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BOPA News on 21 February 2001

Director of Civil Aviation Tsegaye Meshesha said in an interview that tremendous progress had been made as the SSKA Site Master Plan had been completed and suitable development sites for a hotel, filling station and car parking identified.

Department of Architecture and Building Services' Roger Damp said the tendering process has, however, not yet started because funds were being sought.

But Meshesha said these developments meant that "the business community can refer to the plan to put up business activities".

The airport complex was among NDP 8 projects deferred to NDP9 because of some overriding priorities.

Meshesha also announced that the state-of-the-art radar system installed at SSKA and Maun airports would be commissioned next month.

He said the commissioning would bring Botswana's airspace control system on par with South Africa.

The installation of two VHF radio stations at Hukuntsi and Shakawe is in progress and when completed should significantly enhance Botswana's flight safety standards, he said.

Meshesha said the feasibility study on the revamping of Maun, Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe and Shakawe airports started in October last year.

"The study is progressing according to plan and is expected to be completed this October. "It is, therefore, not possible at this stage to estimate how much the upgrading will cost."

The feasibility study on the five airports started simultaneously and "the exercise will run according to different schedules agreed between the consultant and the Department of Civil Aviation though the completion time is 2001", he explained.

Temane said the executive had developed a culture inconsistent with the laws of the country to decide and make conclusions on national matters without either consulting the legislature or the public.

Giving an example, Temane said Parliament had requested government to suspend the proposal to limit the number of problem animals for which compensation is paid for until consultation was done but the minister went a step further to ban the killing of lions and cheetahs.

Apparently because the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Tebelelo Seretse had the powers to impose such a ban, he said. Temane charged that the minister's actions were tantamount to abuse of power and inconsistent with Parliament Standing Order 98.

The MP said it was unfair for power to be used to disregard an agreement reached in Parliament. Temane complained that there were some lobby groups, "few in number and white in colour," which influenced the minister to change the laws at the expense of Batswana.

He said the fine for killing a lion was P5 000 while compensation for livestock killed by the same animal was P430.

Quoting rumours, he said lion cubs were being removed from the Makgadikgadi Game Reserve, where a study on lions was being conducted for rearing somewhere else or that some lions were being sterilised.

Temane also complained that some farmers in Tribal Grazing Land Policy (TGLP) farms in the Hynaveld area had turned their farms into tourist areas by keeping wildlife.

He said it was illegal to change land use of the farms because it was only Parliament that had the authority to amend the policy.

Temane said the farmers sometimes captured animals and released them for predators to catch and kill for the purpose of taking photographs.

Other issues that the legislator complained about were government's intention to review the Settlement Policy and the establishment of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) without consulting Parliament.

He also criticised government for engaging a consultant to review conditions for the public service without consulting the people concerned.

Lobatse mayor Metlhaeno Gaseitsewe said, when welcoming assistant finance and development planning minister Boyce Sebetela to a council special meeting, that development funds should not be released to council on a piece-meal basis or upon submission of project memoranda.

Gaseitsewe said the Lobatse Town Council experienced unnecessary delays when the ministries of Local Government and Finance and Development Planning took long to appraise project memorandum.

The result is the escalation of costs and delays in implementing projects. He said the five per cent retention fee to contractors should be reviewed because it caused problems for councils.

He added that some Batswana contractors let councils down; "they are only interested in a mobilisation fee and then abandon the project".

He said this underscores the need for a thorough appraisal to reject those who once failed to perform.

He asked the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to support and spearhead the Lobatse 2000 project which was not only geared towards expanding the town but could also create thousands of jobs for Batswana.

The government should take advantage of the Trans-Kgalagadi Highway and the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) of the United States to enable private sector to venture into job-creating undertakings.

Responding, Sebetela said his ministry was discussing the issue of releasing memos soon after parliament had approved the budget allocations.

Sebetela said he supported the idea of giving ministries and their departments more powers to avoid delays in employing people and implementing projects.

On the concern that citizens contractors delay projects, Sebetela pleaded with the council to be patient with them because they were new in the business.

Some Ramotswa youth said at the end of an AIDS workshop that condoms be distributed in schools where the number of pregnancies shows that the students have unprotected sex.

