
He said the council will take over a total of 321 BPC streetlights in Francistown South constituency and replace them with solar streetlights using the Community Constituency Project funding for 2023/24.
“The project will be done in-house and is expected to commence in August 2023 after delivery of the ordered solar streetlights. The remaining 457 BPC streetlights will be done as and when funds permit in the coming years”, he said.
Mr Radisigo also said the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture has launched a massive effort to establish the Multipurpose Youth Hub on an 11.5 hectares plot along the Tati River bank in Block 2.
The project will be done in three phases. The first phase has begun.
“Currently the site has been partially de-bushed, mainly on areas to be used to accommodate the restaurant, recreation, sporting field and vegetable production”, he said.
Unfortunately large funds had to be spent on clearing the area as it had been turned into a dumping site for rubble.
He added that the project needs heavy machinery to clear the remaining rubble and reeds along the river.
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