MVA Fund open new Ghetto office
After 23 years operating out of a small, cramped office in Francistown’s Ngilichi House, the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund is moving on up, zooming off to a brand new premises.
The impressive five-floor building, which dominates Ghetto’s southern CBD skyline overlooking the famous ‘Spaghetti’ interchange, was officially opened on Friday.
Speaking at the well-attended launch, MVA Fund Chairperson, Dr. Boitumelo Mokgatla explained the move was necessary as the previous space restrictions meant the Fund was unable to carry out all its services.
“The offices which we just vacated have served us very well over the years. However, there were limitations in serving some of our claimants who used assistive devices. Hence we considered it prudent to construct this building to among others ensure universal access to our services and be customer centric,” said Dr. Mokgatla in her overview of the project, which cost P103 million and was completed in impressive time, with the groundbreaking only taking place on 20 August 2021.
Insisting this was money well spent, she continued, “This new structure will allow us to better serve our claimants in a conducive environment, promote road traffic safety and engage our various stakeholders on pertinent issues and advocate for safe roads for our communities.”
Dr. Mokgatla explained they chose to build in Francistown as the second city ticked all the boxes, in terms of strategic location as well as city leadership’s willingness to avail the downtown plot.
The building is divided into a total of ten office spaces, with the Fund occupying one and leasing out the other nine to various organisations.
Stepping in for absent Trade and Finance Minister, Peggy Serame, the ministry’s Director of Pensions and Insurance, Patrinah Masalela said promoting road safety was vitally important to the national agenda.
“It is through organisations such the MVA Fund that the government combats road traffic carnage and the dire consequences. Statistics obtained from Botswana Police Service indicates that as of the 1st of October 2023, we have cumulatively lost 277 lives on our roads, and we still have three months to close the year. This number is surely going to increase as statistics indicate that road crashes, especially those resulting in loss of life, are more prevalent during the festive season,” warned Masalela.
For his part, Francistown Mayor, Godisang Radisigo said he was extremely grateful to MVA Fund for choosing the northern capital to build their iconic building.
“Our city will never be the same again as it has been uplifted. We expect similar developments from other organisations in the near future,” said Radisigo.
