Combining elements of the old and new, Francistown is Botswana's first town and oldest commercial centre; it celebrated its Centenary in 1997.

Francistown's establishment as a town is owed to the presence of gold in the vicinity. Over the years it became a sprawling township, and is today one of Botswana's largest industrial centres.

The City of Francistown is currently undertaking major infrastructural development in the entire city. The multi-million pula sewerage masterplan is expected to be completed before the end of December 2002. Upon completion of the project, all wastewater, which was being treated by a system of anaerobic - facultative, and maturation ponds, which are already stretched to full capacity, will be pumped to and treated at the ultra modern new treatment water care works. This new works has been designed to take advantage of the  ease of operation and cost effectiveness using the trikling filter system. By opting for this type of system, the design took into consideration the potential benefits associated with this type of modern technology.

The city prides itself as one of the first few cities to invest in this type of facility, which will greatly enhance its capability of waste water management. This will attract more industrial investors to the city of Francistown.

The council has also embarked on massive IT systems programme aimed at improving the quality of service delivery to the public. The is in the process of transforming its paper-based documentation into "electronic information systems", which is essential so as to allow widespread electronic services by council.  This is more so with regard to access to engineering databases by other organisations.  The whole IT transformation process will culminate in the departments and will have strong, centralised coordination, monitoring and planning coupled with advanced customer support service and prodctivity management structures. 

The council aims to make essential information available to those who need it barring that which needs to be withheld to protect council or council confidentiality or in the public or national interest. 

Francistown grew in size over the years.  It now has a population density of 825, 9 persons per sq km in 1971.  It is projected the town will grow at an average annual rate of 5,3 percent by the year 2001, pushing the town population to 106 553 people.

Francistown is also fortunate to posses an adequate supply of water from the Shashe Dam, a few kilometres to the south-west.  Electricity is supplied via overhead lines from Selebi-Phikwe.  Easy access by road to Livingstone, Bulawayo and Gaborone has been made possible by the completion of an extensive roads programme.

Francistown has excellent health facilities with one referral hospital (Ngangabwe) and 15 clinics, some of these being maternity facilities.

Contact:

Private Bag 40, Francistown, Botswana

Tel:    (+267) (2411050) 221050

Fax:   (+267) (2412427) 212427