Khama Appoints `Outsider` At Finance

28 July, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi Ryder Gabathuse Staff Writer FRANCISTOWN: President Ian Khama on Friday appointed award winning economist, Kenneth Matambo, to head Finance and Development Planning Ministry albeit on acting basis amid loud dissenting voices. The Tonota-born economist will take over the reigns at the government enclave from August 1 for four months. This follows Khama’s granting [...]

South Africa: SAA passes safety check with flying colours

28 July, 2009 in South Africa

source: IOL July 28 2009 at 12:12AM South African Airways has complied with international safety standards following an operations audit, the group said on Monday. “SAA operations have been proven to comply with the world’s most stringent safety standards after the airline successfully completed its third IATA (International Air Transport Association) operational safety audit,” said [...]

Lawyers boycott halts Venson-Moitoi

28 July, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi OLIVER MODISE Correspondent The boycott of the Media Appeals Committee by the Law Society of Botswana has thrown the spanner in the works for the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Moitoi has been forced to temporarily halt the convening of the committee as she seeks further advice on the matter. [...]

Gov’t mulls engaging World Bank for water tariff study- Minister

28 July, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Sunday Standard by Bashi Letsididi 26.07.2009 11:44:29 P The government plans to engage the World Bank to conduct a national tariff study to determine and recommend the appropriate water tariffs throughout the country. Speaking to parliament last Thursday, Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Minister, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, said that if the government is to achieve [...]

Khama Blames Media In BDP Fights

28 July, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi Ephraim Keoreng Staff Writer KANYE: President Ian Khama has accused the media and some elements in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) of fueling factionalism in the ruling party. Addressing the party’s national congress in Kanye last Saturday, Khama said that the media would like to see factions perpetuated and institutionalised in the BDP. [...]

Lawyers` boycott disrupts Botswana committee

28 July, 2009 in Botswana

source: journalism.co.za Tuesday, 28 July 2009 THE boycott of the Media Appeals Committee by the Law Society of Botswana has thrown the spanner in the works for the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Moitoi has been forced to temporarily halt the convening of the committee as she seeks further advice on the [...]

De Beers In 99% Loss As Diamonds Lose Their Glitter

28 July, 2009 in Botswana, Business, Mining

source: Mmegi Wanetsha Mosinyi Staff Writer The world’s largest diamond producer, De Beers, has reported a 99-percent drop in net profits for the first half of 2009 to just $3 million after demand for luxury goods was hard hit by the global recession. The diamond giant, which has a 50/50 partnership with Government in Debswana, [...]

Planned radioactive facility a national security threat – BDF

27 July, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Sunday Standard by Reuben Pitse 26.07.2009 11:48:44 P The planned National Radioactive Waste Storage facility in Pilikwe village is a threat to Botswana’s national security, and vulnerable to missile attacks from South Africa – the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has warned. In their submissions to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the Radioactive [...]

Khama`s presidential legitimacy questioned

27 July, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi The Botswana National Front (BNF) gathered at Kagiso Secondary School in Ramotswa over the Presidents Day weekend where it discussed topics ranging from disciplinary measures against wayward members to the bona fides of Ian Khama as President, reports BAME PIET Moupo vows to crack the whip, labels BDP arrogant Botswana National Front (BNF) [...]

MoE ordered to pay UB students P3840

27 July, 2009 in Botswana, Education

source: Sunday Standard by Kagiso Selabe 26.07.2009 11:54:02 P In yet another legal blow, the Ministry of Education was ordered to back pay the students of the University of Botswana their June-July allowance amounting to P3840. The order was given by Lobatse High Court judge Key Dingake on Wednesday, following a decision by the UB [...]

Zimbabwe: Mugabe, Tsvangirai, Mutambara call for an end to political violence

27 July, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa By Violet Gonda 24 July 2009 The Principals in the coalition government called for an end to political attacks, at the beginning of three days of countrywide prayers for national healing and reconciliation. The government said it set aside this Friday, Saturday and Sunday to allow Muslims, Adventists, other Christians and [...]

Botswana Post keen to forge ahead – Sethebe

27 July, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi ONALENNA MODIKWA Staff Writer PALAPYE: Botswana Postal Services human resources manager, Cortney Sethebe says the postal service is faced with challenges ranging from cost containment, increasing competition, unmet shareholder expectations, losses as well as inadequate funding. Speaking during the Botswana Postal Services Workers Union’s 41st annual congress over the President’s Day holidays, Sethebe [...]

South Africa: Oil Pipeline`s Opening Put Off to 2011

27 July, 2009 in South Africa

source: allAfrica Business Day (Johannesburg) Siseko Njobeni 27 July 2009 Johannesburg — PETROLINE, the company building a petroleum products pipeline from Mozambique to Gauteng, said on Friday the commissioning of the pipeline had been moved from the third quarter of next year to early 2011. The delay will keep the country’s inland market vulnerable to [...]

Certain Botswana firms reported keen to cross-list on JSE

27 July, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi WANETSHA MOSINYI Staff Writer JOHANNESBURG: Officials of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) say they are confident that they will succeed in luring a number of BSE-listed firms to cross-list on their recently launched Africa Board as consultations for the purpose continue. The Director of Government and International Affairs at Africa’s biggest bourse, Geoff [...]

AB, Kenya Airways in historic partnership to service new Gaborone-Kenya route

27 July, 2009 in Air Botswana, Botswana, Business

source: Sunday Standard by Tlotlang Rahube 26.07.2009 11:45:03 P National carrier, Air Botswana, and East African skies heavyweight, Kenya Airways, have entered into a partnership that will see the two servicing the new Gaborone-Nairobi route. Under the code-sharing deal, Air Botswana will sell seats on Kenya Airways direct flights, beginning September 4th between Nairobi and [...]