Beeld wins eNatis case

31 May, 2007 in eNatis (SA), South Africa

source: news24
31/05/2007 12:37  – (SA)

Pretoria – The Pretoria High Court has dismissed an application by the director general of transport, Mpumi Mpofu, to prevent the Beeld newspaper from publishing a story on security problems with the eNatis system.

The department of transport was trying to stop Beeld from publishing a story about eNatis because it highlighted “management failures,” the Pretoria High Court heard on Friday.

Arguing on behalf of Media 24, which owns Beeld, advocate Sias Reyneke, SC, told the court that the new computerised transport information system known as eNatis had no security in place.

“It is not because the system is designed that way, it is because it is not managed, it is because there is no governance of the systems,” he said.

He said a section of a report by the auditor-general obtained by Beeld showed there was inadequate password protection and that users had access to sensitive “root files.”

The director-general applied to the Pretoria High Court for an interdict preventing Beeld from publishing facts contained in the auditor-general’s report.

Advocate Pat Ellis, SC, for the department, said it was in the public interest not to have the security problems exposed in detail in the public domain.

“Heaven forbid car theft syndicates use the information to break into the system to cover up their crimes,” he said. news24

SA: Attempt to stop eNatis story

Hollywood Comes to Town in Botswana

31 May, 2007 in Botswana, Mma Ramotswe

source: Filmmaker South Africa
Production teams for the forth-coming Hollywood movie The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency is expected in Gaborone end of month to prepare for the shooting of the movie based on Alexander McCall Smith’s serialised novel.
The film script for MmaRamotswe, which was written by Anthony Mighella, has changed from the original one in the book.

While in the book, MmaRamotswe is just a simple woman addicted to Rooibos tea, the theme of the film revolves around a love story.

Executive Director of CamelThorn Media Trust, Ernst Engels, said through pre-production the team will set up an office, get their cast together both local and abroad as well as set up their crew and production staff.

“They will also organise hiring equipment, add and contract local crew, do location scouting and contract locations,” he said.

Engels said the team will also finalise the script and identify which sequence scenes will be shot before they start the actual shooting.

“The arriving, staying and working of a major film production crew from outside the country translates directly into income for the country,” he said.

Engels said while lead character, MmaRamotswe, was not selected from Botswana, the good news is that supporting actors will be given a chance while getting the experience of working in a film directed by Minghella. Filmmaker South Africa

SA rolls out red carpet for Blair

31 May, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
May 31 2007 at 08:34AM

By Botho Molosankwe

Pomp and ceremony heralded the arrival of British Prime Minister Tony Blair who arrived in South Africa on Thursday morning accompanied by his wife Cherie and a number of United Kingdom delegates.

Blair, who is stepping down as Prime Minister in July, is in the country to hold discussions with President Thabo Mbeki.

His visit comes ahead of the G8 Summit in Geneva, where he has been invited as part of the African group.

As the Blair plane touched down at OR Tambo International Airport there was a buzz of activity .

Two soldiers carrying a red carpet rushed forward and unrolled it on the [continue reading]

Govt to amend Interpretation Act

31 May, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
30 May, 2007

MAUN – Government is mulling amending the Interpretation Act, said lands and housing minister, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse.

The Act provides for the interpretation of the constitution and other amendments. Addressing North West District Councillors, he said the review would spell out a comprehensive definition of age of maturity, especially in regard to land allocation.

Currently, he said, land boards relied in the age of maturity which is 21 years as interpreted in this Act.

Mr Seretse said those below this age do not have a right to be allocated land unless there is prove of capacity that they could own land.

He said land allocation is contractual in the sense that one is bound to have developed the land within five years of allocation if it is residential, and if the land is for commercial purposes, it has to be developed in two years otherwise the deal is revoked.

The minister said he issued a directive that young people, below 21, applying for land under the CEDA Young Framers Fund should be allocated land as this is a special government programme.

Mr Seretse also briefed councillors on the criteria used to appoint and nominate land board members.

He said initially the lands minister nominated the members but this was reviewed since Batswana wanted to have a say in the allocation of land.

