Councils are corrupt, inflation goes down

23 June, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
Editorial

The Botswana Daily News of ThursdayJune 18 ran a screaming headline that “the Gaborone City Council is corrupt”. To most people, that was no revelation.

We all know that councils around the country are very corrupt. Cases of council officials appearing before courts, some of them being convicted, is adequate proof that corruption is rampant in our councils.

What however makes the Daily News story something to ponder over is that, at least, now officials are waking up to the rot that is eating away at our public institutions. For a very long time senior officials hid behind a cloak of officialdom to diplomatically parry away allegations of corruption.

During this period of silence corruption festered. Late as it is, it should be pleasing that [continue reading]

Botswana inflation hits single digits in line with expectations

23 June, 2009 in Botswana

source: Standay Standard
by Sunday Standard Reporter
21.06.2009 10:56:51 P

In line with what local commentators have stated at the beginning of the year, the year-on-year inflation rate fell to a single digit in 13 months even before the fall of 2009.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) this week showed inflation trending down significantly by close to 2 percent and keep Botswana analysts employed.

The May figures showed inflation stood at 8.4 percent, down by 1.8 percentage points from 10.2 percent in April.

Two analysts interviewed by Sunday Standard in March concurred that a single digit appeared likely before the end of [continue reading]

Commentators slam Jacqueline

23 June, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
Oliver Modise
Correspondent

Chairperson of the Editors Forum, Spencer Mogapi, has reacted strongly to the latest charges of misconduct against The Sunday Standard newspaper and suggestions that two of its journalists should be barred from practicing.

Mogapi says that the demand by the President Ian Khama’s sister, Jacqueline, that editor, Outsa Mokone, and a reporter, Rueben Pitse, be barred from practicing as journalist, is a clear indication that the Media Practitioner’s Act was passed to target journalists.

“This goes to prove that the Act was targeted at journalists,” he said
Mogapi, also co-owner of The Sunday Standard, said that in its first ever case, the complaints committee was seized with deciding a matter involving a plea to disbar journalists.

He condemned the appointment of [continue reading]

Africa: MFIs Face Collapse As Financial Crisis Bites

23 June, 2009 in Africa

source: allAfrica
The East African (Nairobi)
Joseph Bonyo
22 June 2009

Nairobi — Microfinance institutions in Africa have very little chance of surviving the current financial crisis as loan repayment default soars.

Most of their low-income debtors will be too busy concentrating on personal survival to think of repaying their loans.

This is despite a show of resilience by the global microfinance sector in a new survey conducted by CGAP, an independent policy and research centre dedicated to advancing financial access for the world’s poor.

“There have been few failures among microfinance institutions since the onset of the current financial crisis. However, the more than 400 respondents to the March survey reported significantly tougher market conditions,” reads the report, released recently.

In East Africa, microfinance institutions have [continue reading]

Botswana Readies For `Swine Flu`

23 June, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
Chandapiwa Baputaki
Staff Writer

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has presented the Ministry of Health with items that will help with preparations of the government of Botswana’s response to the continuing Pandemic Influenza (H1N1) 2009.

The items included 600 courses of Tamiflu, 500 latex gloves, 40 N95 face masks, 75 personal protective equipment including gowns, aprons, boots and goggles, laboratory supplies which include 900 viral transport media, 10 packs triple package, 93 specimen collection swabs and medical waste disposal bags.

According to the WHO representative to Botswana, Dr Eugene Nyarko, the situation with the pandemic that broke out in Mexico and the USA continues unabated. He stated that by the time of the handover, there were a total of 39,620 confirmed cases with [continue reading]

Africa: Prices Keep Food On the Shelves

23 June, 2009 in Africa

source: allAfrica
UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
22 June 2009

Addis Ababa — An increasing number of Africans living in urban areas are finding it harder to put enough food on the table, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has warned.

