source: The Botswana Gazette
Written by EDITOR
Tuesday, 17 November 2009 09:43
Review tax regime
Citizen bias in procurement
President Lt Gen Ian Khama has said while Government looks upon the growth of the private sector, increasingly rooted in the citizenry, as a key instrument for national development, he was concerned about the tendency of some companies to embrace self-interest over the national interest.He cited the example of the often inflated cost of public projects both at the stage of tendering and in implementation. “Such practices are, unfortunately, consistent with a wider attitude of self-entitlement towards public resources, which threatens to undermine the principle of self-reliance that has been a cornerstone of our collective development.”
Khama said where there is evidence government will not hesitate to blacklist those whose private greed undermines the country’s ability to deliver for [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
DR JEFF RAMSEY
Transparency International (TI) has just released its annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) at a ceremony in Berlin. This Office is pleased to announce that, for the 14th year in a row, Botswana was ranked as being the least corrupt country in Africa, as well as among the least corrupt countries in the world.
Botswana was ranked 37 out of 180 countries included in the 2009 survey, with a composite score of 5.6, showing little change from the results over the past five years, which have oscillated between 5.4 and 5.9.
Botswana’s standing once more placed it in the top 20% of all surveyed nations, as well as above over half (24) of the member states of the Council of Europe and [continue reading]
source: allAfrica
John Allen and Adiel Ismail
19 November 2009
Cape Town — Botswana continues to be seen as Africa’s least corrupt, and Somalia as the continent’s – and the world’s – most corrupt country, according to a new survey published this week.
But Botswana comes in at only 37th place in a list of 180 nations, which New Zealand tops as the perceived least corrupt country in the world. Three-quarters of the nations of sub-Saharan Africa fall in the bottom half of the list.
These are among the revelations of the “Corruption Perceptions Index 2009,” published by Transparency International, a civil society group which describes itself as a global coalition against corruption.
The survey ranks perceptions of corruption on an index of 1 to 10, with 1 indicating the highest level of corruption and 10 the lowest. The index is a “survey of surveys,” relying on research done by 10 organizations, ranging from the African Development Bank and World Bank to the [continue reading]
source: SW Radio Africa
By Lance Guma
19 November 2009
The United Nations Human Rights Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has denied running a repatriation programme that promised Zimbabwean refugees in South Africa R7000, computers and other equipment to start up businesses once back home. Last month it was reported the refugees signed up for the programme on the back of these promises but once back home nothing was delivered.
Speaking to Newsreel on Wednesday Tina Ghelli the UNHCR representative for Southern Africa said they ran a repatriation programme for refugees living at the Central Methodist church in Johaneesburg some time in July this year. She said this programme was at the request of the refugees who wanted to go back home but did not have the resources to do so. Since the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were already running repatriation programmes in the region the UNHCR asked them to help repatriate the most vulnerable refugees.
‘IOM assisted UNHCR by arranging pre-travel medical checks and transport, and providing escorts to facilitate returnees as required to [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
MARANYANE GWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer
Malaria remains a huge health challenge in Botswana and has compelled the government to reintroduce the use of Dichlo-Diphenyl Trichloroethane (DDT).
Principal health officer, Davis Ntebela said yesterday at the 19th International Environmental Health Conference in Gaborone that DDT has been reintroduced in the Chobe, the area hardest hit by the disease. It will be rolled out to other areas where there are reports of Malaria outbreak.
DDT is an indoor spray that was used during the early 1950s until 1997, when environmentalists and other lobby groups pressurised the government to discontinue its use.
Ntebela said that these groups criticised the use of DDT in the belief that it could cause food contamination.
They complained that it poses a health hazard to [continue reading]
source: allAfrica
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
18 November 2009
editorial
THE huge investment which has started pouring into Lumwana in North-Western Province is no mean achievement as it will certainly boost economic development of the country.
Already the mine in Lumwana has started producing copper concentrates, which are being processed in readiness for export, earning the country the much-needed income.
With the coming of the multi-facility economic zone, more investment will flow in while 13,000 jobs will be created.
The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coupled with local investment in Lumwana will steer the country’s economic strides forward and as Vice-President George Kunda announced in Solwezi yesterday, about $1.2 billion will be invested in the area.
FDI is a common strategy for [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
WANETSHA MOSINYI
Staff Writer
The World Bank has loaned Government of Botswana US$186 million (P1.2 billion) for its Integrated Transport Project, which is meant to ease traffic congestion, enhance regional integration and spur economic growth.
The project, which will see new links between Botswana and neighbours South Africa, Zambia and Namibia through rail and road and is estimated to cost US$385.12 million (P2.6 billion) in total. Speaking at the loan agreement signing ceremony on Monday, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo, said the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has also pledged US$40 million (P267.6 million) whilst the Government of Botswana will provide the [continue reading]
source: BOPA
18 November, 2009
GABORONE – Increasing appetite for stock saw the domestic companies index (DCI) pushing 0.57 per cent higher, a weekly market report from Motswedi Securities state.
According to the weekly report, the DCI ended the week at 7 340.95 points, pushing its year to date growth to 4.34 per cent as most counters registered gains during last week.
The Foreign Companies Index (FCI) was static at 1 328.20 points due to little activity in the Foreign Equity Main Board.
There were however some higher bids, which were above the market price in some counters such as Anglo, IamGold, Investec and African Diamonds.
We note that potential sellers are reluctant to offload their holdings at the current price in [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
The days of free Phane harvesting will soon be over courtesy of government intervention. Recently, the government published a bill to stop free harvesting of forest resources including Phane.