In the current format, he said applications are received and screened by a selection committee, comprising the district commissioner, council secretary, kgosi, land board secretary and one community representative.

He said the screening is intended to check if applicants meet the minimum requirements set such as whether they are between the ages of 26-65, have no criminal record and have a minimum qualification of junior certificate.

The committee also looks at whether the applicants are [continue reading]

Young Zebras off to Morocco

31 May, 2007 in Botswana, Sport

ource: Mmegi

TSHEPO MOLWANE
STAFF WRITER

National Under-23 go into unknown territory when they travel to North Africa to face Morocco in the opening game of the 2008 Olympic Games qualifiers at Complex Sportif Prince Moulay Abdella in Rabat on Saturday evening.

The Dream Team, who are under the tutelage of David Bright, leave this morning and have promised that they will not disappoint the nation.

Though they have little information about their opponents, Bright says they will deploy a cautious approach and try to get a goal if possible. “We’re going out there to fight and we’ll not let them dictate terms to us.

If we can go there and get a draw, I’m confident that we’ll finish them off here. The good thing about these games is that they are not played on a knockout basis, the boys will be exposed to tough competition to get them ready for the senior team,” Bright told Mmegi Sport.

The Young Zebras go into this game after [continue reading]

Drought relief projects to create 35 000 jobs

31 May, 2007 in Botswana, Business

source: BOPA
30 May, 2007

SEROWE – The Central District Council (CDC) has approved a 10-month Drought Relief Programme, which is expected to cost more than P84 million.

The programme carries 331 projects that will be implemented in the district during the drought period that runs from next month to April next year. It is expected to create employment for almost 35 000 people.

Presenting the drought relief report during a special full council meeting yesterday, CDCs economist, Mr Valentine Neo, explained that several projects would be carried out under the labour intensive public works programme.

Under this dispensation, projects to be considered include the construction of teachers quarters and classrooms, tribal administration shelters, rural staff housing, rural roads construction, de-silting of storm water drainage and many others.

The money will be shared among the six sub-districts with the Serowe/Palapye and Mahalapye getting a lions share of P22 million each for their 88 and 77 projects respectively.

The Tutume Sub-District has been allocated P12 million to cater for 67 projects, Boteti Sub-District got P8.5 million while the Tonota and Bobirwa sub-districts were each given P8 million for the undertakings in their areas.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Central District Council, Mr Lesego Raditanka, implored all the stakeholders to give the projects full attention.

All the people should own this initiative so as to make it a success and as such all the councillors, village development committees and the council staff as well as the community should put their differences aside and cooperate, he said.

Mr Raditanka said the labour intensive drought relief projects should be able to assist with [continue reading]

Khama’s Marriage On Or Off Again?

31 May, 2007 in Botswana

source: allAfrica
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

30 May 2007
Posted to the web 30 May 2007

Lekopanye Mooketsi

The proposed marriage of Vice President Ian Khama to private dentist Nomsa Mbere was expected to be the wedding of the decade.

The wedding was supposed to be a high profile affair because Khama is not only the country’s vice president but he is also the Paramount Chief of the Bamagwato.

However, with less than a year before he takes over from President Festus Mogae, it seems Khama will move into State House as a bachelor.

So far there have been no signs that preparations are going on for the dream wedding. In 2002, it was reported that plans were afoot for Khama’s proposed marriage. That was after a delegation from Serowe travelled to South Africa to meet the Mberes and seek the hand of their daughter in marriage.

The team was headed by Khama’s uncle, Sekgoma Khama.

During that time, Khama used to attend social functions accompanied by Mbere. Everything seemed to be going well until Khama’s mother, Lady Ruth Khama, died later that year.

After Lady Khama’s death, everything came to a virtual standstill. It seemed that the vice president had changed his mind about the marriage.

Since then nothing has been said about the marriage. Nobody is willing to say categorically what might have gone wrong. Even Khama’s uncle, Sekgoma, does not want to shed light on the matter although he is the family spokesman. He said “this is a personal matter”.