The youth said, however, that organisers of the workshop should include parents, teachers and police officers in future workshops so that the elders could hear the views of the youth.

They also asked the government to regulate liquor outlets in Ramotswa where, they said, there are too many bars ‹ some of them near secondary schools.

Health workers told the youth that teenage pregnancy is a problem in Ramotswa and surrounding villages and that 250 students dropped from school because of pregnancy in the area.

The health workers suggested the teaching of family life education in schools.

The participants complained to Superintendent Gilbert Mathumo, the commander of Ramotswa Police Station, that police were not consistent in their work because they forced some bottle stores, but not others, to close at 7 p.m.

They complained that some bottle stores in Ramotswa operate as bars but the police do not enforce the law.

In response, Mathumo said the residents should report to him police officers in the village who do not arrest people who violate the law.

Mathumo also told the participants that Ramotswa youth use drugs such as dagga, glue and beer. Ramotswa youth have also been involved in three rapes and three killings in the past year.

A police officer attending the workshop said he was attacked by a gang of 15 boys when he tried to rescue a person who they wanted to victimise. However, all the boys were later arrested and tried by a customary court.

South East Member of Parliament Lesego Motsumi and councillors in the constituency organised the workshop. Motsumi spoke of the need to hold more workshops for young people.

Assistant Minister of Agriculture Pelokgale Seloma told Parliament last week that the European Union market paid more for beef from young and heavy animals.

Seloma also explained that BMC had decided to make producer prices uniform from January to June.

The change, he said, was in response to farmers' promises that they would sell more cattle to BMC if prices were not reduced between April and June.

"It remains to be seen whether the farmers will fulfil their part of the deal," said Seloma, who was responding to a question from Mmadinare MP Ponatshego Kedikilwe.

He had asked the minister to explain the rationale behind the new price structure and to advise farmers on farming practices to adopt in order to take advantage of the new prices.

Seloma said BMC, together with the Ministry of Agriculture's extension services, encouraged farmers to improve the weight and quality of their cattle by crossing with heavy breeds such as Simmentaler, Hereford and Sussex.

Farmers were also encouraged to sell young finished animals, he said.

"I have not talked to any farmer that I am to have spoken to in Ghanzi but the decision to ban the killing was based on the statistics I have that the lions and cheetahs have been greatly reduced in number," she said.

Minister Seretse was responding to allegations made recently in Parliament by Maun/Chobe MP Bahiti Temane that OEa few individuals and white in colour' had boasted they were going to ensure that the ban was imposed after one Motswana farmer killed lions that attacked his cattle.

MP Temane had argued that it was improper for the minister to have banned the killing of the two species when the issue was still before Parliament.

Seretse also said with effect from April, compensation for livestock killed by predators would be increased.

On the budget, she said the theme of accelerated economic diversification was relevant because Botswana had been heavily dependent on minerals since independence.

She said when the Performance Management System (PMS) was fully functional; government should get rid of its rigid paying structure.

"The consultancy on conditions of service for public servants will hopefully look at the PMS which will ensure that under-performers stand a high risk of losing their jobs," she said.

Seretse, MP for Serowe South, said Botswana's efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS scourge would be meaningless if other SADC countries did not step up their campaign against it.

The free movement of people among member states would ensure the gains were reversed, she warned. Minister Seretse said with the credit rating that Botswana was seeking, foreign investors would be attracted into the country.

She raised concern that some MPs had insinuated that foreigners were unwanted in Botswana. Seretse said Batswana must know that with the advent of globalisation, they must learn to compete otherwise they would fall by the wayside.

In a related matter, the Minister of Works, Transport and Communications David Magang said the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) would assist real business people unlike in the past when money was dished out to people who did not have the aptitude and capacity to do business.

"We knew projects were not viable but we just dished out money but under CEDA only viable projects will the funded," he said.

Magang said unlike cattle posts where management was left to herdboys; commercial principles were needed to run a business. The minister confirmed that the consultant managing the infamous Botswana Telecommunications Corporation billing system got a monthly package of P80 000.

