World Bank subsidiary invests in Botswana mining firm

30 June, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi STAFF WRITER In a deal that should boost Botswana’s mining industry, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on Friday made a C$5-million (P34 million) equity investment in Tsodilo Resources. The funds from the World Bank subsidiary will be used to advance exploration at the Canada-based firm’s Ngamiland diamond and base metals project in northwest [...]

South AFrica: Eskom strike may hit fans

30 June, 2010 in South Africa, World Cup 2010

source: Fin24 Jun 29 2010 22:39 P Johannesburg – The largest union representing Eskom workers have decided to go ahead with a strike next week, which may leave households and businesses in the dark during the World Cup. The National Union of Mineworkers’ (NUM) leaders have voted on Thursday to go on strike at Eskom [...]

South Africa: Country Sold R13 Billion of Arms to Non-Qualifying Countries

30 June, 2010 in South Africa

source: allAfrica Business Day (Johannesburg) Sipetile Sixishe 29 June 2010 South Africa has sold R13 billion in arms to countries blacklisted by the arms act, NGO Ceasefire claims. Ceasefire has compiled a database containing information on South Africa’s arms exports to other countries and released its findings to the media today. “Arms are not potatoes, [...]

Kgafela Outlaws Shebeens

29 June, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi Lekopanye Mooketsi Correspondent In his latest decree, Kgosikgolo Kgafela II has banned shebeens in the Kgatkeng District. At a Kgotla meeting addressed by their king on Saturday, the Bakgatla unanimously agreed that shebeens in the district should be closed with immediate effect. Kgafela declared that by Sunday no liquor should be sold at [...]

Khama berates GCC for failing to collect garbage

29 June, 2010 in Botswana

source: Sunday Standard by Godfrey Ganetsang 27-06-2010 President Ian Khama on Friday raked Gaborone City Council officers over hot coals for failing to collect litter. Addressing a full council meeting last week, Khama expressed concern at the filthy state of Gaborone and urged the council to marshal their resources to ensure that the city is [...]

Zimbabwe: Outrage as diamond rights groups accused of bribery

29 June, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa By Alex Bell 28 June 2010 There has been a shocked and outraged reaction to claims by Mines Minister Obert Mpofu that two leading international diamond rights groups had tried to bribe him, by offering their support in exchange for diamond profits. The groups Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) [...]

Saleshando slams Khama over media treatment

28 June, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi EPHRAIM KEORENG Staff Writer President Ian Khama has been accused of trying to govern the country like his own household, undermining transparency and protocols that govern the constitution. Botswana Congress Party (BCP) spokesman, Dumelang Saleshando told Mmegi that by barring private media from covering cabinet visits to councils, Khama thinks he can “come [...]

South Africa: Govt eyes compulsory car insurance

28 June, 2010 in South Africa

source: SouthAfrica.info 28 June 2010 Compulsory basic damage insurance on vehicles is being considered by the government, but appears to be a long way from becoming a reality. “It’s going to take a while… we’re still in the very early brainstorming stage on this,” transport ministry spokesperson Logan Maistry told Sapa on Friday. He was [...]

Councillors walk out on Khama

28 June, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi GREG KELEBONYE Staff Writer All nine opposition councillors in the Gaborone City Council (GCC) walked out on President Ian Khama and his cabinet yesterday citing ‘procedural flaws’. The councillors staged a walkout shortly after the media was told to leave. “I stood up to seek clarification as to why the media had to [...]

South Africa: Eskom makes provision for strike

28 June, 2010 in South Africa

source: Fin24 Jun 28 2010 08:03 Dewald van Rensburg Johannesburg – The impasse between Eskom and the unions can be resolved if the parties agree to return to the table, Kannan Lakmeeharan, Eskom’s MD of systems and planning, told Reuters on Sunday. There has been progress on both sides, he maintains. According to Lakmeeharan, Eskom [...]

Khama extends Masire`s contract

28 June, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI Correspondent Chief of the armed forces, President Ian Khama, has extended the contract of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) commander, Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire, military sources say. Masire took over from Lieutenant General Matshwenyego Fisher in 2006. He would have retired this year, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 55. [...]

Councillor withdraws motion

10 June, 2010 in Botswana, Palapye

source: BOPA 10 June, 2010 PALAPYE – The second Palapye Sub Council session commenced this week with councillor for Lerala, Mr Kabo Ketshogile withdrawing a motion of no confidence on the Sub-Council Chairman and his deputy. In what seemed to be a debate, Mr Ketshogile declined on three accounts to table his motion, saying he [...]

SA government urged to protect citizens under attack in Zim

10 June, 2010 in South Africa, Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa By Alex Bell 09 June 2010 The South African government is being urged to immediately intervene in ongoing attacks against South African farmers in Zimbabwe, where at least 16 people have faced aggressive land seizures in the past week. The renewed onslaught against farmers, which has resulted in a number of [...]

Btv is disappointing – survey

10 June, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi GASEBALWE SERETSE Staff Writer A recent research conducted by Mmegi has shown that urbanites have had enough of Botswana Television (Btv), which they accuse of lacking innovation and creativity. Interviews with 50 urban dwellers of varying ages and backgrounds revealed that many people are choosing to desert the national broadcaster over a number [...]

Revamped tourism law to discard ungraded facilities

10 June, 2010 in Botswana, Business, Tourism

source: Mmegi MBONGENI MGUNI Staff Writer The amended Tourism Act will revoke licences of operators who fail to attain at least a one-star grading after one year of assessment, as Government and industry players tighten quality standards and sector competitiveness. Recently gazetted amendments to the Tourism Act also make the grading of all tourism facilities [...]