Botswana Ruling Party May Split, Triggering New Vote

24 March, 2010 in Botswana

March 23, 2010, 11:12 AM EDT source: Businessweek By Jerry Bungu March 23 (Bloomberg) — Botswana’s ruling party, which has governed the world’s biggest diamond-producing nation since 1966, may split, said a leader of a breakaway faction that wants to form a new opposition movement. Disgruntled members of the Botswana Democratic Party, who form a [...]

Botswana to get new party

24 March, 2010 in Botswana

source: News24 2010-03-23 21:09 Gaborone – Three top members of Botswana’s ruling party are set to form a rival faction, officials said on Tuesday, accusing President Ian Khama of undermining democracy with his heavy-handed leadership. The new grouping would be the first to split away from the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which has ruled this [...]

BDC to shed property investments

24 March, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi MBONGENI MGUNI Staff Writer In a move expected to unlock wealth for local investors, the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) is to embark on a major divestment from its multi-million pula property portfolio. The divestiture is part of BDC’s Strategic Plan for 2007 – 2011. Between 2007 and 2008, BDC reviewed its various wholly, [...]

Alcohol checks, speed traps dominate campaigns

24 March, 2010 in Botswana

source: BOPA 23 March, 2010 GABORONE – Marking officer with emergency assist 991 says this years roads safety campaigns will be characterised by random alcohol checks and speed trap along the high ways in roads leading to the capital city. Giving a key note address during the launch of mini traffic road safety campaign at [...]

Zimbabwe: Reluctantly to the Election

24 March, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: allAfrica Africa Confidential (London) 23 March 2010 President Jacob Zuma’s suggestion that fresh elections might offer a way out of the current impasse has sparked off a complex game of ‘call my bluff’ amongst the parties to the power-sharing government. It seems clear that Zuma and his advisors would prefer some form of power-sharing [...]

Govt to reduce age of maturity to 18 years

24 March, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi BAME PIET Staff Writer Most parliamentarians on Friday agreed to reduce the age of maturity from 21 years to 18 years of age. Member of Parliament for Mogoditshane Patrick Masimolole, who tabled the motion, argued that there was inconsistency in Botswana laws as some government ministries recognised somebody as mature at 21 years, [...]

Govt loses millions as youth projects collapse

24 March, 2010 in Botswana

source: BOPA 23 March, 2010 GABORONE – Government has lost more than P37 million after 1 472 projects funded under the Out of School Youth Grant during NDP9 folded. Youth, sport and culture minister, Mr Shaw Kgathi told Parliament Friday that altogether 3 150 projects were funded under the grant while 242 were funded under [...]

SA economy picks up steam

24 March, 2010 in South Africa

source: Fin24 Mar 23 2010 22:09 Johannesburg – The SA Reserve Bank’s March Quarterly Bulletin shows that SA’s economy is recovering, Investec Asset Management said on Tuesday. Earlier, the SARB released a somewhat bullish bulletin in which it said that the SA economy had continued to gather momentum in the fourth quarter of 2009. André [...]