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BOPA News on 14 August 2001

Addressing the Francistown branch of the association at the Civic Centre on August 10, the Publicity Secretary of BULGSA, Kabo Kote said the association has put before the government a number of issues but no action has been taken hence the decision to go on strike in January.

BULGSA Central Executive Committee is currently touring the country to brief members about the latest developments at the Department of Local Government Service and Management and also to hear their grievances.

Some of the grievances cited included the re-grading of the council staff salaries to bridge the wide gap between the Chief Executives and other staff members, bringing to par the Local Government workers' conditions of service with that of the central government.

He said the government has neglected family welfare educators because they are not trained or promoted and are under paid despite the good work they perform.

Kote regretted that even salaries for council firemen who provide special services were very low.

Kote said BULGSA' s wish is to see the department of Local Government Service and Management manned by local government employees instead of employees of Department of Public Service Management.

He however, urged council employees to join the association in large numbers to strengthen it, adding that it could become a union in future should negotiations go well.

The Vice President of BULGSA, David Nkanje, expressed disappointment over the poor turn out to the meeting despite the delivery of invitation letters some three weeks ago.

Nkanje said councils should consider building bachelors' flats to address problems of shortage of accommodation for council staff noting that good accommodation contributes to high productivity.

Welcoming the committee, the Francistown branch chairman, Artwell Mlilo, complained about lack of support from the heads of department, shortage of staff accommodation, lack of training by some departments and lack of transparency when drawing up training plans. The members agreed that the only remedy left was to lay down their tools because government has not addressed their complaints.

They said that already some well-established entities were complaining about lack of business because there was high competition between the Chinese, the Somalis, local hawkers and vendors and wondered whether Batswana would ever succeed in business.

Residents raised their complaints during a kgotla meeting Francistown West MP Tshelang Masisi addressed last week. They requested their MP to invite the minister of Trade, Wildlife, Industry and Tourism Tebelelo Seretse to come and address them on the awarding of licences and other matters related issues.

They said although they welcomed the introduction of CEDA, the government should protect Batswana owned businesses from foreign investors, adding that the goods brought into the country were sub-standard.

Block One residents said that it was surprising that Somali refugees were allowed to sell the goods in the pavements where Zimbabweans and other nationals were driven out.

Meanwhile, the Office of the President together with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) has instructed councils to issue refugees with hawkers' licences. Residents complained that whenever Batswana were found to be operating without licences, or violating the Trade Act, they were punished.

Masisi however, concurred with the residents and supported the idea of inviting Minister Seretse.

On other issues, residents supported their MP on the nuisance posed to the neighbourhood by "gumba gumba" music played at night.

The MP had earlier complained about such noise because it disturbed other people who were entitled to a peaceful sleep.

MP Masisi called upon residents to form neighbourhood watch committees to curb crime in their area.

Masisi called on them to work harmoniously with the authorities and develop their area. He urged them to connect water to their yards, because the Francistown City Council planned to phase out standpipes.

Masisi also encouraged them to have water borne toilets to be connected to the main sewerage system, which was still under construction.

He called on parents to mould children into responsible future leaders, adding that presently children were vandalising property and it seemed parents were not doing anything to control them.

Masisi called on residents to stay home to ensure they were counted on the August 17-26 population census.

He outlined the importance of census and appealed to residents to answer all questions fully.

The impact was very obvious, but an average man never realised it because we managed to handle the problem properly and it is our hope that the situation will improve on a daily basis," BP Botswana managing director Morris Molefe said. Molefe was commenting on the oil refinery that was gutted by fire in South Africa recently.

He told BOPA in an interview that when the crisis happened, countries that received their fuel supplies from South Africa, including Botswana, experienced a 50 per cent cut in diesel supply. Molefe said it was only last week that the situation started to stabilise but the supply was still not enough to meet their needs. He expressed the hope that the situation would normalise very soon.

According to Molefe, the fire that gutted the oil refinery at Sasolburg in South Africa, as well as the shutdown of the Engen plant for maintenance work triggered the crisis. It was a major crisis and when it happened we started rationing diesel and diverted most of it to essential services like mines and others," he said.

However, he said as the crisis began to fade another problem, though not that serious, emerged -that of petrol shortage. Reports reaching BOPA from Jwaneng indicated that the town and the surrounding areas, was experiencing a petrol crisis which Molefe attributed to the supply situation in South Africa.

