Zotus City Land Transfer MoU Signed at Pula Global Expo as Developer Pitches USD 50 Billion Plan

Gaborone, Botswana, 8 October 2025 The Ghanzi District Council, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), and the Zotus City Development Group (ZCDG) signed a ceremonial Land Transfer Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Pula Global Expo 2025, according to Botswana Daily News.

A Statement of Intent

The occasion was symbolic. It does not yet mark the legal conclusion of the land transfer, but it is a public statement of intent by the parties.

"It is a declaration that Zotus City is not a distant dream, but a living commitment," stated officials at the ceremony. "It is a visible sign to the people of Botswana, and to investors across the globe, that we are aligned in vision and united in purpose."

Presidential Patronage and High-Level Participation

The signing, conducted under the patronage of His Excellency President Advocate Duma Boko, took place during the official Investment Pledges Session, moderated by BITC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Keletsositse Olebile. The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers, international investors, and diplomatic representatives from across the continent and beyond.

The agreement concerns Zotus City, a planned Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Junction 44 in Ghanzi, which Zotus Group says will involve USD 50 billion in investment. That figure is a developer projection and has not been independently verified.

A Tripartite Alliance for Regional Integration

The tripartite partnership between the Ghanzi District Council, BITC, and ZCDG represents a coordinated approach to regional development that integrates local governance, national investment strategy, and private sector innovation. The parties say the framework is intended to deliver benefits to local communities while attracting international capital.

Global Ambassador Didier Drogba Joins the Vision

In a concurrent announcement during the same event, football legend and humanitarian Didier Drogba was unveiled as the Global Ambassador and Senior Partner for Zotus City. The developer says the appointment is intended to raise the project's international profile.

According to Zotus Group, his role will include community development and youth initiatives.

Strategic Importance of Location

Junction 44 in Ghanzi occupies a strategic position along the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, a critical trade route linking the Atlantic and Indian Ocean ports through Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. The developer says this positioning would make Zotus City a logistics and industrial hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

Zotus Group projects that the development would create jobs in Ghanzi District through manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy and technology services.

Next Steps and Timeline

While the ceremonial MoU represents a public commitment, the formal legal land transfer had not been completed at the time of signing. The developer says infrastructure work, starting with roads, utilities and renewable energy, would follow legal completion.

The developer has not yet published a confirmed construction timeline.

Investment and Partnership Opportunities

The Pula Global Expo 2025 served as a platform to showcase investment opportunities within the Zotus City ecosystem. Organisers said investors showed interest in sectors including renewable energy, smart technology, logistics infrastructure, and industrial manufacturing.

What Comes Next

Key open questions include which financiers will commit capital, when construction will begin, how the site will be supplied with water, and the status of its environmental assessment. Africa Development News will report on these as information becomes available.