Gemvas, BTC to be Privatised This Year

27 December, 2007 in Botswana, Business

source: allAfrica
The Voice (Francistown)

26 December 2007
Posted to the web 27 December 2007

Chedza Simon
Francistown

Privatisation of Government Employee Motor Vehicle and Residential Property Advance Scheme (GEMVAS) and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) is scheduled to be complete end of this year.

This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of Public Enterprise Evaluation and Privatisation Agency (PEEPA) Joshua Galeforolwe who expressed confidence that privatising GEMVAS and BTC, will proceed smoothly.

Galeforolwe said at a press briefing this week that privatising GEMVAS, which is a self insurance scheme established to protect government’s interest as a guarantor of loans provided by financial institutions to civil servants for the purchase of motor vehicles and houses, does not mean that civil servants won’t continue enjoying financial benefits from the scheme.

“They will continue to enjoy the package. What we are saying is that [continue reading]

Travellers Stranded at Kazungula

27 December, 2007 in Botswana, Zambia

source: allAfrica
The Times of Zambia (Ndola)

27 December 2007
Posted to the web 27 December 2007

Ndola

HUNDREDS of travellers between Zambia and Botswana are stranded on the Kazungula border after one of the pontoons broke down.

Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe and security personnel expressed concern at the slow pace of traffic clearance.

Mr Hakayobe said apart from the security concerns, the nation was losing a lot of revenue because other vices like corruption and smuggling could arise from the confusion.

Mr Hakayobe who met border personnel from immigration department, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and Zambia Police Service, directed ZRA to immediately send reinforcements to facilitate faster clearance of goods after staff complained of manpower shortage which had left the authority at 50 per cent operational capacity.

He also asked the immigration department which had 75 per cent staffing level at the border to beef up [continue reading]

Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai puts house in order

27 December, 2007 in Zimbabwe

source: The Standard

BY WALTER MARWIZI

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has apparently put his divided faction in order as the countdown for the March 2008 elections begins.

The process began over a week ago when Tsvangirai chaired a national council meeting in Harare where issues threatening the party’s cohesion were finally tackled.

At this meeting, the divisive women’s assembly issue was finally tabled for discussion and a compromise reached.

Since 3 November discussion on the matter had been deferred until chairperson Lovemore Moyo had presented his report.

The report was on what transpired in Bulawayo where Theresa Makone was elected head of the women’s assembly, replacing Lucia Matibenga.

Matibenga, a trade unionist, was dismissed by [continue reading]

My first year as the UN secretary-general

27 December, 2007 in World

source: The Citizen
By Ban Ki-moon

I have not sat still this year. From the very first day that I took office, I have been on the go engaging leaders in their capitals and across the UN community to push progress on four main fronts:

UN Reform. We need to change the UN culture and re-engineer the United Nations for life in our fast-paced modern world. We need to move faster and more effectively in responding to global challenges, within all three pillars of the UN`s work: peace and security, economic and social development, and human rights. As one UN team, we need to be more mobile and more flexible. And we must meet the highest standards of ethics, transparency and accountability.

To better deliver on the world`s expectations and growing demands upon us, I have set out to re-organise key departments. We began with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, improving performance and efficiency by [continue reading]

Japan to open 3 new embassies in African nations

27 December, 2007 in Africa, Botswana

source: China View
2007-12-26 21:09:55

TOKYO, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) — Japan will open three new embassies on Jan. 1 in Botswana, Malawi and Mali to enhance its diplomatic existence in these African nations, Japanese foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Mali has been stepping up cooperation with Japan at various international organizations, the ministry said, adding that Malawi has become a major recipient of Japan’s economic aid, while Botswana has seen a growth in the number of Japanese tourists in recent years.

Besides, Japan will also set up three new embassies in Micronesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lithuania, respectively. By adding the six new embassies, the total [continue reading]

Taiwan says China tries to lure away its Africa ally

26 December, 2007 in Africa

source: expressIndia
Posted online: Monday , December 24, 2007 at 12:00:00
Taipei, December 24: Taiwan on Monday said rival China was trying to lure its African ally Malawi away with lots of money as the two continue their battle for international recognition over who is the island’s rightful government.

