Boidus Focus - Vol 2, Issue 5 [Jun 2012]

11.06.2012

OIDUS FOCUS

Registered at GPO as a Newspaper Volume 2, Issue #5

NEWS > 02 MIST News: Mokotedi Accepts His Ministry’s Failures 03 Right to be Debriefed After Losing a Tender - M. Lefhoko

Botswana’s Architecture Design and Urban Landscape Newspaper

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BOIDUS NEWS >

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EDITORIALS > 04 So What is Urban Design?

Author of Gaborone Revised Development Plan 05 The Gaborone North/ Phakalane disaster and bureaucrazy!

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BUILDINGS > 06 Envisaging an Urban Regeneration Strategy for Gaborone 07 Landscape Exclusive: Mokolodi Nurseries foster Essence of Life Plants

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The ‘State of Our Cities’ Designers Forum 2012

Concern for the planning, design and development of our cities

by H. Killion Mokwete and Keeletsang P. Dipheko

Introduce Urban Design at DTRP and Council “There is need to train more urban designers introduce them strategically in Government planning institutions such as Councils, DTRP and Ministry of Lands and Housing and also in private sector...” [Peter Moalafi, Urban Designer]

Brand Gaborone a ‘Diamond City’- Alex Mochusi [BOCCIM]

by Keeletsang P. Dipheko

“Urban Design should not be about emphasis on ‘qualification degrees’ but rather focus on competency. In other words the important question is whether someone architects are competent enough to practice as an urban designer...”

[Mr GS Manowe, ARC Chairman]

that Botswana truly benefits from this historic relocation to our shores.

“We suggest for a start Sir, the Gaborone should be re-branded on the diamond theme, just as when one mentions Antwerp – diamonds come to mind. Government needs to facilitate Gaborone to >>> CONTINUED PAGE 06

‘State of Our Cities’ Designers Forum: Held at Botswanacraft on 24th April 2012, the forum brought together Urban Designers, Architects, Town Planners, Landscape Architects, and government development agencies such as DTRP.

Typical Urban Design Scheme / ‘Big City Plan’ for Birmingham, UK - Eastside Masterplan

Designers Forum Cites Need to Introduce Urban Design So What Is Urban Design?

by H. Killion Mokwete and Mpho Mooka Discussions following presentations at the recently held ‘State of Citiesdesigners forum’ were unanimous in agreement identifying Urban Design as one most lacking key element across our cities. Although this has been made a key recommendation in the Revised Development Plan, attending participating designers still

decried the lack of proper urban design for our cities.

Boidus asked Leta Mosienyane (Architect, Urban Designer & Arbitrator) and Peter Moalafi (Oxford Brookes educated Urban Designer working with BHC) to introduce aspects of urban design... >>> CONTINUED PAGE 04

In a Boidus Exclusive Interview Dr. Henri Comrie (urban designer of Cape Town’s World Cup Stadium) observed that: “Great cities all over the world are firstly designed for people and not cars and that seems to be forgotten in the hard, impenetrable facades at ground level of the majority of new buildings going up in Gaborone. Buildings can be big and tall and self centered but their ground level facades should always be layered and shaded in a hot country like Botswana. If every building does this, Gaborone’s planners and architects will be building a much better city over time.”

This critical observation of Gaborone City can also be found in our cities and Towns across the county. It is with this background that we invited all relevant design stakeholders in Botswana to discuss the “State of our Cities.”

We asked these professionals the following key questions:

1. What is being done to develop and creatively nurture identities and quality of places in our cities?

2. Whose responsibility is it in Botswana to create identities and icons for our urban environments?

3. Research suggests that cities are the engines of economic growth and the agents of transformations throughout the world but looking at how urban cities can we say they foster economic growth?

The forum will be based on presentations from key persons who have some responsibility on matters concerning the planning, design and development of our cities. We had presentations from: • Urban Designer / Town Planner [MPI - Leta Mosienyane] • Development Control Code [DTRP- Mr Kebonyemodisa Ooke] • Architectures (Iconic Building) [Arctez - Mr Muchengwa] • Landscape [Richard Arthey, Rplan.M]

“Urban design is needed for example in areas like G-North where planning is currently based on a 2 dimensional plan which does not take cognisance of volume and or envisaged activities. Services should be allocated based on a complete volumetric plan and properly calculated services...”

[Mrs. Ndigilio Hobona, Architect] “Urban design could be used to define ownership of negative spaces in our cities which are usually neglected. Instead of councils wanting to ‘own’ all immediate spaces outside people’s house, guidelines could be developed to allow people to use these spaces for shared purposes...”

[Thabo Mpho Tau] Urban Design is a great tool as demonstrated by its application in Gaborone’s Central Business District (CBD). However, these common guidelines need to be binding to all.

Government developments in the CBD such as the High Court of Appeal largely ignored the urban design covenants...”

[Mr Muchengwa, Arctez]

>>> CONTINUED PAGES 10/11

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At the recently held 32nd HLCC meeting held in Gaborone, Mr Alex Mochusi, the BOCCIM President proposed a bold idea for transforming Gaborone City into a world class ‘Diamond City’. Mr Mochusi called on Government to take advantage of the ongoing relocation of the Diamond Trading Centre (DTC) to take high level decisions and initiatives that would ensure

Local News Page 2

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Northern Trade Show - Entrepreneurs and MIST NEWS Mokotedi Accepts His Public Urged to Promote Local Products Ministry’s Failures

by Esther Amogelang

Since its inception in 1994 the Northern Trade Show has grown, diversified and continued to be a must attend event, not only from the Northern region but beyond borders. Speaking at the opening of the show in Francistown last week Boccim Vice President North Ms Granny Sesupeng, said due to the economic recession across the globe the theme “Seizing the Opportunities of Economic Diversification Amidst a Recession came into play”.

Sesupeng said for the past few years things has continued to be hard in many businesses making life of many entrepreneurs even hard financially.

It is for this reason that Botswana has come with abilities and ideas towards diversification and encouraged private sector especially to take a lead.

She encouraged everyone to actively collaborate with neighboring counterparts like Namibia and South Africa, to seek opportunities out there.

Sesupeng said through all these initiatives there can be employment creation, youth empowerment, poverty alleviation, foster demand for home

grown products and services that will eventually sustain the economy developments. “With these opportunities global recession can be seized,” she said.

She further encouraged Batswana to support their home grown products before the rest of the world appreciates it.”It is a time that we as a continent introspect and appreciate what we do have and how to utilise it to its full potential,” she added.

The Boccim Northern Trade show is aimed among others at bringing exhibitors, businesses at one table for networking, unfolding new opportunities, local and regional trade, awareness for their products or services, and created essential business linkages that led to their success.

For his part BTC Group General Manager Commercials Mr Anthony Masunga when officiating the fair applauded Boccim Northern Trade Show for coming with such an initiative as the private in coming with new ways to diversify the economy.

The fair has continued to be the platform for conducting businesses on a local, regional and international scale hence creating networking between Non Government Organizations, Governments departments as well as private sector.

According to Masunga the fair brings small, medium and large enterprise together for gathering market intelligence, networking, and product exposure among other things.

With the recession that has hit the world and Botswana of course, many businesses continued to be affected and it is for this reason that business need to be relevant, flexible as well as staying profitable. He urged Francistown to step as a town and bring initiatives which can be able to attract investors. He calls upon parastatals to walk the talk, support local investors, purchase locally and provide feedback for growth of the fair. The Fair was concluded with a prize giving dinner and a fashion show at Adonsonia Hotel on Saturday.

by Esther Amogelang

The construction industry is faced with a lot of challenges amongst them corruption, lack of integrity, lack of professionalism and project delays which end up costing government millions of pulas. Speaking at Parliament Public Account committee recently, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology(MIST) Dikagiso Mokotedi admitted that his ministry has failed somehow. It is for these reasons that they have put in place a lot of strategies such as audit team to oversee the work done by contractors. The Committee, he said, will look into the project already completed, audit their job and submit the report to relevant authorities. Mokotedi mentioned the progress of some projects, and this is what he had to say: PROJECT

UPDATES

ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATES

1. STADIA

• Part of the project is now complete and handed to the client.

• Once the request has been done, the stadia will need 6 months to be done.

• The problem was the pitch which needed to be redone • A request has been made to government for an additional 10 million pula • They parted ways with Tectura, who were the lead consultants.

2. F/TOWN STADIUM

• It is expected to be done within this financial year

• The shade of the western stand would not be built due to design inefficiency.

3. LOBATSE STADIUM

Universal Builders

Universal Plaza

• The main delay of the project was due to bad designs.

• The problem was the ponding of the pitch.

• End of September

• Bad soil was used for the project.

Universal Builders (Botswana) (Pty) LTD

A 11-storey building designed to house several embassies

• They are currently waiting for the grass to grow due to winter.

4. SIR SERETSE KHAMA AIRPORT

• The team which was responsible for the project chose wrong procurement methods.

• By end of June

• The project was started with an incomplete design.

• At some point the contractors made a claim of close to a billion Pula which was rejected.

1

2

5. BIUST

• The delay was due to changes in design and scope of work.

• End of May

6. SHAKAWE SENIOR SCHOOL

• Contractors omitted brick force when building walls.

• The final report will determine the exact delivery of the project

• Structure will collapse in 2 years.

3

YEM Graphics

• The project was budgeted a value of P651 million.

Universal Plaza accommodates three core functions 1. Offices 2. Retail 3. Basement Parking

Situated in Gaborone's CBD directly fronting the Government Enclave, Universal Plaza is strategically located and easily accessible via the major highways of Nelson Mandela Drive, Limpopo Way, Mogoditshane Road and Nyere Drive.

The prime principles that guide the design of the building are: • Multifunctional facilities that celebrates diversity • Accommodating diverse functions/operations that work well together and depend on each other • A platform for interaction and communication • Facility dose not portray any single identity • Security

Universal Plaza

...a landmark building visible from many points in the City.

• Buildings not been constructed to specification of the contract.

Inspite of the many challenges, Mokotedi mentioned Nata Senior Secondary School and Mogoditshane Senior as some of successful projects done by his ministry. He assured the committee present that these projects will not show any defects at a later stage.

