Once a slum city amid derelict mines in eastern Botswana, Francistown is undergoing a remarkable transformation, thanks to the Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PUSP), a global initiative aimed at improving the living conditions of millions of slum dwellers worldwide.
Like many communities in sub-Saharan Africa, Francistown – sitting at the confluence of the Tati and Ntshe rivers, and near the Shashe River, a tributary of the Limpopo - is part of a region that faces the challenge of accommodating an estimated 230 million slum dwellers in cities.
However, through PUSP's interventions, this city, located approximately 400 km northeast of the capital city, Gaborone, and once the epicenter of Southern Africa's first gold rush, has experienced a significant upliftment in its infrastructure, housing, and overall urban landscape.
The slum upgrading programme was established in 2008 as a tripartite initiative of the Secretariat of the African Union, the Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), the European Commission, and UN-Habitat to address critical challenges in slums and informal settlements, such as inadequate housing and basic services.
Recently, Francistown showcased its PSUP project at second session of the UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, held from 5th to 9th June 2023 under the theme: “A sustainable urban future through inclusive and effective multilateralism: achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in times of global crises.”
Participatory approach
In Nairobi, Botswana’s leadership highlighted the participatory approach of its PUSP project as an ideal solution for addressing the challenges of informal settlements in sub-Saharan Africa, emphasizing the active involvement of local stakeholders.
"The political will is there. You can see it in the systematic involvement of the government and its relevant agencies in the programme," said Eric Mothibi Molale, the country’s Minister of Transport and Public Works, who led Botswana’s delegation to the assembly.
“In doing this project, we adhered to our founding principles of unity, self-reliance and development. In everything we do, we follow these principles,” Mr. Molale added. “We prioritize extensive consultations with the people.”
The Francistown PSUP project encountered setbacks due to the outbreak of COVID-19, but they have managed to get back on track, said Mr. Molale.
Before planning the project, the Francistown City Council conducted a Know Your City (KYC) campaign in November 2019 in the Boikhutso area. The campaign was part of the town's broader plan to revitalize the strip along Blue Jacket Street and was considered a "quick win" by the city council.
Through the KYC campaign metrics, the council identified a few deprivations in some households and collaborated with the community to address them. One of the core activities was educating people to adhere to building standards, as many structures in the ward did not meet the required standards.
Additionally, they painted 266 houses, numbered 250 plots, and installed refuse bins on those plots to maintain a clean environment.
The estimated cost of the project was 634,000 pula (approximately $47,500), sourced from the PSUP.
The Know Your City (KYC) campaign played a crucial role in generating excitement for the official launch of the Boikhutso ward PSUP project on World Town Planning Day, 8 November 2019.
In 2019, Mr. Pule appealed to residents to take pride in their environment by keeping it clean and reporting any indiscriminate waste disposal.
By 2023, their vigilance had paid off, as regular monitoring and feedback from the people of the Boikhutso ward showed the positive impact of the transformation efforts.