The proposed law provides an institutional and regulatory framework for sustainable management of forest and range resources. It will see the government collecting revenue for harvesting forest and range resources. There will be by-laws designed for collecting fees or royalties in respect of such produce. Commercial harvesters will be required to get licences for the felling, harvesting and [continue reading]
source: IOL
November 19 2009 at 07:43AM
By Gaye Davis and Bronwyn Gerretsen
With corruption and fraud eating away at the South African public and private sectors, President Jacob Zuma has ordered his cabinet to come up with a plan that will prove the government is committed to stamping out the evil, rather than just making empty promises.
Yesterday, cabinet spokesman Themba Maseko said a team of ministers, headed by Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, would be expected to present a concrete strategy to deal with the scourge at the January cabinet lekgotla.
This would inform Zuma’s second State of the Nation address in February.
“We want to deal decisively with the perception that corruption is on the rise in the country and this [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer
The newly appointed Education Minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi has revealed her plans for the controversy-riddled ministry.
Speaking at a press briefing at Fairground Holdings, Gaborone yesterday, she said that her top priorities are sponsorship problems and misbehaviour of students and teachers in schools.
She said the ministry has issued a reminder to all schools after realising that some teachers go beyond the corporal punishment standards set in the Education Act. She said there have been instances where students have stabbed, assaulted, sodomised schoolmates or assaulted teachers. “These are all actions that are not allowed in the school premises nor even at our homes. What is not condoned at home will not be condoned in school,” she said. She stated that [continue reading]
source: BOPA
19 November, 2009
GABORONE – Botswana managed to make P17 million savings from European Union (EU) beef exports last June, thanks to the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (IEPA) the two parties signed recently.
Ministry of Trade and Industry Public Relations Officer, Ms Montlenyane Baaitse said that the interim agreement abolished beef quotas as well as the eight per cent beef levy, translating into a significant monetary gain for Botswana.
Ms Baaitse revealed that the EU currently absorbed 70 per cent of Botswana exports, particularly beef.
Thus, the recent gain, she said, was a clear demonstration to local producers particularly the private sector that they could derive maximum benefits from the European as well as other regional and international markets. That would then [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent
It is well over a year since the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) commissioned the pioneering 29 female officers who received their military training in Tanzania.
The female officers made history, as they were the first group to be enlisted by the army.
And they are ready for combat, Lieutenant Monty Malomo of the BDF Public Relations Unit said. He said the women soldiers have adjusted well to army life too.
“They are coping very well,” he said in response to a questionnaire. The female officers hold the rank of second lieutenant. They will only be upgraded to full lieutenant when they [continue reading]
source: SW Radio Africa
18th November 2009
Gerry Jackson
Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to reform the central bank. In theory this should reduce the powers of bank governor Gideon Gono.
This is the first major law to be passed by parliament since the unity government was formed.
According to the bill, Gono’s powers will be reduced by appointing an independent chairperson and board for the bank.
Reuters news agency quotes Paul Mangwana, a ZANU PF member of the parliamentary legal committee, saying: “There have been extreme discussions with the Minister (Biti) that there be amendments … and we have agreed on these amendments.”
The bill has to now be debated by the Senate. If approved Mugabe would then have to sign it.
ZANU-PF legislators had last week threatened to block the bill, but an agreement was reached between Biti and the ZANU-PF lawmakers to make changes to [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
The American embassy in Gaborone is contributing $44,000 for the renovation of a colonial church at Old Palapye, present day Malaka.
The aim is to restore the church built in 1890s to its original state. The director of National Monuments and Art Gallery, Gaogakwe Phorano told a press conference yesterday that the renovated church, formerly of the London Missionary Society (LMS) will be used as a place of worship by the village and museum for Old Palapye, the former Bangwato capital. The US embassy and the department of Museums and Monuments will unveil the $44,000 donation at Malaka, on Thursday. Phorano said they will be empowering the people of Malaka to form a community trust through which the heritage site will be [continue reading]
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- Agency` In best drama series at the Emmys
- Mma Ramotswe markets Botswana in the US
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- Back to Botswana on BBC1 this Sunday
- Anika Noni Rose in Botswana
- R&B Singer and Actress Jill Scott Is Pregnant
- selected Press Preleases
- State of the Nation Address by H.E.Lt.Gen.Seretse Khama Ian Khama President of the Republic of Botswana to the First Session of the Tenth Parliament
- Inauguration Address the by President of the Republic of Botswana 2009 National Assembly 0830 Hours
- Statement by H.H. The vice president Lt-Gen. Mompati. S. Merafhe at a Luncheon held in Honour of H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit
- Address by H.E the Former President Mr.Festus G. Mogae, at the 25th anniversary conference of the Association for European Parliamentarians for Africa
- Press Notice: New Cabinet
- Restructuring of certain Ministries and Departments
- Media Advisory – Election Wrap-up voter Turnout and results
- Mrs. Barbara Dithapo Appointed Clerk of the National Assembly
- Press Statement by the Attorney General on the Steps following the Close of Polls on 16 October 2009
- Telecommunications Tower Emissions Safe
Palapye meets Google Maps
- BBC Africa News
- Riot over Egypt football defeat
- Sani Abacha son 'must pay $350m'
- 'Many flee' Congo fishing clashes
- Yacht pair plead for ransom talks
- East Africa in historic trade pact
- EU gives Nigeria $1bn 'for peace'
- UN condemns SA vineyard attacks
- Sierra Leone police enlist youths
- Ethiopia convicts coup plotters
- Nigeria's leader delays budget because politicians squabble about venue
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