Zim forum launched

24 September, 2010 in South Africa, Zimbabwe

source: News24 2010-09-23 17:42 Pretoria – A team of SA and Zimbabwean government officials will try and ensure that the documentation of that country’s nationals runs smoothly, the home affairs department said on Thursday. The newly established SA-Zimbabwe task team would conduct daily visits at the department’s regional offices, director general Mkuseli Apleni told reporters [...]

Would privatizing BTC irk DIS?

23 September, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: The Botswana Gazette Written by AUBREY LUTE Wednesday, 22 September 2010 00:00 • Government to hold on to core of company • Public will own 49%, Government, 51% The privatisation of the Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC) is likely to pose a dilemma for the newly established Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS). The organisation [...]

Opposition councillors walk out on Khama

23 September, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi ONALENNA MODIKWA & BAME PIET Staff Writers SEROWE: Six opposition councilors walked out of the Central District Council meeting that was addressed by President Ian Khama and his cabinet yesterday morning. This happened after councillor Modisakgotla Makwati suggested that the meeting be moved to committee stage. Though opposition councillor Israel Jesi countered the [...]

South Africa: Zuma `On Back Foot` As League Pushes Mines Debate

23 September, 2010 in South Africa

source: allAfrica Business Day (Johannesburg) Sam Mkokeli And Sibongakonke Shoba 23 September 2010 Johannesburg — The ANC Youth League appeared to score a political victory last night when NGC delegate sneaked discussions on the nationalisation of mines onto the agenda. The African National Congress (ANC) Youth League appeared to score a political victory last night [...]

Financial Intelligence Agency takes off

22 September, 2010 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi MBONGENI MGUNI Staff Writer The eagerly-awaited graft busting unit, the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), has gotten off the ground with the arrival of a US Department of Treasury adviser and the secondment of four officers from the DCEC and the Botswana Police Service. Supported by Ministry of Finance and Development Planning officials, the [...]

Africa: Mixed Response to World Bank Education Package

22 September, 2010 in Africa

source: allAfrica allAfrica.com Bunmi Oloruntoba 22 September 2010 New York — At the opening of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit on Monday, mixed reactions greeted the World Bank’s announcement of an additional U.S.$750 million funding of basic education in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the world that are not on track [...]

BCL pushes to extend mine`s life

22 September, 2010 in Botswana, Business, Mining

source: Mmegi ISAAC PINIELO Correspondent SELIBE-PHIKWE: The General Manager of BCL Mine, Montwedi Mphathi, says they are pushing ahead with plans to diversify the mine and extend its life to 2020. Speaking at the launch of the mine’s new corporate values held at Phokoje Bush Lodge last Friday, Mphathi said BCL has developed a roadmap [...]

ZANU PF lashes out at British billionaire over investment

22 September, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa By Alex Bell 21 September ZANU PF has lashed out at attempts by a British billionaire to encourage foreign investment in Zimbabwe, saying they will not tolerate “backdoor entry by ‘vultures’ disguised as angels.” Billionaire Richard Branson, who heads the Virgin business group, has urged international investment in Zimbabwe, saying on [...]

Tribal service the poorer after police merger

22 September, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi DIRANG LEKUNTWANE Correspondent MAHALAPYE: Kgosi Moses Maherero says the merger of Local Police and the Botswana Police Service has serious problems of service delivery at tribal authorities, especially customary court summons. “We used to have vehicles with which we delivered summons,” he says. “The court clerks alternated with police officers – even the [...]

South Africa: Media crackdown `about control`

22 September, 2010 in South Africa

source: News24 2010-09-22 08:01 Cape Town – The government’s proposed media crackdown should be seen in the context of its own crisis of legitimacy, Mail and Guardian editor Nic Dawes said on Tuesday. The issue was not about metropolitan journalists trampling on people’s rights, but of control, he told a panel discussion in Cape Town. [...]

New assistant AG faces fraud charges

22 September, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi ISAIAH MOREWAGAE Staff Writer Newly appointed assistant Attorney General, Bongi Radipati is facing charges of financial embezzlement. Barclays Bank has filed a case in the High Court seeking to recover over P100,000 it claims it lost due to Radipati’s fraud. It is alleged he defrauded the bank at the time he resigned from [...]

Southern Africa: South Africa Flexing Its Muscles With Poor Neighbours

22 September, 2010 in Africa

source: allAfrica Inter Press Service (Johannesburg) Servaas Van Den Bosch 21 September 2010 Cape Town — The beleaguered Southern African Customs Union (SACU) has to face up to serious challenges at its upcoming heads of state meeting in October, including the divergent interests of its member states and the lack of coordinated industrial policies in [...]

Train was a danger to passengers – Ramsden

22 September, 2010 in Botswana

source: Mmegi DIRANG LEKUNTWANE Correspondent PALAPYE – The government stopped the use of the Botswana Railways (BR) passenger train because it posed a danger to the lives of passengers. But moves to re-introduce the passenger service could be considered by government in the near future. Minister of Transport and Communication Frank Ramsden said this yesterday [...]

China funding Zim diamond plunder with guns

22 September, 2010 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa By Alex Bell 21 September 2010 A top secret deal between Robert Mugabe and China’s ‘Red Army’ is reportedly keeping the regime in power, in an ‘arms-for-diamonds’ arrangement that is driving the plunder of the Chiadzwa diamond fields. The UK’s Daily Mail reported over the weekend how the deal made by [...]

Businesses Expect Internet Costs To Drop, Survey Shows

21 September, 2010 in Botswana, Business, Technology

source: Mmegi More than 90 percent of the African business decision-makers were confident that that Internet and related technology costs would drop and competition would dramatically increase as a result of the rush of new undersea cables connecting to the continent, the latest ‘Telecoms Trends in Africa 2010′ report has stated. The report, released by [...]