Botswana inflation slows in October on fuel cuts

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: Reuters Africa
Mon 17 Nov 2008, 7:08 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Botswana’s consumer inflation slowed to 13.1 percent year-on-year in October from 14.0 percent in September, largely due to lower fuel costs, official data showed on Monday.

The fall was the second consecutive month of easing price pressures after an almost year-long upward trend, curbing pressure for another increase in interest rates.

It remains well outside the 3 to 6 percent target band, though.

The Central Statistics Office said in a statement the transport index fell [continue reading]

Tough times ahead as F/town run out of mealie-meal

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
PATRICIA MAGANU
Staff Writer

FRANCISTOWN: Residents of Francistown are facing tough times as mealie-meal is quickly disappearing from shelves at supermarkets and stores. Supermarkets and wholesalers are doing roaring business as Zimbabweans scramble for mealie-meal to export to their crisis-ridden country.

In every supermarket and wholesale, Zimbabweans are scrambling for mealie-meal. After an eight year political and economic crisis, Zimbabwe is facing acute shortages of maize due to a haphazardly implemented land reform programme, a situation that has been made worse by recurring droughts.

Score Supermarket branch manager Sethata Ntswaneng said that they do not have enough stock to satisfy demand from Zimbabwe. Sethata said that in one morning, 400 bags of mealie-meal had been bought [continue reading]

Remarks by the Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Hon. Gladys T. K. Kokorwe, MP. at the opening of the 2008 Botswana- India Children`s Film Festival

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Speeches

source: Republic of Botswana (16/11/08): TAUTONA TIMES no 37 of 2008
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President “Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline”

B2) 10/11/08: REMARKS BY THE MINISTER OF YOUTH, SPORT AND CULTURE HON. GLADYS T. K. KOKORWE, MP. AT THE OPENING OF THE 2008 BOTSWANA- INDIA CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

[Salutations]…Distinguished guests Ladies and Gentlemen

1. The gathering here this evening is a celebration of the Botswana-India relations which go back a long way ever since the attainment of Independence for the two Republics. The relationship has always been and continues to be characterised by very warm relations founded on true friendship, common purpose, mutual respect and understanding as well as commitment to global peace and prosperity.

2. It is therefore not surprising that we are gathered here today to celebrate this great partnership in [continue reading]

Butchers fall on hard times

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
MQONDISI DUBE
Correspondent

SELEBI-PHIKWE: The onset of the rain season, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and rising cattle prices have presented butchers with new challenges here.

Selebi-Phikwe butcheries are already reeling from the effects of a council bye-law banning the grilling of meat on braai stands on the premises.

This has seen business dwindle with some small-scale butcheries forced to close.

Prices of beef shot up by more than 20 percent last week after news of the FMD outbreak in Gantsi spread and government halted cattle movement south of Dibete, leading in a scarcity of meat. Despite the easing of movement restrictions, there has been no [continue reading]

Africa: G20 Must Give Africa Better Deal

17 November, 2008 in Africa

source: allAfrica
allAfrica.com
17 November 2008

Africa’s sole representative at the weekend’s Group of 20 (G20) summit of world leaders, South Africa’s President Kgalema Motlanthe, says reforms agreed on at the summit would require better representation for the continent in the international financial system.

In a statement released after the summit, which was summoned to discuss the current global financial crisis, Motlanthe said that as the only G20 member country from Africa, South Africa had been asked by African finance ministers to convey an African perspective to the summit.

Motlanthe said the G20 leaders had agreed on a strengthened system of international financial governance, in [continue reading]

Heads roll at Education

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Education

source: Mmegi
TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA
Staff Writer

The Department of Student Placement and Welfare was plunged into chaos this week when the director, Mosoma Kgotla, was suspended for failure to carry out his duties diligently.

Mosoma was served with a letter on Wednesday suspending him with immediate effect. Last week, two senior members of Mosoma’s staff, deputy director Bontle Menyatso and assistant director Cosmetic Molebatsi, were served with similar letters.

“This serves to inform you that I have been laid off my job, as in kicked out with immediate effect. My letter just says, ‘I have failed to carry out my duties diligently…ironically I thought I was performing so well,’ Mosoma wrote to his staff.

