FRANCISTOWN: In an effort to enlist support of the leaders of the opposition in the fight against the London-based Survival International (SI), President Festus Mogae called opposition leaders to his office on Wednesday.
The meeting was called to brief the politicians on the latest developments regarding the relocation of Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Basarwa, represented by the First People of the Kalahari, claim that the relocation from their ancestral land was made to pave way for diamond mining. The BNF acting president, Dr. Kathleen Letshabo, described the president's Wednesday meeting as too brief. [For full story click here]
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BDP promotes dependency- BCP (Daily News)
14 September, 2006
PALAPYE - A Botswana Congress Party (BCP) activist says negligence of the agricultural sector has turned Botswana into a consumer nation, which relies on produce from neighbouring states.
George Makhura told a political rally in Palapye at the weekend that Botswana depended on imported food to feed its citizens despite abundant land the country has to grow grow food crops.
Agricultural production stimulates the creation of manufacturing industries, but the ruling party doesnt see the need to develop this sector and as such Batswana have been turned into a consumerist nation, he said.
Makhura said Botswana continued to export raw materials from the beef industry, thus exporting potential jobs.
We need to create factories here instead of exporting raw materials and this will help create jobs to absorb young graduates roaming the streets and thereby reduce the unemployment rate, he said.
He said given the opportunity BCP would give the creation of employment and poverty reduction a priority.
He said government policies, such as drought relief and the destitute programmes, had relegated Batswana to the status of permanent abject poverty, thus killing the spirit of self-reliance.
The Botswana Democratic Party uses these programess as tools to buy votes and this is a trap that Batswana have failed to avoid thus relegating themselves to absolute poverty, as they now have to look up to these short term programmes as providers, Makhura said.
In his address, Morupule ward cllr Maine Kgopo regretted that BDP programmes intended to uplift the lives of Batswana were difficult to access by ordinary people.
Kgopo said the high rate of unemployment, poverty and destitution cast doubts on Botswanas status as a middle income country, for which it was internationally renowned.
He encouraged Batswana to acquaint themselves with political parties manifestos to be able to hold their representatives accountable when they failed to deliver on promises.
Kgopo charged that the ruling party would shamelessly come up with new promises, because its leaders are not worried about being held accountable on their empty pledges since they know that Botswana is not a reading society. BOPA
Source: Daily News
PALAPYE - A Botswana Congress Party (BCP) activist says negligence of the agricultural sector has turned Botswana into a consumer nation, which relies on produce from neighbouring states.
George Makhura told a political rally in Palapye at the weekend that Botswana depended on imported food to feed its citizens despite abundant land the country has to grow grow food crops.
Agricultural production stimulates the creation of manufacturing industries, but the ruling party doesnt see the need to develop this sector and as such Batswana have been turned into a consumerist nation, he said.
Makhura said Botswana continued to export raw materials from the beef industry, thus exporting potential jobs.
We need to create factories here instead of exporting raw materials and this will help create jobs to absorb young graduates roaming the streets and thereby reduce the unemployment rate, he said.
He said given the opportunity BCP would give the creation of employment and poverty reduction a priority.
He said government policies, such as drought relief and the destitute programmes, had relegated Batswana to the status of permanent abject poverty, thus killing the spirit of self-reliance.
The Botswana Democratic Party uses these programess as tools to buy votes and this is a trap that Batswana have failed to avoid thus relegating themselves to absolute poverty, as they now have to look up to these short term programmes as providers, Makhura said.
In his address, Morupule ward cllr Maine Kgopo regretted that BDP programmes intended to uplift the lives of Batswana were difficult to access by ordinary people.
Kgopo said the high rate of unemployment, poverty and destitution cast doubts on Botswanas status as a middle income country, for which it was internationally renowned.
He encouraged Batswana to acquaint themselves with political parties manifestos to be able to hold their representatives accountable when they failed to deliver on promises.
Kgopo charged that the ruling party would shamelessly come up with new promises, because its leaders are not worried about being held accountable on their empty pledges since they know that Botswana is not a reading society. BOPA
Source: Daily News
Shocked to death (The Voice)
A medicine man who was recently freed of muti murder charges by the high court has come back to a lonely home after his wife died of shock. 42- year-old Peggy Kgadimpa collapsed when the police visited her while her husband, Mabalane Tselakgopo was incarcerated for the murder of a Molepolole woman and informed her that Tselakgopo was going to be sentenced to hang because he was found in possession of the dead woman's roasted vagina. [Full Story..]
CKGR Judgment To Be Broadcast Live (Mmegi)
The state broadcast media has been granted permission for live transmission of the judgement in the historic Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) relocation case. The Lobatse High Court has set December 13 as judgement day in the marathon case in which some residents of the CKGR, mainly Basarwa have challenged the government's decision to relocate them. [Full Story..]