He said the money included all expenses and equalled what the consultant would have earned anywhere else.

She told a Thabala political rally that development was taken to where majority of Batswana were so they could enjoy modern amenities.

Seretse said Botswana had scored many successes under the BDP, adding said it was their policy to electrify 72 villages every year under Rural Electrification Programme.

She further said the government was concerned about the delayed rainfall, and was looking into how Batswana could be assisted in the event of drought.

The minister also briefed her audience on the fourth review of Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) designed to improve the standard of living of the people.

On the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF), she said it had lost its vision, saying in July this year when the party goes to its national conference delegates should not be accommodated in schools because "they are going to fight again for positions and damage school premises".

Another speaker, Mogome/Mokgware councillor Jerry Lesiapeto, said because of the BDP policies, everyone enjoyed the freedom of speech, which should not be taken for granted or abused.

He said because the BDP had vision, government was decentralising development ­ "taking the services to where the majority are - which shows that the BDP government cares for the welfare of the nation".

Lesiapeto also praised Botswana and South African governments for providing school places for Batswana students.

Thabala councillor Mothusi Disampole said the BDP had done much for Batswana, including orphans, destitute and pensioners.

CEDA, which would take over the operations of both FAP and SMME programmes, would therefore get P190,3 million of the 2001/2002 budget, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Baledzi Gaolathe said in Parliament this week.

In addition, some or all infrastructure established specifically for FAP and SMME throughout the country will be considered for take-over by CEDA, he said.

Gaolathe said government decided to establish CEDA to consolidate existing as well as future economic empowerment schemes to promote citizen participation in the economy.

"CEDA is therefore meant to redirect, energise and invigorate these schemes with respect to citizen business development with a view to meeting the objectives of accelerated economic diversification, employment creation and poverty alleviation," he said.

He explained that although the agency would be an autonomous organisation, it would be answerable to government.

"Its mandate will be to manage and monitor some of government's financial and technical assistance schemes to Batswana wishing to go into business or to expand existing businesses," he said.

Gaolathe said financial assistance under CEDA would be in the form of highly subisidised loans and risk sharing as opposed to outright grants.

He said apart from FAP and the SMME schemes, other citizen empowerment schemes would continue as they were FAP and the SMME schemes would be modified and brought under the management of CEDA, he said.

Gaolathe said the maximum limit of loans for small and micro projects would be increased from P20 000 to P150 000 while the interest rate would be reduced from 15 to five per cent per annum.

The maximum repayment period for loans would be increased from 36 to 60 months but the smaller the loan amount, the shorter the repayment period.

For medium scale projects, the investment limit would range between P150 000 and P2 million with an interest rate of 7.5 per cent over a maximum of 84 months.

Assistance for medium scale projects would be reserved for 100 per cent citizen owned projects, the minister said.

He said a Venture Capital Fund would be established under CEDA to provide equity capital and management assistance to economically viable citizen owned companies and joint ventures between citizens and foreign investors.

The fund, he explained, would invest in ventures of any size but investors would be required to contribute a minimum of 25 per cent of the total cost of the project.

Also to be included under the CEDA umbrella would be a monitoring and mentoring programme which would see business consultants advising citizen entrepreneurs on management skills relating to purchasing, production, planning, marketing, financial management and human resource management.

The order has been issued by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Environment in letters, which have been sent to the concerned parties as part of the ministry's programme to implement the Central Gaborone Area Plan of 1996.

Deputy Director in the Department of Town and Regional Planning Bernedette Bhebhe said in an interview in Gaborone on Sunday that Central Gaborone was planned as a predominantly residential area.

She said the original plan in 1963 envisaged a low-density development of less than five plots per hectare and meant to cater for a maximum population of 20 000.

But by 1991 the population had jumped to 133 468, surpassing the original projections, she said. She said because of the unexpected growth of Gaborone, Central Gaborone had come under tremendous pressure as infrastructure capacities "are being over-stretched because of the high demand for change of land use - from residential to commercial - as well as new and more intensive developments".

Bhebhe said it was government policy that permanent change of land use should not be permitted in the Central Gaborone area.