However, he said things returned to normal after the area was supplied with fuel. Molefe told BOPA that what happened was that after BP suppliers placed orders for a refined product from overseas it was offloaded at the Durban port.

He said in a bid to ease the fuel shortage in inland South Africa, a pipeline that was initially used to pump crude oil was used, thereby contaminating petrol.

It took about four to five days to clean it and that was why South Africa experienced a major fuel shortage with a trickle-down effect on Botswana, he said.

However, he said the effect had not filtered down to most of their customers in Botswana and their hope was to normalise the situation before they felt it. Asked whether they had any cases of some filling stations mixing petrol with paraffin to offset the price of petrol as it happened in South Africa, he said there was nothing to that effect.

Molefe, however, warned that, that was something they would not tolerate and should it be brought to their attention drastic measures would be taken against the culprits.

He said he was also not aware that Mahalapye was one of the areas that experienced frequent fuel shortage, especially unleaded petrol, but promised to investigate so remedial measures could be taken.

The two teams reached the finals after beating BDF XI and Notwane Football Club respectively in a double-header semi-finals at the National Stadium on Saturday. In the first semi-final, TASC, who dominated play from the first whistle, walloped Notwane 3-1.

The Francistowners took the lead through Frederick Ramotlatse in the first-half only for Thazo Tiwayi to equalise for "Toronto" a few minutes later. However, when they returned from the half-time break, TASC continued to press hard and soon increased the tally to three through Saidy Msombwe and Ernest Amos.

Notwane, who beat Mogoditshane Fighters 2-0 the previous weekend, could have suffered a big embarrassment had it not been for their goalkeeper Vincent Chikumba.

Even though the visitors destroyed his sorry-looking defence in many instances, Chikumba remained as solid as a rock between the goal posts.

Some minutes before full-time Notwane was awarded a penalty taken by captain Fabian Zulu only for the keeper to acrobatically save it.

The second semi-final, which also was a thriller, saw captain Itumeleng Duiker putting Gunners in the lead some few minutes from recess. Even though they lacked the rhythm and aggression that saw them win the Vista Kabelano Charity Cup some weeks back "Mapantsula" managed to contain the business-minded BDF XI.

However, as fate would have it, a blunder by the Gunners' defence led to Sheppard Mosekgwa's power-packed shot being deflected into the back of the net by Burton Setshwane.

The equaliser did not dampen the Gunners' morale, as they once again took the lead through Kennedy Machiya after Setshwane made amends for an own goal by supplying a good cross from the flank. BDF XI, despite having the upper hand throughout the game, did not succeed in grabbing an equaliser. As usual nowadays, the referees had to be escorted out of the field.

With P75 000 at stake for the winning team, the final, which would be played a day before the end of the Botswana International Trade Fair (BITF) in Gaborone, is expected to attract more football supporters.

Should Gunners win, the Coca-Cola Challenge Cup would be their second trophy to reach their cabinet after taking the Charity Cup.

TASC on the other hand seems likely to etch their name on the cup.

Notwane Football managed to defeat BDF XI 1-0 in a dull encounter for the third position, losers final, game played at the National Stadium on Sunday. The game which was more of a trialists match saw Notwane hitting the net for the only goal of the day in the last few minutes of the second half through Russel Ntalasha.

Ntalasha collected a loose ball after Pontsho Moloi, captain of the day, dribbled past the BDF XI defence and lay a pass for the big striker to lash in a thunderous shot.

Having won the game, Notwane are sure of P30 000 for the third position while BDF XI would only take home the P23 000 on prize giving day which would be certainly after the finals in September.

The September 8 clash between Gunners and TASC is expected to draw maximum attendance more so that it will also be the customary trade fair Saturday.

This foreign-funded organisation wants to see Basarwa recognised as an integral part of the Batswana society. But it has a myriad of problems.

For instance, nobody, including the district authorities, seem to know who owns the farm on which Basarwa are being resettled.

The district council has bought six hectares on the farm and built a school, installed electricity and constructed a road to the farm.

A certain Henry Luck from Namibia visited Ghanzi in 1964 and felt compelled to do something of real value for the San. He decided to buy the farm D'Kar and give it to the Dutch Reformed Church in Namibia so it could start some missionary work in D'Kar.

At the time a very small community of about 80 people lived on the farm.

In 1981, a local Reformed Church was instituted with a church council and the ownership of the farm was transferred to the church to hold it in trust for the local congregation.