When asked what the ministry is doing or action taken to those who are caught in the act, Mokotedi said their effort is to make sure that all professional bodies including Architects, Quantity surveyors, engineers have to practice within the parameters of the law, and they must all be registered, which he confidently thinks will be done.

“We are reinforcing anti corruption committee which will be responsible for regular monitoring and checking of progress of projects,” he added.

Mokotedi said in the past the government has been taking things seriously awarding tenders to companies and assuming that since they are registered with PPADB they have knowledge and expertise on what they are doing. He therefore assured the committee that starting from today onwards only people who have expertise and proven records on the facilities will be awarded tenders. He however said government has saved up to 136 million pula which clearly showed that their efforts are succeeding.

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Local / International News Page 3

Right to Be Debriefed After INTERNATIONAL NEWS Losing a Tender - M. Lefhoko Architecture of the London Olympics 2012 While P10.06 billion allocated for development projects - PPADB

by Mpho Mooka

by Boidus Admin / Source: guardian.co.uk

In terms of show-stopping design, London’s Olympics have never threatened to compete with their expensive predecessor, Beijing 2008. There’s the economic climate to consider – and the fact that London already has plenty of perfectly good sports venues. Instead, London 2012’s organisers have taken their cue from Barcelona’s 1992 games, using the Olympics to make lasting improvements to the city. (If there’s one word you rapidly tire of hearing in London 2012 design circles, it’s “legacy”.)

The result is a different type of Olympic landscape, one

made up of permanent buildings designed with the future in mind (some of which have nothing to do with sport), alongside temporary structures that point to a more efficient way of hosting major sports events in the future. Some of this is plain and pragmatic (the Olympic Stadium), some of it is plain hideous (the ArcelorMittal Orbit), but much of it, in a quiet, practical, sleeves-rolledup sort of way, is architecture Britain should be proud of.

It’s not about winning; it’s about the taking part. Nor is this a sprint: it’s a marathon. Here are some of the highlights so far.

The Velodrome by Hopkins Architects (hopkins.co.uk)

PPADB held a workshop targeting consultants whose works are mainly in the business of construction, roads maintenance and rehabilitation, infrastructure, sanitation and water engineering.

It was announced at this workshop that 10.06 billion Pula has been allocated for public development projects.

The other objective for the workshop was to help consultants increase their understanding some of the fundamentals of public procurement and asset disposal as well as to increase their chances of success in tendering for public works.

In his keynote speech the Executive Director of Works Mosimolodi Lefhoko said he hopes that after the workshop both voices will make a difference in tendering processes and also to address some of the challenges prone to the works related industry.

Lefhoko also commended the construction industry for ensuring that they are registered with PPADB which is mandated to register all consultants, suppliers and service providers domiciled in Botswana in order for them to be able to participate in Government tenders.

PPADB has inherited the Contractor Registration System (CRS) and they are in process to revamping the registration system at PPADB through the integrated Procurement Management System (IPMS) which will ultimately show who is and who is not registered with PPADB at the click of button and go further to reflect on which company was awarded which project at what tender sum.

Consultants registered with PPADB will be bound to conform to a code of conduct in respect to all procurement and

disposal activities or false expulsion.

The has established Suspension and Delisting Committee which has already received some submissions, though one has not been suspended yet, the committee comprises of key stakeholders from law enforcement organs such as the Attorney General(AG’s), the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime(DCEC). The committee relies among others consultants to carry out its responsibilities and to make recommendations to the board for the board to take action.

He said, unsavory subject of corruption in public procurement, particularly in respect of works related contracts which falls within the purview of respective trades and vocations cannot be left unchecked. He said PPADB has partnered with DCEC to capacitate corruption prevention committees at procuring entity levels on issues of contract management, ethics and deterrence of unclean transactions and misconducts in the system as well as possible offences common at the registration stage.

These include but are not limited to dealing with suspect fraudulent certificates, bribery, conflict of interest and leakage of information , it is hoped that the tripartite partnership between the PPADB, the DCEC and the Competition Authority will not only help the board and the government at large but the law enforcement agency to meaningfully contain the scourge associated with corruption.

Lefhoko concluded by saying everyone has a right to be debriefed after losing a tender so that he can improve on future bids therefore they have the rights to be debriefed when they have failed to win tenders.

Aquatics Center by Zaha Hadid Architects (zaha-hadid.com)

Shooting Galleries and Basketball Arena by Magma and Wilkinson Eyre (torontostandard.com & guardian.co.uk)

The Handball Arena by Make Architects (makearchitects.com & torontostandard.com)

Editorials Page 4

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

AUTHOR OF GABORONE REVISED DEVELOPMENT PLAN

So What is Urban Design?

Architectural and Landscape Architecture Briefs

by Lekwalo Leta Mosienyane (MPI), Architect Urban Designer & Arbitrator >>> FROM PAGE 01

This understanding is firmly rooted in an awareness of nature, landscape and urbanism and consideration of the needs and dynamics of society, economy and space. Urban design is as much process as product and the implementation of urban design proposals require knowledge and skill in decision-making techniques and structures. The art of urban design, then, lies in shaping the interaction between people and places, environment and urban form, nature and built fabric

What Urban Designers Do? The urban designer operates across a wide range of scales, from regional and citywide to the level of individual buildings and can also specialise in many built and natural environment fields with activities ranging from research, analysis and policy to design and implementation.

Fields of research and analysis include: • Visual impact assessments • Conservation, heritage and special place assessments • Site, precinct and area analysis and assessment

Urban Design - The Blueprint for Creating Places for People Urban designer, Peter Moalofi defines “urban design” as a field which requires some form of qualification in its own right.

The emphasis of training emanates from the thinking that since it has many facets which occasionally, various professionals especially engineering, architects and planners touch upon they can be regarded as “Urban Designers”.

“Nonetheless as I will elaborate urban design only works when tackled as a holistic approach to the built environment as opposed to solitary efforts. To this end, Urban Design is taught as a rounded approach to make places more liveable and entities to be more vibrant and viable for human habitation”.

He says definition of “urban design” although centring on the arrangement and design of buildings, public spaces, transport systems, services, and amenities, draws together these many strands of place-making, environmental stewardship, social equity and economic viability into the creation of places with distinct beauty and identity.

In a nutshell it emphasises connections between people and places, movement and urban form, nature and the built fabric.

Nonetheless urban design owes its origin from the fact that dominant professions in spatial development usually operate at either macro or micro scale leaving out certain spaces a times like public spaces between buildings – avenues, streets, squares, promenades, and parks etc unaccounted for.

In one typical example, a town planner operates at macro scale.

They could just as well be looking at places and commanding the various zones at “1km” above the ground. This is the reality when you are drawing 100 plots on an A3 paper. Your biggest detail becomes plot level and bringing in the control code etc can only go as far as the figure ground (building outline).

Moalafi says on the other hand architects in their many forms operate at a micro scale and may just as well be concentrating on the plot they have been instructed by the client to design or create buildings or shopping malls upon. Now when the individual passes through area created by these two approaches chances are he will experience an inconsistent character and feeling of being left out while like canopies in front of shops end, paved street end because they were private and finds no places to rest along the way and even disjointed lighting along the corridors, at times gets lost with no identifiable landmarks to guide him etc.

Urban design therefore developed to address the mid scale by weaving together the micro and macro scales and giving places form, shape, as well as character to groups of buildings up to the whole neighborhoods, and the city. It establishes general guidelines, such as setbacks, heights, and other

Urban design is extensively involved in the preparation of a wide range of policy and guideline processes, producing: • Urban design policies for a range of built environment components such as, housing, street design, landscape, cityscape and heritage • Guidelines for various aspects of settlement design including housing, mixed use precincts, economic nodes, protected natural and heritage environments, etc • Site development guidelines for greenfield sites and urban upgrading precincts On the basis of an integrating and holistic perspective, the urban designer is well-placed to guide the development of more detailed work, formulating: Design Briefs for Development

Without implementation, urban design cannot make a positive contribution to our settlements. Urban design is a key part of several different stages of implementation, such as: • Developing implementation processes, techniques & programmes • Providing design control and guidance during on site construction, sometimes as the principle agent and other times as a member of the professional team • Carrying out or contributing to the various legislative processes involved in project preparation and implementation including Environmental Impact Assessments, visual impact and heritage assessments, rezoning, departure and subdivision processes.

by Mpho Mooka

rules that govern how buildings relate to one another.

The beauty of urban design as a profession is that anyone of the spatial development professionals above especially during post graduate may enrol into urban design and operate at a level to understand the many strands of physical fabric we live within. To answer the question raised, professionals should enrol in urban design schools to hone urban design skills necessary to guarantee appropriate urban design intervention in spatial development.

It will not make a difference if its government or private sponsorship. Nonetheless government stands to benefit more from utilising urban designers than many other entities. This is because urban designer’s role in government spatial intervention could certainly lead to good health, feeling of safety and beauty/ethics and the desire of people to live and invest in particular area which is “urban designed” than in other places.

YEM Graphics

The unique focus of urban design lies in the understanding of three-dimensional form and space in cities and settlements, and the relationship of this form to land, context, society and history.

and influencing processes that lead to the development of successful cities, towns and villages. Integration with the complementary fields of city planning, architecture and civil engineering is essential for the practice of urban design.

The role of urban design in synthesising various fields also requires strong connections with other specialist fields in the natural and built environment.

The Specialist Skills and Competencies Of Urban Designers In order to undertake this wide range of tasks, the Urban Designer must possess the following important competencies: • The ability to evaluate natural environmental processes and related settlement pressures in order to determine and stipulate appropriate policies, processes, guidelines and land uses, land capacities and development impacts • An understanding of social & economic urban systems and dynamics • An understanding of urban structure, linkages and operations in order to fully assess urban efficiency, sustainability, convenience, comfort, identity and their impacts on urban form.

• The ability to synthesise the complexities of all aspects of urban design assessment, policy, proposals and processes and present these coherently to clients & stakeholders.

• Graphic and spatial analytic, presentation & communication skills.

• The ability to respect, understand and communicate effectively with a wide range of clients, communities and colleagues in order to ensure meaningful and relevant involvement in urban design processes and outcomes.