"The rampant incidence of non-conforming land use activities in Central Gaborone area has meant that the intended residential character of the area is being seriously altered, with undesirable intrusions of traffic and noise into otherwise tranquil residential neighbourhood.

"This change of land use syndrome, which in most cases are illegal, has also seriously depleted the available housing stock," she said.

On whether the ministry planned to relocated the affected entrepreneurs, she said the Central Gaborone Area Plan, which was approved by Cabinet in 1996, rezoned some residential plots into commercial use and recommended intensification of plot development in the area to make room for more commercial floor space.

Bhebhe said this included two rows of plots along Botswana and Queen's roads, which have been rezoned for commercial office land use and further along Independence Avenue, on both sides of Borakanelo mall.

Provision of commercial office land use has been made as follows:- north-west side: single row of plots; 131 to 136, north-east side: double row of plots; 203 to 212, south-west side: single row of plots; 800 to 806 and South-East side: double row of plots; 400 to 408.

She said rezoning of former residential plots on Sechele Road and north-eastern part of Mogwe Way (901, 1029 and 1003 to 1012) for commercial office use as a continuation of Kaunda Road commercial avenue.

Bhebhe said the Central Gaborone Area Plan having made the proposals and provisions of commercial plots, those commercial activities operating on residential plots were given two years initially from 1997 to 1999, and another extension up to February 2001 to relocate their businesses to appropriately zoned commercial plots.

On what the government intended to utilise the vacated areas for, she said the government did not intend to go into the property development market.

"This is best left to the private sector. The realisation of the Central Gaborone Area Plan proposals depends largely on private sector involvement and initiative," she said.

The minister was speaking at the Ramotswa main kgotla last week where he urged farmers to make sure their livestock did not cross into South Africa which has been hit by foot-and-mouth disease.

As their livestock grazed along the Notwane River, which forms the boundary between the two countries, Balete were in a more precarious position and should try by all means to control the movement of their livestock, he said.

The minister told Balete that initial reports indicated that the disease spread to South Africa through some imported pig feed and was diagnosed first at Kwa-Zulu Natal in October last year.

The disease was further discovered in Mpumalanga in December last year from cattle slaughtered in Swaziland. Early this year, the disease broke out in Northern Province.

Swartz told the meeting that South African animal health officials believed that the disease spread from the farm it was first diagnosed through farm workers who looked for jobs elsewhere after all the cattle on the farms were killed.

During question time, Philimon Motlhale asked the minister why the government could not build a fence between Botswana and South Africa to stop the movement of livestock between the two countries.

He also wanted to know what government was doing to prevent the disease affecting animals, such as the Kudu, wild pig and many others, that drink from Notwane River and return to South Africa or cross inside Botswana.

Selebogo Moremi told the minister that the P300 compensation for cattle and P25 for small stock that had been destroyed by predators was too little.

He said in Ngamiland an ox was equal to P500 while in the South East it was equal to P1 600. He accused some government employees along the border of "just waiting for animals to cross the border to shoot them".

Another speaker, Sinah Mokgosi, complained to the minister that some animal health officers once removed her goats from the kraal and put them in their kraals before killing them. She felt unfairly treated because when she reported the matter to the chief, she was told to keep her goats outside the village.

Dr Chimbombi, who had accompanied the minister, said animal health officers posted along the border were not instructed to be rude to farmers, but to work with them to control the movement of animals.

He was responding to allegations that officers had threatened to impound and kill animals found being shepherded by children.

Minerals, energy and water affairs minister, Boometswe Mokgothu complained in Parliament on Monday about the failure by councils to maintain public infrastructure even though funds were available.

Mokgothu, who was contributing to the debate on the budget speech, said as a result a lot of infrastructure, especially school buildings remained in poor condition thereby compromising the educational needs of Batswana children.

He said last year; some public officers had to be reprimanded for failing to maintain schools in the Mogoditshane constituency. Some resigned as a result of the pressure put on them.

He criticised council officials for failing to utilise funds allocated to them, preferring to keep them in banks.

On other issues, the Letlhakeng MP welcomed the creation of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) as a step in the right direction.

