Conflict deepens as Basarwa`s livestock to be confiscated-FPK

25 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
BABOKI KAYAWE
Correspondent

Two trucks packed with policemen and wildlife scouts were on Monday sent to confiscate goats from the Basarwa community of Molapo in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

The spokesperson of the First People of Kalahari, (FPK), Jumanda Gakelebone said the trucks arrived on Monday in New Xade, and proceeded to CKGR where they are to take away goats that belong to the Basarwa who reside in Molapo,” he said. Gakelebone said they were not told why the goats have to be removed from that area.

“I don’t know why the goats are being confiscated, because the Attorney General ordered that we take our belongings with us to the reserve. Does this mean that government might confiscate my blankets as well?” he asked in a rhetorical tone.

However, he said, there are plans to build a tourist lodge near Molapo; though the plans have not yet been communicated to the community and he suspects this might be the primary reason for [continue reading]

Swine flue – coughing can be a criminal offence in Botswana

25 May, 2009 in Africa

source: Standay Standard
by Bashi Letsididi
25.05.2009

To the extent possible, Section 184 of the Penal Code should protect the public from the effects of swine flu if it ever hits Botswana. However, an elaborate bureaucratic process would play itself out before that provision in the law can be enforced.

Gaborone West police station commander, Superintendent Bonnie Bareki, says that before they can charge anyone they would first have to ascertain that s/he actually has an infection that can endanger public health.

“Coughing alone cannot provide basis upon which one can be charged. Additionally, we would also need evidence that one has been diagnosed with an infectious disease before charges can be laid,” Bareki says.
A suspect who tests positive has no option of [continue reading]

Informal sector records 72 percent growth in eight years

25 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi

The majority of informal business operators are the least educated women who provided their own start-up capital. As THATO MOSEKI reports, they could do better with improved access to loans, permanent sites and training in marketing

With more than 60, 386 people now employed, Botswana’s informal sector recorded a 72.3 percent growth between 1999 and 2007.

This means a total of 40, 421 informal businesses existed in Botswana by 2007, compared with 23, 454 in 1999 – almost doubling in eight years.

According to the 2007 Informal Sector Survey (ISS) released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Monday, females accounted for 60.7 percent of total employment in the sector, three times the figure recorded in the 1999 survey.

The 2007 ISS is the second to [continue reading]

Africa: Forty-Six Years on, Continent Can Be Optimistic About the Future

25 May, 2009 in Africa

source: allAfrica
New Vision (Kampala)
Stephen Asiimwe
24 May 2009
opinion

Kampala — Today, May 25, is the African Liberation Day. I congratulate all Africans on the continent and in the diaspora for celebrating this historical moment.

The day honours the 1963 signing of the charter establishing the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU), now African Union (AU). It pledges solidarity for the liberation of Africa.

The OAU was criticised for not living up to the mandate of uniting Africa and responding to its various challenges. Many of the criticisms were understandable though not all of them were deserved.

The OAU was set up to finish the anti-colonial struggle of the 1960s and also unite Africa. Read Nkrumah’s book: Africa Must Unite. It was successful on the liberation of southern Africa from racist settler regimes and former Portuguese colonies of Guinea Bissau, Angola and Mozambique. The organisation mobilised human and material resources across Africa in support of these struggles and also won diplomatic and political support internationally. Its weakness, therefore, should not cloud some of [continue reading]

Kalafatis murder – the plot thickens

25 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard
by Kagiso Madibana and Reuben Pitse
25.05.2009

Neither the Commissioner of Police, Thebeyame Tsimako, nor the Botswana Defence Force Commander, Tebogo Masire, issued the command for the execution of John Kalafatis two weeks ago.
The Botswana Police Service last week distanced itself from the shooting. Botswana Police Service Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Mbulawa last week referred Sunday Standard to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF).
Botswana Defence Force Commander, Tebogo Masire this week distanced himself from the shooting explaining that the army officers were attached to the Botswana Police Service at the time of the incident. The BDF commander told Sunday Standard that once the officers are attached to Botswana Police, the BDF is not informed about their assignments.

