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BOPA News on 22 May 2000

Health authorities warned that glue sniffing was dangerous to health as this could damage the nervous system Interviewed by BOPA, the Francistown City Council's Chief Community Development Officer, Polelelo Motshwaedi said the street children numbering more than 15 were a headache to the authorities.

Ms Motshwaedi said that they were once taken back to their respective schools but returned to the streets to make money through washing cars and doing other odd jobs.

Some of them have become beggars. She said some people once volunteered to assist them but the children were not interested to learn or to be engaged in skills that would bring them long term benefits.

Ms Motshwaedi said councillors also had an audience with the children with a view to assisting them but all in vain.

The aim was to engage them in horticulture, carpentry and upholstery at the city council's plot number 911.

Addressing a Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) youth career seminar at Old Naledi Community Hall, she said the college was in the process of introducing English for professionals at the request of the Botswana Police.

Another course being considered, she said, was on small business management.

Ms Molefi said while non-formal education was mainly meant for working people, it had now become popular with the youth.

She said a graduate of the college was now studying at the University of Botswana.

BOCODOL also planned to find a place in Old Naledi to make it easier for students in the area to get tutorials in the evenings.

Another presenter, Roleliene Brink of Pro Models, said there was a lot of talent in Old Naledi.

The school teaches girls about confidence and self-esteem and trains them in modelling, make-up, skin and hair care.

At the seminar, the youth expressed concern about the short training period for courses offered by Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF), saying companies were unwilling to employ people with only six weeks of training.

A CITF senior facilitator, Bruce Molefe explained that the organisation was started as a training place for the construction industry, hence the short courses.

He explained that employers were unwilling to let employees take too long from work.

He said CITF was planning to align their courses in such a way that their graduates would meet the minimum requirements for vocational training centres.

CITF offers short courses on bricklaying, plumbing, electrical installation and others.

Another speaker, an attorney and a member of the BPP, Thokozile Mathumo, urged the youth to show commitment, saying foreigners were in jobs that they could be doing.

One of the youth, Theonah Mmifhi urged her peers to take responsibility for their future.

An Old Naledi resident, Solly Motlhokamongwe said parents were supportive of the youth.

He advised them to take the AIDS message seriously because it was killing many Batswana.

In a BOPA interview Major Mautle said, if the idea could be adopted it would drop the standard of football in the country which was already low.

He said in every sports there was competition and dividing teams according to their organisations would weaken competitions, while at the same time defeating the spirit of sports development in the country.

Major Mautle said other countries were successful in sports because of institutional teams since such clubs were disciplined, giving Zambia as one of the countries in the region which had benefited from institutional teams.

"Instead of clubs pointing accusing fingers to one another this is the right time when local clubs should be run professionally and most of all it is the time when clubs should be exchanging ideas on how best to improve the standard of football in Botswana," he said.

About his club, Major Mautle said TASC was back in the elite league and was aiming high, adding that they were already eyeing the Coca-Cola Cup.

"We are back in full swing and our opponents should not judge us by our past performances. We have a new management as well as quality players which can stand the pressure of the Super League", Mautle said.

He said key positions in the new management were held by civilians since TASC was a public institution team. According to Major Mautle, the team had been relegated twice since its formation because of old players who lacked discipline and who were not committed to the game.

"In the early 1990s, TASC used to perform well in the super league winning trophies but lost touch due to indiscipline and failure on the management's side", he said.

He dismissed allegations that transfer of good players to BDF X1 was one of the factors which contributed to TASC being relegated but was quick to mention that in the past BDF X1 was the only army team registered with Botswana Football Association (BFA).

"People should not view TASC as a club which belongs to the army because any player is free to join and can be transferred to any club even if they are members of the Botswana Defence Force", he said.

Major Mautle said his club was lacking financial support just like other clubs but they encouraged players to understand that they were playing for the country as well as for their health.

He said as part of their development programme TASC had a junior team players who were promoted to the senior side after graduation.

On other issues, he said Botswana had good strikers but got finished at the peak of their carriers, adding that it was the reason why local teams lacked consistence.

He advised players to be dedicated to the sport they chose because without determination no passion could be displayed.

He also called on the media to cover sports activities from the grassroots level instead of focusing on the super league games.

For his part, TASC coach Lieutenant Seth Moleofe dismissed allegations that senior officers in the army interferred with coach's duties when it came to team selection.

He also said it was not true that players of lower ranks were also intimidated during training sessions, a practise which critics claimed contributed to TASC 's poor performance .

Lieutenant Moleofe concurred with Major Mautle that TASC was there to stay in the super league "and no more Tirelo Setshaba one year service".

"With the support of members of the public and management my team stand a better chance to produce best results", he said.