A typical place to live and work within influenced by urban design would have identifiable neighborhoods, unique architecture, aesthetically pleasing public places and vistas, identifiable landmarks and focal points, and a human element established by compatible scales of development and ongoing public stewardship. Other beneficial elements of placemaking would include: lively commercial centers, mixed-use development with ground-floor retail uses, human-scale and context-sensitive design; safe and attractive public areas; image-making; and decorative elements in the public realm.

He says according to readings, it is still an ongoing debate on the origins of urban design and the search of who should be credited for such, nonetheless the consensus is that it has emerged as a moment. Its can be traced to the writings of the likes of Kevin Lynch and David Crane who developed fundamental theories of urban design and city form and the likes of Jane Jacobs who wrote the book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) answering the challenge of criticizing existing approaches to city planning and developing a new urban theory that emphasized the human ecology of the city. The books like responsive environment by Sue McGlynn, Graham Smith, Alan Alcock, Paul Murrain and Ian Bentley do justice to the subject matter.

Of the many examples where the practice of urban design could be cited “Milton Keynes ” in the UK comes to mind. The town boasts fully landscaped routes that form the top layer of the street hierarchy for both for private and public transport.

Although the roads are grid, the designers decided that the grid concept should be a lazy grid following the flow of land, its valleys, its ebbs and flows. That would be nicer to look at, more economical and efficient to build, and would sit more beautifully as a landscape intervention.

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No load is larger for us to collect and deliver as per customer expectations. We offer good customer service at all times and perform as per customer specification within Botswana and across boarders. We transport and deliver within all SADC countries. We also transport and deliver river sand, gravel and Aggregates as per customer specification and with good customer service fact that lead to a good supplier.

We also offer long term contract with customer based on the volume and requirements as declared from time to time. Contract deals or arrangements are also facilitated within 30 days and if agreement of the contract is based on credit worthiness of the customer.

You can always find us on the given details and we can as well quote you with competitive prices.

ADVERTORIAL

Urban design is both a specialised and an integrating profession. Urban designers are specially trained in the discipline, usually after qualifying as architects and sometimes as planners or landscape architects.

Working across the scales, the urban designer will produce or support the development of: • Metropolitan and regional spatial frameworks and structure plans • Local and district spatial frameworks and structure plans • Local and precinct urban design frameworks • Precinct and site layouts and subdivisions • Individual sites, building complexes and buildings

Urban design is at its core an integrating activity and is involved with various parts of the built environment sometimes focused upon a particular sector and at other times, the emphasis is on a holistic view of all sectors. The specialist areas of work include: • Housing, including layouts, housing typologies & design guidelines • Transport planning, esp. in relation to public transport network, transport corridor & streetscape design • Design of non-motorised transport networks and facilities • Public open spaces, parks and conservation areas, and retail precincts

The urban designer is trained to contribute to the various allied built and natural environment fields and to understand them well enough to formulate urban design products that take these areas into account.

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Editorials Page 5

PLAIN TALK BY JOWA

The Gaborone North/Phakalane disaster and bureaucrazy!

by Jan Wareus, Architect / Town Planner [The Author writes in his personal capacity]

However, I tried my own way when I had the meeting and made it clear to DM that some kind of “deal” with Council and GoB was needed, as, in my experience from earlier work in Sweden, private initiatives were acceptable but must follow established policies. I “arrogantly” told DM this experience as an advice for the future of his new town concept.

A funny noise from behind a partition wall to the drawing office was heard and tall as I am, I stood up and found YS taking notes of the meeting and not seeing the Minister at all. Shocked, I told DM that these modern drawing pens are making noise!

I realized then, that I was the department’s sacrificial lamb!

Last arrival, first to go if something was not to the liking to YS or the Office of the President, who gave the orders regarding DM’s application. YS and OA had almost daily meetings at various departments (including the Office of the President) and it was clear that politics was hiding behind bureaucrazy (as Fela Kuti was singing about later).

It is not possible to talk about the past without giving some kind of historical overview – the “climate of the day”, so to say. Let me begin like this: We are going to talk about the times from Independence to about mid-80-ies. The president, Sir Seretse Khama (SSK), studied Law and other things (e.g. John M Keynes macro-economic theories) in the 60-ies, well ahead of the later neo-conservative Chicago-school of old economical “axioms” from late 1800 and early 1900.

In fact – SSK was a social democrat and made a few study tours to Scandinavia to find out how this policy worked – the so called “middle way” - more sustainable to developing countries than later “hard core” neo-classical economics. He even made a deal with the Swedish government to have physical planners seconded to Botswana via SIDA. As social democrats are inherently from the Keynesian side of the macro-economic border, a few loyal guys arrived here in the late 70-ies, like myself (arriving in mid January - 79) to make the physical plans for future Botswana the “middle way”.

Now, remember, this is the time when Keynes was swapped as an economic/political conservative named Milton Friedman of the Chicago School of Economics and became the economic hero of the day – and waiving a diploma from the Swedish Nobel Prize Committee for his economic ideas! A paradox, so to say!

But such things happen often in our modern “global” world.

Henceforth, a “re-born” old economic paradigm was presented and become the basis for IMF, World Bank and WTO. Mostly called neo-liberal or neo-conservative, sometimes neo-classical.

Make your choice. Back to end of 1800, anyhow!

And this happened in the late 70-ies and early 80-ies (in the end of 1900).

SSK died in July 1980 and social planning was soon forgotten – then market planning (sellers market) became dominant (for BHC, too). His followers were educated in another era of neo-conservative economics with figure-heads like Reagan and Thatcher.

Consequently, social planning was out and market planning was the new thing. Our Botswana social planning balloon burst all of a sudden.

Except for Sir Ketumile, no IMF and World Bank educated local economist in government had the slightest idea about the economic history of developing countries. How the developed countries reached their goals.

This was a sad time for Botswana, in my opinion – all local economists were educated by IMF and World Bank and used their manuals. The old “developmentalist” (middle way) concept was abandoned – the one that once worked so well for western countries (based on financial regulations, protected markets,

and a piece of social welfare (still in use here and there, even in USA – the recipe was for developing countries, mainly).

And here we are, today – the prevailing situation – a macroeconomy that doesn’t work for developing countries when facing a world of less abundance (= limited growth and more of steady state economy).

However, the many bursting economic (and real estate) balloons we have experienced are seemingly making some developing countries re-think. And as far as I can see, here we are also giving the earlier prevailing “axioms” a second thought. But how is the “free-market” responding? Still relying on eternal growth when we clearly see that resources are finite.

Well, to make a long story short, there is an upcoming disaster called Phakalane in the papers, now becoming a kind of myth – the above writings are part of the explanation to the predicament for this township, initially presented as “an independent township” by the landowner.

However, we mustn’t forget that Phakalane was given an approval by the Minister of the time – consequently, the authorities must live up to this approval! When a Minister uses his veto against a decision of his Town & Country Planning Board, it implicitly means that the TCPB advice wasn’t correct in his mind – RE-DO YOUR HOMEWORK, my dear board!

To be loyal and obedient to government decisions by the civil servants is basic in most countries. But here in Botswana it appears that we have “factions” even in the civil servants daily work – no impartiality! And the servant’s memory (probably also envy) is as long as the old road to Ghanzi.

Back to the old times – in May 1979 (not 1978 as the applicant for a change of land use is indicating in his autobiography – let’s call him DM forthwith), I was told by my Director/DTRP (Mr York-Smith – YS) that DM had asked for an appointment and YS would, unfortunately, be very busy in a meeting with the Minister (and his deputy principal planner, Mr O Andersson, OA, unfortunately had a sudden sick leave due to his Bell’s paisy). So Mr Wareus (JW), after just a couple of months at DTRP and not even allocated a proper office (JW had only a corner in the drawing office for laying out Gaborone West) had to meet DM and tell him that his case was OUT! DM is telling us in his book that JW was an arrogant Swede. Maybe so, and a lot embarrassed also. My brief by YS and OA was just brief – “it’s against GoB policy to encourage private townships that doesn’t take into account the housing policy by GoB”!

More importantly – after I had been appointed by YS and OA, I was called to a meeting with some very important directors for other government departments and told that the entire housing policy of GoB would disintegrate and fall apart if the new town was approved (as cross-subsidies from high cost to low cost would not be possible - no high cost left in town). Consequently, I was very nervous when I met DM.

I gave DM the advice that he should negotiate with the authorities but he was adamant that he only needed approval. His idea was an “independent” township, with its own water, sewer, power and so on. My “arrogant” question was – has that ever happened anywhere?

The difference between long-term loans for infrastructure and quick bucks for selling plots is enormous, financially seen. So much I had learnt from the earlier introduction of neo-conservative economics in other countries (including US of A).

And I pointed to some books I had on the table, indicating that not even in the US of A, suburban townships could be built on private money, only (too much upfront and too much interest to pay over long time). But DM was true to his “perseverance” attitude and cut the meeting short after I had advised him that a satellite town might, in my opinion, be possible in the Mmamashia area – he just had to negotiate with the Kgatleng Council (and Chris Fleetwood-Bird who had the same idea and had started to buy some land in that area). But DM didn’t want to change the already expensive drawings. A sad story for a town planner, indeed.

However YS was furious behind his partitioning wall due to my proposal to DM and I was about to be sent home for this – but I could stay probably because of the urgency of Gaborone West.

I was, however, called to an interrogation, probably with the PS (can’t find any note about it in my diary) and told that I shouldn’t have given DM a finger about a “satellite town” – a finger I have been sucking ever since then.

So it goes when policy, politics and forward planning are misunderstood, neglected and not adhered to. Other farm owners in Mokolodi, Notwane, Gaborone North and Tlokweng South were/are more careful and are now making necessary deals with authorities without indicating a too high level of perseverance.

More of “let time be ripe”. That’s how it works in a steadfast bureaucrazy.

Now we have to support the Phakalane development as an approved fact – it has become an essential part of our City – old SSK never noticed (in the 70-ies) that the upper classes in Sweden had already found their favourite “suburbs”, that government supported with trams and railways that never became economically “balanced”. But the well-to-do were very essential for the running of the country – so it is here, too, even if Marx might rotate in his grave.

So, we must accept this fact, although it’s still not too late for Phakalane to accept that we will, sooner or later, create a satellite to Gaborone City at the Mmamashia Junction.

