Botswana has one of the highest rates of urbanisation in Africa

Public- private partnerships crucial in carbon emission reduction

Botswana has reported one of the highest rates of urbanisation in Africa, especially in the two cities of Gaborone and Francistown, which translates to an increase in greenhouse carbon emissions from transport and different industries.

Ten years ago, the urbanisation rate stood at 61 percent and was projected to shoot to 70 percent this year, and 90 percent in 2030.

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Dr. Thapelo Matsheka told the World Habitat Day commemorations that cities are responsible for nearly 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, with buildings, energy, transport and waste management, they account for the bulk rate of urban greenhouse emissions. Botswana developed the National Spatial Plan in 2017, aimed at the location of people, their activities and environment, and is basically a strategic framework devised to influence the distribution of people and industrial activities over Botswana’s territory, over a period of two- decades, through stipulations that guide spatial development and investment decisions in the country. The National Spatial Plan also aims to protect Botswana’s many unique landscapes and flora and fauna, as well as establish a nationwide ecological network that ensures that natural resources are protected.

Francistown for example, has developed the 2022- 2046 spatial plan and although still at deliberation stage, the hope is that once it is formulated, it will replace the 1997 plan, and address the socio- economic and environment challenges that the second city is faced with amidst growing urbanisation. The city leadership is tasked with improving infrastructure, and devising a development plan that facilitates growth but also protects natural landscapes and doesn’t worsen carbon emissions.

According to information revealed by Council to media recently, the 1997- 2021 plan was inadequate as it could not address certain issues related to urbanisation such as dilapidated urban structures, traffic influx, mushrooming of informal businesses and residential areas.

The Gaborone Development Plan, approved in 2000 after lengthy consultations and approval, faces key challenges in shortage of land for residential and businesses premises, traffic influx, poor road infrastructure as the transport network system has reached its optimal capacity resulting in congestion, limited business sites that leads to informal businesses sites.

Others are challenges with protecting areas which are considered environmentally- sensitive but due to land allocations there are some environmental impacts that make this difficult.

For example, consider the economic and environmental conditions in growth of the capital city. As the city continues to grow, the implementation of the plan should be able to accommodate the ever- changing physical, social, economic and environmental conditions. The Plan document indicates that: “The major goal of the Gaborone City Development Plan was the creation of a spatially well- planned and built environment that is decent, functional, liveable, safe and portrays an image and character befitting the status of a capital city”. Above all, the goal seeks the establishment of a capital city that is conducive for all human activities, through the formulation of well thought out strategies, programmes and policies, projects and guidelines that are attuned to the needs of a capital city in a globalising world economy.

The National Spatial Plan 2036 stipulates that in light of continued urbanisation in both cities, there is need to devise mechanisms to ensure that both cities are liveable, have economic opportunities but that the environment is also protected.

The Minister said all stakeholders should commit to playing a role to reduce these emissions to avoid the erosion of natural resources, flora and fauna, keep tourism thriving, attract investors and keep the environment protected. He said different stakeholders in both public and private industries, should play a role in developing mechanisms geared towards promoting a carbon- free environment, and policies that inform sustainable urbanisation, emphasising that public- private partnerships are key to achieving these goals as expertise of different stakeholders would be beneficial in conceptualising ideas, policies, and in implementation of the derived plans. “While urbanisation is a key aspect of development, it has been proven to contribute to carbon emissions and aggravate climate change and its impacts on communities. Botswana has in recent years experienced unprecedented growth in urbanisation, as many Batswana move from rural areas to towns and cities to improve their economic livelihood”.