Citizens want to share in Panda’s economic revolution
FRANCISTOWN: Batswana are determined that the billion-pula potential of the Pandamatenga area should not pass them by as have other economic revolutions in the country such as diamond mining and tourism.
Government, through the Special Economic Zone initiatives and the private sector, is pumping millions of pula into transforming Pandamatenga into an economic engine in the country, where commercial agriculture and tourism will report the export-led diversification and growth sorely needed in the country.
As with diamond mining and tourism, citizens have limitations in the type of doors to open to benefit from the latest economic revolution. The most popular door is employment but unlike diamonds and tourism, commercial agriculture in Pandamatenga is proving more difficult than expected.
According to officials on the ground in the area, on average a single commercial farm of around 500 hectares employs five people in Pandamatenga, because much of the work is done by machinery. Experts say that if farms operated manually the number of jobs per 500-hectare farm would triple.
The current situation, which is similar to the latest trends in commercial agriculture across the world, lies opposite to the original intentions of government when Pandamatenga farms were created. At the time, in the 1980s, the idea was not only to boost food production and self-sufficiency but to also grow employment. The transformation in agriculture means jobs will have to come from elsewhere. Pandamatenga councillor, Tengenyane Tuelo says more energy should be channelled away from direct jobs on the fields and into agro-processing.
“I think it is important for government to put more energy into making sure that the plans to establish agro-processing plants in Pandamatenga comes to fruition as soon as possible.
“If prioritised or expedited, the project can create many jobs not only for residents in the Chobe District but also for the whole country,” he said.
Tuelo cites South Africa as one of the countries that have successfully used agro-processing plants to create massive employment opportunities for its citizens. Nearly three years ago the government launched the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) as a way of accelerating economic growth and job creation to reduce abject poverty in the country. Areas such as Gaborone, Pandamatenga commercial farms, Palapye and Lobatse were identified for various SEZ initiatives. As a part of the SEZ project, a total of 30,000 hectares of additional land for expansion was allocated by Chobe Land Board for expansion of the existing Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers to facilitate the dream by the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA). The authority was also allocated 100 hectares for the development of an agro-processing hub. However, Tuelo is worried about the time taken in delivering the noble ideas.
“My biggest worry is that the govern- m e n t will take longer to ensure that the Special Economic Zone is established.
There is nothing on the ground that suggests that the project will soon take off. I urge the government to move swiftly and establish the project,” Tuelo said.