“The food crisis and shortages are still there in some African countries,” said Adam Elhiraika, ECA economic affairs officer. “We see [a] crisis when we do not have enough income to buy the food we need.”

Elhiraika, coordinator of a team which prepared the ECA’s Economic Report on Africa 2009, told IRIN in Addis Ababa: “We have less purchasing power. We also still have food shortages because many African countries do not have the capacity to respond to demand.”

Released on 28 May, the report, which was jointly prepared by [continue reading]

Weak Human Resource Is Botswana`s Undoing – World Bank

23 June, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi
Thato Moseki
Correspondent

The African Competitiveness Report (ACR) 2009 released last has identified a weak human resource base as the primary factor hindering Botswana’s strength against regional and international economic competitors.

But Botswana highly ranked in terms of overall competitiveness, coming third after Tunisia and South Africa.

The report, released last week, is the second of its kind by the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and African Development Bank (AfDB). It highlights areas where urgent policy action and investment are needed to ensure that Africa rides out the global recession and continues to grow for the future.

The report measures competitiveness over 12 pillars, among them infrastructure, the macro-economy, health and primary education, labour market efficiency, higher education and training and [continue reading]

Zimbabwe: Prime Minister Tells Exiles to Come Home

23 June, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: allAfrica
BuaNews (Tshwane)
22 June 2009

London — Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called on Zimbabweans living in Britain to “come home” and help in the country’s redevelopment.

Mr Tsvangirai, who was in Britain at the weekend on a tour of Europe and the United States to woo financial support, said the country had achieved a lot since his Movement for Democratic Change entered a unity government with long-ruling President Robert Mugabe four months ago.

He urged the estimated one million Zimbabweans living in Britain to help rebuild his country.

“The government needs these professionals. We also need whatever savings they made to help economic development. It is time to come home,’ he said.

Mr Tsvangirai also called on the [continue reading]

Botswana`s High Commissioner to India calls for a change of tactics

23 June, 2009 in Botswana, Business

source: Standay Standard
by Sunday Standard Reporter
21.06.2009 11:26:07 P

The Botswana High Commissioner to India has advised businesses in Botswana to be more accommodative and more flexible in their interactions with Indian investors who show interest in doing business in Botswana.

She has also said it is important that the Government of Botswana changes their mindset by becoming more efficient in processing all the necessary requirements like visas, work permits and office spaces.

Dorcas Kgosietsile said India has become a very important global economic player, and every country wants a slice of the country’s market and [continue reading]

Bakgatla Bojale Crowned Madisakgosi

23 June, 2009 in Botswana

source: Mmegi
Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
Staff Writer

The Bakgatla on Saturday announced their largest ever mophato or age regiment when 2,000 women graduated after a month of initiation school.

Bakgatla King, Kgafela II, who was installed last year, named the women’s only regiment -bojale – ‘Madisakgosi’.

There was cheering and ululation among the tribal women, mostly the initiated, who gathered in thousands at the main Kgotla, as word reached them ahead of everyone that the Kgosikgolo has named the new regiment, Madisakgosi.

In traditional Bakgatla style, the new regiment waited inside the royal kraal before their anointment. In a dramatic sketch, two women regiments staged a [continue reading]

Zimbabwe: Reforms `Irreversible` Tsvangirai Tells British PM

23 June, 2009 in Zimbabwe

source: allAfrica
allAfrica.com
22 June 2009

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai of Zimbabwe told his British counterpart in London on Monday that his country was engaged in “an irreversible process” of consolidating democratic values.

Speaking to journalists after meeting Gordon Brown at the prime minister’s office at 10 Downing Street, Tsvangirai said he was “conscious of the shortcomings in the fulfilment of the benchmarks we have set ourselves…”

But he insisted that the unity government into which he has entered with President Robert Mugabe has begun to institute political and economic reforms. “Although this is not a perfect arrangement… it’s a workable arrangement,” he said.

He also condemned the police beatings and arrests of women protesting in [continue reading]