Local newspapers said two Malawi ministers plan to soon travel to Beijing where they would sign a Memorandum Of Understanding that would pave the way for the establishment of full diplomatic ties.

“If the two Malawi ministers indeed travel to Beijing as reported, then it could be an indicator” of Malawi setting up ties with China, Phoebe Yeh said.

“But we are doing our best to [continue reading]

Zimbabweans queue on Christmas day

26 December, 2007 in Zimbabwe

source: IOL
December 25 2007 at 04:18PM

By Nelson Banya

Harare – Zimbabwean banks on Tuesday failed to heed pleas to remain open from shoppers desperate for cash, dampening already bleak Christmas festivities in the economically devastated nation.

Banks, which had been ordered to extend their hours in the weeks leading up to Christmas as a result of a run on banknotes, were closed on Christmas Day contrary to earlier announcements. That left scores of customers empty-handed.

Long, winding queues could be seen at the few automated cash machines dispensing banknotes in central Harare.

“I was hoping to find a shorter queue since it’s Christmas, but it seems everyone has come out,” said Tawanda Moyo, a teacher who was trying to get money for his [continue reading]

Zulu Energy Corp. Completes Botswana Acquisition

25 December, 2007 in Botswana, Mining

source: Foxbusiness

DENVER, CO, Dec 24, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — Zulu Energy Corp. (OTCBB: ZLUE) today announced the closing of agreements resulting in Zulu Energy becoming the owner of all of the stock of Nyati Mauritius Limited. Nyati Mauritius’ indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Nyati Energy Resources Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, holds exploration licenses in Botswana. Zulu Energy acquired its interests based on management’s belief in the potential for a significant Coalbed Methane project in the lease area.

In connection with the share acquisition, Zulu issued 30 million shares of its common stock and agreed to pay an aggregate of $3 million in cash and to issue a five-year warrant to purchase 15 million shares of Zulu common stock. Zulu must raise a minimum of $5 million in private financing or a portion of the transaction may be rescinded.

Paul Stroud, President and CEO of Zulu Energy, said he is pleased to [continue reading]

Africa: Trend Towards Democracy

25 December, 2007 in Africa

source: allAfrica
Business Day (Johannesburg)

OPINION
24 December 2007
Posted to the web 24 December 2007

George Katito
Johannesburg

SEVERAL African countries made notable progress towards good governance this year, and there is reason to be optimistic that this trend should continue.

Nevertheless, as governance crises persist in Zimbabwe and the Horn of Africa, and as Chinese investors make fewer demands on African countries to respect democratic principles, optimism on the future of good governance in Africa should be tempered with caution.

The overriding trend over the year was towards democratic and peaceful changes of political leadership. During the year, 22 African countries held elections that were predominantly peaceful and declared “free and fair”.

Notably, Sierra Leone’s presidential election saw an opposition leader carry 55% of a national vote that, while affected by violence, was widely [continue reading]

Manage land appropriately

25 December, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
24 December, 2007

MOLEPOLOLE – Kweneng Land Board members were advised to manage land appropriately with dignity. Deputy Director of Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), Ms Pearl Matome, said land board was mandated to identify land, demarcate and allocate it, and simultaneously keep a record of property and ownership.

Ms Matome was speaking at a joint consultative meeting of labd boards in the Kweneng District in in Molepolole on Tuesday.

She reflected on the responsibility of the land board to resolve conflicts arising thereof.

She encouraged team work spirit and criticised people who had a tendency of burdening themselves with multiple duties in the work place when other employees were left hands free.

She said such organisations where other members were normally left out and not given recognition were dysfunctional and could not progress.

On the public relations of the office, Ms Matome said availability of [continue reading]

Zimbabwe central bank to pay for tip-offs on cash barons

25 December, 2007 in Zimbabwe

source: ZimOnline
by Thulani Munda Tuesday 25 December 2007

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s central bank has offered to reward whistleblowers for information that could lead to the arrest of illegal cash barons and retail operators charging premiums on customers wishing to pay by cheque.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), which has accused top officials of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU PF party and government of hoarding cash, did not say how much informers would be paid.

