Our Story
Built by
Batswana,
for Botswana.
The Fields Mall
From cotton fields to commerce.
The site on which The Fields Mall stands was historically known as the Cotton Fields: a stretch of undeveloped land at the edge of what would become Gaborone's Central Business District. The cotton plants that once grew there gave the mall its name and inspired its distinctive logo.
In 1991, a group of ten Batswana citizen companies came together to form the Citizen Investment Group, determined to ensure that development of this prime CBD land would be led and owned by Batswana. Over 30 years, through economic headwinds, a global pandemic and regulatory challenges, the group persevered. Their patience was vindicated when The Fields Mall opened its doors on 28 July 2022.
The P300 million development was funded entirely from shareholder capital, with no government financing. Today, approximately 150 to 160 Batswana citizens are beneficial shareholders: businesspeople, professionals, retired persons, farmers and developers who collectively built one of Gaborone's landmark properties.
One of the most significant citizen-owned developments in Botswana's history.
The Full Story
32 years of determination.
Watch the story of The Fields: how a group of Batswana entrepreneurs came together in 1991, persisted through three decades of obstacles, and delivered one of the most significant citizen-owned developments in Botswana's history.
The Development
By the numbers.
P300m
Total citizen capital, no government financing
26,000 m²
Gross lettable retail area, single storey
150+
Batswana beneficial shareholders
9 ha
Total site with Phase 2 approval in place
1,250
Parking bays, including 600 covered basement
28 Jul 2022
Opened by President Masisi
Construction
From ground to
grand opening.
Construction commenced in October 2020, during one of the most challenging periods in history. The team navigated COVID-19 disruptions, adverse weather and supply chain pressures to achieve structural completion by April 2022.
Architecture
Designed for light and movement.
Architect Jasmina Telic of Paledi Co-Arc designed The Fields as a single-storey mall with high ceilings and large windows to maximise natural light throughout the day. The decision to move from a double-storey to single-level layout was made at tenants' request, improving accessibility and shopper flow.
The central Piazza forms the social heart of the mall. An open-air space with a water feature and children's play area, it offers a rare sense of public space in a CBD retail environment.
Structural and civil engineering was led by STRUXIT, with local partner Bothakga Burrow. Construction was managed by MDSA. Caitec Botswana served as the main contractor.
Location
At the intersection of the city.
The Fields Mall sits between the Gaborone Bus and Taxi Terminus and the professional CBD, at the natural point where Gaborone's working population and its public transport network converge. A dedicated pedestrian tunnel under Mandela Drive connects the mall directly to the bus terminus, making The Fields one of the most accessible destinations in the capital.
Plan Your Visit