Discuss and negotiate, make a deal with the owners of Gaborone North, Ruretse and the Kgatleng Council and the City Council– my last advice in this matter! Just the same as my first advice in 1979, by the way.

And my firm belief in the future for Greater Gaborone – satellite towns – will be further discussed in this column.

Forum Exclusive Page 6

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Brand Gaborone a ‘Diamond City’- Alex Mochusi [BOCCIM]

by Keeletsang P. Dipheko >>> FROM PAGE 01

become a ‘Diamond City’ by formulating deliberate policies geared towards enabling the City to tap into, retain and sustain the whole value chain of the diamond industry.” said Monchusi.

He further said that “Gaborone of course was not designed as a diamond city, But we propose that a benchmark study of a city like Antwerp can help us focus more, and can help us to create or design a model of the diamond city we would like to see in a few years time, based on what globally has come to be expected of a diamond city. We can then prioritize our efforts around such a model,” Monchusi stated.

Boidus Focus sat down with the president of BOCCIM to take a closer look at this ambitious idea proposal.

Monchusi highlighted that we have never thematised any of our cities before and that this would be our best opportunity.

He said this is a diamond producing country; we yet have nothing to show in terms of tourism, heritage and any other diamond related attractions.

“Government needs to facilitate Gaborone to become a diamond City by formulating deliberate policies geared to-

wards enabling the City to tap into, retain and sustain the whole value chain of the diamond industry.”

These value chain activities are many, including high grade office spaces, entertainment and recreation activities. ‘Imagine what will happen if all these wealthy diamond investors come here and can’t find the food, lifestyle or recreation they are used to? They will fuel their jets and cross the border to where they can find these and that will be our greatest loss.’

Stressed Mr Monchusi. ‘We should be studying where these investors will be coming from, India, Arabia, US? and accordingly develop niche service provisions to tap into their taste and background. We should be developing coffee houses, entertainment lounges, penthouses and other facilities to host these high value business communities’.

“Ultimately we need a facilitation of capturing all the value chain, by reviewing how land is approved for development land, our immigrations processes, our regulations in general to make it easy for instors to exploit these values chain opportunities’ Answering the question of why Gaborone?, Mr Mochusi said, just like financial

trading cities, Gaborone will not only be the centre of our diamonds by also trading other countries diamonds as well and as such it was important to capitalize on this world focus. He however emphasized that other producing towns could also be included as part of this theming by strategically locating facilities such as the Diamond Museum, Jewelry quarters and others.

Commenting on how this is going to be done, Monchusi said there is a need for publicity and creating awareness. He said BOCCIM will formulate a Task Force which will include Private Sector and other stake holders reporting at the high Cabinet Level such as the Vice President level.

Meanwhile this can help the government design a model of a world-class diamond city, he said.”The financing of the effort needs to also be well-considered and imaginative. There may be a need to set up special funds and credit facilities for businesses to access, with possible involvement in this regard and to entice the diamond traders themselves to come and invest in this exciting new place called Gaborone perhaps in partnership with locals, as part of ensuring that their special needs are met.”

Finally Monchusi note that they will be meeting soon with the Gaborone City Council to discuss partnership and working models that will ensure the current Revised Gaborone Development plan implementation exercise take cognizance of the proposed idea of the ‘Diamond City’.

Envisaging an Urban Regeneration Strategy for Gaborone

by H. Killion Mokwete [This article was originally published in the Botswana Guardian 25/03/2011]

The re-building of the City of Gaborone needs some vision. This City needs to think big, not in a literal sense, but in ambition. It needs courageous professionals in the built environment both in the private sector, but more importantly at the Government parameters. It needs people who can make a case for it to be better.

The Gaborone City Council’s envisioned ‘redevelopment of extension 2’ as currently discussed provides such a golden opportunity, but not in its current form, certainly not in the manner in which it is being undertaken, and not by the people currently attempting it. This city’s problems, most notably in the main mall, encompass infrastructural, operational and social issues. The city centre needs real streets, it needs functioning vibrant squares and public places, it needs night life, it needs a face, and one could say this city needs a ‘soul’. Solving Infrastructural problems alone is a technical issue which in itself is a small part of the bigger component of what should be a bold ‘Urban Regeneration/Renewal program’.

Therefore as I outlined last week, the GCC’s approach will fall far too short of getting anywhere near resolving the above.

An Urban Regeneration/Renewal Strategy: A holistic urban regeneration strategy needs to be developed for the city in general, from which special attention would be put on the renewal of Gaborone’s urban inner core, Main Mall. The development guidelines for such a renewal have already been suggested on current Revised Gaborone City Development Plan (1997-2021).

Who Needs to Undertake this Regeneration?

Throughout history, cities have gone under similar processes we are in now. By nature cities, especially city centres have always gone under regeneration or renewal process at some point, and it would do us good to study how others have undergone such developments before. As far back as 1852 when Georges-Eugène Haussmann was commissioned by Napoleon III to “modernize” Paris it was hoped that in hiring Haussmann, Paris could be moulded into a city with safer streets, better housing, more sanitary, hospitable, shopper-friendly communities, better traffic flow…and of course there were other ultra military motives as well. But what is clear is that Haussmann was hired with a clear political commitment to implementation. Therefore we need a deliberately setup a task force or a ‘Commission for the Urban Renewal of Gaborone City’ to oversee a regeneration strategy of Gaborone, its implementation, monitoring, timeline and post implementation review.

This ‘Commission’ will be empowered and mandated to undertake the regeneration by law if necessary. In other cities such as New York City and the City of Canberra, legislation was provided to enable a comprehensive regeneration process. This empowerment was backed by political leadership and which was crucial to underscore the boldness of the process. This commission will have to be of a complex make up as well, encompassing partnerships from public apparatus, the private sector, NGO’s, academic institutions and local communities who would be principle stakeholders. The commission would, amongst other things, develop an urban regeneration governance strategy.

Basis of this renewal strategy will need to critically address the following; Redefining the Concept of What our City of Gaborone is/should be: It is clear by now that the original remnants of the Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City concept which the original Gaborone Plan failed, not only here but even in the UK where it was extensively tested (one thinks of Welwyn Garden City), and in other countries such as Australia. Therefore a revisit of what the renewed Gaborone City should be needs to be debated and investigated. It is not enough to just implement mixed use and densification of land habitation if there is no underlying theme of what we intend to create by doing such.

Pragmatic Approach to a Renewal Strategy: Urbanists are increasingly agreeing that the role of the MASTERPLAN is no longer effective on its own as a development guiding document. This is for the simple reason that no one person is in charge of city control any more. No single authority has one logic voice, or time to decree or coordinate comprehensive changes.

Therefore a modern urban renewal strategy will need to be based on pragmatism anchored on continuous long term vision for sustainable urban development and shared responsibility between private, public and other city stakeholders.

Funding and Urban Regeneration: As it is the GCC does not have the funding profile nor would it be able to put one together with the current scope of this redevelopment exercise. The financial resources for funding the urban regeneration programme must be central to the discussion as a factor that will contribute to the viability of programmes and their effectiveness. Producing guideline strategic documents alone would be an expensive process that needs the ‘Commission’ to have established resources to ensure its success. In other cities such regeneration processes are funded from various Urban Development Funds (UDFs); For example, in the UK the lottery funds are apportioned to assist in regenerating inner city spaces, and in Spain, Regional Control government agencies provide sponsors to local authorities to support inner city regeneration. In fact, the European Union provides funding to EU cities for regeneration through its Cultural Capital fund. In Botswana, there is a need to establish an Urban Development Fund to help our cities and towns as they undergo an inevitable process of change and this could also be SADC supported initiative too.

In conclusion it seems clear that Botswana quite urgently needs to establish an independent local development agency to implement specific urban projects.

This will includes all key stakeholders as outlined above and will be responsible for project management and delivery, inward investment, funding and project financing, and most importantly, an overriding vision for its cities and towns. Until then, ambitions such as that currently being undertaken by the GCC will always fall short of a truly successful urban redevelopment.

Landscape Exclusive Page 7

We work Tuesday to Sunday 8-5 – we propagate plants from cuttings, offsets and seeds. We take cuttings from established plants from the garden of the lady that started the nursery for us. We separate offsets from existing plants and collect seeds from the surrounding bush. We do not take plants from the bush – this is a very big problem in our country as there are many landscaping companies taking plants from the bush – especially Aloes, for planting in town – We have the largest variety of Aloes in the country all grown from seeds. We mix bags of potting soil that we sell to help us pay for the manure we buy. We mix soil for our planting bags from kraal manure, compost that we make, sand and topsoil.

2. What new skills have you learnt and how are they going to benefit you in the future?

We have learnt to take cuttings, germinate seeds and make compost. We have also been taught the names of many plants including the English and Latin names. We have also learnt about many medicinal plants – especially Moringa and have planted these trees at our homes. We have learnt the importance of marketing ourselves as sometimes we do not get enough customers and as soon as we advertise we get many people visiting the nursery. We have also learnt that many people still don’t know enough about the importance of indigenous plants and how the are very suited to our gardens – they save a lot of water, attract birds and grow just as well as other plants without needing much care. The groundcovers are very good for covering the soil, keeping the temperatures lower, which conserves water and suppress weeds.

3. What challenges do you face as a local member of the community that others could assist you with?

We have many more women in the surrounding villages that need work but until our turnover increases we cannot employ them. We run the nurseries as a non-profit organization and all of our income goes back into wages after we have paid our monthly bills – the lady who started the nursery for us pays for the power and water and the plastic bags we use for planting. The nursery pays for the manure, invoice books and rooting compound. When we know someone who needs assistance for illness or funeral we give them money or food – or both to help. Many of the customers bring clothing and household goods and drop them at the nursery – we invite the needy people of the village to come at month-end to go through them and take what they need. We have a Christmas party every year for the children and give them books and pens and pencils for school. For the past few years these things have been donated by the International Women’s Friendship Group but this group recently stopped operating so we are looking for new sponsors to assist us.

