The City of Francistown Council defended its decision to demolish central market stalls despite some vendors expressing frustration and anger at the situation.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Francistown Mayor, Godisang Radisigo argued that the evictions were legal, citing a court order that ruled in December 2023 that the vendors were occupying the area illegally.
Radisigo added that the vendors long stopped paying rent in 2013 and as Council they wanted to make way for new developments in the city.
According to Radisigo, the decision to sell the market to a private developer was motivated by the need to develop the area and the hope is that the contractor will also develop a portion where the informal sector will continue to operate their businesses.
He said the council was acting in accordance with a court order that ruled that the vendors were illegally occupying the market area. He acknowledged that the occupants may not have been expecting the evictions, but said the
council was merely following the law.
Radisigo highlighted that the market stall buildings were already dilapidated and were undermining the overall aesthetic condition of the city centre. He added that the council saw this development as an opportunity to improve the appearance of the area and attract new investment.
One of the vendors, Tsitsi Mabakile, 68, said she wishes that council could build a new market where their customers will be able to easily have access to them. She has been selling traditional foods at the market since 1980 and now has nowhere to go and has lost over 100 customers that she usually received daily.
Another vendor, Annah Majabane said the decision to evict them without notice was unfair and expressed frustration with the timing of the eviction. She said they were not refusing to relocate, but needed time to find an alternative place to do business. She said the council gave them short notice and they did not have resources to find a new place to relocate to.
The central market place was constructed with the sole purpose of leasing the stalls to one Getrude Mmile and 54 others. The stalls were meant to empower and migrate the tenants from poverty. Upon such migration, they would be given to the next deserving members of the community through a selection criterion to be adopted by the applicant.
In 2004, it was resolved that the usage of the stalls was overtaken by events, hence the need for redevelopment and a tender to redevelop was awarded to Amasa Civils Mmile. Those who were evicted are the ones who occupied the area illegally after the first occupants (Mmile and others) had been relocated.
In an interview with The Midweek Sun, Francistown Mayor, Godisang Radisigo argued that the evictions were legal, citing a court order that ruled in December 2023 that the vendors were occupying the area illegally.
Radisigo added that the vendors long stopped paying rent in 2013 and as Council they wanted to make way for new developments in the city.
According to Radisigo, the decision to sell the market to a private developer was motivated by the need to develop the area and the hope is that the contractor will also develop a portion where the informal sector will continue to operate their businesses.
He said the council was acting in accordance with a court order that ruled that the vendors were illegally occupying the market area. He acknowledged that the occupants may not have been expecting the evictions, but said the
council was merely following the law.
Radisigo highlighted that the market stall buildings were already dilapidated and were undermining the overall aesthetic condition of the city centre. He added that the council saw this development as an opportunity to improve the appearance of the area and attract new investment.
One of the vendors, Tsitsi Mabakile, 68, said she wishes that council could build a new market where their customers will be able to easily have access to them. She has been selling traditional foods at the market since 1980 and now has nowhere to go and has lost over 100 customers that she usually received daily.
Another vendor, Annah Majabane said the decision to evict them without notice was unfair and expressed frustration with the timing of the eviction. She said they were not refusing to relocate, but needed time to find an alternative place to do business. She said the council gave them short notice and they did not have resources to find a new place to relocate to.
The central market place was constructed with the sole purpose of leasing the stalls to one Getrude Mmile and 54 others. The stalls were meant to empower and migrate the tenants from poverty. Upon such migration, they would be given to the next deserving members of the community through a selection criterion to be adopted by the applicant.
In 2004, it was resolved that the usage of the stalls was overtaken by events, hence the need for redevelopment and a tender to redevelop was awarded to Amasa Civils Mmile. Those who were evicted are the ones who occupied the area illegally after the first occupants (Mmile and others) had been relocated.
