Minister Autlwetse not aware of looming eviction
Minister of Local Government Kgotla Autlwetse has professed ignorance of plans by the City of Francistown to evict informal sector traders from the central market.
In response to a question asked by Francistown West Member of Parliament Ignatius Moswaane, Autlwetse said he was not aware of any plans to evict the traders, but only aware that the Council took a decision to relocate the central market occupants to pave way for face-lifting of the Urban Core, which includes the central market and other related activities.
Moswaane had asked the Minister whether he was aware of the impending eviction, and if he’s aware that Francistown is made up of mainly high density low income areas whose dwellers are mostly informal sector traders and constitute a larger percentage of the buying power.
The no nonsense MP further asked the Minister if the Francistown City Council was failing to provide central market traders with an alternative market place they can occupy, and on measures taken to protect the informal sector traders from harsh economic conditions.
In his response Autlwetse said the Francistown City Council engaged extensively with the then occupants who obliged and moved out to other Council stalls at the bus terminal, airport, Somerset and Aerodrome located around the City.
“It is unfortunate that the relocated occupants returned to the Central Market and are currently occupying the space illegally,” the Minister said.
He further insisted that government has provided the traders with alternative market places to occupy at the bus terminal, airport, Somerset and Aerodrome.
However, the minister added that, while FCC made efforts to use the Horticulture Market Premises for traders, it never materialised as the facility was already allocated to Botswana Horticultural Council (BOHOCO) based in the city targeting the informal sector in Agriculture.
Autlwetse said Francistown being a high density low income area is not peculiar, but a characteristic of all urban areas in Botswana including developing countries.
“We recognise the role played by informal sector to grow the City’s economy and improve livelihoods of its residents. A number of initiatives have been developed including Informal Sector Strategy and guidelines to manage, activate, organise and grow the sector in the City,” the Minister said.