Right from the beginning, church workers felt they had a moral obligation to do something about the poverty of the community. The church started to teach the community how to farm with cattle. Consequently, a small tannery started and the community was taught how to work with leather.

Later, more projects were added through the work of the church deacon and more people became involved in things like crafts, sewing and art. Eventually it was decided to form Kuru as the umbrella organisation for different projects.

Kuru was not initiated as a community-based organisation for all of D' Kar because the church and members of different projects formed it.

In 1992, the Kuru board was exposed to the wider San in Botswana. and national conferences were held and San from all over the country met for the first time.

One of the resolutions of these conferences was that the San should network; so a team was appointed to meet other San groups and determine their circumstances.

It was reported by the team that there was a need for people from Kuru to reach out to other communities as donors were more interested in funding support organisations that worked with a large number of communities, than to support community projects directly.

In 1996, a facilitator was hired to help project participants, staff and the board decided what to do about the recommendations that other settlements needed help. People were hesitant, because they were afraid that they might not be helped any more. On the other hand if Kuru grew it would create employment for participants from D'Kar as well as the church and the local businesses would benefit.

Basarwa living in D'Kar are now being relocated to Qabo. But who owns D' Kar?

The community appealed to the government to buy the farm for them, rather than move them to the newly established settlement.

"It is going to be expensive to move to Qabo. Most people have established permanent homes and their ancestors are buried in D' Kar.

"We don't want to go because the area is infested with mogau," said Qamse Tsaga in Sesarwa. Mogau is a drought resistant green toxic plant.

"I don't know who owns D' Kar, even the government people don't seem to know who owns the farm," he said.

Qamse said some Basarwa had been moved but they were returning because their cattle were dying after eating mogau.

"The government has put up some developments in D'Kar but it is relocating Basarwa in D'Kar and Kuke, Why not develop D'Kar while chasing away the community?" Qamse said.

Macharia Kamau was officiating at the fifth joint graduation ceremony of the colleges of education in Molepolole, which saw 833 students graduating under the theme: "Sharing the challenge of combating HIV/AIDS through education in Botswana".

He urged teachers to embrace changes brought about by the world as such changes affect the education system.

"If you are not ready for such changes, your journey as a useful teacher may be rough and very short indeed," he said.

Kamau said while teachers avail themselves as change agents, they should also listen to others and respect their opinions even if they question them.

Graduates were also encouraged to familiarise themselves with Vision 2016 and The Revised National Policy on Education lest their efforts make no significant impact on the pupils.

Kamau said schools have changed from being just learning centres to community resource and rehabilitation centres, home to sick and traumatised children as well as counselling centres.

The graduates were therefore urged to prepare themselves for the possibility of having some HIV positive pupils in their classes and be ready to address such pupils' problems appropriately.

"This is a challenge that goes beyond the traditional role of teaching," he said, adding that the right information was the best protection against HIV/AIDS.

Kamau said teachers should strive to be role models to their students by being accommodative and caring to the children who may be infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Also they should go an extra mile in ensuring that the orphans stay in school, handle bereavement, grief and abuse with due diligence. They should educate the children and the community about AIDS, he said, urging them neither to be shy nor callous about sex education.

The medals awarded were Botswana Police Distinguished Service Order, Meritorious Service, Jubilee Service and the ones for long service and good conduct.

Four officers were awarded Long Service and Good Conduct medals posthumously. Norman Moleboge, the commissioner of police, said the public have understandably looked to the Botswana Police Service to provide remedy and tackle crime, which is the first priority.

Moleboge said there is growing concern at the levels of crime in Botswana, especially those of violence and rape, which frightens people at the prospect of becoming victims.

"Our success is dependent on the public," he said. "We are thin on the ground and therefore cannot be able to cover every corner and street to detect crime."

He said the police's mission statement is the service's bond with the public because the latter knows what to expect.

He said the Botswana Police Service is geared to providing a quality service throughout the millennium and beyond.

Supt. Christopher Mbulawa, a public relations officer for the Botswana Police Service, said in an interview with BOPA that said police day celebration was meant to honour officers with medals for their contributions.

Mbulawa said all the activities such as tug of war, traditional dance, karate and band display were staged as highlights for the celebration.

He suggested that all disciplined forces should have a combined celebration to reduce the costs. Police officers were collected from various stations for the celebration, which strained the service in some areas.

The bull, a four-year-old Simmental breed, will be auctioned again at the Botswana International Trade Fair (BITF) and Lobatse Trade Fair.

