Palapye: Police nab two with 1050 litres of fuel

7 January, 2008 in Botswana, Palapye

source: BOPA
07 January, 2008

PALAPYE – Police are investigating a case in which two Zimbabwean men were caught with five 210 litre tanks containing fuel in the Palapye Industrial area in the early hours of the New Years Day.

The Palapye CID Officer In-charge Detective Asst. Supt. Philemon Ngwato said the two suspects who reside in Palapye are aged between 27 and 45 years.

Detective Supt. Ngwato revealed that the two suspects had loaded the five fuel tanks on a Ford Courier bakkie, and were on their way to Zimbabwe.

When questioned about the five fuel tanks they refused to disclose information on where they [continue reading]

Sluggish trade at Botswana Stock Exchange over festive season

7 January, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: BOPA
07 January, 2008

GABORONE – Business was quiet at the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) over the festive season as compared to other seasons, a market analyst has said.

But the dull mood was to be expected because companies had closed for Christmas and New Year holidays and investors had also gone on recess, said Leutlwetse Tumelo, head of client services at Capital Securities.

There is usually some activity just before the festive season, said Tumelo, as some investors cash-in their shares to spend on holidaying with their families.

But some see that as a good buying opportunity when there are many sellers because share prices are often reasonable due to competition, he said.

In share trading, Tumelo said, there is never an opportune or bad time to buy or sell shares as the market is controlled by varying factors.

The BSE, which started with only five listed companies in [continue reading]

SA wine back on growth track

7 January, 2008 in Africa

source: SouthAfrica.info
7 January 2008

South African wine exports are on the rise again, reflecting a 16% volume increase for the first 11 months of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006, says Wines of SA CEO Su Birch, commenting on the latest data from industry body SAWIS.

Birch expects exports for the full year to exceed the 300-million litre mark, which would be a record for the country.

Confident of continued growth this year despite the highly competitive nature of the international market, Birch is projecting an increase in export volumes of at least 6%. “Although a conservative estimate, all indications are that the temporary setback in sales experienced in 2006, when volumes dropped some 5% on 2005, is now well and [continue reading]

SADC airlines gear for 2010

7 January, 2008 in Botswana, Business, SADC, World Cup 2010

source: BOPA
07 January, 2008

GABORONE – Air Botswana will partake in a cross-regional airlines meeting this month to strategise for the 2010 football World Cup to be held in South Africa.

The national airlines General Manager, Mr Lance Brogden confirmed in an interview that: we have been invited and will certainly participate although we do not have the agenda right now.

Also, expected at the Zimbabwe meeting are experts from 24 countries from SADC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

I am yet to find out what will be there for us as an airline at the meeting, Mr Brogden said.

About three million tourists are expected to visit Africa for the world soccer showcase, the biggest single-sport event in the world.

As the FIFA event is reasonably expected to boost economies in Southern Africa, air transport is among the top sectors bound to benefit handsomely due to [continue reading]

Dry holiday for Chibuku lovers

7 January, 2008 in Botswana

source: BOPA
07 January, 2008

MOLEPOLOLE – Demand was high for Chibuku shake shake in Molepolole and surrounding villages during the festive season.

But Chibuku drinkers were disappointed that the brew delivered in depots and shebeens tasted sweet and was not well matured.

Several regulars at depots complained bitterly about the state of the brew and its shortage.

Most people bought loads of crates to sell during Christmas choir performances at the lands leaving small amounts in the villages and some livestock owners bought some for their herders at the cattle posts.

In random interviews , one of the prominent shebeen queens, Mrs Dineo Bodigelo said since December 23, she experienced shortage of chibuku in Molepolole.

She said they woke up early in the morning to go and buy at the depot but they failed to get the [continue reading]

Zimbabwe: Fugitive MP accuses RBZ of `shady deals`

7 January, 2008 in Zimbabwe

source: ZimNews
author/source:Standard (Zimb)
published:Sun 6-Jan-2008

Butau is a director in Dande Holdings, a company linked to Vice-President Joice Mujuru
By Caiphas Chimhete

David Butau, the Zanu PF MP for Guruve who fled to the United Kingdom a week ago, yesterday challenged Reserve Bank Governor Gideon Gono to explain what he called “shady deals” in which he alleged the central bank was involved. Butau fled after the police announced they wanted to question him on allegations of foreign currency exchange violations. Speaking in a telephone yesterday, Butau alleged Gono knew of several RBZ “shady deals” which the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance, of which he is chairman, was keen to investigate. Gono yesterday refused to comment, saying in a subdued voice: “I am not taking any calls. He (Butau) can put all the allegations he wants but I am not commenting on those matters.”

Butau said Gono had frustrated their investigation by refusing to appear before the [continue reading]

Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board falls short of 7 per cent target

7 January, 2008 in Botswana, Business

source: BOPA
07 January, 2008

GABORONE – The Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board has recovered 3 per cent of the total subvention during the last quarter of 2005/2006.

However, the Auditor General says in a performance audit report, it is short of the 7 per cent it had set out to achieve.

This follows the Boards initiative to develop and implement a cost recovery strategy. The report says the income generated from cost recovery was to be 10 per cent of the total subvention within 12 months.

It notes that the date on which the implementation of the cost recovery strategy was to commence was not indicated.

The performance report says the set target had not been achieved, but there had been a slight improvement as compared to the first quarter of the same period.

The report further notes that the cost recovery strategy had not been developed, despite the fact that it should have been [continue reading]

SA: `We are not ready for 2010`

7 January, 2008 in Africa

source: IOL
January 07 2008 at 09:19AM

By Dominique Herman

Western Cape tour guide Selwyn Davidowitz, the joint winner last year of UK travel magazine Wanderlust’s best tour guide in the world award, says top Cape Town tourist attractions cannot cope with the crowds over the festive season, let alone the masses who will descend for the Soccer World Cup in 2010.

“We’re expecting a six-fold increase in tourism over 2010. Even if there’s a two-fold increase, chaos will erupt. Instead of doing good, it’s going to leave a bad image,” he said, referring to the absence of upgrades at major tourist sites and traffic congestion from planned roadworks on major thoroughfares.

“We’re not ready,” he said. He cited infrastructure and facilities on [continue reading]