He said Botswana had consistently supported the orderly marketing of diamonds through the Central Selling Organisation (CSO).

"This is precisely because we have found that it smoothens some of the natural market fluctuations in sales volumes, prices and revenues," said President Mogae.

The President said diamond revenue accounted for nearly half of funds flowing into the national treasury.

However, he said orderly marketing was not about suppressing competition or exploiting customers because that would be economically self-defeating.

"Orderly marketing is about adopting a long-term supply policy as opposed to a short-term view," he said.

He said Botswana's diamond mines provided the country with one great comparative advantage, while in other industries the nation struggled valiantly to keep up with international competition.

President Mogae said the Orapa Expansion Project would greatly enhance the nation's productivity.

On the so-called "conflict diamonds," the President said it was true that diamonds and the revenues arising from their sale were being abused by unscrupulous parties in the furtherance of civil conflict in some parts of Africa.

He said any realistic efforts to end such misery in Africa deserved Botswana's support.

He said Botswana supported the ongoing efforts by the United Nations and other bodies to find practical ways of regulating the international trade in diamonds so they were not used to promote violence and civil strife.

However, Mr Mogae said the diamond trade was the lifeblood of millions across the globe.

"The diamond revenues support essential programmes of national development in stable democratic countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Namibia," he said.

Therefore, it must be ensured that the positive aspects should not be cancelled through ill-considered and ill-fated attempts to cut supply lines of the terrorists.

President Mogae commended De Beers for promoting Botswana's economic advancement, noting that the company provided the first substantial foreign direct investment at a time when the country was an unknown quantity with no track record of dealing with investors.

"De Beers Centenary remains by far our largest foreign investor," he said.

Addressing the Ghanzi Land Board last week, Mr Nkate said apart from scanty programmes, Botswana had no land policy.

The purpose of introducing such a land policy was to guard against land grabbing, he explained.

Mr Nkate said some of the issues to be addressed by the envisaged policy included dual grazing rights and restrictions to prevent individuals owning many plots.

On other issues, the minister warned board members to exercise fairness in allocation of land and to avoid political bias.

He pointed out that there had long been a public outcry about political influence in the operations of land boards throughout the country.

Mr Nkate said he would not hesitate to suspend or expel any member of the land board who was influenced by politics in his/her work.

The minister also warned land board members against accepting bribes. In turn, the Ghanzi Land Board members raised some issues which delayed land allocation such as budget ceilings, lack of transport and interference from some quarters.

Giving a vote of thanks, a board member, William Babish applauded government's decision to divide the ministry of local government, lands and housing.

The association presented Ms Mogae with a trophy and P1 000. The money, as HATAB's vice chairman Odirile Merafhe said, was accompanied with a recommendation that a Botswana clean-up campaign fund be started under the First Lady's leadership.

Ms Mogae said when receiving the award in Gaborone that it belonged to all organisations and individuals who participated in the endeavour to keep Botswana's environment clean.

She said a cleaner Botswana would be an added bonus and a better sell for the country as a premier, healthy and safe tourist destination.

"An improvement in HATAB's fortunes will create much needed jobs for us and enhance our foreign exchange earnings," she said. "We also need to restore pride in our country to a litter-free state, that we can all be proud to call home." The First Lady said Batswana had for a long time yearned for a clean environment and had, therefore, embraced her clean-up campaign; they also came up with initiatives to clean their surroundings.

She gave the example of one Mphothwe of Mochudi Booksellers who were sponsoring an annual cleanest primary school in Kgatleng District while other groups organised litter picking fund-raising activities.

Ms Mogae said government had invested millions of Pula in the latest, state-of-the-art sewerage treatment facilities and landfills but more remained to be done.

Environmental crews of city and town councils, she said, lacked supervision to clean the environment.

As a result, money from rate funding and appropriation from central government to finance environmental cleanliness goes down the drain because there is no difference to the surroundings.

She called for equitable litter picking in low and high cost areas.

"We need to start addressing waste disposal in villages," she said. "We need rubbish bins and regular garbage disposal. Otherwise all our efforts at cleaning will come to nothing." Ms Mogae said Somarelang Tikologo, one of Botswana's environmental groups, had petitioned the government to reduce the availability of plastics.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Boikhutso Primary School, Mr Mzwinila said the trust is known as Tsholofelo Small Businesses and Organisation Development Trust.

Mr Mzwinila said the trust already had an executive committee. He is the patron.

He said the fashion design syndicate, one of the other syndicates of the trust, had already held a two-day workshop. He urged people to use other syndicates of the trust.

Mr Mzwinila said he would look for financial assistance in and outside Botswana for the trust.

The MP said people could fill application forms at his office for financial assistance programmes.