The proceeds will be donated to charitable organisations.

Mogae received the bull from his Zambian counterpart Frederick Chiluba when he was here in Botswana to officially open the BITF in 2000.

Major buyers include Barclays Bank which bought it at P4 000; Ghanzi and Tuli Block farmers; nominated councillor Dick Eaton, P3 800; agriculture minister Johnie Swartz, P3 800; and nominated councillor Christian de ­Graaf, P3 000.

Giving a vote of thanks, councillor Christian De-Graaf thanked President Mogae to have given Ghanzi farmers a chance to participate in the exercise.

He also thanked other buyers who contributed, saying the money would benefit the under privileged members of society.

Molosiwa received a certificate of recognition and a medal as a prize for the international mayors' competition, which was part of the World No Tobacco Day 2001 preparations.

The competition followed an invitation from Gro Harlem Bruntland, the director general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), to mayors of cities and towns the world over to participate in a crusade for control of smoking.

They were to submit written commitment and plans of action on how they intended to campaign against tobacco.

The award was bestowed on Selebi-Phikwe Town Council for submitting a comprehensive plan of action and in recognition for its efforts in organising this year's World No Tobacco Day.

In Botswana, Selebi-Phikwe and Lobatse town councils were the only local authorities that participated in the competition under the theme: "Second Hand Smoke Kills; Let's Clear the Air". WHO's representative in Botswana, Dr Jean Kalilani, handed over the award to Mayor Molosiwa in a short ceremony at the town hall. She said she hoped the award would remain an inspiration to the council to continue the work of protecting the town's residents and Botswana as a whole from environmental tobacco smoke.

Motlhatlhedi said although Botswana had large coal deposits, only a small fraction was mined of which 93 per cent was used for electricity production.

He also told workshop participants that 11 185 consumers have connected electricity in their households since the introduction of the Rural Electrification Collective Scheme in 1990.

Motlhatlhedi explained that the scheme was initiated after it was realised that there was a low uptake of electricity caused by high up-front costs.

He added that government started a 72-village electrification project in September 1999 to increase rural electrification and 36 villages have been electrified so far while 33 villages should be linked by next month. The director said that the energy sector in Botswana was dominated by fuel wood consumption in both urban and rural areas.

He said household fuel wood use had declined from almost 90 per cent in 1985 to 34 per cent. Motlhatlhedi however, noted that "even with the accelerated electrification of villages, fuel wood consumption is still significant", which he attributed to "financial difficulties in acquiring electrical appliances and high connection costs".

He emphasised the importance of energy networking, saying it would enable Botswana and other countries to gain access to information on available energy technologies and resources. OPET-SADC is a networking organisation responsible for disseminating information on clean and efficient technologies in the SADC region.

It is a collaborative effort of the Minerals and Energy Policy Centre based in Johannesburg and Botswana Technology Centre.

Ministry of Health's Permanent Secretary Mathias Chakalisa said it was gratifying to note that council leadership has embraced the technical aspect to tobacco control.

"And this will go a long way not only in changing the attitude of the people towards tobacco use, but also in influencing policy direction and implementation," Chakalisa said during the presentation of a prize for World No Tobacco Day mayors' competition to Molosiwa Molosiwa in Selebi-Phikwe .

Chakalisa urged programme officers in his ministry's environmental health unit to continue with the hard work and collaborative efforts.

He pledged his support for all activities geared towards the realisation of a tobacco-free environment.

He informed the audience of the upcoming consensus building workshop on the review of the Control of Smoking Act of 1992 scheduled for September in Gaborone. The act was intended to protect people who do not smoke from inhaling tobacco smoke from smokers.

"My ministry is highly concerned by individuals who even now, continue to smoke in public places therefore exposing people who do not wish to smoke which we all are aware affects health adversely," he said.

In a random interview done by BOPA, the heads say condoms should be made available to pupils from standard three because of the evidence that children have sex at that age.

"There is ample evidence that these kids indulge in sex and by not providing them with condoms will lead to them indulging in on unprotected sex as evidenced by instances of pupils falling pregnant in primary schools," said Johannes Bob, the schoolhead of Serorome Primary School.

Bob says there is need for thorough counselling before the condoms can be provided ‹ and during counselling, children should be discouraged from having sex.