Mbere does also not want to comment on the issue. She also pointed out that this was a private matter. However, a source indicated that even Mbere seems to have given up on the proposed marriage. Khama’s Private Secretary Isaac Kgosi has never been willing to discuss the matter as well.

A University of Botswana (UB) sociology lecturer, Log Raditlhokwa, said there is [continue reading]

SA: Attempt to stop eNatis story

31 May, 2007 in eNatis (SA), South Africa

source: news24
30/05/2007 09:05  – (SA)

Johannesburg – The Department of Transport is bringing an urgent interdict against Beeld newspaper to stop a story about the controversial eNatis system, said the newspaper on Tuesday night.

Beeld investigative reporter Adriaan Basson said the newspaper had got hold of a section of one of the Auditor-General’s reports on the electronic National Transport Information System (eNatis) and on Tuesday morning asked the department to comment on it.

Beeld agreed to give the department until Wednesday to comment, but at about 19:00 on Tuesday Beeld was told that the department had brought the action to stop publication.

“The report is specifically about the security of eNatis,” said Basson.

The matter is due to be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday afternoon. news24

Drivers Rev for Toyota 1000 Desert Race

31 May, 2007 in Botswana, Business, Sport, Tourism

source: allAfrica
Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

30 May 2007
Posted to the web 30 May 2007

Maureen Odubeng

The 2007 Toyota 1000 Desert Race, fondly remembered by most local motor sport enthusiasts as the ‘Mantshwabisi race’, is scheduled to begin on June 15 running through to June 17.

For this year’s event, apart from changing 80 percent of the previous route, the race has slightly changed its name and logo to include Kalahari Botswana.

Speaking at a news conference in Gaborone on Monday, Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) Marketing Manager Joe Motse explained that this year the popular race has changed its name to include Kalahari Botswana, and is now called Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race, to position Botswana well for the international spectators. The logo now includes the Botswana flag, a product of a fruitful partnership between the BTB and race organisers.

With an increased number of competitors and the introduction of a new category (quad bikes), the race, termed the largest off road racing in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is expected to be the biggest ever.

Motse elaborated that fine-tuning of the popular event will produce positive results not only in terms of giving competitors and spectators the utmost excitement but also in terms of benefiting the [continue reading]

SAs Lottery process still in limbo

31 May, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
Boyd Webb
May 30 2007 at 11:36AM

The lottery saga will be resolved soon, Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa has confidently predicted on Tuesday as critics again lambasted him for mishandling the issue.

The minister suspended the lottery at the end of March after the Pretoria High Court ruled that the awarding of the lottery contract to preferred bidder Gidani was flawed.

It was found that Gidani and runner-up, Uthingo, had links to senior ANC members and government ministers, which was prohibited in terms of the Lotteries Act.

“The last time I addressed the media on this issue I said I would make a further statement on this matter at the end of the month, and I do intend to do so because the work has been going on at great steam and I am confident that we will conclude this process soon,” he said during his budget speech.

‘The minister suspended the lottery at the end of March’
However, in an uncharacteristic outburst, Mpahlwa said that neither he nor his department had ever “put a foot wrong on the issue” and that the High Court judgment had been “appealable”.

He argued that applications had been processed and that the [continue reading]

Where is SA on the global peace index?

31 May, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
May 30 2007 at 05:01PM

South Africa is the 99th most peaceful country of 121 throughout the world, according to a global peace index compiled by the intelligence unit of the Economist, it announced in a statement from London on Wednesday.

South Africa was ranked the 14th most peaceful of 21 African states, behind those at the top of the list, Ghana, Madagascar and Botswana, but ahead of Ethiopia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, and bottom placed Sudan, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.

The world index was topped by Norway, with Japan in fifth place, Canada eighth, Germany 12th, Italy 33rd, France 34th and the United Kingdom 49th.

The United States was ranked the 96th most internally and externally peaceful nation and Russia the 118th.

According to the statement, the index was commissioned by Australian IT entrepreneur and philanthropist Steve Killelea, who founded The Charitable Foundation in 2000.