Khama wins against PEEPA Board as Galeforolwe gets his job back (Sunday Standard)
After weeks of uncertainty, Joshua Galeforolwe has taken back his position as Chief Executive of the government privatization agency PEEPA.The stand off between cabinet and the PEEPA Board was resolved this week after a lot of behind the scenes face saving trade offs.As part of the deal, the Board will be allowed to employ a high key executive (Chief operations Officer) who shall work hand in hand with Galeforolwe going forward to implement the privatization mandate.The compromise position will also see the rules and terms, published two months ago under which BTC (Botswana Telecommunications Corporation) and Air Botswana will be privatized, re-written.This is because the Board feel they were not part of the process, which they charge was an exclusive brainchild of Galeforolwe. [Full Story..]
BFA blunders
GABORONE - The embattled Botswana Football Association (BFA) is once again under fire.
At the centre of the storm is the registration of BDF XIs Zambian striker Bernard Simakwezi.
In its Wednesday ruling, the National Appeals Board (NAB) slated the football governing body for acting unlawfully in barring the BDF XI marksman from playing in a Coca Cola Cup semi-final clash against Township Rollers.
Rollers had complained that Simakwezis registration was irregular and the BFA ruled that he should not play.
BDF XI, who lost the encounter 3-0, then took the matter up with the NAB, which ordered a replay that was to take place Thursday night.
The winners meet Notwane in the finals tomorrow.
However, at the time of writing the story Rollers had threatened not to honour the game.
In their appeal, BDF were adamant that they signed the player procedurally as a free agent from a Malaysian team.
They said the player had no links with Zambias Lusaka Dynamos, as alleged. The NAB said the BFA should have allowed BDF XI to use the player in the game while investigations continued.
BFA has also been assigned to investigate the matter further to determine the status of the player.
Meanwhile, the controversial manner in which the BFA handled the case has attracted condemnation from some football pundits who accuse the association of acting arbitrarily and bringing the game into disrepute especially that its decision was not informed by any rule.
One football official in Francistown said some people in the BFA executive were there to advance their clubs interests at the expense of the nation.
He said in an interview that, the same BFA told BMC in no uncertain terms that there was no case against Simakwezis team.
He said the manner in which BFA handled the case was clear testimony that some people had a vested interest in the outcome of the match against Rollers.
BMC, Boteti Young Fighters and Ramotswa Killer Giants all lost to BDF XI in games that the player featured in during the Coke Cup campaign. However, the player was barred when Rollers was involved.
Another football official also called for all those involved to resign on the grounds that they acted unprofessionally.
This development comes on the heels of the altercation between the football governing body and some key national team players.
Some players have refused to turn up for the Zebras because of poor allowances. BFA is also accused of failure to prepare well for the Zebras trip to Mauritania for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Sparrows.
Players travelled to Noutchoutt in two batches because they could not be accommodated on one flight.
As such the team arrived late and had little warm-up time before the game, which they consequently lost 4-0. BOPA
Source: Daily News
At the centre of the storm is the registration of BDF XIs Zambian striker Bernard Simakwezi.
In its Wednesday ruling, the National Appeals Board (NAB) slated the football governing body for acting unlawfully in barring the BDF XI marksman from playing in a Coca Cola Cup semi-final clash against Township Rollers.
Rollers had complained that Simakwezis registration was irregular and the BFA ruled that he should not play.
BDF XI, who lost the encounter 3-0, then took the matter up with the NAB, which ordered a replay that was to take place Thursday night.
The winners meet Notwane in the finals tomorrow.
However, at the time of writing the story Rollers had threatened not to honour the game.
In their appeal, BDF were adamant that they signed the player procedurally as a free agent from a Malaysian team.
They said the player had no links with Zambias Lusaka Dynamos, as alleged. The NAB said the BFA should have allowed BDF XI to use the player in the game while investigations continued.
BFA has also been assigned to investigate the matter further to determine the status of the player.
Meanwhile, the controversial manner in which the BFA handled the case has attracted condemnation from some football pundits who accuse the association of acting arbitrarily and bringing the game into disrepute especially that its decision was not informed by any rule.
One football official in Francistown said some people in the BFA executive were there to advance their clubs interests at the expense of the nation.
He said in an interview that, the same BFA told BMC in no uncertain terms that there was no case against Simakwezis team.
He said the manner in which BFA handled the case was clear testimony that some people had a vested interest in the outcome of the match against Rollers.
BMC, Boteti Young Fighters and Ramotswa Killer Giants all lost to BDF XI in games that the player featured in during the Coke Cup campaign. However, the player was barred when Rollers was involved.
Another football official also called for all those involved to resign on the grounds that they acted unprofessionally.
This development comes on the heels of the altercation between the football governing body and some key national team players.