Another letter written by [continue reading]

Remarks by His Honour Lt. General Mompati S. Merafhe, Vice President of the Republic of Botswana at the Official Opening of the Mabutsane Sub-District Fair to Commemorate Pillars 2 & 3 of National Vision 2016, Maokane Village

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Speeches

source: Republic of Botswana (16/11/08): TAUTONA TIMES no 37 of 2008
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President “Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline”

B1) 15/11/08: REMARKS BY HIS HONOUR LT. GENERAL MOMPATI S. MERAFHE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE MABUTSANE SUB-DISTRICT FAIR TO COMMEMORATE PILLARS 2 & 3 OF NATIONAL VISION 2016, MAOKANE VILLAGE

[Salutations]…Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Bagaetsho ke a lo dumedisa. Today we are gathered here, over two hundred kilometres from the capital city, to bear witness first hand how the Mabutsane Sub-District is gearing itself to be part of that national effort to make Vision 2016 a reality that it should be. This is the spirit that we need as a people if we are to be A Productive, Prosperous and Innovative Nation by 2016. I am therefore delighted to be in your midst today.

2. Director of ceremonies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I note with utmost sense of appreciation that [continue reading]

Current account dips as imports outpace exports

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
BRIAN BENZA
Staff Writer

A high import bill caused by rising oil and food prices led to a weakening of Botswana’s balance of payments as the country’s current account surplus declined by over 40 percent.

According to figures released by the Bank of Botswana, in the second quarter of 2008, the current account surplus recorded a 42.6 percent decline from P4.8 billion in the first quarter to P2.7 billion.

“This is largely explained by a decline in the merchandise trade surplus which fell from P2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2008 to P1 billion, as well as a decline in exports of services, which recorded a decline of 72.9 percent,” a BoB report says.

“The narrowing trade balance is jointly explained by a decline in exports and import growth over the period. Data on direct investment has not been published in this round of the publication due to the problems with the response rate and [continue reading]

Nasha Blocks Mfa?

17 November, 2008 in Botswana

source: The Botswana Gazette

Cancels All His 80 Kgotla Meetings

Minister of Local Government Dr. Margaret Nnananyana Nasha could be headed for a clash with one of his assistants, Mr. Oliphant Mfa. It is understood that the Minister recently restrained his subordinate from conducting over twenty Kgotla meetings at areas surrounding Gaborone.

According to information reaching The Gazette this was not the first time that the Minister had cancelled meetings called by her Assistant. In the first incident Mfa had planned to tour the country and address over 59 Kgotla meetings, but the Minister cancelled all the meetings.
It is understood that the Minister reasoned that there ought to be agreement on what the Assistant Minister would say at the Kgotla meetings.

Nasha has dismissed allegations that she restrained Mfa, adding that it was the Assistant Minister’s decision to conduct or not to conduct Kgotla meetings. Contacted for comment Dr. Nasha referred the inquiry to Assistant Minister Mfa, saying, “If the Assistant Minister wanted to address Kgotla meetings, he was at liberty to do so.”

But she added that they have to agree on what is to be said at the meetings, or [continue reading]

Response by Ministry of Local Government to Editor, Botswana Gazette

17 November, 2008 in Botswana

source: Republic of Botswana (16/11/08): TAUTONA TIMES no 37 of 2008
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President “Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline”

C7) 14/11/08: Response by Ministry of Local Government to Editor, Botswana Gazette

Dear Sir,

The Ministry of Local Government notes with concern the sustained negative coverage on it by The Botswana Gazette. The Ministry respects freedom of the press which underpins our bustling democracy as it does critical appraisal of Government and the public service. However, the Ministry will speak out against, and defend itself from mischievous and malicious claims that misrepresent facts and tarnish its good name.

The Ministry notes with regret that, of all the substantive issues in its profile, The Botswana Gazette remains resolute in its search for specks of morsel to besmirch the Ministry’s image and reputation. Sadly, in its relentless pursuit of sensationalizing issues and misrepresenting the truth, the paper has completely missed the plot. It misses the golden opportunity to share with Batswana, the immense developmental issues that emerge from the Ministry of Local Government.

In its latest onslaught, ‘Nasha Blocks Mfa? Cancels All His 80 Kgotla Meeting‘, (12th – 18th November 2008) the Botswana Gazette purports [continue reading]

Germans win P120 million e-passport tender

17 November, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer

A multimillion tender for the production of a more secure Botswana passport and a new border control system has finally been awarded to a German company. The controversial tender was first awarded in 2003 to Itseng, a son of cabinet minister Daniel Kwelagobe for P40 million.

But one of the companies, which lost the bid, AST Botswana, successfully challenged the award in 2005 at the High Court. The company had bid for P76 million. But since 2003, the cost of the project has escalated and the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPDAB) awarded the job this week to a German company Giesecke and Devrient (G&D) for about P120 million.

Spokesperson in the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Lebogang Bok, says the contract between the Government of Botswana and the G&D company will be signed on the 24th November 2008 – MLHA Conference Room at 2pm.

Quizzed to say why the government has decided to award the [continue reading]