Mogae: Understand Africa first

27 June, 2007 in Africa, Botswana

source: BOPA
27 June, 2007

VIENNA – President Festus Mogae on Tuesday pleaded with external forces wanting to help in conflict societies, to first try and understand the internal dynamics of a country concerned.

Mr Mogae made the plea when he addressed a United Nations Seventh Global Forum on Reinventing government in Vienna, Austria.

He said external parties should support, strengthen and work with local and regional peace building initiatives.

He said where external intervention was ill-informed or negative, the involvement of external parties could compound the level of trust.

He said for a government of a developing country or post-conflict society to earn the trust of its citizens, the government has to have a supportive external environment in addition to its internal efforts.

He said the level of distrust in many post-conflict societies was so intense that positive external mediation was often required to restore trust.

President Mogae said there was need for a clear understanding on the part of external parties that in most conflicts, the solution did not lie simply on choosing the good from the bad and meting out maximum punishment against the bad.

Mr Mogae reiterated concern about how the Western news media protrayed Africa. He said the news media still potrayed Africa as a continent of endless conflicts, corrupt leaders and crises. In doing so, he said, the news media disregarded the fact that majority of African countries have now attained a respectable level of good governance, stability and observance of human rights.

The president remined his audince of a recent international survey called Global Peace Index which covered 121 countries saying that three African countries including Botswana were placed well above three G8 countries. The survey included measures such as corruption, respect for human rights, levels of violence and social conflicts.

He urged the global news media to make a fresh start in terms of their perception on Africa.

He said it would be very difficult for any African leader to be trusted while the media in [continue reading]

Gaborone City council gets over P84m for 11 projects

27 June, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
27 June, 2007

GABORONE – Gaborone City Council has been allocated P84.8 million for various projects to be undertaken during the 2007/08 financial year.

Speaking at the beginning of council meeting, the Mayor of Gaborone, Mr Harry Mothei, said 11 projects included reconstruction of Legolo Road, street lighting, upgrading of Nyerere Road and North Ring Road as well as consultancy of the other part of Legolo Road.

Other projects are rehabilitation of traffic lights, electrical works in primary schools and primary health care facilities, stone lining and cleaning of storm water drainage and procurement of three school buses.

Regarding the reconstruction of Legolo Road, he said it was being scaled down to accommodate the available funds for the current financial year after, for which tenders would be invited.

Tenders for the replacement of 20 worn-out traffic lights at various junctions were awarded for the first phase, and contracts were signed on June 7 while the schedule for the second phase would be ready next month.

He said tenders for the street lights in Extension 15, 25, 27, 29, 30 and 26 had been awarded and the contracts had also been signed.

The council had also awarded a tender for the supply of a 65-sitter bus and two 25 sitter buses for pupils.

Talking about consultancy for a pharmacy block at Extension Two clinic, Mr Mothei said phase one of [continue reading]

Gaborone Central Business District Comes to Life

27 June, 2007 in Botswana, Business

source: allAfrica
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

26 June 2007
Posted to the web 26 June 2007

Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe

After looking like nothing was going to come out of it for the last five years, the Central Business District (CBD), adjacent to the bus rank and the Gaborone-Francistown Road is taking shape.

One of the developers at the site, GH Group has already begun construction of a P100 million project known as the Square, an integrated retail and office development, at the site.

GH Group says it has moved quickly to set up something there to activate tens of companies who have acquired plots at the site to go into business.

Gulaam Abdoola, the Executive Chairman of the GH Group, says the magnificent and unique ten-storey office building currently under construction at the CBD will give Gaborone and Botswana in general a new identity.

“We want it to set the standard, to be the pace-setter for similar projects in the future,” Goolam said at his office esterday.

The GH Group has become the first private company to [continue reading]

SA: Ngonyama Lifts Lid On Party’s Strike Talks

27 June, 2007 in South Africa

source: allAfrica
Business Day (Johannesburg)

27 June 2007
Posted to the web 27 June 2007

Karima Brown And Amy Musgrave
Johannesburg

THE African National Congress (ANC) went public yesterday on its involvement in attempting to end the more than three-week-long public service strike, despite persistent strong denials from the government.