Some players have refused to turn up for the Zebras because of poor allowances. BFA is also accused of failure to prepare well for the Zebras trip to Mauritania for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against The Sparrows.
Players travelled to Noutchoutt in two batches because they could not be accommodated on one flight.
As such the team arrived late and had little warm-up time before the game, which they consequently lost 4-0. BOPA
Source: Daily News
BDP gets Chinese windfall (Mmegi)
The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) continues to amass resources and handsome monetary contributions from overseas benefactors whilst its opponents are still fighting for the crumbs they get from local sponsors. Early this week, the BDP is believed to have received a windfall from a strange ideological bedmate, the Communist Party of China. [More..]
Motswana invents fingerprint device (Daily News)
GABORONE - Worldwide Technologies, a company owned by Pule Mmolotsi, has brought a new dimension to cellphones security.
Mmolotsi has invented a fingerprint authentication device that can be used as a pin or access code.
He said in an interview in Gaborone this week that people should no longer worry about their telephone codes being stolen or others reading their private files in case of shared computers.
With the new system, the phone will be in a sleeping mode. One has to put in his or her code and he can verify that he or she is the authentic owner of that code by placing a fingerprint in a sensor on the device and then the dialing tone will automatically come on. [More..]
Mmolotsi has invented a fingerprint authentication device that can be used as a pin or access code.
He said in an interview in Gaborone this week that people should no longer worry about their telephone codes being stolen or others reading their private files in case of shared computers.
With the new system, the phone will be in a sleeping mode. One has to put in his or her code and he can verify that he or she is the authentic owner of that code by placing a fingerprint in a sensor on the device and then the dialing tone will automatically come on. [More..]
Botswana, China sign accords (Daily News)
GABORONE - Botswana and China have signed a number of economic and social agreements which signifies growing relations between the two countries.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mompati Merafhe said during a dinner held in honour of Wu Guanzheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
The two governments signed three agreements, including a Loan Agreement for the construction of Phase II of the Letlhakeng/Morwamosu Road, the Approved Destination Status Agreement, a mechanism to facilitate travel by Chinese tourists to Botswana, he said. [More..]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mompati Merafhe said during a dinner held in honour of Wu Guanzheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
The two governments signed three agreements, including a Loan Agreement for the construction of Phase II of the Letlhakeng/Morwamosu Road, the Approved Destination Status Agreement, a mechanism to facilitate travel by Chinese tourists to Botswana, he said. [More..]
New twist in PEEPA dispute (Mmegi)
The impasse over the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PEEPA seems to be far from over. By the passing of the day, more cracks and fault lines are opening up. There is even a suggestion that the issue finds the President and his deputy on two opposite sides of the fence. In the latest twist, three board members who resigned from the organisation have issued a statement to explain why they bailed out. [More..]
Batswana assured of basic rights (Daily News)
GABORONE - Botswana has always been committed to building a nation of equals with equitable access to the benefits of independence and development, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Moeng Pheto, said on Friday.
Speaking at the launch of the roving torch and month-long 40th independence anniversary celebrations, Pheto said Botswana leaders had ensured that every Motswana, irrespective of race, religion, gender, class or place of origin, was protected by the constitution and guaranteed basic rights and freedom.
Pheto said, the constitution has further ensured that the enjoyment of these rights and freedom by any individual do not prejudice the public interest.
I am further reminded that our leaders, including the traditional one, have always derived their ultimate mandate from the will of the people.
This common democratic heritage is further reflected in the existence within our society of deeply embedded institutions of public consultation, such as the kgotla.
He said the function of this forum had long been regulated by shared cultural norms that placed a high value on tolerance of diversity, as well as a desire to achieve genuine consensus.
Thus, he said, no view was considered to be so foolish as to be unworthy of a fair hearing, adding that likewise, no individual was considered to be above constructive criticism and respectful advice.
In the end, it had been our nature to seek compromise above violent confrontation. If we have occasionally given in to less tolerant instincts in our public affairs, it is because we have strayed from the paths of our ancestors.
They, our forefathers, and our current leadership, understood then and understand today that without peace and social harmony there can be never be prosperity, he said.
Pheto, therefore, invited all Batswana to join and participate in celebrating the achievement as a nation in the 40 years of independence.
Equally, he said, Batswana must remember that there was much they could be thankful for, because economically, socially and politically much had been gained. BOPA
Source: Daily News
Speaking at the launch of the roving torch and month-long 40th independence anniversary celebrations, Pheto said Botswana leaders had ensured that every Motswana, irrespective of race, religion, gender, class or place of origin, was protected by the constitution and guaranteed basic rights and freedom.
Pheto said, the constitution has further ensured that the enjoyment of these rights and freedom by any individual do not prejudice the public interest.
I am further reminded that our leaders, including the traditional one, have always derived their ultimate mandate from the will of the people.
