BDP splinter party adopts new symbol, colour but split over name

26 April, 2010 in Botswana

source: Sunday Standard by Oliver Modise 25-04-2010 Despite forging ahead with an interim constitution, party colour and symbol, the Barata-Phathi faction of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is still to reach an agreement on the name for the new party. The splinter party leadership will convene a meeting in Gaborone today (Sunday) at which [...]

South Africa: Eskom report shows payment woes

26 April, 2010 in South Africa

source: Fin24 Apr 25 2010 14:15 Jan de Lange Johannesburg – Evidence of slow decline is evident from the confidential Eskom report the DA’s spokesperson for public enterprises, Pieter van Dalen, disclosed in parliament last week. The report indicates that 35% of the power that Eskom delivers to households is stolen electricity. On Tuesday Van [...]

Khama moves to stem tidal wave

25 April, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi EPHRAIM KEORENG Staff Writer As Barata-Phathi move to form a new party, Botswana Democratic Party president Ian Khama is making strenuous efforts to stem a feared tidal wave of defectors from joining the erstwhile faction of the ruling party. The military strategist that he is Khama has launched a counter-offensive on Barata-Phathi to [...]

South Africa: Cabinet against strike chaos

25 April, 2010 in South Africa

source: News24 2010-04-22 19:02 Cape Town – Cabinet has condemned the trashing of cities during the recent strike by municipal workers. “Although government welcomes the end of the strike by municipal workers following the signing of an agreement between the union and employer representatives, government condemns the continued trashing of our cities,” government spokesperson Themba [...]

World Cup: fewer visitors to spend more

25 April, 2010 in South Africa, World Cup 2010

source: SouthAfrica.info 22 April 2010 Updated projections on the economic impact of the 2010 Fifa World Cup released by global audit and advisory firm Grant Thornton indicates that there are a number of reasons for South Africans to be optimistic. “We have revised the figures post the world-wide recession and major ticket sales phases, and [...]

Immigration officers hail new border control system

24 April, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi EPHRAIM KEORENG Staff Writer Immigration officers have hailed the introduction of the e-passport and Passport Border Control System (PBCS) as efficient tools that will make their job easier. Mmegi caught up with Thabo Kwapa, an immigration officer, during a training session in Gaborone for officers on the use of the new technology. The [...]

SA measures four earthquakes

24 April, 2010 in South Africa

source: News24 2010-04-22 20:03 Johannesburg – Four earthquakes were recorded around Gauteng, the North West province and Limpopo on Wednesday, the Council for Geosciences reported on Thursday. The first was at 13:28 in the Gamoep area of Limpopo and measured 2.4 on the Richter scale, with a depth of 5km. The second earthquake was at [...]

South Africa: Stranded passengers threatened with arrest

24 April, 2010 in South Africa

source: IOL April 22 2010 at 11:44AM By Kristen van Schie Stranded passengers at OR Tambo International Airport were threatened with arrest this morning if they did not leave the airport. Approximately 200 SAA passengers bound for Heathrow Airport grew angry when they were informed that there were still no planes flying out. Airport management [...]

BoB leaves interest rates unchanged

23 April, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi STAFF WRITER Although inflation is expected to rise in the short-term due to tax and power tariff increases, the Bank of Botswana (BoB) has once again left interest rates unchanged. In February, BoB left its main lending rate steady at 10 percent, saying longer-term inflation was seen under control while economic growth remained [...]

Government vehicle misuse rife officer

23 April, 2010 in Botswana

source: BOPA 22 April, 2010 HUKUNTSI – The misuse of government vehicles is on the increase in the Kgalagadi District. The Kang Central Transport Organisation (CTO) principal technical assistant, Ms Malebogo Mothibamele, said the level of misuse stands at about 29 per cent for the 2009-2010 financial year. In her report to various heads of [...]

Zimbabwe empowerment laws worry foreign investors

23 April, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: Mmegi Controversial new policies to give black Zimbabweans majority stakes in foreign companies in the country have scared off investors from abroad, stock exchange Chief Executive Emmanuel Munyukwi said yesterday. Munyukwi said in an interview, orders from foreign investors had dried up since the end of January when Zimbabwe moved to implement the Indigenisation [...]

Travellers to re-apply for visas

23 April, 2010 in South Africa

source: Fin24 Apr 22 2010 21:54 Joan Muller Johannesburg – South Africans who were supposed to fly to Europe over the last week but have postponed their trips because of Iceland’s volcanic ash disruption will have to brace themselves for the tedious and costly exercise of re-applying for expired visas. Travel insurers, however, have adopted [...]

Electricity tariffs up 30%

22 April, 2010 in Botswana

source: The Botswana Gazette Written by NCHIDZI SMARTS Wednesday, 21 April 2010 12:00 The Government has approved an average electricity tariff increase of 30 percent across the board, effective 1 May 2010. Early this year, the cash-strapped Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) approached Cabinet for a tariff adjustment after a rise in maintenance costs and the [...]

Botswana eases trade investment

22 April, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: BOPA 22 April, 2010 WINDHOEK – Botswana has been robust in its approach to ease trade investment in the country. So far the country has concluded 10 Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAA), and will soon sign with two more European countries and five SADC countries. BOPA reporter, Rebaone Tswiio examines a DTAA, using the [...]

Botswana state media accused of biased reporting

22 April, 2010 in Botswana

source: ScreenAfrica.com Wed, 21 Apr 2010 The state media in Botswana comprising Radio Botswana, Botswana Television (BTV) and the Daily News have come under heavy criticism for biased reporting over the break-up of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). A faction of the ruling party calling itself Barata Phathi has set in motion processes to [...]