• AI agents are redefining productivityJune 10, 2025
    Dr Dimakatso Polokelo At the turn of the 21st century, the idea of asking a computer to book a dinner reservation or summarize a report would have sounded implausible. Yet today, digital assistants like Siri and Alexa routinely perform… Read more: AI agents are redefining productivity
  • Boko mulls military hubJune 10, 2025
    BIUST, BDF, Air Force War College (Nigeria) discuss military industrial complex STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts Boko mulls military hub BOSETU reject education privatisation RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisition Just days after President Duma Boko announced Botswana’s ambition to develop a… Read more: Boko mulls military hub
  • BOSETU reject education privatisationJune 10, 2025
    Reports Botswana govt to ILO over privatisation of public education BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts Boko mulls military hub BOSETU reject education privatisation TOUGH TIMES AHEAD!   Amidst growing standoff between the government and public sector trade unions, Botswana Sector… Read more: BOSETU reject education privatisation
  • RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisitionJune 9, 2025
    Strong 2024 results confirm sound strategy, buoyed by BSE clearance STAFF WRITER editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts AI agents are redefining productivity Boko mulls military hub RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisition RDC Properties Limited (RDC), on the 30th May released a Circular and… Read more: RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisition
  • Botswana Environmental Assessment Practitioner AssociationJune 9, 2025
    RelatedPosts Botswana Environmental Assessment Practitioner Association TIKI MEDIA * Head Branding Solutions WILDERNESS AIR * Quality Assurance Manger
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
  • Login
  • Register
Friday, June 13, 2025
17 °c
Gaborone
21 ° Tue
22 ° Wed
24 ° Thu
26 ° Fri
The Patriot On Sunday
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
Cart / $0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders
No Result
View All Result
The Patriot On Sunday
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Saving Selibe Phikwe from collapse

patriot by patriot
November 15, 2020
in News
240
0
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
ShareShareShare

Selebi Phikwe  before, with its large rich copper and nickel mineral deposits used to attract people, businesses and investors into the town but is no longer lively as it used to be. Formerly leading hub of copper mining in Southern Africa region, which saw the economy of town flourishing as job opportunities were vast due to the mine,  ‘Zana as  Phikwe is popularly called by its inhabitants now cuts the image of slow, sleepy town which left many wondering.

Ghost town

RelatedPosts

Boko mulls military hub

BOSETU reject education privatisation

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD!

Apart from a lively giant retail supermarkets, banks and big renowned hotels in the town, the other business properties have closed and turned into birds’ homes, with the situation leaving the once admired mining town in the brink of collapse, Phikwe is now looking like a ghost town.

  Phikwe used to be a hive of activity as job seekers across the country descended to the town and since closure of the mine, there is less movement of people and mood is somber in town.

The Patriot on Sunday interacted with some of Phikwe residents in the streets who shared their thoughts about life in Phikwe beyond mine which was considered a crucial source of economy.

Ogone Keabilwe who  sells airtime and fast foods in the town mall said the live hoods has been affected since BCL mine was closed decrying low turnout from business due to a low activity.

‘‘I have been residing in this town for some many years until BCL mine was closed. The town used to be busy in terms of business activity and hype in all aspects you can think of. The whole town is hurting and people have migrated leaving the town mood quiet for so long,” she added.

Another resident Samuel Modikwe who is former security guard says although it seems like the mine would not be reopened, he fears more glooming disaster lying ahead for the ailing town.

He noted that he was left unemployed while the company he was working for decided to retrench some of its staff earlier in August 2019, with company citing financial constraints.

“The situation is getting tough here every day.  I am failing to get a job in most of the security companies I approached as they decry of financial crisis as business have declined. The mine proved it was the economic backbone of this town and the town is collapsing, “Modikwe said.

Business community

The business community in Selebi Phikwe is feeling the heat of BCL mine closure especially small business enterprises such as lodges and manufacturing that supplied services to mine.

There is ominous sign of decline in business sector as majority of companies are closed along Bamangwato industrial site, with a number of large trucks packing under trees not being used.

Former BCL employee who is currently owning a Cleaning Detergents company in Phikwe, Maiteko Morapetsane revealed that the market in Selebi Phikwe is difficult to penetrate.