T: +267 741 31 671 E: abo@boidus.co.bw

ABO

T: +267 715 01 301 E: thabo@boidus.co.bw

TSHIAMO

T: +267 755 05 291 E: killion@boidus.co.bw

Boidus Pty. Ltd. P.O. Box 50097, Gaborone WHY BOIDUS? • the consumer of the built environment needs to be in a position to access information regarding what the architectural industry is up to • a platform for discussion and discourse needs to be created where open, earnest discussions on important issues take place

1. What are your daily duties at the Nursery? How are where do you source your plants?

“I have lived in Mokolodi Village for 22 years and have always been concerned about the lack of employment opportunities for the women in the village.

Additionally, due to the introduction of school fees, the number of children not attending school increased dramatically.

Jobs are offered to women who have school age children and who understand the importance of breaking the poverty cycle through education,” said the Project Coordinator Karin Duthie.

Construction Industry Architecture Built Environment Arts & Culture Property Investment

Interview with the workers of Mokolodi Indigenous Nurseries

The Nursery relies 100% on local community workforce and the local community benefits from working at the nursery.

AND REACH YOUR CUSTOMERS

As a Nursery focused on Indigenous plants, there are huge benefits to landscaping with indigenous plants. They require much less water than exotic plants and have a greater tolerance to prolonged high temperatures. Indigenous plants also attract great numbers of birds. Succulent groundcovers have the added benefit of covering the

KILLION

Since the inception of the nursery Mokolodi has purchased manure to the value of P73, 000. They propagate and grow Moringa trees for the specific intention of planting them at the surrounding schools and clinics.

ground, lowering soil temperatures and preventing weeds from growing.

ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCTS HERE

Mokolodi Indigenous Nursery has hundreds of species propagated from local stock, selected for their ability to thrive in our harsh climate. These include many varieties of hardy succulent groundcovers, grasses, herbaceous and succulent shrubs, Aloes and trees.

The nursery also supplies aged kraal manure in 50 and 25 kg bags, organic compost, vegetable and herb seedlings.

FRANCISTOWN Botswana is a semi arid country; therefore it is quite difficult for some plants, especially ones that need plenty of water and humid conditions to grow well. It is against this background that Mokolodi Indigenous Nurseries came into being. The organization germinated in January 2005 with the intention of creating employment in Mokolodi and surrounding villages through the propagation and supply of indigenous, drought resistant plants and trees.

GABORONE

by Keeletsang P. Dipheko

THABO

Mokolodi Indigenous Nurseries Foster EsKarin Duthie sence of Life Plants / Contact: Email: walkabout@info.bw

T: +267 751 41 236 E: tshiamo@boidus.co.bw

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Advertorial Page 8

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

BHC HOUSES AT RAMAKOLO, SEROWE

SECURE YOUR FUTURE

BHC Serowe Open Day

Saturday 12th May 2012

Buy a BHC House

Mr Tebogo Mmokele On requirements to own/buy a BHC House, “The requirements for eligibility to buy a BHC house are standard for all the areas in Botswana. First you have to be a Motswana or a company with local majority shareholding. You also have to have the financial capability to purchase either through a financial institution of your choice or through personal funds.”

Financial Institutions at BHC Serowe Open Day

Barclays Bank and Unigem answering important financing questions.

Contact Ms T. Tlhalerwa or Mr T. Ratshonka at our BHC Palapye Office: Tel: +267 4921075 | Email: ttlhalerwa@bhc.bw | www.bhc.bw

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Advertorial Page 9

BHC Low Cost

PROPERTY FACTS 16 houses available for rent Plot size ranges 388m² - 570m² Spacious three bedroom Fitted Kitchen with Lounge/Dining Separate Bathroom & Toilet Veranda Rental Price: P2,500 BHC High Cost

• • • • • • •

PROPERTY FACTS • Only 4 houses available for rent • Plot size ranges – 560m² - 590m² • Spacious three bedroomed house with master ensuite • Fitted Kitchen with Lounge/Dining • Separate Bathroom & Toilet • Carport • Staff Quarters • Rental Price: P4,500 BHC High Cost

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PROPERTY FACTS • Only 4 houses available for rent • Plot size ranges – 466m² - 849m² • Spacious three bedroomed high income house with master ensuite • Fitted Kitchen with Lounge/Dining • Separate Bathroom & Toilet • Garage • Staff Quarters • Rental Price: P6,000

The Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC), a statutory Corporation in Property Development and Estate Management business, invites citizens and majority citizen owned companies to apply to rent properties from our new project at Ramakolo, Seowe.

P.O. Box 412, Gaborone, Botswana Tel: +267 360 5100 Fax: +267 395 2070 Email: info@bhc.bw YEM Graphics

Boidus Feature Page 10

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Boidus Feature: The ‘State Of Our Cities’ Designers Forum - April 2012

by H. Killion Mokwete and Keeletsang P. Dipheko >>> FROM PAGE 01

The Revised Gaborone City Development Plan – MPI - Leta Mosienyane mental, cultural, economic, political and social identities. The solutions adopted by most problematic cities have been to adopt an urban design direction, as opposed to the predominantly two-dimensional physical planning.

• •

The Revised Gaborone City Development plan is a document that is full of intentions reviewed every five years to bring them in line with the interest of the people. The ROS identified that Gaborone does not have a robust urban form and structure, it lacks urbanity and it doesn’t have that thing that makes it urban. It further identified as lacking in the city, issues of local character, connectivity, mixed use, adaptability and a strong public realm; and in general, Gaborone is a sprawling and illegible city.

These problems of lack of urbanity are not peculiar to Gaborone City, and neither are their solutions. The lack of urbanity can be associated with the global problem of modern city development. Safe to say, each city has its own specific characteristics, including environ-

There has been a move to address the modern era problems of planning through the introduction of Urban Design in cities. This current move towards Urban Design and Place Making came as a result of the problems brought in by modern town planning, which mostly promoted the un-owned public spaces and defined the urban landscape through two-dimensional physical master plans. The urban design approach advocates that the structure, form and character of a city are enshrined in seven essential design parameters that create quality urban environments. These parameters are: Context, Character, Choice, Connections, Creativity, Custodianship and Collaboration.

New plans and challenges are facing the city.

Major planning issues and challenges facing the city include: • Severe shortage of land for future expansionary needs of the city. Gaborone is characterized by predominantly low density developments; distinct separation of land uses in terms of zoning.

• Lack of befitting image and local character

•

for the capital city such that it can compare favourably with other leading capital cities in the continent and else where.

Issues relating to traffic and transportation.

Current plan prepared without the benefits of a strategic environmental assessment of its proposals. (Issues of environmental concerns) Current plan made very limited proposals for developing Gaborone into a tourist destination.

The Urban Design Protocol as the mother of the plan is currently being tested and developed for the current extension 2 re-development.

It is proposed that the protocol be created to emphasize the importance of quality urban design, which will act as a means of coordinating quality urban design in the city. It is proposed that government adopt an Urban Design Protocol as part of its commitment to Sustainable Development, which would ensure that cities and towns are liveable. The protocol must be mandated to implement the objectives of Gaborone City Development, through appropriate and realistic procurement methods, which may not necessarily purport expenditure by the government. The protocol must be ratified by various signatories that will contribute to realizing its vision. The signatories to the protocol

must agree to support the principles and make progress towards achieving the goals of the protocols. These signatories should include central government, local government, private developers, investors, consultants, professional and educational institutions, and the community.

Gaborone is quite a sprawling big village and there is need to engage urban design protocol, plan traffic and supplication, therefore the current plan must also be strategic.

The Gaborone city –Urban Design Protocol should be made up of the seven urban design parameters (as stated in 2.1 – 2.7) and moreover, it must recognize that: • Gaborone city is a complex system that requires integrated management • Quality urban design must be an essential component of a successful city • Urban design needs to be an integral part of all urban decision-making • Urban design requires alliances across sectors and professionals • Urban design applies at all scales, from small towns to large cities • Urban design has a significant influence on people and how they live their lives • Gaborone city is an important expression of Botswana’s cultural identity and unique heritage

Architecture (Iconic Building) – Masa Centre Design Arctez Mr. Sergio Muchengwa Mr. Sergio Muchengwa also shed a ray of light on the newly built Masa Centre. Masa Centre is an integrated development built to house offices, retail and restaurant accommodation. It was envisaged as a phased development and in 2003 the team was working on the tender to acquire land from the Botswana Government.

The client’s requirements included speculative design of an iconic building, energy efficient building, flexible layouts and basement parking. In 2005, hotel and casino were introduced and 2010 3D cinema was incorporated into the brief.

The total built area of the development is 42,205 sqm which includes office accommodation, ground floor – retail, casino, conference facilities and restaurants, 1st to 7th floor- offices, 8th floor- plant room and hotel accommodation. The two level basement contains parking and a total of five (5) 3D cinemas.

“Some of the challenges we faced is that TPR, the developer, share the same shareholders with ICC, the main contractor, and is also the client; and also changes and additions such as the hotel and cinemas in the basement be-

ing added”, said Mr Muchengwa. Other also brought in their own standards and procedures as well halfway through.“On achievements I will say we have got an Iconic Building, with fully integrated various units within the development which are interdependent, that is hotel, restaurants, casino and cinema. It is A DESTINATION even during working hours. The Piazza is great for mingling and entertainment.

It is an efficient building because ground water is used for irrigation, has energy efficient VRV AC Units, thermal mass walls for heat regulation and natural lighting to all offices.”

Landscape “greening of our urban landscapes’’ - Richard Arthey and unify architectural differences through coordinated streetscapes”, stated Mr Arthey. The city needs to develop aesthetic guidelines to assist in the Urban Design Standards, Development Control Code and also create a Landscape Architecture Department in Department of Building and Engineering Services and Gaborone City Council.

Our cities need landscaping to give them legibility, definition and Identity. Landscape gives the first impressions, understanding and memory of a place. It is therefore important that Landscape be developed alongside the structural planning of our cities and buildings.

Landscape Architecture is designing the spaces we live in, the main intention of landscaping is to plan and develop a sense of place. All spaces and the solids that define them are affected by Landscape Architecture in Gaborone. Places like private spaces (home, garden, office), semi private spaces (multi-residential, office courtyards), semi public spaces (church and community halls) and public spaces (everywhere else).