This common democratic heritage is further reflected in the existence within our society of deeply embedded institutions of public consultation, such as the kgotla.
He said the function of this forum had long been regulated by shared cultural norms that placed a high value on tolerance of diversity, as well as a desire to achieve genuine consensus.
Thus, he said, no view was considered to be so foolish as to be unworthy of a fair hearing, adding that likewise, no individual was considered to be above constructive criticism and respectful advice.
In the end, it had been our nature to seek compromise above violent confrontation. If we have occasionally given in to less tolerant instincts in our public affairs, it is because we have strayed from the paths of our ancestors.
They, our forefathers, and our current leadership, understood then and understand today that without peace and social harmony there can be never be prosperity, he said.
Pheto, therefore, invited all Batswana to join and participate in celebrating the achievement as a nation in the 40 years of independence.
Equally, he said, Batswana must remember that there was much they could be thankful for, because economically, socially and politically much had been gained. BOPA
Source: Daily News
Close to 3 000 Chinese in Botswana (Daily News)
The Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs says 2 826 Chinese nationals work and reside in Botswana as investors, workers and immigrants.
Olifant Mfa said the his ministrys records showed that 1 094 of them were in the construction industry and 979 in retail business.
He said the remaining 753 Chinese include investors and workers in other industries as well as immigrants.
He said 37 applications await decisions by immigrants selection boards. Mfa was responding to Ngwaketse West parliamentarian Mephato Reatile who asked the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs the number of Chinese nationals in Botswana, and indicate the number of those in construction industry and those in retail businesses. BOPA
Source: Daily News
Olifant Mfa said the his ministrys records showed that 1 094 of them were in the construction industry and 979 in retail business.
He said the remaining 753 Chinese include investors and workers in other industries as well as immigrants.
He said 37 applications await decisions by immigrants selection boards. Mfa was responding to Ngwaketse West parliamentarian Mephato Reatile who asked the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs the number of Chinese nationals in Botswana, and indicate the number of those in construction industry and those in retail businesses. BOPA
Source: Daily News
Drama As BNF Warriors Go Public (Mmegi)
MAHALAPYE: There was drama at the second Botswana National Front (BNF) Leadership Forum meeting last Saturday when a fuming Mosolotshane councillor Mogalakwe Mogalakwe stormed out. Efforts to stop him from walking out of the emotionally charged meeting were fruitless as he refused to bend to the wishes of the peacemakers. Full Story..
AIDS policy at advance stage (Daily News)
The development of a national HIV/AIDS and employment policy is at an advanced stage as the draft policy is to be presented to Parliament next year.
The Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Olifant Mfa, told Parliament that the process of developing the policy started in 2004 with consultations between government, employers and workers. Full Story..
The Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Olifant Mfa, told Parliament that the process of developing the policy started in 2004 with consultations between government, employers and workers. Full Story..
Moupo takes Sabbatical Leave? (Mmegi)
FRANCISTOWN: Beleaguered Botswana National Front (BNF) president Otsweletse Moupo is reported to be contemplating a Sabbatical Leave to ease the pressure he is facing. It is understood that Moupo is likely to put the proposal before the BNF leadership forum meeting tomorrow in Mahalapye. Full Story..
Inflation to slide further, mining sector to pick-up the economy- analysts (Sunday Standard)
The consumer price index (CPI) is expected to sage in the second part of the year while the mining sector is thought to bolster the economy of the country, analysts concurred last week. Full Story..
MURDER MOST FOUL Ritual killing suspects in court (Voice)
Relatives of a women whose body was mutilated in a ritual murder listened in horror as gruesome details of the killing were revealed in court on Tuesday. A confession statement from the man accused of killing Boitshwarelo Batlotlegi,28, in the 2004 Molepolole ritual murder, revealed to the Lobatse High Court grisly details of how the murdered woman's private parts were allegedly harvested and shared by two witch-doctors. Full Story..
DK slams cabinet's Incompetence (Mmegi)
Member of Parliament for Molepolole South and secretary general of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Daniel 'DK' Kwelagobe has slammed the cabinet for what he called incompetence and poor implementation of projects. He expressed disappointment at a five-day leave that the cabinet has requested from President Festus Mogae saying they do not deserve it. Full Story..
BR experiences shortage of skilled personnel (Daily News)
PARLIAMENT - Botswana Railways continues to experience a serious shortage of skilled manpower particularly in the locomotive diesel electrician cadres, Parliament has been told.
The Minister of Works and Transport, Lesego Motsumi, said in the last two to three years BR lost five specialised diesel electricians out of a compliment of 10. Full Story..
The Minister of Works and Transport, Lesego Motsumi, said in the last two to three years BR lost five specialised diesel electricians out of a compliment of 10. Full Story..
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