 Assisted by Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) to grow his business, he indicated that he was forced to start up a business for survival after he was left jobless when the mine was closed.

‘‘I worked as Geologist at BCL mine. I am running a cleaning detergents manufacturing company and the business environment is tough. If the BCL mine was still operating I am adamant that my business could be doing well because there have been some similar companies before that supplied mine with cleaning detergents. Maybe they are closed now,” Morapetsane stressed.

Some of the retail buildings are also not occupied in the town’s main mall as it said that some of the businesses that operated within them have migrated to other places such as Francistown.

The local Small Medium Enterprises hotel industry is also bemoaning decline in business citing that there can go a long time without getting lucrative business until the council have events.

Keorapetse’s efforts

Selebi Phikwe West MP Dithapelo Keorapetse has tried but in vain to convince government in parliament to reopen the BCL mine arguing its closure has impacted the economy of the town.

 Last year, he brought the motion to parliament insisting that BCL mine should be reopened however, he was defeated by the majority from the Botswana Democratic (BDP) legislators.

The outspoken MP noted that the BCL mine still have adequate mineral resources that could support a reasonable mine life especially the Selebi mine shafts arguing that the decision by government to close mine 2015 citing decline in copper prices is no longer reasonable today.

Moreover, former minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Eric Molale last year revealed that government spent P 956 million on BCL liquidation that failed.

The closure of mine in 2016 left pains of sorrow amongst 5 000 people who were left jobless.

Related

Tags: Selibe Phikwe

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

No more Chairman’s ball for NWDC

Next Post

Morupule Mine consults Serowe residents

Related Posts

Boko mulls military hub
News

Boko mulls military hub

June 10, 2025
BOSETU reject education privatisation
News

BOSETU reject education privatisation

June 10, 2025
TOUGH TIMES AHEAD!
News

TOUGH TIMES AHEAD!

June 9, 2025
P63m to quench Molepolole thirst
News

P63m to quench Molepolole thirst

June 4, 2025
Boko to chop ‘deadwood’
News

Boko to chop ‘deadwood’

June 3, 2025
‘Give us our land back’- Saleshando
News

‘Give us our land back’- Saleshando

June 2, 2025
Next Post
Morupule Mine consults Serowe residents

Morupule Mine consults Serowe residents

Please login to join discussion
  • AI agents are redefining productivityJune 10, 2025
    Dr Dimakatso Polokelo At the turn of the 21st century, the idea of asking a computer to book a dinner reservation or summarize a report would have sounded implausible. Yet today, digital assistants like Siri and Alexa routinely perform… Read more: AI agents are redefining productivity
  • Boko mulls military hubJune 10, 2025
    BIUST, BDF, Air Force War College (Nigeria) discuss military industrial complex STAFF WRITERS editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts Boko mulls military hub BOSETU reject education privatisation RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisition Just days after President Duma Boko announced Botswana’s ambition to develop a… Read more: Boko mulls military hub
  • BOSETU reject education privatisationJune 10, 2025
    Reports Botswana govt to ILO over privatisation of public education BAKANG TIRO editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts Boko mulls military hub BOSETU reject education privatisation TOUGH TIMES AHEAD!   Amidst growing standoff between the government and public sector trade unions, Botswana Sector… Read more: BOSETU reject education privatisation
  • RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisitionJune 9, 2025
    Strong 2024 results confirm sound strategy, buoyed by BSE clearance STAFF WRITER editors@thepatriot.co.bw RelatedPosts AI agents are redefining productivity Boko mulls military hub RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisition RDC Properties Limited (RDC), on the 30th May released a Circular and… Read more: RDC pursues PrimeTime acquisition
  • Botswana Environmental Assessment Practitioner AssociationJune 9, 2025
    RelatedPosts Botswana Environmental Assessment Practitioner Association TIKI MEDIA * Head Branding Solutions WILDERNESS AIR * Quality Assurance Manger
The Patriot On Sunday

© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

Navigate Site

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Analysis & Opinions
  • Vacancies & Tenders

© 2024 Copyright The Patriot On Sunday - Inspired by Search Mart.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?