ANC spokesman Smuts Ngonyama said yesterday that the ANC’s top brass had given secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe the mandate to provide support to the parties, which Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi appears to dispute.

“The minister is adamant that the ANC secretary-general is not involved in negotiations.

“She says negotiations happen in the bargaining chamber,” Fraser-Moleketi’s spokesman, Lewis Rabkin, said yesterday.

Motlanthe has also denied any involvement.

The public sector unions are meeting tonight to decide whether to end the strike, which started on June 1. They will also discuss whether to accept the government’s final offer, which includes a 7,5% pay rise.

The ANC’s role in trying to broker a deal is likely to sour relations between unions not affiliated to the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and those in the federation.

Some unions in the independent labour caucus have accused Cosatu affiliates of [continue reading]

Botswana Telecommunications Authority chief calls for liberalisation of information communication technology

27 June, 2007 in Botswana, Technology

source: BOPA
26 June, 2007

GABORONE – Botswana needs to liberalise the information communication technology (ICT) industry in order to gain economic growth, Mr Thari Pheko says.

Mr Pheko, Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA), said last week that there was enough evidence that indicated that liberalisation of the industry yielded enormous benefits.

He was officiating at a combined Information Technology Exhibition (ITEX) and Food and Beverages Exhibition (FOBEX) in Gaborone.

He cited Peru as one of the countries where liberalisation of the industry resulted in an increase in fixed line penetration, doubling of employment in the sector and improved forms of communication access among the poorest households.

However, he said in order to realise the potential of information communications technologies, the provision of a healthy legal framework such as liberalisation of the industry was not enough.

He said Botswana needed to institutionalised ICT learning and incorporated it into the education curricula from primary school stage all the way to work based computer training.

He noted that computer literacy was a must if Botswana was to make ICT a catalyst for development and enabler of economic prosperity.

He told the audience that the ICT draft Policy, commonly known, as Maitlamo would soon be submitted to Parliament for approval. He said the policy intended to ready Botswana to an e-nation.

Translated in simple terms, he said this means that access to on-line service would be the order of the day for this generation.

The Theme of this years ITEX is Networking the Economy, Brining the World Closer.

Mr Pheko told the audience that theme recognised that [continue reading]

New Border Rules Shock Foreigners

27 June, 2007 in Botswana

source: allAfrica
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

26 June 2007
Posted to the web 26 June 2007

Fraser Mpofu
Harare

Foreigners wishing to stay in Botswana for more than 30 days are now required to submit applications and wait two weeks for a reply before entering the country. The new requirement, contained in a circular from the department of immigration, is most likely to affect Zimbabweans who constitute the bulk of visitors to Botswana.

According to the circular, with effect from June 1, foreigners are no longer permitted to stay in Botswana for three months without renewing their papers.

In addition, visitors to Botswana must deposit a P100 application fee and wait for a response in their home countries.

“With effect from June 1, 2007, foreign nationals wishing to stay beyond 30 days will be required to submit their applications to the regional immigration officer 14 days before the required period,” the circular says.

The circular was posted at notice boards at the Ramokgwebana border post.

Foreigners who want to extend their stay in Botswana beyond 30 days, adds the circular, must give plausible reasons explaining why they want to stay longer in the country.

In addition, visitors must also provide support letters from an individual or host organisation during their stay in Botswana.

The foreigners should submit four passport size photos and proof of sufficient means of sustenance for the duration of their stay.

In addition, the visitor must show a letter from the host if he is a Botswana citizen or a copy of his identity card.

Otherwise, if the host is a non-citizen the visitor must provide a copy of a valid residence permit or exemption certificate, adds the document.

Some Zimbabwean cross-border traders have expressed shock at the new requirements saying they will make it more difficult for them to do business.

Many Batswana say the tighter measures are justified considering the [continue reading]

Hundreds turn up for auditions – Mma Ramotswe

27 June, 2007 in Botswana, Mma Ramotswe

source: BOAP
26 June, 2007

GABORONE – About 500 Batswana turned up for auditions as extras on Saturday in the up-coming movie and series The No. 1 Ladies Detective Series at Legae Academy on Saturday.