Government financial assistance schemes failed in the past due to Batswana's lack of business skills, as well as lack of proper targeting and access to markets, he said.

Mokgothu said subsidies should be properly targeted. He announced that his ministry was in process of looking into the possibility of establishing diamond cutting and polishing companies to create about 2000 jobs in the near future.

The minister also encouraged Batswana to take advantage of recycled water to stimulate the agricultural sector by establishing horticultural projects around the country.

Commenting on the budget speech last week, Nkate said Batswana could not compete with other investors when assistance packages remained small and difficult to get.

"The government should revisit the tourism scheme to find out how Batswana could be assisted. Batswana are now being used to front for foreigners because they do not have money," he said.

On another issue, he said government should ensure that assistance extended to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was accounted for. He said some people only formed NGOs to access money from government for their personal use.

Nkate also talked about cost recovery, explaining that the poor would not be denied access to services.

He wondered whether Botswana should trust Zimbabwe to share other facilities in the spirit of regional co-operation after it had diverted rail traffic from the country's route to Beitbridge.

"When we SADC member countries talk about co-operation let's be serious about it," he said.

He talked about external debts, saying heavily indebted countries should provide proof that they indeed used the borrowed money for development. He said far too much money borrowed from external sources was misappropriated.

The MP welcomed the review of the Rural Development Policy expressing the hope that it would help attract investors to rural areas thus providing jobs and curbing rural-urban migration.

Molepolole MP Daniel Kwelagobe said government needed to step up efforts to take rural development further by addressing some impediments and bottlenecks that currently beset it.

Kwelagobe, also minister of Labour and Home Affairs, identified the encroachment of the Kalahari Desert into fertile land as one such problem.

Calling on government to redouble efforts to reduce desertification, he said past efforts to stop encroachment of the desert into farming areas had not been successful.

Developments such as indiscriminate digging of soil by construction companies, roads passing through ploughing fields and settlements in lands areas also contributed to the reduction of agricultural land, he said.

Kwelagobe suggested that small holdings in piggery, poultry and dairy farming must be encouraged around cities and big villages which he said would encourage rural development and contribute to poverty alleviation.

He said water should be connected to farming areas so that birds, cattle and weeds would not destroy people's crops while they travelled long distances to fetch water.

Minister Kwelagobe also came strongly in support of the fund meant to assist citizen property owners facing foreclosure.

He said the establishment of the fund followed complaints by MPs that the main and African malls Gaborone had fallen into the hands of non-citizens.

In her brief remarks, the minister said in accordance with her election promises, she was donating the equipment to help students acquire skills and be in a position to compete globally using the Internet and e-mail to access vital information.

She said she decided to start with the schools because the equipment would benefit every child instead of an individual.

She said there were five junior secondary schools and 15 primary schools in her constituency, and it was her wish to provide secondary schools with computers and primary schools with television sets.

She said Batswana were living in a global village and needed basic information on technology and which they could only get if empowered with the necessary skill and machinery.

Seretse called upon parents to ensure the project "flourishes" by treating it as personal property.

The television and a computer were donated by prominent Gaborone businessman Ophaketse Gaobakwe who said it was his wish to assist other people with anything he could afford.

He praised the minister for having consulted him about ways of helping schools in her constituency and pledged to continue supporting her "until she fulfils her promises to the electorate."

Welcoming the guests, Kgalemang schoolhead Leageletse Mogotsi applauded the minister for her efforts.

He praised Gaobakwe for sharing his family wealth with the "have-nots", saying it reflected his commitment to the education of Batswana children who were the future leaders.

Giving a vote of thanks, local councillor Neo Kealotswe said the donation was a challenge for other companies to share what they had with the under privileged members of society.

They proved the point when they humbled their army counterparts 6-4 in a thrilling encounter at the National Diamond Stadium in Gaborone on Saturday.

Police took their lead in the first inning through Solomon Thabo when they registered a point but their triumph was short-lived as BDF replied with two points in the second and third innings.

BDF's two quick points sent some shock-waves in the Police IX players who now and then seemed to fumble whenever they handled shots from BDF batters.

However, Police IX were in an uncompromising mood and in the fourth inning they managed to put their act together to show their prowess in the use of a bat.