“The question is how do we green the spaces that make up Gaborone? We can start with trees, shade, aesthetics and fruit, create spaces which can be used; make walking or cycling and driving pleasant and develop recreational spaces with private sector and community involvement

There is a gap between planning and architecture; without planning you can’t bring the city where it is. The city aesthetics and the familiarity of the city are very important. How people experience the city when somebody arrives in the city, what they see, how they feel, what happens when they come along Lobatse road matters a lot. The first impression is very important, when people land at airport what do they see? The readability of the city, when one is in the city can they identify where the city centre is, can they remember how to get back?

Safety is vital especially from landscaped spaces, what was the visitor’s experience when they were in Gaborone? “For example when you go to Masa centre can you feel the place, are you satisfied. The identity of the city, what is the city trying to be, who is it representing, what are they trying to say, what do they want? We are talking on national, regional, global, African, local district leavers. We need to create identity”, stated Mr Arthey. The space on the surrounding areas matters as well. When one step out of the city or into public spaces, do they feel safe? “How do we deal with the spaces that are not used as a development tool? We need to create micro climate in the city which can then be used to support activities.”

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Boidus Feature / Education Page 11

Boidus Feature: The ‘State Of Our Cities’ Designers Forum 2012 (cont’d...)

The New Revised Development Control Code - DTRP – Mr. Kebonyemodisa Ooke

UB’S END OF YEAR ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITION

Outstanding Final Year Thesis

Work by Fenny Tsimamma

Mr. Kebonyemodisa Ooke from Department of Town and Regional Planning also made a key presentation on the New Revised Development Control Code, which was last revised in 1995.

Rural Migrant in the City

by Fenny Tsimamma

THESIS ABSTRACT As a result of the rapid rate of urbanization in Gaborone, an increasing number of people migrate from the rural areas to urban areas for many reasons. Some migrate to seek economic opportunities due to financial hardships in the rural areas that are characterised by poverty and lack of employment opportunities.

The need for review of the Development Control Code (DCC) became necessary after realizing that, it did not effectively address and deal with the emerging complexities of new forms of developments and land use activities. The 1995 DCC had shortfalls and there was need to align the code with the proposed review of the Town and Country Planning Act. 1995 DCC It only categorized residential developments into income levels which did not apply in rural areas where all plot sizes are equal. There were no clear distinct design models for different areas, so layout designs were all the same. “The thing is we treated places the same, rural areas and towns with the same standards, in that way we end up with the same neighbourhood.

There was no way you could address the rural context in its own way and urban in its own way”, said Mr Ooke. There was no explicit distinction on land use compatibility, safety and aesthetics as design standards.

They follow internal migration as a way of survival strategy among others to make a living in the urban informal sectors.

Therefore the study explores the increasing rural-urban migration, their ways of living and ways in which activities of a rural migrant can shape the design of a place that recognises them and their rituals as important basics.

Habitable Trading Hub

Revised DCC The concept with the revised code is to treat areas differently by establishing a Residential Land Use category which looks at a specific area. It has an element of urban design which is one more thing that is different from the previous code. It also reflects the desired and distinct physical character of existing neighbourhoods for different areas, including rural areas.

Parking requirements for multifamily developments have been revised to address the current issues of more car ownership and more demands for rental.

For optimal use of land, more emphasis is placed on plot coverage as opposed to providing children’s play ground in multi family residential developments.

Strategies: Unit prototype and market stall

Neighbourhood & Community Centres Intended to provide for commercial, office, and employment uses that serve through traffic and are located within convenient travelling distances from the multiple neighbourhoods they are designated to serve. For example, these are intended to serve neighbourhoods of Gaborone such Block 5, 6, 7 etc where more residential uses are allowed and multi-storey units are encouraged within commercial centres.

Under each land use category there is need to appreciate compatibility of uses as some uses even though they fall under the same category, they may not be compatible. For example, a church and a bar are both civic and community but they are not compatible use, thus cannot be placed next to each other.

General Commercial This zone is intended to accommodate a very broad range of high intensity commercial, office and employment uses that require highly visible and highly accessible locations with direct access to major roadways. The 1995 DCC design standards were silent on permitted and non-permitted uses resulting in industrial zones without supporting uses such as restaurants, clinics, professional services and recreational facilities.

Variation of Units

The revised one states that all zones are intended to provide for land use compatibility while providing a high-quality environment for businesses and employees by identifying land uses that are permitted to enhance functionality of the industrial zones.

The code also has to look at how to address issues such as parking spaces for multi family developments. People want to use more land for residential purposes and not provide parking therefore issues concerning parking will be addressed looking at the current trend. Housing types have to be categorized accordingly to actually try and address the demand today; therefore standards are different depending on the site concerned.

Industrial Areas It has been very difficult to make industrial areas look appealing. The new standards promote landscaping to make the areas look a lot better in industrial areas. It will now allow high walls if possible to try and conceal whatever is considered an eyesore to the public.

There were some suggestions made before about why churches can’t be in industrial areas because on Sunday there is less activities in the industrial area and they can actually share the parking spaces. And why commercial uses that can support industrial, such as convenience shops, can’t be introduced in industrial area. This is because industrial areas are poorly serviced and have no shops therefore during lunch hours workers take trips to buy lunch.

Mr. Sergio Muchengwa also shed a ray of light on the newly built Masa Centre. Masa Centre is an integrated development built to house offices, retail and restaurant accommodation. It was envisaged as a phased development and in 2003 the team was working on the tender to acquire land from the Botswana Government. The client’s requirements included speculative design, iconic building, energy efficient building, flexible layouts and basement parking. In 2005, hotel and casino were introduced and 2010 3D cinema was incorporated into the brief.

The total built area of the development is 42,205 sqm which includes office accommodation, ground floor – retail, casino, conference facilities and restau-

Property / Financing Page 12

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Ceda’s Property Loan Financing Profile

by Boidus Admin / Interview with M. Madisa (CEDA)

• • • •

Bills of quantities Administration Fee Copy of form F2 confirmed by Company secretary Copy of Identity document/Omang (if applicant is individual)

BF: Young people, as predominantly first time buyers, face challenges of raising security and other related requirements from banks, how does CEDA help in such instances to provide affordable financing to first time home buyers or property developers?

BF: Please explain to our readers what CEDA’s mandate is and how it is being implemented.

CEDA: The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) is a development financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Botswana. CEDA’s mandate is to provide support for business development through various funding mechanisms, thereby promoting citizen economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. It also provides service geared towards mentoring and training its clients, thereby enhancing the success of investments made in citizen business ventures.

CEDA implements its mandate by appraising and adjudicating on proposals for business ventures on the basis of viability and sustainability from citizens seeking to start or expand existing businesses. The loans advanced to potential citizen entrepreneurs are at subsidised rates. Funding mechanisms also include joint ventures between citizens and non-citizens which are at prime rates.

BF: CEDA also offers financial facilities in terms of loans for property development. Can you explain what these are and what sectors of property CEDA finances?

• What are the requirements that customers need in order to qualify for this financial assistance?

CEDA: Below are the requirements for assistance for property loans: 1. Construction Loans: This is a loan used for the construction of property or to complete a partially developed or incomplete structure.

Requirements • Approved Building Plans • 3 quotations from 3 Construction Companies (Labour and Material) • Tender Evaluation • Business Plan • Administration Fee • Copy of form F2 confirmed by Company secretary (if applicant is company) • Copy of Identity document/Omang (if applicant is individual) 2. Property Purchase Loans: This is a loan used for purchasing of existing property.

Requirements • Offer of sale/Deed of sale • Business Plan • Valuation report • Copy of title Deed • Structural survey report • Administration Fee • Copy of form F2 confirmed by Company Secretary • Copy of Identity document/Omang (if applicant is individual) 3. Extension Loans: This is a loan offered for the extension of property that maybe or may not be bonded to the Agency; an objective of the loan is to increase the scope of the building with a view to improve on the earning capacity. The loan may also be sought for purposes of renovating property.

Requirements • Approved Building Plans • 3 quotations from Construction Companies (Labour and Material) • Tender Evaluation • Business Plan

CEDA: As indicated above, CEDA does not provide funding for home buyers. However, for commercial and industrial development, the property financed by the Agency will provide security for the loan.

BF: What are you doing to make people know about your property financing products?

CEDA: As an institution, we have a public awareness and outreach program that promotes CEDA together with its products and services. As a result, with this initiative that takes CEDA to the people, we inform and educate potential entrepreneurs on how to access funding on this sector. These include radio interviews, billboards, road shows, workshops, kgotla meetings, website and information sessions that are carried out countrywide.

We also use the social media such as facebook to promote our products and services.

BF: 2011 and indeed 2012 have seen a tight national budget due to world economic events. How is CEDA affected by the recession?

• Do the budget cuts affect finance allocation to your sector?

CEDA: CEDA is wholly-owned and financed by the government of Botswana. Therefore with government subventions reducing so will the funds allocated to CEDA for funding including the property development sector.

BF: What other challenges would you say CEDA has faced, especially in the property section in Botswana and how could these challenges be overcome?

CEDA: There is a general shortage of serviced land for development particularly in urban areas where there is greater demand for commercial and industrial properties.

As a development financial institution funding property investment across the country, it has not been easy to sell some of the properties that are in remote areas.

BF: Many young people who want to venture into property development do not usually understand the dynamics of the property market. How do you as CEDA educate prospective developers in matters concerning property and how are you contributing to the property knowledge database that is lacking in Botswana?

CEDA: As a financier we do understand the dynamics of property development and have over the years built capacity and experience in the sector. As an institution, we have a public awareness and outreach program that promotes CEDA together with its products and services.

As a result, with this initiative that takes CEDA to the people, we inform and educate potential entrepreneurs on this product such as workshops, kgotla meetings, road shows and information sessions carried out countrywide.

BF: Would you say 2012 is the right time to invest in property? What advice would you give to our readers who might be considering it as one of their key investment avenues in 2012?

CEDA: What is important is that when one invests in property it is not the year/time that is important, however, one needs to identify an opportunity to put up a development that will be profitable and appreciate in value in the long run.

