Botswana`s democracy is in reverse gear

15 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
Editorial

Millions of people around southern Africa and beyond witnessed the inauguration of South African President, Jacob Zuma.

He was the fourth democratically elected leader after the end of apartheid only 15 years ago in 1994.

The country emerged from apartheid when Botswana’s democracy was 28-years-old and dubbed the shining example of democracy in Africa.

In fact, events leading to the election of President Zuma were spectacular and interesting. The political, economic, civil and democratic institutions in South Africa are strong, active and advanced.

When former President, Thabo Mbeki, learned that his deputy, Zuma, had been implicated in corruption, he immediately relieved him of his duties. Two years later, Mbeki, who began to loom over every aspect of state activity, was shown the [continue reading]

Where Are We Headed?

15 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: The Botswana Gazette
Written by JFG
Thursday, 14 May 2009 00:00

World Press Freedom Day was celebrated last week probably with more passion than usual because of the recent passing of the controversial Media Practitioners’ Act (MPA). Notable by their absence from the commemoration were media practitioners from the State media who did not only participate in the event but failed to cover it as they often did in the past.

It is obvious that was has divided the private and State media is the draconian media law which has shocked many journalists around the world who previously held Botswana in high regard for its relative press freedom.

Government spokesperson Dr Jeff Ramsay walked out of a panel discussion on the implications of the MPA, organised by MISA Botswana the day before Press Freedom Day, his reason being that private media publishers were challenging the Act in court, as if media practitioners do not have the right to ask the Courts – one of the arms of government – to mediate between them and government if they feel the law aims to restrict their freedoms.
We agree with Rev. Dibeela that a lot has changed in Botswana in just one year.

This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day was, “Media Practitioners’ Act: The target is You;” It aimed to make ordinary people, as Rev. Dibeela observed, aware that the law was [continue reading]

Morupule Mine expansion to proceed despite recession

15 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business, Morupule, Palapye

source: Mmegi
CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent

PALAPYE: The expansion of the Morupule Coal Mine Project will not be affected by the global economic downturn.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop in Palapye over the weekend, Debswana’s Ore Processing Engineer, Craig Robertson, explained that the Debswana board views the project as one of high priority.

“The expansion of Morupule Coal Mine is expected to cost P1.95 billion upon completion,” Robertson said. “The mine will produce 3.8 million tonnes of coal per annum. The mine will need P280 million to operate annually. We intend to build a high quality project and they do not want to waste money.”

He said they have not awarded the construction tender yet. Speaking at the same workshop, the General Manager responsible for Strategic Projects at the Botswana Power Corporation, Modiri Badirwang, said two Chinese companies have won the engineering, procurement and construction contract of Morupule B, as the project is [continue reading]

South Africa: €60m European boost for SMEs

15 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: SouthAfrica.info
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14 May 2009

South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation IDC) has secured a €60-million credit line from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance viable projects by small and medium enterprises in the industrial, resources and services sectors.

EIB vice president Plutarchos Sakellaris said the loan was a strong signal of the bank’s commitment to supporting the private sector and encouraging the creation of employment in South Africa.

“Moreover, the bank is confident that by working in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation we can help to stimulate the South African financial markets by diversifying IDC’s funding base and enhancing the provision of finance to SMEs,” he said in a statement issued this [continue reading]

South Africa: Zuma`s cocktail for Cabinet

15 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: IOL
May 14 2009 at 11:02AM
By Moshoeshoe Monare

President Jacob Zuma’s Cabinet members hold 45 university degrees among them. This excludes Trevor Manuel’s seven honorary doctorates.

Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile holds the record of six degrees: two BAs, one honours, two masters and a doctorate, plus a postgraduate diploma. But he still prefers to be called Reverend.

Ten members of Zuma’s national executive have doctorates, including four with medical degrees.

It is the first post-apartheid cabinet to have so many university graduates.

However, academic qualifications do not necessarily equate to competency – Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his highly educated cabinet ran down that country.

Zuma opted for a combination of highly educated and politically experienced people.

Former president Nelson Mandela’s ministers were [continue reading]

Zim firms ready for BOCCIM Northern Fair

15 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business, Zimbabwe

source: Mmegi
FRASER MPOFU
Correspondent

HARARE: The Municipality of Victoria Falls is one of 10 Zimbabwean exhibitors that have already indicated eagerness to participate in the BOCCIM Northern Trade Fair in Francistown later this month.

The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce’s (ZNCC) Matabeleland Region has started registering Zimbabwean companies that will exhibit at the show, according to its spokesman, Bulisani Ncube.