Boitumelo Letsatsi of Palapye Central Primary School, said his school has been providing condoms to pupils from standard five since 1998."We put the condoms in a classroom and there is evidence that the condoms are being used," Letsatsi said. "Not all parents agree with us on this but we decided to go ahead because we know that these kids must be saved somehow."

However, Letsatsi said he thinks few students use the condoms because some still fall pregnant. Baitse Mathala of Sebeso Primary School said there is need to protect the pupils from contracting HIV and falling pregnant by providing them with condoms from standard four.

"There is nothing that we can do," he said. "Even if we can try to abide by our culture, the times have changed and we must rise and adapt to the challenges."

Mathala said there is evidence that the pupils have sex as early as standard four. "We some times catch them with love letters at standard four," he said.

He said by providing condoms, they will be protecting those who are already involved while those who have not yet started will not see any need to start doing anything unless if they had wanted to. Morwalela Primary School's Ontibile Diwanga said there is nothing wrong providing pupils with condoms as long as that is done through the consent of the parents but it must start with standard sevens. He said teachers could help in identifying pupils who already have sexual relations, counsel them and then provide them with condoms.

Diwanga said she does not see this as admission of failure by teachers to instil discipline among pupils but rather as being realistic in their approach to problems before them. Melton Bangale, the deputy director of Primary Education, said the Ministry of Education does not have any policy to sanction the provision of condoms in primary schools.

He said it is upon individual school heads to decide. Palapye MP Boyce Sebetela is reluctant to subscribe to the idea because it will be pushing the issue too far.. Sebetela said sex is not that prevalent in primary schools and when it occurs it is always an elderly person with a girl pupil, not between pupils.

He said providing condoms will defeat the principle of abstinence, which should be inculcated into the children; parents should be encouraged to counsel their children.

Motshereganyi Mpe, the assistant subordinate tribal authority, said providing condoms would encourage pupils to have sex. Even those who have never indulged will want to experiment once provided with condoms and informed on their usage.

Pastor Abel Dibonwa of Apostolic Faith Mission in Palapye said his church preaches and believes in abstinence until marriage but it can not stop people from using condoms, even at primary schools, if they think that is the only way to protect themselves.

The interviews by BOPA followed recent media report of a standard four pupil in Lobatse who became a mother at 10 years.

Speaking at the first graduation ceremony of Ngethu Brigades Development Trust in Gumare on Saturday, Vocational Education and Training, director Marianne Nganunu said these would include technical colleges in Francistown, Kasane and Charleshill.

She said they would also expand the technical college in Maun so the institutions could complete B-level trade test or an NCC to become a skilled artisan.

She said they were also introducing new full and part-time courses called BTEP where people will be taught through computers.

Successful candidates would be awarded certificates and diplomas, which would also qualify them to proceed to technical colleges and universities.

She explained that her department also intends to put several of their courses on e-mail learning packages so people at home or at work could access their programmes through a computer.

The department would also set up learning resource centres at all technical colleges including the college in Maun where anybody from the public may come and put into any computer.

Further, she noted that the government decided to evaluate the whole brigade movement.

She said a team of evaluators would be in place shortly, saying if the team does not visit some of the brigades, they should write down their views and send them to her office for the attention of the evaluation team.

The director commended teachers for helping students attain their goals, saying that the quality of training the department offered in their institutions depended on the quality of the tutors.

She said her department has an ongoing project for sending brigade teachers on training for certificates, diplomas and degrees in South Africa, adding that about 120 teachers had benefited from the programme so far.

Turning to graduates, Nganunu congratulated them for a job well done and urged the next graduates to take their studies seriously for better opportunities.

For her part, Brigade co-ordinator Pono Saubi complained about shortage of facilities and lack of teachers' accommodation.

She also requested for the expansion of the Hotel and Catering course in her institutions since Gumare was the centre of the tourism industry in the Okavango area.

Further she also complained about development fee, saying students were failing to pay, leading to delays in developing the school.

The SADC leaders, who started their 2001 ordinary Summit Meeting here yesterday, are expected to discuss this request by the two members who have been in arrears for more than two years. The two owe contributions for the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 financial years.

To avoid the imposition of sanctions the DRC and Seychelles delegates are expected to explain their situations to the Summit.

One of the reasons to be advanced by the DRC is that the country is torn apart by a civil war which involves foreign armies, national army and rebel movements.

The case of the Seychelles the smallest SADC member is based on its size of both land and population. The Seychelles has a population of about 80 000 and its economy is based on tourism with no other natural resources.