“I believe there is a link between [continue reading]

Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) forms anti-corruption committees

30 May, 2007 in Botswana

source: BOPA
30 May, 2007

GABORONE – The newly established corruption prevention committees in the Department of Road Transport and Safety has been urged to work hard to combat corrupt practices.

The Deputy Director of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, Ms Rose Tsiane, said the committes would go a long way as the Ministry of Works and Transport was rated number three with 7.13 per cent in terms of the number of investigations opened within the ministry.

Ms Tsiane was speaking during a training workshop organised by the DCEC for the newly established corruption prevention committees of the Department of Road Transport and Safety Being the first corruption prevention committees to be established means that you have a big challenge because the decision as to whether we should roll out the committees to other ministries will depend entirely on how well they are doing, she said.

She said even though Botswana has been rated as one of the least corrupt countries in Africa that does not mean there is no corruption in the country.

One of the responsibilities of the corruption prevention division of the DCEC was to look at the systems and [continue reading]

Vodacom workers set to strike

30 May, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
May 30 2007 at 02:39PM

Members of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) at Vodacom have vowed to continue with the planned industrial action, the union said on Wednesday.

“Following the Labour Court’s lifting of the strike interdict against workers, the union has resolved to continue with the industrial action,” it said in a statement.

CWU’s interim Vodacom national committee debated the lifting of the strike interdict – an attempt by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to bring parties together – and the report from forensic audit team that was determining membership level of CWU at Vodacom.

“We then resolved to notify the company and all municipalities that would be affected by the strike about our plan of action.

“The union would also like to thank the CCMA for the interest it showed, however [continue reading]

Negotiation with SA Airlink at advanced stage

30 May, 2007 in Air Botswana, Botswana, Business

source: BOPA
29 May, 2007

GABORONE – Discussions with SA Airlink regarding the privatisation of Air Botswana are at an advanced stage and it is hoped a final proposal will be presented to government before the end of June.

Only then would it (government) be in a position to review the proposal as a whole to see whether it is the best alternative to ensure the long term sustainability, safety and reliability of air services in Botswana, says a statement from the Ministry of Works and Transport.

The statement says in the recent meeting of Air Botswana staff and works minister, Ms Lesego Motsumi, she indicated that negotiations on any severance packages for employees would not take place until government has taken a final decision on the proposal to form a new company with SA Airlink and close down Air Botswana.

If the government decides that the proposed deal is in the interests of Botswana to ensure continuity of safe and reliable air services, and it will require Air Botswana to close, then negotiations on exit packages with staff will take place, the statement says. BOPA

see Archive for the ‘Air Botswana’ Category

First National Bank Botswana shares shoot up

30 May, 2007 in Botswana, Business

source: BOAP
29 May, 2007

GABORONE – At the close of business on Friday, First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) shares were trading at 3600t or 11 per cent above their opening price on Monday.

The price jump according to a weekly report from Capital Securities is driven by increased demand following the recent announcement of a share split by the bank.

In our opinion we are likely to see further upward movement of the share price in the next few weeks.

We expect that the share price will rise even further post the share split. Our recommendation on FNBB has been revised to HOLD, says Capital Securities.

The report says the stock is currently trading on a price earning ration of 48, the highest amongst all the banks and this is likely to increase after the share split.

A total of 9135 shares were traded on Letshego and Standard Chartered Bank. The report says Barclays Bank was the most active stock in the sector with over 385 000 shares trading at an unchanged price of 900t.

In the resource sector trading in the past week pushed most resource stocks to close the week higher than their opening prices on Monday.

Discovery Metals traded up 6 per cent on 72,124 shares, says the report. Other stocks that traded up in the past week were African Diamonds and A-Cap Resources with 4 per cent each and DiamonEx with 2 per cent. CIC Energy lost 4 per cent to close at 7690t.

The report says LionOre share price jumped 23 per cent this past week after Norilsk Nickel announced a revised all cash offer to acquire the issued and outstanding common shares of LionOre.

It says the revised offer of about P149 per share has been described by the management of LionOre as a superior proposal. Norilsk Nickel had previously offered P114 per share.

The report says the offer by [continue reading]