He added that he had recruited mathematics and English tutors for forms three and five in his constituency but the Gaborone City Council was reluctant to assist with classrooms.

"I was trying to improve the quality of education in my constituency from my own pocket but the council is disappointing me," he said.

The MP added that his constituents could always go to his office to discuss their problems.

Mr Mzwinila said the council planned to introduce a 24-hour service at Tsogang Clinic.

He reminded his audience about the presidential honours and that names should be submitted to his office by the end of June.

"The honours are given to people of meritorious service to the nation," he said.

Speaking in an interview with BOPA, Mr Phatshwane said, people who believed the stadium will be under utilised are wrong because the facility is not confined to benefit Masunga residents only.

He said, the facility belongs to the entire 43 villages in the district and as long as it is available people will use it effectively.

Mr Phatshwane said, most importantly the stadium is a national facility which Batswana should be proud of, as it is a sign of government's commitment in providing sports facilities for all.

"The facility is a catalyst which will encourage the youth in the district to display their talents in various sports codes and it will not come as a surprise when the district produces some of the best medalists in future," he said.

He said, Botswana teams have been performing below standard at international competitions and lack of facilities has been identified as one of the major contributing factors to the poor results.

"Construction of Masunga stadium is part of the answer to sports development in the country and as years go by better results from our athletes could be expected," he said.

Mr Phatshwane said the availablity of the stadium in the district will also reduce costs incurred by teams when they have to travel to Francistown stadium for various sports activities.

According to Mr Phatshwane football was by far the commonest sport in the district but there is hope that other sports codes will develop since facilities were now available.

Other activities which could be performed in the stadium are music and traditional dance and festivals since they were part of the culture in the district, he said, adding that schools will also conduct competitions in the same venue.

He advises residents in the district to start taping and identifying talents so that when the stadium is complete it will be easy to form various teams.

He, however, doubted that the stadium will generate funds through gate taking and bookings because most permanent residents in the district are elderly people.

District Development Officer, Ms Mothusi Loanika concurred with the council secretary on the importance of sports in the district, adding that the stadium was 88% complete.

She said construction started in 1998 and was expected to be complete last year but unexpected rains delayed progress.

Ms Loanika said other developments so far include the revival of a district sports committee which had been dormant last year.

She said 50 football teams have been identified in the district but such teams are active during tournaments which normal take place on public holidays.

Last year, the committee organised district sports festivals in various sporting activities sponsored by the Ministry of Labour and Home and it was successful.

She said, the committee's intention is to identify talents and encourage people to participate in sports, adding that some women have grouped themselves in the village to form a netball team.

She also admitted that the district was still far behind in sports in general.

According to Ms Loanika when complete , stadium will have facilities for football netball, basketball, swimming, tennis and facilities for indoor games as well as offices.

They told Tonota MP Pono Moatlhodi during a kgotla meeting that the sub-district should have been located at either Mathangwane or Makobo.

They said the villages were at the centre of the sub-district.

They said it was wrong for the Central District Council to make a final decision on the location of the headquarters of the sub-district without consulting them.

Mathangwane was the only village which indicated its opposition to the location of the sub-district when a task force on the issue toured the district recently.

Residents said they would rather remain under the Tutume Sub-district.

The villagers also condemned government's intention to privatise services saying only rich foreigners would benefit.

They said the Gaborone Private Hospital had proved that services provided by private companies were not affordable to ordinary people.

Mathangwane residents expressed concern about the council's failure to take action on the delay in the election of a new village development committee.

They also complained that a promised audit of the VDC's books had not been done.

They said Radio Botswana's "Dikgang Tsa Palamente" programme should be re-instated to afford constituents the chance to listen to their representatives speak.

Other issues of concern included failure by the Tutume Sub-district Council to collect Matimela cattle on time.

Addressing the residents, Mr Moatlhodi said when the idea of a sub-district started it was suggested that the headquarters should be in Tonota, because it was a strategic place.

He promised to discuss the issue of the Mathangwane VDC with the council.

The MP reminded the residents that they could undertake some projects through self-reliance.

On the issue of "Dikgang Tsa Palamente," Mr Moatlhodi said government had refused to re-instate the programme on the grounds that it was abused.

The MP also addressed a kgotla meeting at Chadibe where he said the road connecting their village with Borolong would be tarred.

Officiating on behalf of the Director of Health Services, Patson Mazonde at a three-day national mental health policy workshop in Lobatse, Ms Okaile said it was important that the formulation of the national health policy must ensure that appropriate services were readily accessible to the people.

Ms Okaile said although the policy would primarily address the provision of health services, it must also recognise that people with mental disorder often require access and support from a complex of other health and community services such as housing, employment and income.