The Movie based on Alexander MCall Smiths book: The No. 1 Ladies Detective Series will be filmed locally between July and September.

Extras Coordinator, Andrew Shand of Precious Film said people who will act as extras need not be professional actors.

These are the people who will be appearing on the background to make the movie real. Anyone between five years and 80 was welcomed.

These are the people who will be walking up and down, sitting in restaurants, driving cars, doing some shopping or walking on the side ways.

They will be paid P75 as daily fee. Those selected as extras will work a 12 hour day when required.

Mr Shand said though most of those who turned up are the youth and the not so old people aged between 40 and 55 years.

We still have to go to the villages and the churches to cast for older people who are between 60 and 80 years, he said.

He said the filming of the movie which will later be turned into a television series is expected to begin next week.

Most of the filming will be done at night. This will be done in and around Gaborone, he said.

Of the people who came for the casting is the Kubi family from Mochudi.

Fifty year old Joyce Kubi came with her two daughters and four grandchildren.

She beams with excitement explaining how [continue reading]

Time of Opportunity is Here – Mma Ramotswe

27 June, 2007 in Botswana, Mma Ramotswe

source: allAfrica
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

EDITORIAL
25 June 2007
Posted to the web 26 June 2007

There has been a buzz around the city of Gaborone since the first group of the crew that will ultimately film the production based on Ian McCall Smith’s popular novels about Mma Ramotswe.

This buzz is obviously exciting for the professionals within the film industry but as many filmmakers always assert, film and TV are collaborative undertakings. A film like this forthcoming production requires a myriad of professionals – from construction workers through set designers – to wardrobe, music composers and even painters. As such, film productions have the potential to revamp economies in the communities where they are shot.

We take this opportunity therefore to pay tribute to the team, which made a conscious decision to incorporate young professionals in this country into their production. We are sure their input will definitely add that much needed “Botswana look and feel” which the writer and the director seem to be working towards. We think their enterprise is a move in the right direction and we hope our young professionals find it worthwhile to learn as much as they can.

However, we also see wider implications for [continue reading]

New companies poach from old ones

27 June, 2007 in Botswana, Business

source: BOPA
26 June, 2007

SOWA – Botswana Ash (Botash) has lost some skilled workers to competitors in Botswanas growing mining industry.

This emerged during a meeting between Botash and Parliamentary Committee on Labour Relations (PCLR) at Sowa mine.

Botash Managing Director, Mr Derek Cochrane, said the company was losing skills because the mine was in a remote area while most people preferred to be near or in urban areas.

Mr Cochrane said Botswana had insufficient skills and competencies with regards to mining.

The few skilled and competent people circulate around mines, and they go for greener pastures, he said.

Mining companies were still discussing with Tertiary Education Council (TEC) to draw an appropriate curriculum for mining engineering.

He said even vocational training colleges provided training that did not apply to practical scenario.

He said it was difficult to hire graduates from local institutions because they did not have the relevant experience. It was difficult to localise all the post at the mine because we keep on losing skills.

Mr Cochrane said however that Botash had progressed positively in localising some posts at the mine, which employed 411 citizens and 19 expatriates.

The meeting between the parliamentary committee and Botash management aimed at [continue reading]

Africa: AU Summit Kicks Off With PRC Meeting

27 June, 2007 in Africa

source: allAfrica
BuaNews (Tshwane)

26 June 2007
Posted to the web 26 June 2007

Lavinia Mahlangu
Accra

The African Union Summit has kicked off in Accra, Ghana with the opening of the African Union (AU) Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), as part of the process to plot the way forward to a unified continent.

The first round of high level meetings began Monday, with a call for the PRC members convening at the International Convention Centre, to apply their minds to the unique and significant process ahead.

“Excellencies, you have before you a number of documents which, hopefully, articulate African issues in greater detail and depth and you are required to consider them and make appropriate recommendations to the Executive Council,” Ghana’s Foreign Minister Nana Akufo Addo said in his opening address.

