Magang transforms virgin land into a paradise

Despite facing obstacles during its inception, Phakalane Property Development Project has become one of the country’s success stories.

Retired politician and owner David Magang and his family have turned what was once a thick forest 20 years ago into an exclusive upmarket suburb, golf estate and holiday resort and industrial park.

Driving around Phakalane, the visitor comes across imposing double-storied structures with exotic architectural designs and mansion that are worth millions of Pula on the property market.

The latest developments on the estate will include an 80-luxury room hotel, which is expected to be completed next year, as well as a waterfront residential area.

The four-star hotel, which is still under construction, will have panoramic views of the golf course and the managing director of Phakalane Estate Lesang Magang said in an interview that by Phakalane and international standards, it is going to be a five-star hotel.

The hotel will initially be targeting the business traveller. What will set the new facility apart from the existing hotels is the fact that it will be targeting the leisure market.

Magang says the hotel is part of their greater vision of making the golf estate resort one of Africa’s top 10 places to work, live and play destinations he believes that this vision will help diversify the country’s economy.

On completion, the hotel is going to further enhance the value of the residential market in Phakalane. Magang says he is seeing exciting times ahead as the Phakalane Hotel will become operational before the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Another milestone project at Phakalane will be the waterfront island residential mixed use development. The project is going to be part of the golf estate. Magang says they are going to have Villas overlooking the waterfront and golf course, will cost more than P1.2 million. There will be over 200 properties on the waterfront. With the waterfront development, Magang says they want to recapture that environment of tranquillity. He says residents who play golf will be able to enjoy the game from the comfort of their homes.

The other project in the offing is setting up of the infrastructure for Thobo Hamlet. This will be a walled secure estate with similar rules as the golf estate. Emphasis is going to be on security at Thobo Hamlet.

Other upcoming projects include putting up infrastructure for Talana Park Extension residential area and the development by investors of Botswana’s first luxury retirement village.

There is also the expansion of the Phakalane Industrial Zone when a Chinese company, Daheng, is setting up a US$52 million textiles plant.

The Phakalane Industrial Park will be the first phase of the project, majoring in textiles and clothing products.

It is envisaged that 66 companies from all over the world will be attracted to invest and build factories in the park. The companies are expected to create 8,000 jobs. Once completed, the project is expected to generate US$280 million in foreign exchange.

All in all, Magang estimates that in terms of employment, Phakalane has created jobs for more than 10, 000 people directly or indirectly. Magang says people who have been buying property at Phakalane are both locals and foreigners. “We are attracting buyers because we are saying Phakalane Golf Estate is the only golf estate in Botswana, “he says.

Magang recalls that when they started the project, nobody gave them a chance. He says people believed that the project would collapse. Magang believes that people had that mentality because government then did everything.

13 Oct 2009

Mmegi 2009