At 41 years and having played softball for 24 years, Police IX's James Gunda proved his mettle when he hit a powerful shot to register a home run.

The fourth inning again belonged to Police IX as they amassed five points to consolidate their supremacy over the soldiers. Although BDF fought hard to unsettle their opponents, they only managed to snatch two points in the last two innings, which was not enough to tilt the scale in their favour.

In the ladies' bracket, Police IX also beat BDF 6-4.

On Sunday, UB men's team beat Dinare 16-6, while their ladies lost 23-3 to Dinare.

Addressing a news conference, managing director Andy Prebble said the operating income before bad debts went up six per cent over the same period in 1999 and the dividend increased to P70 million, which is 58 per cent in contrast to last year.

A flat performance in operating profit was recorded year on year and this was attributed to the bank's focus of ensuring the smooth operations of its recently replaced computer systems.

The other factors included the depreciation of new computer hardware and significant investments in new refurbished branches as well as investments in ATM network.

The bank also focused on investing on staff development. Prebble noted that given its inward focus in 2000, Standard Chartered Bank this year would initiate several revenue generating activities to ensure growth in its total income and will continue to invest in staff, branches and technology.

The primary goal, he said to continue to improve service rendered to customers with the service quality, professionalism, reliability and efficiency being the driving spirit in the bank's operations this year.

Among new products to be launched will be an international debit card (Visa Electron) in the first half of the year and the bill payments service which at the present covers Mascom Wireless and DSTV, will be extended to cover other utilities.

The installation of more ATMs throughout the country will continue as well as the refurbishment of branches.

From across the border Keppie Moeketsi, Dollar Brand, Hugh Masekela and of course Don Laka command great respect among many jazz and blues lovers.

So, no wonder when I saw the notice boards around Gaborone announcing shows by Don Laka and Abraxas over the past weekend, I was only excited about Don Laka, but didn't pay much attention to the other name, Abraxas, like I had done many times before.

Not that I had anything against them. It was simply that I had never heard or seen them play. And I always wondered if they could really play jazz, or at least according to my little understanding of what is jazz. All that changed on Sunday at Boatle gardens.

I never really intended going to Boatle, but after filling my car with gas at Bonnington and on my way home, I switched on the radio just on time to catch the announcement about the show.

The DJ persuaded me to go to the joint show when he started playing some tunes by Laka. So, upon arriving at the Mogoditshane traffic circle at Phase II, I headed south and arrived there at about 4:30 pm.

"It's P60, sir," said the gentleman at the gate. I grudgingly parted with three P20 notes. The place was already alive. Most of the folks were in pretty good shape, dignified ladies and gentlemen seated at white tables and sipping all sorts of red wines waiting for the show to start.

It was a Valentine concert and as jazz lovers streamed in they were treated to a glass of wine at the entrance to make them feel welcome.

Technicians were doing the final touches of sound check. I found some space at the far end of the bar counter and ordered Coca-Cola.

A work colleague of mine, Kesaobaka Kooreng, joined me later and we started strategising on how best to write the story about the show. I would write about the Boatle show and he would do the stadium one, we agreed.

Shima Monageng of Kgalagadi Jazz Company (KJC) said the occasion was meant for jazz lovers to enjoy what they like most under a cordial atmosphere.

Monageng said such come togethers were beautiful in that they brought people with different talents together so that they could even make business contacts.

Monageng, who doubles as a partner in an estate company, Willie Kathurima Associates, said KJC was willing to help in exposing local artists to the international scene, but said aspiring artists needed to be serious for them to succeed.

Just when I was starting to be a little impatient, Abraxas took the stage. And good heavens I wasn't prepared for the goodness that transpired on stage for the next hour or so before the band went for a break.

They started with some tunes by the legendary blues master, Louis Armstrong. At the end of each song, the group received a rapturous applause from "friends of jazz," as the master of ceremony fondly referred to the clearly excited audience.

Abraxas' rendition of Armstrong's pieces was so good I even thought it was the original recordings of the man himself. I asked a gentleman next to me if the music was recorded. "No," he said, adding: "Yeah, they are good."