In a curious development, more than a week after the murder of Kalafatis, Botswana Police Service (BPS) still does not know why he was on the “wanted” list. Mbulawa told Sunday Standard that he still had to find out why [continue reading]

Ditshwanelo decries Kalafatis` killing

25 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent

Ditshwanelo, the Botswana Centre for Human Rights, has condemned the shooting of John Kalafatis by security forces last week.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ditshwanelo said it is concerned by Kalafatis’ shooting at Extension 12 in Gaborone by members of the security forces and views the taking of human life whether by individuals or the state as a violation of the fundamental right to life.

The organisation says that it opposes violence in all forms in our society and that is why they consistently opposed the retention of the death penalty and corporal punishment.”
The statement goes on to say that both shootings of unarmed civilians and the use of the death penalty are examples of state killings that violate fundamental human rights.

Dishwanelo noted that Botswana is signatory to the United Nations International Convenant on [continue reading]

Analysts fear Debswana`s resumption will dampen recovery

25 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
BRIAN BENZA
Staff Writer

The opening of Debswana mines after a 50-day shutdown is likely to hold back the international diamond market which was beginning to show signs of recovery, analysts reckon.

Des Kilalea, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, says the resumption of production at Debswana mines poses a concern to diamantaires because prices will be suppressed by the increased supply.

In an interview with Miningmx, Kilalea said “a main threat to recovery in rough prices is the resumption of production (at) a number of major mines that had been shut down earlier this year such as De Beers’ huge Jwaneng operation in Botswana”.

“The impact of higher sales by De Beers now that the Jwaneng Mine has been returned to production after a 50-day shutdown is a [continue reading]

South Africa: Phone me!

25 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: News24
24/05/2009 23:42 – (SA)

Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma on Sunday promised to set up a presidential toll-free line to allow people to lodge complaints with his office.

This would allow them to avoid going through their local councillors, he told residents of Soweto during a visit to the Hector Pietersen memorial.

“The ANC’s about truth, there’s no question about what the party does.”

Flanked by Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC provincial chairman Paul Mashatile and Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo, Zuma laid three wreaths at the memorial. One of the them had the letters ANC spelt out in [continue reading]

SA`s tourism body targets Batswana `big spenders`

25 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business, Tourism

source: Mmegi
WANETSHA MOSINYI
Staff Writer

A South African Tourism (SA Tourism) team is in Botswana to conduct market research as it continues to lure more travellers from here who constitute the bulk of the 4.5 million people from the southern African region who visit South Africa every year.

The team, which is led by SA Tourism’s Regional Director for Africa, Phumi Dlomo, is in the country to hold a series of focus group and media roundtable discussions in Gaborone this week. Dlomo said on Monday the research is meant to enable SA Tourism to better understand the Botswana travel market and media landscape.

“We don’t want to assume that as a neighbour, we know what Batswana like,” Dlomo said. He said the idea to conduct market research was borne out of the fact that as much as SA Tourism has a marketing strategy targeting Botswana, there are key insights required from the region to help grow the [continue reading]

Batswana can excel in tourism industry

25 May, 2009 in Botswana, Tourism

source: Standay Standard
by KABO MOKGOABONE
25.05.2009

The Minister for Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Kitso Mokaila, always has to remind the media that tourism is not a white men’s business. The media, on the other hand, thinks otherwise.

Sammy Mokgadi, the founder of African Excursions, a Maun-based tour operator, is proving that even Batswana can make it in an industry surrounded by perceptions of racism. He founded the company in 2006, armed only with the idea when he started and the belief that he could make it.

“I did not have any money but I knew what I wanted to do and I believed it was possible,” Mokgadi tells Sunday Standard.