“I urge you all to put Africa first in all your deliberations to make our Union achieve its objectives and our continent a better place to live.”

The PRC is meeting on Monday and Tuesday and will deliberate on issues including the Grand Debate on a unified African government.

PRC delegates are also deliberating on other issues of concern to the continent, such as legal and institutional matters including the report on the status of treaties entered into by the AU and its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity.

Socio-economic matters will also be under [continue reading]

Zimbabwe to localise company ownership

27 June, 2007 in Zimbabwe

source: Mining News

President Robert Mugabe’s government is seeking to transfer majority control of “public companies and any other business” to black Zimbabweans, a move critics say could deepen the country’s economic crisis.

A bill the government made public on Monday will be presented to parliament proposing indigenous black Zimbabweans will get at least a 51 per cent share of those companies.

Although it is not clear how private companies will be affected, analysts say the move is likely to further damage investor confidence in Zimbabwe, which is suffering from the world’s highest inflation rate and severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages.

Parliament is expected to approve the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Bill, which stipulates that no company restructuring, merger or acquisition would be approved unless 51 per cent of the business would be in the hands of indigenous Zimbabweans.

“For a start, it’s not very clear how they are going to implement this, but going by their record it could be another chaotic and disastrous exercise,” leading Zimbabwean economic consultant John Robertson told Reuters.

“Those (companies) already here are likely to hold back on [continue reading]

SA: Black listed? Check your name

27 June, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL

June 26 2007 at 01:29PM

More than 25 million people are listed at one or more credit bureaus, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) said on Tuesday.

Peter Setou, NCR senior education and strategy manager, said in a statement that the data from credit bureaus registered with the National Credit Regulator indicated that more than 25 million people were listed in South Africa.

Eighty percent of the consumers listed had clean records while 20 percent or about five million consumers had one or more adverse or default judgment entries against their names.

Setou said these were the so-called black-listed consumers. Early indications showed that more than a third of them stood to benefit from the removal of adverse data as required by regulations. It was important for consumers to check their credit record at credit bureaus.

He said the National Credit Act required credit bureaus to remove information on a number of small debts and paid up judgements by June 1 this year.

He said that since [continue reading]

Conserve water, residents told

27 June, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
26 June, 2007

JWANENG – Jwaneng residents have been advised to stop supplying livestock with water meant for household consumption.

Addressing Jwaneng full council meeting, Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) director of distribution and Customer Care Abednico Khumalo warned them that stern measures would be taken against them if the continue watering their livestock.

Mr Khumalo told the council that it was illegal to supply livestock with water meant for household use.

The council heard that many residents who own cattle posts in the environs of the town were often seen filling big tanks with water from their houses and then supply it to their livestock.

Court president Arnold Somolekae observed that many of the culprits were employees of Debswana Jwaneng Mine who enjoy highly subsidised water.

He suggested that the mine be encouraged to end the subsidies perhaps the illegal use of water could end.

Mr Khumalo pleaded with the nation to conserve water because of the recurring droughts that often devastate this country.

He said if people did not change their attitudes in the usage of water, the corporation might in the long run adopt very extreme measures in the management of water resource.

He said it was not the intention of the water authority to [continue reading]

Dalumi Showcases Polished Diamonds from Botswana

27 June, 2007 in Botswana, Mining

By Zach Helke     Posted: 06/26/07 13:50   [Submit Comment]
source: diamonds.net

RAPAPORT… Israel-based Dalumi is presenting its first shipment of polished goods from its factory in Botswana.

Minister Ponatshego Kedikilwe The factory’s first polished diamonds, according to a company statement June 26, 2007,  were of a “good quality” from one will soon be one of Dalumi’s main manufacturing facilities. The event prompted a visit from Botswana’s minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Ponatshego Kedikilwe (pictured standing.) The minister spoke fondly of the new partnership of his nation with the Israeli diamond and jewelry house, which is a Diamond Trading Company sightholder, and the boost this center would give the  nation’s economy and social development.

As reported by Rapaport News, Dalumi began [continue reading]