HOUSING NEWS

Government creates Single Housing Authority (SiHA) Press Release: Ministry of Lands and Housing

The Government of the Republic of Botswana has taken a decision to establish Single Housing Authority (SiHA) through Presidential Cabinet Directive CAB20 (B) 2010 on July 2010. The Directive approved the following: i. The establishment of SiHA ii. The transfer of all housing implementation programmes to Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) as a single housing delivery vehicle iii. Annual budgetary allocations to BHC to undertake the implementation of requisite low income housing and district housing projects.

The decision to establish a SiHA was prompted by the uncoordinated efforts by various stakeholders in delivery of housing and the need to separate housing provision from policy formulation. There are various institutions involved in housing delivery which include the Ministry of Lands through the Department of Housing, BHC, MLG and the private sector. The current housing delivery system is fraught with lack of effective implementation strategies, inadequate monitoring and evaluation to determine impact of the programmes, inadequate project monitoring which results in projects running over the years and delays in implementation of projects. The SiHA’s mandate is therefore to implement all public sector delivery programmes and to ensure that housing delivery initiatives across the sector are coordinated.

This mandate is consistent with the functions outlined in the BHC Act of 1971 which include provision of housing for sale and rental. It caters for the housing needs of Government and local authorities and carries out and makes arrangements for other entities to carry out housing schemes in the country.

Before implementation of the cabinet decision, a series of consultative workshops were done. On 11/08/2011 and 18/08/2011, consultative workshops

whose objective was to develop models on the implementation of SiHA were held with Council Chief executives, mayors and/or chairpersons in Francistown for the Northern Region and Gaborone for the Southern Region respectively. Another consultative workshop with the aforementioned was held on 24 April 2012 in Gaborone.

In addition, countrywide consultations with Councils are still ongoing.

The transfer of low income housing programmes (SHHA Home improvement and Turnkey Development Scheme) to BHC will not affect affordability in any way. The ceiling for SHHA and Turnkey will remain P45,000 and P60,000 respectively. The councils have since been requested to submit building plans of the turnkey projects, which will be submitted to BHC for construction.

There is no major departure from the way implementation of housing programmes is being done, hence officers in SHHA offices countrywide will not be affected. Currently, councils are both the implementer and the regulator of SHHA/ Turnkey projects. With the establishment of SiHA, BHC will be involved in the construction of the projects but the applications and assessments, signing of loans and collection thereof will be done by Councils. BHC as the contractor will provide technical assistance by carrying out site inspections while Council as the regulator ensures compliance with building standards. Upon completion, housing units will be handed over to council to pass on to beneficiaries and issue occupation certificates. There will therefore be minimal impact on current operations of existing structures at both MLH and MLG. BHC has the capacity and is ready to undertake implementation of the 2012/2013 projects. The MLH will continue to capacitate BHC as and when the need arises. The implementation process will be closely monitored, and any risks and challenges will be addressed.

YEM Graphics

PROPERTY FINANCING

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

Comments Page 13

Although not all these projects were started under the watchful eye of the sitting Minister at this ministry, they all have problems that can be traced from their inception and have never been fully resolved. The public fallout on the failures of these projects is untold, especially that these were national projects with national activities on the calendar. It is no wonder that public complaints are beginning to be audible, with some petitions currently doing the rounds.

Boidus Team

What therefore becomes surprising is that MIST has just recently seen an entire swatch of promotions across the board from director of Department of Building and Engineering Services to the PSP. It seems very disturbing that at the time when officers at this ministry should be addressing the ministry’s problems and getting evaluated against these, they are actually rewarded in the midst of all the ministry crises and moving on before any work is completed.

Ultimately, I have argued before that, with so much public funds and tax payers’ money being embezzled, national incontinence of untold proportions there is a need for an independent inquiry to review problems at this Ministry. An inquiry will be the best beginning to first rooting out the extent of problems, following which recommendations from this inquiry should be summarily implemented to bring sanity to our public projects.

At a time when there are no funds to begin any new projects, those that are in progress should not be allowed to drain our public confers with no end.

EDITOR H. Killion Mokwete DESIGN Bridget T. MacKean JOURNALISM Esther Amogelang Keeletsang P. Dipheko Mpho Mooka PHOTOGRAPHY Abo Kefitlhile SALES Thabo Sarona Abo Kefitlhile DISTRIBUTION Nako Kabomo LANDSCAPE SPECIAL Karin Duthie GUEST COLUMNIST Jan Wareus GUEST EDITORIAL Leta Mosienyane GUEST EDITING Seabo Morobolo

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Gaolathe Olefile: No B B. SQUATIN IS A SERIUS CRIM AS AL CRIMES. Maybe is a hi tm we be taught its implictns Boidus Botswana: I believe there shud be a way of dealing with so called ‘squating’ without being inhuman. I’m sure people especially in village areas wud not just want to squat for the sake of it. No body wants to get their belongings violated. Government has to realize that their ineffective land allocation strategies which are slow and outdated could also be to blame.

ABO

Jan Wareus: There are ways of dealing with so called squatting without being inhuman. People are not doing this for fun but out of desperation. Old Naledi was declared legal in 1978 and people could start improving their homes. Kgabo report gave an opening by putting a cost to “legalizing” (P5000). But this makes a bit of work for the planners they have to “update” the probably year old basemap made from 3 yr old airphotos. But it is just to send a skilled surveyor out with a GPS and it just take some few days to have even a hundred selfallocations on to the base map - I know as I have done this many times.

But it is a great difference between “bureaucratic planning” and “social planning”. That’s the crux of the matter! JW

Plans to construct a new Bus Rank in Molepolole have been approved for this financial year at a cost of P40 million.

Lesego German: 40million?realy?is tht hw much these conventional bus ranks cost?..wat strutures r they puttin up apart 4rm the parking spaces?

Boidus Botswana: tarring of internal roads, street lighting and storm water drainage.

Karabo Mpendulo Ramontshonyana: mhhh still thats alot of money hey!!! n trust me its more than this eish Jan Wareus: First bus rank we had

in my old hometown Sundsvall with 35000 people cost about 15 000 SKR in 1947. Why 40 mill? What’s gone wrong in your mind? Is it made of marbel and ivory?

Lesego German: Like the multi-million pula govt buildings tht are lyin unused round the country i thnk puttin too much money into nothin gets u nowhere slowly..its jus a way f unprofitably buyin time,anyway..let it cost 40mil n we l test its worth once construction is finished..

BHC is providing housing for Batswana, but the corporation is not given the priority by land authorities, be they Land Boards being custodians & administrators of state land. BHC applies for land like any other private developers & its not given any preferential treatment.

Oppie Calvin Motswagae: And BHC has hugely affected the housing market badly...it’s hilarious...

Oh hang in there...all the land BHC has around town and in the villages was given at par with private developers... hahaha..

Boidus Botswana: Hehehe...check our interview with BHC’s deputy ceo on our latest issue.

Oppie Calvin Motswagae: Okay..I will..I hope they mention the bidding process for the land as well..pls cover how private developers get these chunks of land...we need them...what’s the procedure...

Boidus Botswana: They actually address this issue of competing with private developers for prime land too even though this still needs to be pur-

+267 71501301 thabo@boidus.co.bw T: +267 741 31 671 E: abo@boidus.co.bw

Baromiwa Letshabile: Ija le sotlo! Do u thnk dat old age men. O jang pension o ka thubelwa gotwe o ipeile. Hp o ne o lebile Btv news on sunday.

sued further. Also the issue of inflating house prices.

Oppie Calvin Motswagae: Thanx.. off to square Mart to get a copy..the second part of my question is, how can the public bid for the land..we only know of who owns the land when buildings are done.. We never know when it’s sold..

Jan Wareus: Your statement is wrong -BHC is NOT providing housing for Batswana. Just fer a few high middle income ones. Thus they should be on the same level as other (private) providers!

Oppie Calvin Motswagae: Good insight in your latest issue..please find out how BHC n other prvt developers hear of land on sale...

Boidus Botswana: Yes, the question of preferential treatment was not re-

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The presentation by Mr Mokotedi at the Public Account Committee of his Ministry’s accounts status revealed just again the long standing stain on our industry. The amount of public projects currently either delayed, over budget or badly built is truly staggering. These range from the basic ones such as schools, police buildings to stadiums, airports etc. All the key public projects that were envisaged to benefit the country from the proceeds of the 2010 world cup are still not delivered. Most of these projects are multi-million Pula projects undertaken also partly to keep people employed under the so called mega projects schemes, yet they have attracted more problems than their worth.

Kgatleng Land Board evicted 37 residents of Mmamashia lands, another 12 families would be evicted soon!

AND REACH YOUR CUSTOMERS

If Ministry of Infrastructure Science and Technology (MIST) still cannot deliver projects on time, in good quality and on budget, then what are the promotions for?

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Comments & Letters

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ally answered satisfactorily. Iam sure as a parastatal (government owned), they wud be privy to information that private developers won’t knw about in time.

Oppie Calvin Motswagae: Thanx...not trying to be controversial..it’s out of interest...good work guys Boidus Botswana: Thanks for the appreciation, we will be going back to them again now that they have been made the ‘single Housing Agency’ contractor for all governments housing schemes including SHHA! So will will ask the questions again. I think its not controversial to ask critical questions.

Thabiso Lentswe: bhc does not provide us with housing...no i dont agree,and more ovre thats not their vision.we r hoping for somethn els to come not bhc..

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Professional Practice Page 14

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

SELF REGULATION AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSION IN BOTSWANA: A PERSPECTIVE [Part 3]

by Donald Kagiso Mengwe / BSc (Hons) Est. Mgt, MREIB, Registered Valuer / Email: mengwedon@yahoo.co.uk

Secretary General, Real Estate Institute of Botswana, 2008 – Oct 2011 / Registrar, Real Estate Advisory Council, 2005- May 2006 [The author writes in his personal capacity]

The profession is still to establish structures to facilitate teaching and coordinate research that would yield innovative ideas to improve service standards.

A possible explanation could be resource constraints and a substantial number of members who are ‘free riders’ and indifferent to the matters bedeviling the property industry. This is of serious concern, considering that a curriculum that caters for the needs of the local property industry has yet to be developed by tertiary education establishments in Botswana. Real estate practice has to be in accord with the cultural, socio-economic and political system in Botswana because of the simple fact that they dictate how the land and benefits from the land are to be allocated. Most of the property practitioners are products of British and Australian universities, which arguably teach curricula that reflects local needs.

