World Bank loans Morupule with P943m loan

24 May, 2010 in Botswana, Business, Morupule

source: Mmegi BRIAN BENZA Staff Writer Botswana has received a US$136 million (P943 million) loan from the World Bank as part finance for the 600 MW Morupule B power stations currently under construction in Palapye. Morupule B power station is seen as the sustainable long-term solution to Botswana’s power shortages, particularly in the face of [...]

Botswana forms Financial Intelligence Agency

24 May, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Sunday Standard by Reuben Pitse 20-05-2010 The Botswana government has established an agency that will combat financial crimes like terrorism, human trafficking and money laundering. The new organ, called the Financial Intelligence Agency, will be fully operational by April next year. It will specifically analyze financial transactions that occur in the country, and also [...]

Africa: Rule No 1 – the Chief is Always Right, It`s His Advisors Who Mislead Him

24 May, 2010 in Africa

source: allAfrica The East African (Nairobi) Jenerali Ulimwengu 24 May 2010 Nairobi — It’s the chief, not his cronies. As they prepared to do the premiere of The Last King of Scotland in Kampala a couple of years ago, I hailed a cab and hurried to evacuate myself from the city centre before Yoweri Museveni [...]

70.5 million Euro support for Botswana-EU

24 May, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi MPHO TLALE Correspondent Botswana has benefited from a European Union (EU) support programme totalling 70.5 million Euro, aimed at boosting human resource development and mitigating the effects of commodity price flactuations in the country. Speaking at the celebrations of Europe Day, Head of the delegation of the EU to Botswana and SADC, Paul [...]

Kgafela slams the media, cabinet ministers

24 May, 2010 in Botswana

source: Sunday Standard by Kagiso Madibana 20-05-2010 Bakgatla paramount chief Kgosi Kgafela Kgafela last week accused Cabinet Ministers of forgetting their Setswana culture and tradition. Kgafela said at a recent kgotla meeting in Mochudi that he is mortified by the fact that none of the cabinet ministers, save for Ramadeluka Seretse, supported him when he [...]

Govt earns P3.3 billion in diamond royalties, taxes

24 May, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi MBONGENI MGUNI Staff Writer A newly released De Beers report states that the Government of Botswana earned P3.3 billion from taxes and royalties from Debswana mines last year, approximately 40 percent lower than previous levels. Released on Wednesday, De Beers’ Report to Society (RtS) 2009 details the diamond giant’s contribution to governments, communities, [...]

South Africa: Fuel Supply Risk As Transnet Strike Enters Its Third Week

24 May, 2010 in South Africa

source: allAfrica Business Day (Johannesburg) Siseko Njobeni 24 May 2010 Johannesburg — THE petroleum industry and other key sectors are bracing for disruption after SA’s largest transport union, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu), this weekend rejected Transnet’s latest salary increase offer and vowed to prolong its strike into a third week. [...]

Use less power to avoid high bills-economist

6 May, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi ISAAC PINIELO Correspondent FRANCISTOWN: An economist at the University of Botswana (UB) Professor Narain Sinha says the 30 percent increase on electricity tariffs that came into effect last Saturday is a blessing in disguise because consumers will use less power in order to avoid paying high bills. “In increasing the prices, the interest [...]

Zimbabwe: U.S. Reviews Harare Sanctions

6 May, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: allAfrica The Nation (Nairobi) Kitsepile Nyathi 5 May 2010 Harare — The United States is reviewing the decade old sanctions against Zimbabwe. But the measures are unlikely to end the travel restrictions and asset freeze imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle for alleged human rights violations. A bill that seeks to [...]

Govt winning war on poverty – Merafhe

6 May, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi BAME PIET Staff Writer Government has reduced levels of poverty in recent years and latest interventions have proved to be making an impact in the fight against poverty, said Vice-President Mompati Merafhe at a press briefing he jointly addressed with his assistant Mokgweetsi Masisi yesterday. The objective of the briefing was to update [...]

South Africa: Zuma makes judicial appointments

6 May, 2010 in South Africa

source: News24 2010-05-05 18:03 Johannesburg – President Jacob Zuma announced new judicial appointments on Wednesday in accordance with the Constitution and on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. “The President congratulated the judges on their appointments and wished them well in their new roles,” the Presidency said in a statement. Zuma appointed Judge Dunstan [...]

Are watches still necessary?

6 May, 2010 in Botswana

source: BOPA 06 May, 2010 GABORONE – There is a noticeable change of trends in the way people tell time. For many professionals, cell phones are an indispensable piece of technology, at times so indispensable that many people have become slaves to their gadgets. Even young children now walk around with cell phones in their [...]

Botswana immigration system needs restructuring

5 May, 2010 in Botswana

source: BOPA 05 May, 2010 GABORONE- Botswanas immigration system needs to be revamped to make it easier for the country to attract the best skills in the global market. Independent economist from E-Consult, Dr Keith Jefferies expressed need for a thorough regulatory review of the system because of too many outdated regulations. He was making [...]

Press Council on Press Freedom Day

5 May, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi GIDEON NKALA May 3 has been set aside by the United Nations General Assembly as World Press Freedom Day. On this day Media Practitioners around the world celebrate the freedom to do their job without persecution. The motivation to declare May 3 Press Freedom Day was to sensitise governments on the monumental importance [...]

Press day commemoration Saturday

5 May, 2010 in Botswana

source: BOPA 05 May, 2010 GABORONE- Botswana journalists will, next Saturday, commemorate the World Press Freedom day under the theme Access to information, the right to know. Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Botswana national coordinator, Thapelo Ndlovu stated that the theme was spot on especially in Africa where the need to access information is [...]