Africa-Press – Botswana. The newly constructed Mall of Maun has been celebrated as a significant development that will not only attract investors but also invigorate the local economy.
North West District Commissioner, Mr Thabang Waloka, expressed admiration for the state-of-the-art shopping complex during the mall’s launch, stating that it has brought immense joy to the villagers and enhanced the village’s aesthetic appeal.
Mr Waloka also mentioned the district’s readiness to provide land to serious investors interested in creating economic opportunities for the community. He highlighted plans to transform Maun into a leading green city and commended the mall owners for their contributions towards this vision.
The mall is expected to reduce the need for residents of Ngamiland to travel long distances to cities like Gaborone and Francistown for their shopping needs, offering a wider array of choices to customers seeking diverse shopping experiences.
Additionally, Mr Waloka highlighted the convenience and luxury provided by the mall, applauding the owners for their forward-thinking leadership. He envisioned that when the river experiences floods, the mall would offer a picturesque view, creating lasting memories for customers and visitors alike.
Thamalakane North ward councillor, Mr Othaile Molamu also appreciated the mall saying it was complementing other existing shopping complexes in the village and enhancing the tourism offering.
“This mall had been built on a ploughing field which used to be the bread basket of Maun and I believe the mall will also be a centre of attraction for both locals and visitors. We thank our land board for availing a chunk of land to drive developments in our area,” he added.
Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) principal investment officer, Ms Katso Gaobakwe appreciated the facility and urged Mr Seloma Tiro who owns the mall to continue with their partnership through development citing that they would not hesitate to support him as long as he created employment opportunities for the locals.
The corporation, she said was committed to support initiatives aligned to job creation, citizen empowerment as well as contributing to economic development..
Ms Gaobakwe said BDC mandate was to provide and facilitate funding of commercially viable projects and enterprises that contributed towards industrialisation, economic development and diversification.
As such, she said the corporation commissioned P250 million towards the project adding that the mall was located in a prime area providing access to the people of North West, Okavango and part of Boteti districts.
“This is the biggest mall of its kind in the western side of the country and I believe Mr Tiro’s vision was attracted by the broadness and abundance of the area. This mall will indeed benefit the people of Ngamiland,” she added.
Ms Gaobakwe further said the project would also enhance tourism attraction and therefore improving the scenery of the river. She also highlighted that because of the sensitivity of the river, the mall would use conventional septic tanks for sustainability as well as environmental preservation purposes. She also assured the community that the mall would not in any way interfere with the river flow or contaminate the economic environment.
“This mall is testament of the visionary leadership of Mr Tiro and it will contribute significantly to local entrepreneurs as it will offer unique services. I call other investors to come forth so that we help them to achieve their visions as we did with Mr Tiro,” said Ms Gaobakwe.
Situated strategically along the Thamalakane River bank, this mall, the largest shopping center in Maun, offers a diverse range of amenities including supermarkets, restaurants, banks, fashion retailers, home decor shops, accessories outlets, and more.
Out of the total 63 shops, 37 were officially opened to the public on Thursday. Reportedly, The mall has generated over 2000 job opportunities for the local population, with an additional 1500 jobs created during the construction phase.
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