The latest offer to informants comes in the wake of cash shortages that have hit the country despite the RBZ printing new higher denominated banknotes and banks remaining open over last weekend.

“The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is calling on all patriotic Zimbabweans who have been [continue reading]

Project implementation succeeds

25 December, 2007 in Africa

source: BOPA
24 December, 2007

MOLEPOLOLE – Kweneng District Council Chairperson, Mr Patrick Manthe, has thanked councillors, public servants, public in general and the private sector for industrious service delivery and project implementation this year.

Mr Manthe said through their hard work, council was able to start 51 of the 55 projects which were approved for implementation this year.

Speaking at the Chairpersons Christmas Ball on Dec 20, he said that translates to 93 per cent compared to the previous years where they could only start in the region of 50 per cent of projects in any given year.

He said most of the projects were complete while more than half of them were over 80 per cent complete.

But he said the council still have problematic projects which seemed not to be getting on course but said he was optimistic that with the cooperation they have been exhibiting they would solve everything.

Mr Manthe said Ministry of Local Governments organisation and methods restructured local authorities resulting in [continue reading]

Africa: New Cable Promises Faster Internet

25 December, 2007 in Africa, Technology, Telekoms & Providers

source: allAfrica
Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d’Information (Kigali)

24 December 2007
Posted to the web 24 December 2007

Kigali

Late one night, Mr. Jean Leonard Karuranga heard a commotion outside his house in Kigali, Rwanda. There were loud voices and then a sharp cry. Too scared to venture outside alone, Mr. Karuranga used his mobile phone to call a local security group that protects the neighbourhood from marauding gangsters.

Now, as Mr. Itai Madamombe writes in the United Nations Africa Renewal magazine, Mr. Karuranga is set to benefit from a host of fast and reliable services that the new broadband cable projects being constructed on the African continent will bring along.

“The defence force found my cousin bleeding right outside my gate. Thugs had stabbed and robbed him,” Karuranga said. “We rushed him to the hospital just in time. If I didn’t have a cell phone, we would be talking of something else. He was saved by the mobile phone.”

Mr. Karuranga is one of an estimated 120 million Africans using phones, up from just 2 million in 1998. Mobile phones, reports the [continue reading]

The diary of the year that was 2007

24 December, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
24 December, 2007

2007 will be a year to remember in Botswanas political history as it was characterised by major policy decisions and events.

January Three contractors China Jiangsu, China Jingxi and Caitec Botswana start the construction of a P300 million senior secondary school project in Good Hope, which is expected to be completed in one year.

This is the first school of its kind, from the magnitude of the buildings to the scale of anticipated enrolment.

Multitudes of Roman Catholic Church members and a handful of members of other Christian denominations converge at Ditshupo Hall in Gaborone to witness the arrival of the World Youth Day Cross and an icon of Virgin Mary.

The cross had traversed the world.

Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Ponatshego Kedidikilwe, appeals to North East District residents to be patient concerning delays to supply them with water from Ntimbale Dam.

The Mayor of Gaborone, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana, is ousted from the mayoral seat by former mayor Harry Mothei.

Francistown mayor, Mr Billy Buti, is re-elected in mayoral elections that were [continue reading]

Over 7 000 plots allocated

24 December, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
24 December, 2007

MOLEPOLOLE – Kweneng Land Board has allocated 7 062 plots for varies uses this year.

Main Land Board Chairperson, Mr David Botlhoko, said during the boards Christmas ball last Wednesday that the number was not enough as evidenced by the huge number in the waiting list.

As at now we have a waiting list of over 127 000, being the number of people who have submitted applications for residential plots throughout the district, he said.

He said while some people would not be eligible for allocation for various reasons, this was still a huge figure by any standards, which was giving them sleepless nights.

He emphasised that it was even more worrying when one considered that the board only had the capacity to allocate 8 000 plots per annum.

Our enduring challenge was to identify ways and means of [continue reading]