The group's vocalist Eric Juba has a way of working the audience to frenzy through his imitation of Armstrong's rich hoarse voice.

"So, this is Abraxas," I thought to myself. But more was to come. Then they started doing some tunes by one of my favourite groups, the Crusaders, especially the track "Way back home." The guys were good.

They dished out some of jazz and blues classics with such professionalism, precision and ease. Just like the Crusaders, the band was introduced while playing the song, "Way Back Home."

On percussion there was Jonathan Moalosi, Zakes Gwazi, Derrick Monaba on drums, Brian on base and Lister Boleseng on turner saxophone.

Lister Boleseng is one of the best saxophonists in the country and the way he plays shows that he could go places with the instrument.

Abraxas were an excellent bunch to watch and it appears the band has mellowed with time and they should perhaps consider recording their music.

By the time the main player, Don Laka took the stage, the crowd had already been worked into a receptive jazz mood.

Most people had taken to the dance floor by this time, swinging to those township jazz melodies from Laka's kwai jazz tunes.

Laka and his supporting crew in the likes of Walter Kotu on drums, Patrick Mokoka on base, Aupa Makhubela on lead guitar were an excellent lot to watch.

They played their hearts out and the drizzle seemed to be just right to cool off jazz lovers who seemed not to mind.

Band members seemed to have played with one another for a long time and the way their tunes blended into one another clearly showed that they understood what they were doing.

The previous day he had played at the National Stadium stadium where Duncan Senyatso dazzled revellers with his music which has a strong touch of indigenous tunes.

Senyatso, who was one of the nominees at the annual kora music awards in South Africa, has a way of dealing with the crowd and leading them by the hand.

The show which was meant to thank MUSCOM subscribers for their support was also a third anniversary celebration for the organisation.

Lucky revellers won themselves cell phones through a raffle for the entrance tickets and one of the phones went to a seven-year-old girl.

It was somekind of a family show as some of the parents had brought their children along to join in the fun.

I had intended staying for a shorter time, but when I checked my watch, it was about 11pm and I certainly wouldn't have minded hanging around until the end of the show had it not been for the fact that the next day I had to go to work.

Not to take anything from Laka, he was at his usual best. He delivered. But I must admit I was impressed by Abraxas, very impressed.

Speaking at the launching of the BDP council candidate Philip Makale, Mahalapye MP Mompati Merafhe said the BDP aspirant had already demonstrated leadership skills as he had been chairing land board committee for some years.

He noted that by electing a BDP candidate the voters would be encouraging a harmonious working relationship between the councillor and MP for the area.

He criticised the opposition parties for using abusive language and encouraging tribalism when addressing political rallies in the ward. Merafhe urged the electors to vote for the BDP as it was the only party that promotes peace, tranquillity and opposes tribalism.

He said the BDP government had worked hard in the fight against unemployment, noting that in 1966 only 10 000 people were working but currently only 15 per cent of the population were in active employment.

For his part, Sebina/Ngweta MP Olifant Mfa said that BDP had struggled for the developments in Matsitama and encouraged the voters to re-elect the party so it could continue where the late councillor Haskins Monamati left.

Also present at the launching were BDP councillors from Mahalapye, Sebina/Gweta, Tonota and other party senior officials.

Speaking at an annual general meeting at Gaborone Secondary School last week, Director of Worldview Botswana Goletswe Moatshe said the association was ideal in advocating women's issues in relation to their involvement with the media.

She said she was aware that involvement in other pressure groups and associations could have affected the attendance at the meeting.

She said it was unfortunate that women were not turning up in large numbers or else they could have by now drafted their programme for this year.

Moatshe said preliminary groundwork for the formation of association showed that women were interested, but they were not coming forward for its affairs.

"We consulted with other women and in 1999, the British High Commission in Botswana funded a workshop, which brought together all media women from around the country to emphasise the need for the association," he said.

Its vision according to the association was to develop professional women in the media industry and to advocate a place for the many voiceless women in Botswana.

The association aims at raising public awareness on issues of national concern that threaten advancement and socio-economic development such as HIV/AIDS.

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