e-Passport begins March

8 October, 2009 in Botswana

source: BOPA
08 October, 2009

FRANCISTOWN – Less than six months remain before Botswana passport goes electronic.

Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs public relations officer, Ms Lebogang Bok revealed following a BOPA questionnaire that the first issuance of the e-passport was expected in March next year.

Ms Bok said the e-passport project, which was contracted to a German company called Giesecke Devrient in December 2008 was already in progress and the expected completion date was 2011.

The project, called Passport and Border Control System Project entails provision, design, supply and implementation of e-passports as well as computerization of the border control system.

Ms Bok said the new passport would have a micro processor chip, improved security features and [continue reading]

Indian community celebrate Gandhi`s anniversary

8 October, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff writer

Over 200 members of the Indian community gathered at the Indian High Commissioner’s residence in Gaborone last Friday to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, the freedom fighter credited with non-violence who lived from 1869-1969.

Ghandi’s birthday, October 2, was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2007 as the International Day of Non-Violence in his honour. The Indian community celebrated with music and poetry. There were speeches by diplomats, academics and representatives of the Indian community in Gaborone.

University of Botswana professor, Keshav Sharma, described Gandhi as a man who led India’s freedom movement by applying the [continue reading]

BTA encourages Batswana to register sim cards

8 October, 2009 in Botswana

source: BOPA
08 October, 2009

GABORONE – Batswana are encouraged to register their prepaid sim cards while there is still time to avoid any congestion on the last day.

The Director of Communication and Public Relations at Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) Mr Twoba Koontse said all unregistered prepaid cards will be cut out of service by December 31st.

Mr Koontse explained that they have consulted with Public Telecommunications Operators (PTO), being Mascom, Orange and Be Mobile, to cut all unregistered prepaid sim cards by the said date.

The operation to register all prepaid sim cards in the country started on September 15, 2008 and will end on December 31, 2009.

Mr Koontse said there are 2.1 million active sim cards in the country but so far only 267 113 have been registered noting that this is very disappointing looking at [continue reading]

Water Utilities pays P40m dividend to govt

8 October, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
WANETSHA MOSINYI
Staff Writer

Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has paid a whopping dividend of nearly P40 million to the government after producing satisfactory results in which revenue increased by 12 percent to P524.4 million.

In its 38th Annual Report that covers the period April 2008 to March 2009, the parastatal says in compliance with Section 19 of the WUC Act, a dividend of P42 692 579 was estimated and paid on 31 March 2009, resulting in an overpayment of P3 107 038 which is to be recovered from the government.

Despite revenue growing by 12 percent, the water utility saw its net surplus for the period taking a knock, decreasing significantly from P208 million to P158.3 million.

WUC’s cash flow also fell from [continue reading]

BTC nets profit

8 October, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: BOPA
08 October, 2009

GABORONE – The liberalisation of the telecommunications industry has not eroded revenue for the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) as mobile services companies, Orange and Mascom continue to use its infrastructure.

Following the liberalisation of the industry, the corporation set a net profit target of P13 million, but it made a profit of P55 million during the second half of the financial year ending in March this year as the mobile service providers continued to use the BTC infrastructure.

Speaking at the launch of the BTC financial results for the year ending March, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Thapelo Lippe said the overall net profit for the year increased by 104 per cent from P58.327 million to P118.953 million.

The telecommunications company had set a target of P64 million for the year, but they [continue reading]

South Africa: Recession – nearing the end?

8 October, 2009 in South Africa

source: Fin24
2009/10/08 07:00:00 AM René Vollgraaff

Johannesburg – There are indications that the recession is near its end.

According to Mike Schüssler, economist of Economists.co.za and compiler of Sake24 and BoE Private Clients’ provincial barometers, this is shown by the August barometers.

Though all four barometers still showed a decline on an annual and monthly basis, many indices have turned upwards on a monthly basis.

The barometers measure the [continue reading]

Now Chiluba acquittal unleashes diplomatic earthquake

8 October, 2009 in Zambia

source: Mmegi
ARTHUR SIMUCHOBA
Correspondent

LUSAKA: The recent acquittal on theft charges of former president Frederick Chiluba by a Lusaka magistrate has now unleashed a diplomatic earthquake that is rumbling between the Zambian government and Western diplomats.

Some Western governments led by Britain were major financiers of the anti-corruption drive launched by the late president Levy Mwanawasa which targeted Dr Chiluba and some senior members of his administration.

Dr Chiluba, who ruled Zambia for 10 years from 1991 to 200l, had his immunity against prosecution lifted by a special session of Parliament that was convened at the instigation of president Mwanawasa who won international renown for [continue reading]

South Africa: SA car makers `dying`

8 October, 2009 in South Africa

source: Fin24
2009/10/07 10:11:00 PM Svetlana Doneva

Port Elizabeth – The South African automotive industry could cease to exist in the next five to seven years unless steps are taken to improve its competitiveness.

“And we need to this in the next one to two years,” said Dave Powels, president of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa).

Powels was addressing industry representatives at the Automotive Industry Conference at the 2009 South African Automotive Week in Port Elizabeth.

The local motor industry’s lack of competitiveness is illustrated by South Africa’s 24th world ranking in [continue reading]