At a shared cost of P60 million
Gaborone City Council has engaged the services of three property valuing companies to undertake valuation of its properties in the city at a combined cost of P60 million in an exercise estimated to take six months.
The properties in question includes but not limited to residential, Commercial, both large and small scale as well as industrial.
City Clerk, Lopang Pule confirmed the exercise and the amount to be paid to the valuers.
During his address at the full Council meeting, Mayor Austin Abraham of GCC informed his colleagues that in an effort to enhance its revenue streams, the Council has enlisted the services of three local companies to conduct property valuations in the vicinity of the city for rating purposes. This initiative aims to determine the market values of properties in Gaborone.
The process, which began in January 2024, is expected to continue for a period, with the contracted firms— Real Assets ( Pty) Ltd, More Property Valuers ( Pty) Ltd, and Real Reach Consortium— anticipated to deliver the valuation roll by the end of June 2024.
Abraham stated that, “the Council will subsequently commence collecting rates based on the updated property values.” Abraham said additionally, as a component of the Property Valuation Project’s publicity efforts, the Council has initiated various campaigns to raise awareness among the residents of the city.
These campaigns encompass the dissemination of public notices in local newspapers and on the Council’s Facebook page, the distribution of introductory letters addressed to property owners and occupants, as well as public announcements via public address systems, numerous radio stations, and Btv.
Abraham urged the residents of Gaborone to collaborate with the valuation contractors to ensure the smooth execution of this project.
Regarding local governance matters, Abraham mentioned that on February 9th, 2024, the Council leadership held a consultative session with Ward Development Committees ( WDCs). The primary aim of this gathering was to address issues related to maintaining cleanliness within Gaborone City. Special emphasis was placed on the City Upkeep strategy, which acknowledges the current cleanliness shortcomings in Gaborone and aims to rectify them.
WDCs were urged to ensure that Gaborone meets the necessary standards for general upkeep through the implementation of the Ipelegeng Programme. Additionally, Abraham noted that various departments and institutions were requested to collaborate with WDCs at the ward level.
Abraham conveyed concerning news regarding the availability of medicines in health facilities throughout Gaborone, noting that certain drugs have been consistently out of stock.
Currently, the average medicine availability stands at 64 percent, a slight increase from the 63 percent reported in the previous quarter, with essential medicines registering at 76 percent availability and vital medicines at 68 percent.
Additionally, there has been a notable decrease in immunisation coverage among children under five within the district due to the unavailability of several antigens at the Central Medical Stores ( CMS). Particularly concerning is the Rota virus vaccine, which stands at a mere 31.9 percent coverage. This low coverage increases the risk of vaccine- preventable diseases. However, the department has pledged to mobilise efforts to administer missed doses once the antigens become available from the CMS.