The Francistown City Council, through the Physical Planning Committee, has approved the extension of the Nswazwi Mall to include a floor and upper floor parking areas.
The development is expected to ease Francistown’s parking challenges in the Central Business District (CBD).
This development is part of Francistown’s Revitalisation Plan, which was approved in February 2019.
Speaking at the official opening of a Full Council Session on Monday, Mayor, Godisang Radisigo, said the Revitalisation Plan, which is a renaissance strategy for the Blue Jacket Street Corridor, is aimed at reorganising and redeveloping of the Central Business District and improving its linkages with all neighbourhoods.
He further said the plan underscores the linkages between the quality of the spatial environment, investor confidence, local economic development and promotion of economic development zones.
He said this is one of the approved several major commercial developments which are currently underway.
These, he said, include construction of Toro Mall by Molapo turn-off, development of contemporary offices by Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, and the development of a Recreational Park and commercial facilities at plot 15076, commonly known as Mummies.
“These developments will bring a facelift to our cityscape as well as creating employment opportunities hence contributing to improved livelihoods of our people,” said Radisigo.
The Mayor further said these major developments will also have a trigger effect on other eleven developments in the city as already evidenced by development of warehouses and offices.
The 6 600m2 mall was opened for business in November 2005. It was developed on behalf of Tati Company and was subsequently sold to PrimeTime Property Holdings.
The mall is located between Blue Jacket Street and the Francistown taxi rank and bus station.
It has easy access to government offices, and it feeds off of the other retail outlets in the vicinity.
The mall has a historical and cultural significance to the people of Francistown.
It was named after Bakanswazi leader, John Madawo Nswazwi VIII, and it’s opening commemorated the repatriation of Bakanswazwi back to Botswana in 2006.