Ncube said the ZNCC aims to bring 30 firms to exhibit at the fair, twice last year’s figure.
“The Victoria Falls Municipality is among the 10 prospective exhibitors who have registered,” Ncube said. “As I said early this year, our target is to have 30 Zimbabwean companies exhibiting at the show, up from 15 who took part last year. So far we have 10, but we believe we will reach our target.”

Zimbabwean companies, especially those based in Western Matabeleland Region, have partcipated in [continue reading]

Govt: Dalai Lama welcome in SA

15 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: News24
14/05/2009 20:11 – (SA)

Pretoria – The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is welcome to visit South Africa at any time, just like any other global citizen, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Thursday.

“South Africa does not discriminate against anyone,” the newly appointed minister told reporters in Pretoria.

The Dalai Lama was refused a visa to attend the Peace Conference in March this year, with the South African government at the time saying it did not want the Dalai Lama’s visit to [continue reading]

South Africa: Teachers will have to buy laptops

15 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: IOL
May 14 2009 at 10:40AM
By Sinegugu Ndlovu

Teachers around the country will become eligible for laptops from July after a scheme which would make purchases of the computers a condition of their service was gazetted on Monday.

The initiative would be phased in over two years. Teachers would be given allowances of R11 750 each over five years. The hardware would cost R4 000, software R300, insurance R1 200 and Internet connectivity R6 000. About R550 million a year would be given to provincial education departments over the five-year period to fund the plan.

Teachers’ training manuals and guidelines, learning programmes and subject assessment guidelines would be included in the content loaded on the computers. Senior teachers would be first in line to benefit.

National Teachers’ Union’s (Natu) spokesperson Allen Thompson said the union would negotiate with [continue reading]

South Africa: Zuma `a policy president`

15 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: News24
14/05/2009 12:16 – (SA)

Cape Town – President Jacob Zuma’s emphasis on domestic issues has left foreign relations on the back burner, tended by subordinates like his new low-profile foreign minister, analysts say.

New Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, a former ambassador, has never actually worked in the ministry in Pretoria and was little-known in political circles, leaving many scratching their heads over the surprise appointment to a senior portfolio.

“The appointment of the foreign minister is a big surprise,” said Tom Wheeler, a foreign policy expert at the Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg.

“She has been an ambassador to Malaysia and to India but she has never worked in [continue reading]

No wages for drought relief workers

15 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer

The Labour Intensive Work Initiative, which was seen by many unemployed youth as a means to put bread on the table, has turned into a nightmare for them. Men and women behind the newly refreshing look of the city are going through hell.

Yesterday afternoon, Mmegi found a group of them at the Gaborone Senior Secondary (GSS) grounds near Gaborone City Council offices where they had gone to protest their unpaid allowances. This group was from Tsholofelo and Notwane wards. They say they have not been paid their allowance for the month of April.

One of the workers, Seabelo Lerothodi, says they were promised pay after 22 days but nothing has been forthcoming. He alleges that when they inquire about why they have not been paid, they are either dismissed by council authorities or [continue reading]

South Africa: 9 women in DA`s shadow Cabinet

15 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: News24
14/05/2009 18:05 – (SA)

Cape Town – Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille named a national shadow Cabinet on Thursday and included nine women in the group.

Zille said quotas had nothing to do with gender issues in South Africa.

“In everything we do, we focus on the fitness for positions,” she told journalists at a media briefing in the DA’s parliamentary offices in Cape Town.

“We had to look at preferences, abilities and others duties in the party. We have named a shadow Cabinet because we want one-on-one correspondence between the government and the opposition.”

Zille named the DA’s leader in Parliament, Athol Trollip, as shadow minister for the presidency.

Dion George will shadow the minister of finance, Dianne Kohler-Barnard the minister of police, Juanita Terblanche the minister of home affairs, Dene Smuts the minister for justice and constitutional development, and [continue reading]

Zimbabwe: Private sector set for massive boost as billion dollar credit lines secured

15 May, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa
By Alex Bell
14 May 2009

The country’s private sector, which will play a critical role in rebuilding Zimbabwe, is set for a massive boost, with more than US$1 billion in credit lines being secured.

The cash strapped Finance Ministry has been fighting to secure cash investment in the country, to meet the estimated US$10 billion needed to put Zimbabwe on the right track to recovery in the next few years. But international donor governments, waiting to see real change on the ground in Zimbabwe, have understandably held back on direct cash investment. The ongoing violations of the Global Political Agreement that formed the unity government between the MDC and ZANU PF have done little to restore faith in the country. Leading rights groups have even warned against direct investment that could further prop up the murderous regime of Robert Mugabe.

Even fellow African nations, who pledged to support Zimbabwe’s economic recovery, have only offered credit line [continue reading]