She urged participants to contribute effectively because their imput would make a difference towards the formulation of the policy for final imput by policy makers.

Ms Okaile advised participants that in their deliberation they should also not only be concerned with mental illness but recognise and address broader issues affecting mental health of all the different groups in the society.

She said her ministry remained committed to the primary health care strategy for the attainment of health for all, hence it emphasised, among others, on health prevention and the provision of affordable services to the people.

Ms Okaile said it was common that people were quick to be sympathetic and to seek help for persons who were not physically well, but shied awaywhen it was a mental problem.

She said such a situation should be avoided because mentally ill people should also be treated with love and afforded friendly assistance.

Ms Okaile said one of the ways of reducing the stigma attached to mental illness was talking it openly in the community and to accept the realities of life, lest such powerless persons would be shunned or rejected by society.

Ms Phumaphi's move follows a dispute between the Dutch Reformed Church and Bakgatla who both claim they own the hospital.

The feuding started early this year after the church issued its policies and regulations regarding the running of the hospital.

The regulations give church members the right to dominate any committee mandated to run DRMH.

Kgosi Linchwe II of Bakgatla and his people do not agree and demand to know under what authority the church issued the rules to govern the running of the hospital.

Kgosi Linchwe says the hospital remains the property of Bakgatla because it was built from funds collected on behalf of the tribe. He said as early as the 1920s, missionaries, among them one Rev Reyneke, appealed for funds from donors and got the money on behalf of Bakgatla.

He added that in the early 1970s, a certain late Dr Gunder Teichler, who worked as a missionary in Mochudi, asked for funds from Germany, on behalf of the tribe, to expand the eye clinic.

Later, Dr Holand Hoeffmeyer raised funds for building the surgery and the X-ray room in his own capacity and not the Dutch Reformed Church, Kgosi Linchwe said.

He further said even the land on which DRMH was built belonged to Bakgatla.

Kgosi Linchwe said when Dr Teichler approached him in the 1970s about the expansion of the hospital, he, as the chief, approached a Rakgole family that had resided between the hospital and the church to move to give way for the expansion project.

Additionally, when organised medical services started, the then Kgosi Linchwe I paid the costs of medicine for his people, he said.

"Bakgatla regiments were actually the ones who initially built structures of the hospital," Kgosi Linchwe said.

Attorney Sidney Pilane, who was engaged by Kgosi Linchwe to represent Bakgatla on the matter, said the church can not prove that it owns the hospital.

"At a recent kgotla meeting the church was asked to prove ownership but failed," Mr Pilane said.

People who contributed to the building of the hospital did so as individuals.

He says as a rule of law, the hospital was built on the land that belonged to the tribe and it therefore remains its property.

The capacity of the stadium is expected to be over 5 000 steats with 400 covered.

He said because the President could not travel to Washington to receive the award next month, arrangements would be made for its presentation at a later date, he said.

Mr Sesinyi said the company was impressed with Botswana's anti-HIV/AIDS campaigns and measures taken so far to assuage the scourge.

The company is working in collaboration with the United Nations to establish the best way of assisting the country in the promotion of access to HIV/AIDS drugs.

The drugs provide some support against opportunistic diseases but are not a cure for AIDS.

Speaking in an interview, Ramotswa Station Commander, Superintendent Gilbert Mathumo said some people refused to volunteer information to the police because they were related to suspects, while others did not want to get involved at all.

He said lack of co-operation from the community hindered the police from doing their job and delayed the prosecution of cases.

Regarding the crime situation in Ramotswa, Superintendent Mathumo said rape incidents had decreased significantly ever since penalties for the offence were stiffened.

However, there had been an upsurge of burglaries in the past and theft had been reported since the beginning of the year.

Superintendent Mathumo said bars were prone to attack as thieves were targeting the money contained by snooker machines.

He called on Ramotswa residents to cut down on gumba-gumba entertainments as they attracted youngsters who ended up consuming alcohol and committing crime.

Council chairman John Benn told the residents during a kgotla meeting that it was probable that there were more than 2 300 orphans in the district.

Mr Benn said relatives who treated orphans as servants at cattle posts instead of registering them with the council and sending them to school deserved condemnation.

He said government had put in place a sound orphanage programme for the benefit of such children.

He said the council was meanwhile assessing the drought situation in the district.

He hoped the government would declare a drought year given the floods which destroyed crops early this year.

He also said the government had approved the council's request to continue the fourth phase of the drought relief projects.

The phase was to end next month but had been extended to March next year.

Mr Benn briefed the Riverside residents about the outbreak of tsetsefly in the Ngamiland area.

The council was expecting the Minister of Agriculture, Johnnie Swartz, to address councillors on planned remedial measures.

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