Police receive reports of DIS torture

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi ISAIAH MOREWAGAE Staff Writer 27 March 2009 The police have received three reports alleging abuse by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS). The Minister of Justice, Defence and Security, Dikgakgamatso Seretse told Parliament yesterday that one report is from a police officer, while two are from civilians. Seretse was answering questions from [...]

Termination of passenger train April 1

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: BOPA 30 March, 2009 FRANCISTOWN – Francistown councillors have criticised government’s recent decision to terminate the passenger service trains with effect from April 1. Speaking in a special full council meeting addressed by the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Mr Lewis Malikongwa, Wednesday, the councilors said the move would [...]

Kwelagobe expected to resign his cabinet post

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard 29.03.2009 Veteran Cabinet Minister and ruling party National Chairman Daniel Kwelagobe is said to have indicated to President Ian Khama that if he is forced to choose between position of cabinet minister and party chairman as was looking increasingly likely this week, he would opt for the party chairmanship. This was after [...]

Eight killed in police shootings, House told

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI Correspondent Parliament has been told that eight suspects have been shot dead by security agents since April last year. The Minister for Defence, Justice and Security, Ndelu Seretse, said 12 shooting incidents involving the police, were recorded from April 1, 2008 to date. Out of these incidents, eight suspects lost their [...]

Khama promotes senior army officers

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: BOPA 30 March, 2009 GABORONE – President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama has appointed Major General Otisitswe Tiroyamodimo to be the Deputy Commander of the Botswana Defence Fforce. According to a news release from the BDF, Major General Tiroyamodimo is taking over from Major General Gobuiwang Tlhokwane, who is retiring from the army [...]

Khama in sexist style policing – claim

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard by Gowenius Toka 29.03.2009 Civil servants may be punished or even lose their jobs if they turn up for work in pants, tight skirts, bare back tops or tops that reveal a cleavage. The Office of the President has issued a directive that all civil servants should dress in a manner that [...]

Treatment plant upgrading in May

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: BOPA 30 March, 2009 GABORONE – Construction to upgrade the water treatment plant in Kasane is expected to commence at the beginning of May 2009, says the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Ponatshego Kedikilwe. Mr Kedikilwe said the commencement of the project was delayed because of repeated tendering, which was done [...]

Morupule Power Station expansion set to take off

30 March, 2009 in Botswana, Morupule, Palapye

source: Mmegi BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT 27 March 2009 The long-awaited expansion of Morupule B Power Station is set to take off in earnest next month, following the fulfilment of an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract between the Botswana Power Corporation and Shanghai Electric Company of China, the main contractor. BPC hopes to fund the project [...]

South Africa: Zuma claims nonsense

30 March, 2009 in South Africa

source: News24 Julian Rademeyer, Beeld 30/03/2009 Johannesburg – It’s nonsense that the National Prosecuting Authority is going to halt Jacob Zuma’s prosecution on Monday, said a senior NPA official who asked not to be named. When telephoned for comment, NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said abruptly: “I hope you’re not calling about Zuma. There’s nothing new. [...]

Motorists wait with bated breath for new traffic regulations

30 March, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard by Kagiso Madibana 29.03.2009 The Road Traffic (amendment) Act comes into effect on Wednesday despite negative criticism thrown at it by the public. The Act, which was passed in Parliament in December 2008, has had the country in jitters ever since the announcement of its intended implementation. Batswana are said to be [...]

Major Economic Powers to Focus On Global Recovery

30 March, 2009 in Africa

source: allAfrica Andrzej Zwaniecki 27 March 2009 A boost in international emergency funds and agreement on financial-markets oversight likely will be among the concrete results of the April 2 meeting of the world’s major economic powers. Leaders of developed and developing economies that make up the Group of 20 (G20) are scheduled to meet April [...]

Mmamabula hopes to complete BPC, Eskom deal by mid-year

30 March, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi BRIAN BENZA Staff Writer 27 March 2009 CIC Energy Corporation has signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with Shanghai Electric Group Co. Ltd. (SEC) for the first power station to be built at the Mmamabula coalfields, the company announced on Monday. CIC president, Greg Kinross, said in a statement after the [...]

CIC Energy presents formal bids to BPC, Eskom for power purchasing deal

30 March, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Standay Standard 29.03.2009 The Mmamabula power project is being hurried after it suffered setbacks last year when power off-takers Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and Eskom declined to underwrite risk at the back of escalating costs of the project. This week the promoters of the project, CIC Energy—listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) —revealed [...]

Hope for Tati, BCL as base metal prices rise

30 March, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT 27 March 2009 Relief could be on the horizon for the country’s top producers of base metals, BCL Mine and Tati Nickel Mine, in the form of an emerging positive trend in copper and nickel prices on the world market. Base metal prices fell by more than 60 percent from their [...]

Botswana tourism industry remains elastic in global recession

30 March, 2009 in Botswana, Business, Tourism

source: Standay Standard by Gowenius Toka 29.03.2009 The Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Tourism Board, Myra Sekgorwane, maintains that Botswana’s tourism industry has remained elastic despite the negative and seemingly unabating impact of the unfolding global recession on world economies. Sekgororwane said Botswana has not been severely affected to the traditionally long booking lead [...]