The profession has not intervened by facilitating the development of courses to bridge the knowledge gap in respect of such graduates through provision of professional training that is relevant to the local market. The impact of this gap or deficiency is particularly evident in tribal land acquisition and compensation cases, where valuation practice depicts inconsistent or different valuation approaches. This is attributed to the fact that most graduates are products of foreign universities and it is almost impractical for such universities to develop curriculum that adequately cover institutional arrangements governing tribal land administration in Botswana.

Unfortunately, valuations practice has not evolved by integrating societal and cultural norms or pressures to reflect current local market requirements. It is

worth mentioning that, this is not only unique to Botswana as some commentators on real estate education have highlighted this egregious situation in real estate education, particularly in the context of emerging economies. Plimmer and Kakulu (2009) in their paper Real Estate Education Vs Real Estate Practice in Emerging Economies – A Challenge for Globalisation observe that; “The historical, social and cultural norms and systems prevalent in a society tend to shape the need for and therefore the practice of various professional disciplines and real estate education sometimes fails to capture salient real world issues that affect its practice. In emerging economies, particularly those with a history of colonialism, real estate education is often derived from the tenets of practice obtainable in the countries to which they were once colonies, without careful consideration of the socio-economic, cultural, historical and socio – political differences. Such inappropriate practices gradually metamorphose over time in response to academic and societal pressures,often resulting in a widening gap between academic instruction and professional needs” (Plimmer and Kakulu 2009, pg 1) Having said that, it goes without saying, as indeed articulated by Plimmer and Kakulu (2009) in the aforementioned article, that it is important to be exposed to and benefit from professional education of other jurisdictions, but this should not be at the expense of developing professional practice/ standards that would address the local market needs.

The professional and regulatory bodies are yet to facilitate the development of professional standards and guidelines for best practice and, as a consequence, public expectations are not met. To buttress this point, cases of valuation variance and multiple approaches to similar valuation problems are pervasive, and have manifested into discriminatory and preferential behaviour in commissioning valuers by certain clients especially commercial banks. Valuations for secured lending is one area in particular which is problematic. Commercial banks have cast aspersions on the reliability of valuations, which may be attributable to a considerable number of cases of clients’ influence on Valuers to ‘overvalue’, in order to secure maximum loans, which obviously compromises objectivity and independence.

However, despite the genuine concerns by commercial banks, their response to this market failure is ineffective in the sense that instead of engaging the professional bodies, they have displayed regressive attitudes of prescribing valuation methodologies and fees in order to secure their interests, which on overall assessment may exacerbate current low standards of service. There is therefore an urgent need for concerted efforts, to put in place mechanisms to ensure that Valuers’ objectivity and independence is not compromised to improve public confidence in the valuation process.

Considering the fact that there are no indigenous professional standards, the profession has not saved the situation as it has done little to tap on the knowledge and experience of international professional bodies like International Valuation Standards Council and International Federation of Surveyors through mutual cooperation. The result is poor quality work which in turn undermines the status of the profession and leads to negative effect on fee structures.

Another taint is that the property industry is not mature in the sense that experienced practitioners are not willing to share information and offer internship to candidate surveyors as a means of knowledge and skills transfer presumably on account of self – preservation,

cost and ‘negative competition’. Employers and professional firms are generally not willing to commit to providing on the job structured regulated training for probationers.

Conclusion Self regulation strives to address informational problems between the provider and consumer of professional services by guaranteeing quality. It is a privilege extended to the profession in order to control its affairs in the public interest. For a profession to be granted autonomy of regulation it is important to consider whether it has a defined body of knowledge and skills acquired through lengthy education and experience. Self regulation also demands that the profession should have adequate capacity in terms of resources, for developing rules necessary for good professional and ethical standards.

Self regulation has its critics and a major rebuttal advanced is that it is anti- competitive and also prone to abuse as the organization of services is shaped by industry rather public interests. Being a normative issue, decisions on the creation of a regulatory regime are matters of judgment and political process, which is influenced by lobbying. Self-regulation may thus be withdrawn through the coercive power of the state if a profession abuses its privileged position.

Self regulatory bodies and professional association have different functions.

The mandate of an association focuses on advocating for the economic and professional interests of the membership. A regulatory body acts in the public interest by setting entrance and registration requirements, prescribing ethical and professional standards, investigating complaints and administering disciplinary process. There are situations where the functions of the aforementioned entities overlap and may co-exist within the same organization.

The real estate profession in Botswana has made commendable efforts towards the attainment of self –regulatory status, to ensure delivery of high quality service that is in the public interest. However, there are still lingering and nagging challenges which seriously need to be addressed for self regulation to be credible and meet public expectations. There is an urgent need to develop or set professional standards and guidelines to deal with the morass of inconsistencies in professional practice, particularly within

the realm of valuation. REAC, which essentially plays a ‘gatekeeping’ role, has to revisit the registration process, which has strong emphasis on academic qualification and decide on a system which would also encompass and give greater weight to competency and experience levels. Thoughtful deliberations in reviewing the admission process should take a leaf from international best practices and also take into account prevailing market conditions.

Education is one area of public policy which the profession may use its influence to improve quality of service. The profession does not necessarily have to develop its own professional examination but may partner with academic institutions in developing courses which are relevant to industries by agreeing, inter alia, on an accreditation process that considers a curriculum that focuses on local business environment.

Overall there is great need to build capacity within the Real Estate Advisory Council for regulation to be more effective and credible. The focus of such an exercise should be to build a regulatory system that must be seen to be non-discriminatory, executed fairly and consistently, transparent and reviewed regularly so as to have legitimacy and public confidence. Capacity building would obviously be undertaken to strengthen administrative processes or governance structures and this requires putting in place mechanisms which could take the following forms ; equipping staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to administer professional regulation , cooperating with leading international professional bodies (e.g International Valuation Standards Council and International Federation of Surveyors) with a view to benefit from their technical assistance.

Government must show commitment to ensure an effective regulation by monitoring the performance of REAC and amending the legislation in response to changing circumstances within reasonable times. REIB has the responsibility of ensuring that its members provide quality services thereby sustaining the viability of the profession. The profession has to be in constant dialogue with government and offer assistance in designing and implementing effective and efficient professional regulation because of the comparative advantage of superior knowledge of the industry and markets within which real estate practitioners operate.

BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 01 June, 2012

Advertising Page 15

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A well set up network of CCTV records all activities that take place in your establishment, the entire time. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors. IP cameras stream live video via digital packets across an internet protocol network such a as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. This means your video streams can be accessed remotely, and stored remotely giving you increased flexibility. IP cameras offer secure data transmission through encryption and authentication methods. IP cameras have a resolution of at least 640x480 and can provide multi-mega pixel resolution and HDTV image quality. IP cameras also bring fourth the advantages of remote accessibility, live video from selected cameras can be viewed from any computer, anywhere i.e. also from many mobile smart phones and other devices. IP cameras that are wireless enabled can function on a wireless network. IP cameras have the ability to operate with a PoE(Power over Ethernet) protocol which gives power via the ethernet-cable. CCTV solutions record everything and have high process power, storage capabilities and playback.

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BOIDUS FOCUS Monday 11 June, 2012

BOCCIM Hosts its 18th Northern Trade Fair KWENA CONCRETE

• Marketing Executive at Kwena, Thapelo Sewagodimo, said the response they got from the fair was exciting with many people showing interest in their Landscaping products.

• Kwena Concrete is known for its concrete products in the construction industry.

• Some of its products are grey and coloured cement stock bricks, rock faced stock, metric hollow blocks, concrete railway sleepers, wall copings, lintels, mountable kerbstones and the new grey and coloured pavers.

Themed “Seizing the Opportunities of Economic Diversification Amidst a Recession”, Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) recently hosted its 18th Northern Trade Fair in Francistown which comprised of over 110 exhibitors from business sectors; service providers, financial institutions, hotels, insurance, education, manufacturing, NGO’s as well as government departments.

• Their clients range from Chinese construction companies to individuals.

• They are the only Cement that is produced and manufactured locally, in the north (Matsiloje).

• MPC’s products have been used in projects such as Bridgetown Resort, and ABM in Francistown.

• The company has in the past managed to donate and give out to the public; they have donated to different clinics in Matsiloje, and a church in Sebina.

• Their cement is tested by specialists before they are sold.

• They hope to expand to the rest of the country sometime next year.

• Their cement is 32.5 N% just like P.P.C. • When contacted Magdeline Ditlale (Marketing Executive at MPC), she said they managed to sensitize people about their products at the fair and the response was good.

SWANSCAPES

BAC Wins ‘Best Stall’

“As the business community we do not really need a certain place for our business to succeed during tough times, they need to understand what they are doing as entrepreneurs. Therefore, if you innovate rightly and have passion, any place can be turned into an investors’ attraction,” said Masunga when addressing the exhibitors during 18th Botswana (BOCCIM) Northern Trade Fair.

• Sewagodimo said some of the challenges they are having is recession which made their prices go up, but they are re-considering this move.

MATSILOJE PORTLAND CEMENT

FRANCISTOWN: Botswana Telecommunications (BTC) group’s general manager of commercial, Anthony Masunga has challenged the business community to create an identity for Francistown in order to attract investors.

• Their products are tested by their laboratories before use

• They participated at Northern Trade Fair focusing on garden construction and florists.

• When contacted for comment Wada Supang said they had a good experience at the fair as almost everyone who passed their stall stopped and showed interest.

• He mentioned that they managed to scope position 1 at last year’s youth expo.

“People do not have to travel south to get education, it can also be done in the north. BAC is a college that is in partnership with reputable global universities in CIMA, ACCA, BICA and AAT,” said corporate development manager, Tebogo Mophuting.

BANC ABC

FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) scooped the best stall award in the education category at the recently held Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) Northern Trade Fair (BNTF) here.

COVERSURE

• Some of their services include landscaping, deco, paving pathways, irrigation designs, interior designs, florists, aquariums, instant lawns, water features and construction.

BDC

OPENING by Anthony Masunga

‘Seizing the Opportunities of Economic Diversification Amidst a Recession’

The BOCCIM event was held 25-26th May 2012 in Francistown, Botswana YEM Graphics