SADC sanctions for members that default include suspension of the right to speak and receive documentation at all SADC meetings when in arrears for two years; and suspension of recruitment and renewal of contracts of personnel from defaulting member states when in arrears for three years.

When in arrears for four years a member states will not receive funds for new projects, and the membership could also be suspended when a member is in arrears for six years.

It is not yet clear if SADC leaders will extend a 'stay of execution' to the DRC and the Seychelles when outstanding contributions due to all SADC institutions stand at close to US$7million, that is, when arrears from other countries are included.

Other countries in arrears have been settling their outstanding contributions during this Summit.

The DRC indicated that they have transferred at least US$200 000 to the SADC account, but it is not certain if this is enough to spare them penalties.

SADC annual contributions are not standard but increase every year as new projects or programmes requiring extra funding are started. For this financial year, 2001/2002, each member state is expected to contribute US$717 150. A new SADC contribution formula, which was worked out by the senior officials and recommended to the Council of Ministers, is to be studied further by the ministers of finance.

With the new arrangements of clustering all sectors into directorates at the Secretariat, SADC taking shape, there will be more pressure for member states to pay their contributions in time. The centralization of SADC at the Secretariat will result in a larger bureaucracy.

Member states have been asked to second staff for the two directorates that have been established the directorate of Trade, Industry, Finance, Investment and Mining; and the directorate of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources which need a combined staff complement of 15 experts.

The SADC Summit is expected to appoint SADC deputy executive secretary, and three candidates, with a Zambian as the first choice, have been recommended to the Summit by the Council of Ministers. A committee of ministers conducted the interviews last week here in Blantyre.

The Summit will end today afternoon with media conference by the new SADC chairperson president Bakili Muluzi of Malawi and Executive Secretary Prega Ramsamy.

Other issues on the agenda include the status of ratification and accession of protocols, agreement amending the SADC Treaty, protocols for signature, progress report on the implementation of the Restructuring of SADC institutions.

There was also to be a report by the chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security a body that raises intense political debate whenever it is brought up for discussion.

On reviewing the regional situation, the Summit is expected to look at economic, social and political developments, progress report on gender equality, and HIV/AIDS.

The Summit will also be briefed on the African Union, possibly by the new chairman of OAU, President Fredrick Chiluba of Zambia, and the New African Initiative driven by South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki.

The Wood Hall customary court in Lobatse gave Kedibonye Rakola, 30, until January 2002 to pay Kgomochaba or have her property auctioned. Deputy Court President Edith Tshiamo delivered the judgement last Wednesday.

Kgomochaba told the court that Kedibonye started the affair with her husband in 1997 until March this year when she was called from Kanye to attend to her husband who had threatened to commit suicide. She said her husband wanted to kill himself because he clashed with Kedibonye after suspecting that Kedibonye, double-crossed him.

She told the court that Kedibonye cohabited with her husband in Lobatse. She added that it was in 1997 when she was working for the Botswana Meat Commission in Lobatse that her husband stopped co-operating with her.

Kgomochaba further told the court that her husband used to commute to Pitsane, Kedibonye's village, to attend to the lover's errands and problems.

She added that in March this year, the family bought 18 herd of cattle but stole three and gave them to Kedibonye. At some other time, she missed one bag of maize and one of beans and was told by someone that Kedibonye was selling maize and beans.

Kgomochaba's husband, George, did not deny that he had a love affair with Kedibonye.

He told the court that he once lent Kedibonye P450 and later P140 to pay for a summons and consultation fee at a private doctor.

He also said he gave Kedibonye one of the three cattle at Pitsane to be killed for a tatolo, a traditional ritual that takes place several months after burial when a bereaved family gathers for a commemoration of their loved one.

Opening the 33rd annual general conference of the Botswana Council of Women (BCW) at Mmathubudukwane in Kgatleng District, Nasha said women should be united and work as team irrespective of their different associations.

"We should share ideas locally and in the SADC region in an effort to avoid some pitfalls," she said.

Nasha added that women should compare notes on other women's successes.

On gender neutrality, Nasha said women were not destroying peace but were calling for the inequality of the past to be addressed. A woman who is not gender sensitive is a dangerous woman, she said.

She called on women to apply pressure on government. She added, however, that men and women were creatures of God and the will of God should be respected.

The minister appealed to women as parents to criticise violence against women and child abuse.

She said an incident of a 10-year-old mother in Lobatse is an example of child abuse.

