`Cut 8` a boon to employment and property development

27 May, 2009 in Botswana, Mining

source: Mmegi THATO MOSEKI Correspondent The expansion of the Jwaneng Mine pit, known as the Cut 8 Project, is expected to provide a shot in the arm for employment when more than 1 000 contractors for converge on the mining town. The project involves the widening and deepening of the existing Jwaneng pit as a [...]

South Africa enters first recession since apartheid

27 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: Telegraph 26 May 2009 South Africa entered its first recession since apartheid as the global crisis pounded demand for its main exports, leaving growth down 6.4pc in the first quarter, the government said on Tuesday. The market had expected a drop but the showing was far worse than most forecasts, adding to pressure on [...]

Mineral Production Steadies Against Recession

26 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi Thato Moseki Correspondent Recently released statistics from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicate that with the exception of diamonds, mineral production around the country is resisting the global economic downturn. According to a Stats Update, copper nickel matte production (as produced by BCL Mine in Selebi-Phikwe) between January and March this year was [...]

Inflation slides further in line with commodities prices

26 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard by Sunday Standard Reporter 25.05.2009 The month–on-month inflation slouched down by a hefty 1.5 percent points as price in a range of goods and services eased, leaving the inflation rate at 10.2 percent, the Central Statistics Offices (CSO) reported on Tuesday. The move is part of a down-ward trend, started at the [...]

Corruption makes SA passport `unsafe`

26 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: allAfrica 25/05/2009 22:34 – (SA) Pretoria – Corruption within the home affairs department has rendered South African identity documents suspect amongst the international community, Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Monday. “We can no longer be sure whether the person in possession of a South African passport is 100% South African,” she told [...]

Khama`s Move To Sue Paper Threatens Democracy?

26 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi Oliver Modise Correspondent The principle of legal immunity for the president as enshrined in the constitution seems set for a test as President Ian Khama has recently made moves to sue a local paper. Last week the state television and radio stations reported that Khama has decided to sue a local newspaper after [...]

CIPS exams postponed following British Council security breach

26 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard by Bashi Letsididi 25.05.2009 An employee of the British Council and a student customer of his were nabbed by the police in connection with leaked examination papers. As a result, the examinations were postponed. The postponement came at great inconvenience to some students from out of town who had booked hotel accommodation [...]

South Africa: Zuma names key advisors

26 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: News24 25/05/2009 16:03 – (SA) Cape Town – The presidency on Monday announced the appointment of key advisors to newly-elected President Jacob Zuma. Former safety and security minister and former defence minister Charles Nqakula will be Zuma’s political advisor, while former trade and industry minister Mandisi Mpahlwa will serve as economic advisor. Zuma’s international [...]

Botswana Must Fly Up To Standard – ICAO

26 May, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi Wanetsha Mosinyi Staff Writer The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) representative last week challenged the Botswana government to develop its aviation sector up to international standards, especially that Gaborone is the headquarters of SADC. “Botswana should have all 14 SADC countries having direct flights landing here,” Tshepo Peege said at the launch of [...]

Botswana might get electricity from the sun

26 May, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard by Percy Serumola 25.05.2009 The Department of Energy and Minerals is currently consulting with Fichtner Solar Consultants from Germany on the possibility of installing a power station that will use solar energy to produce electricity. The aim is for the Department of Energy to come out with a 200MW power station. The [...]

South Africa: Nuclear-1 a certainty?

26 May, 2009 in South Africa

source: IOL May 25 2009 at 07:49PM By Melanie Gosling Eskom appears to be kickstarting its massive nuclear energy plans again. The utility, which halted its nuclear bidding programme for Nuclear-1 in December last year, has now revised its application to the environmental authorities, asking to be allowed to combine authorisations to develop Nuclear-1, Nuclear-2 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]