Ministry admits corruption

11 April, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer

The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has revealed that a sizeable number of its officers are corrupt. The ministry’s PS, Segakweng Tsiane, said that it is disappointing that many officers are taking bribes.

“Though I can’t reveal it, it is quite a shocking number. Against those who admitted to professional misconduct, due process of the law is being followed. There will be disciplinary hearings and where necessary appropriate action taken against them,” she said.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister, Peter Siele, said that corruption is like cancer and can have a devastating effect on the country’s economy if left unchecked. He said his ministry is taking the matter seriously and they are vigorously tackling the vice. “Those who take bribes will be punished,” he said.

The ministry reported that passport theft has gone down. There have been reports that [continue reading]

Where Is NDP10?

11 April, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: The Botswana Gazette
Written by Botswana Gazette online
Thursday, 09 April 2009 00:00

Since attaining independence in September 1966 Botswana has maintained what some people term bottom-up approach in terms of development planning. This is done coordinated by the different ministries which later submit their proposals to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning which in turn comes up with a document called National Development Plan and allocated a number.

This is normally a six-year based plan which contains all that is to be implemented normally on a priority basis for all those plan period years when funds are available. Since ascending to power through automatic succession in April last year, HE Lieutenant General Ian Khama and a proud Kgosi-kgolo of Ba-Gammangwato, who dislikes politics, has changed the country’s planning landscape.

This process actually started when he was still vice president under the (Festus) Mogae presidency when he became what others term de-facto prime minister and did not have a [continue reading]

Govt acts to boost health services delivery

11 April, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer

The Ministry of Health is engaging the private sector through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme where they intend to have among others, old hospitals refurbished.

Speaking at a press briefing held this week, deputy permanent secretary (health services) Dr Kolaatamo Malefho said that the refurbishment of old hospitals is a high priority concern for his ministry, hence they want to enlist the private sector’s help.

“A call has been made for expressions of interest from the private sector for leasing proposals for the use of these old hospitals. We have received some promising proposals from several private sector players in health care and we are in the process of evaluating them for viability and adoption,” he said.

Dr Malefho said that he was confident that [continue reading]

US warns of more targeted sanctions if no reforms in Zim

11 April, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa
By Alex Bell
09 April 2009

The United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe, James McGee, has warned that more targeted sanctions could be placed against the Robert Mugabe regime, unless real change is evident on the ground in Zimbabwe.

Ambassador McGee on Wednesday told journalists that more sanctions could be possible, unless Mugabe and his cronies show ‘absolute ability’ to change. The US has already said that their sanctions, which target scores of people and companies linked to Mugabe with travel bans and asset freezes, will not be lifted. The Western super-power has instead adopted a wait-and-see approach to the effectiveness of the coalition government, in place in Zimbabwe since February.

Former US President George W. Bush imposed the specifically targeted sanctions in 2003, shortly after the US congress passed the [continue reading]

No Tariff Increase This Year – BPC

11 April, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: The Botswana Gazette
Written by Botswana Gazette online
Thursday, 09 April 2009 00:00

The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has said there will be no increase in electricity costs this year. This is despite the fact that Eskom, South Africa’s utility supplier is likely to apply to the National Energy Regulator of SA for a 34 percent hike in tariffs for 2009. South African reported that the 34 percent would mainly cover increases in operating costs. It is expected that the increase would be “roughly in line with the real increase of about 25 percent a year agreed on at 2008’s National Electricity Summit and takes account of the damage an excessive hike could do to an economy expected to show hardly any growth in 2009″.

BPC has a five year power purchase agreement with Eskom from 2008 to 2012, with a stepped down supply, meaning supplies to Botswana will gradually decrease. Last year the corporation announced an increase in electricity from the 1st of January. BPC increased tariffs for domestic use by 9 percent for domestic use while the tariffs for commercial purposes were hiked by 15%. The increase was a result of the rise in electricity costs in South Africa. It became clear after [continue reading]

Zimbabwe: Local forex clearance system expected soon

11 April, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: Financial Gazette
Friday, 10 April 2009 16:43 Munyaradzi Mugowo Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE banks, through their association, have applied for approval from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) to convert some of the national payment systems —notably the Zimbabwe Electronic Transfer and Settlement System (ZETSS) and Zimswitch — to allow for ease interbank settlements.

Apart from VISA cards, the Real Time Gross Settlement system (RTGS), cheques, debit and credit cards were rendered dud at the beginning of the year when a foreign currency-dominated multi-currency system was introduced.
To improve the settlement system among banks, the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) tendered an application for foreign currency-based national clearance system in March and expects a positive response from the regulatory authority by the end of this month.
John Mushayavanhu, the vice chairman of BAZ, said discussions with the monetary authorities had already started on how to convert the ZETSS, which caters for [continue reading]

UB re-instates suspended student leaders

11 April, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer

All the officials of the Student Representative Council (SRC) have been reinstated by the University of Botswana except Ragomolemo Kemotho whose case is still pending before the disciplinary committee.

The SRC officials were suspended indefinitely in late February after disturbances that forced the closure of the institution.

Speaking to Mmegi yesterday, the SRC president Kagiso Thutwe said they received their reinstatement letters in the afternoon. The reinstated members of the SRC are Molatedi Kgotla, Gonewamang Letsatsi, Tebogo Roberts, Gaone Disang, Owen Nsala and Molema Molema.

The students boycotted classes in January to protest against [continue reading]

How do SA voters perceive Zuma?

11 April, 2009 in South Africa

source: IOL
Caiphus Kgosana
April 09 2009 at 08:30AM

Only 51 percent of African National Congress supporters believe that party president Jacob Zuma is innocent of the fraud and corruption charges that were levelled at him, while 71 percent of ANC voters say they support him unconditionally.

This is revealed in the latest Ipsos-Markinor survey that looks into how South African voters perceive the ANC president.

Project manager Wayne Viljoen said the survey was conducted among 3 531 respondents between February and March. The respondents, he said, were registered voters of all races, and from rural and urban areas.

The survey found that 39 percent of all respondents thought Zuma was innocent of the charges, while 31 percent believed he should be made to face the music. The rest were undecided or declined to [continue reading]