He says he later applied for licenses required to start such a business and then [continue reading]

DTC resumes work at `subdued pace

25 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
WANETSHA MOSINYI
Staff Writer

The Diamond Trading Company (DTC) Botswana last week resumed full operations but at a subdued level of shorter hours and weekdays.

DTC Botswana re-opened on May 11 since closing down on March 18 – nearly two months.

The company said sales continued throughout the closure period and that it responded to its sightholders’ needs.

According to the company’s Public Affairs and Communication Manager, Kago Mmopi, this year, DTC Botswana has conducted four sales. The next one is expected in mid-June.

The company declined to give figures on the scale of forecast sales’ decline, only saying: “DTC Botswana is expecting sales to the domestic cutting and polishing sector to decline in 2009 in light of the reduced demand for rough [continue reading]

South Africa: First Football for Hope Centre Breaks New Ground

25 May, 2009 in South Africa, World Cup 2010

source: allAfrica
Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Zurich)
25 May 2009
press release

As the continent celebrated Africa Day today (25 May 2009), another milestone was achieved in ensuring that the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ leaves a legacy in Africa, with the official ground-breaking ceremony for the first of the 20 Football for Hope Centres, in Khayelitsha in Cape Town.

This project is part of “20 Centres for 2010”, the Official Campaign of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, which aims to build 20 Football for Hope community centres in South Africa, Mali, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Namibia and other still-to-be-determined locations across Africa.

The centres will address local social challenges in disadvantaged areas and improve education and health services for young people. They will include rooms for public health services and informal education, office space, common space for [continue reading]

Hope as Tati Nickel weathers the credit crunch storm

25 May, 2009 in Botswana, Mining

source: Standay Standard
by Godfrey Ganetsang
25.05.2009

Tati Nickel Mine General Manager, Seb Sebetlela, on Friday expressed confidence that the mining giant will remain afloat despite the challenges posed by the global recession.

Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, Sebetlela said that, while the company continues to face daunting challenges, like relatively low and fluctuating nickel prices, added to depressed market demand, they have instituted measures that will see them surviving the financial doldrums that the company was faced with at the beginning of the year.

“We are still confident that the strategies that we put in place will see us through these difficult times. Every day we learn from the challenges that are posed by the credit crunch and we have optimized our operations to ensure that we survive these challenges,” he said.
Tati Nickel has reportedly surpassed its targets for the first quarter of 2009, largely due to restructuring and [continue reading]

It`s time for a full inquiry into security organs

25 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
Editorial

The private media was prevented from attending this so-called press conference and with that action a number of vital questions about the actual killing was closed out.

It was the private media that broke that story and any press conference that did not include the private media was always going to be nothing but a public relations fire-fighting mission.

It is no surprise that that press conference turned into a bashing of the private media, instead of actually attending to the pertinent issue, which is the killing of a man.

Defence, Justice and Security Minister Ramadeluka Seretse never attempted to attend to the substantive issues raised not just by this messy episode but by the preceeding murders that have occurred under the same circumstances. Seretse’s major interest seemed to be purely public relations related. That the Minister had [continue reading]

Recession: Worst over for South Africa?

25 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: IOL
Edwin Naidu
May 24 2009 at 02:27PM

Signs of an end to the recession for hard-pressed consumers are likely to be seen by October, but the good times – despite the sharpening decline in interest rates – will only start by January 2010, according to Professor Carel van Aardt, an economics expert at Unisa.

“Economic indicators usually have a six-month lag, and while the economy has become very volatile and there is the expectation of new growth, it seems any recovery will be volatile and drawn out.

“There is a big possibility that we have hit the bottom of the recession,” he said.

However, the news will come as cold comfort to thousands who have lost their jobs (45 000 between January and March alone according to Statistics SA) and tens of thousands of consumers who have struggled to pay bonds and keep up with car repayments resulting in repossessions collectively by banks of as many as 6 000 vehicles a month.

The hard times have hit consumers in spite of the slowdown in inflation and [continue reading]