She also said although the Penal Code was amended regarding rape, the law must be toughened because rapists were on the rampage.

Nasha applauded the BCW for its contribution to the development of Botswana despite the organisation's meagre resources. She said their association was the first after independence to build nursery schools and bus shelters.

She told the conference that government was aware of BCW's financial constraints and was discussing how it could help by extending financial assistance to voluntary organisations. The theme of the conference was: "Women and Peace".

Mma-Seingwaeng Kgafela, the wife of Kgosi Linchwe II of Bakgatla, said peace can only prevail if all people enjoy their constitutional rights.

She said traditionally women are oppressed because they have to take men as their masters not their colleagues. She criticised women for allowing that to happen.

The mohumagadi received an applause from the floor when she told the women that they were oppressing themselves. You should think for yourselves and elect leaders of your choice.

The game started at a slow pace with both teams cautious to avoid conceding an early goal. In the first minutes, players from both sides could hardly make good passes and they played high balls most of the time.

The young Zebras, who play Malawi in next Sundays COSAFA tournament in Malawi, scored their first goal in the 15th minute via Jerome Ramatlhakwane.

He received a loose ball inside the box and tapped it in to score the easiest goal of the day.

Despite this goal, the game remained lukewarm and compounded by too many stoppages because of injuries on both sides.

Swaziland appeared lost but still fought hard to contain Oris Radipotsane's charges who showed some composure towards the end of the first half.

The visitors had a golden scoring opportunity in the 28th minute but Geina Mazibuko failed to convert after beating Botswana's goalkeeper Noah Maposa.

Two minutes later, Swaziland's goalkeeper Makhosonkike Makhonda was substituted because of injury after colliding with a teammate.

Typical of Botswana football, the absence of a stretcher meant Mkhonda had to be lifted off the pitch by officials and first aid personnel.

An ambulance only came during half-time to take him to the hospital.

Ramatlhakwane made it 2-0 for the young Zebras in the last minute of the first- half.

He received a pass from Moses Mosweu and unleashed a shot that easily beat the Swazi keeper.

The Zebras could have scored more goals in the first-half but Amos Godirwang let them down. The Zebras "scoring machine" Ramatlhakwane scored his third goal in the 57th minute.

It was after this goal that the young Zebras started to display some brilliance and showed confidence in ball control.

The Swazis also began to show some strength and zeal and it came as no surprise when the hard-fighting Geina scored their consolation goal in the 63rd minute.

He received a pass from Wandile Mdluli, took a few steps and unleashed a shot that sailed past the unsuspecting Botswana goalkeeper.

Ramatlhakwane scored the Zebras' fourth goal in the 77th minute before he was substituted two minutes later.

The youngster seems destined for greater heights should he maintain his current form.

After the game, the young Zebras' mentor Radipotsane said his boys were on course. He said they had prepared well for the game because they knew the Swazis would be tough nuts to crack.

However, Radipotsane intimated that his defence would need some fine-tuning and he attributed their weaknesses to some players who were still new in the team.

But all in all, they were ready for next Sunday's U-17 COSAFA tournament in Malawi.

The young Zebras play the hosts on Sunday and if their performance is anything to go by, then Batswana will not be disappointed.

Radipotsane said they would trim their 25-member squad to 19 before they leave for Malawi on Friday.

The 16 units were represented by teams comprising a dozen competitors from Francistown, Selebi-Phikwe, Thebe-Phatshwa and Mogoditshane, the hosts.

As the teams paraded before a panel of three judges, expectations were high but to the ordinary spectators who wanted to see more dancing than singing, most of the styles and antics on display were evidently unimpressive. Some teams came with balloons, placards and had a variety of styles, including a tug-of-war.

Organiser warrant officer Tsietsi Kebualemang admitted that the level had declined dramatically, adding that the contestants might have mistaken "pantsula" for choral music.

Combat Engineering Regiment emerged champions with 248 points and received P1800, a trophy and some gold medals while second position went to Headquarters (HQ) with 244 points, and pocketed P1 200; followed in third position by 77 Mechanical Infantry Battalion with 243 points.

The team was however, hot and fascinating when it came to styles for which it pocketed P600 while Signals Regiment were fourth and the last on the programme. The solo dance champion was Private Ramontsho with 243 points who pocketed P300 while Lance Corporal Phiri became P200 richer with 231 points.

Third position went to Private Molemane whose antics won him a P100 cash prize.

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