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BOPA News on 13 September 2002

BTC acting chief executive, Letsapa Mojaphoko said at a news conference on Tuesday that BTC took the matter for arbitration after they could not reach an amicable solution with the cellular companies.

Mojaphoko said they were expecting a ruling from BTA, explaining that BTC was disadvantaged by the current arrangements under which cellular phones reaped a bigger share of the revenue while the corporation picked up the morsels.

He said when a call was made from a BTC landline via a BTC network to a cellular phone or from a cellular phone via a BTC network to their landline, it was charged at P1, 20 per minute.

He said when "it comes to dividing the money the cellular company involved pockets 96t and BTC only 24t of the P1, 20 charged, hence BTC continues to lose out" while the cellular firms rake in a fortune.

It was for this reason that BTC would like the current set-up reviewed to satisfy both parties although the cellular companies would have none of that.

BTC has again this financial year ended March 30, announced another loss of over P24 million, citing interconnect arrangements as some of factors contributing to the losses.

BTC says in its audited results that "the decline in profitability was mainly due to a 0,9 per cent decrease in revenue arising from increased competition, unfavourable cost variances in the areas of bad debts and unfavourable interconnect arrangements with other licensed operators".

Mojaphoko said as a result, BTC had invested in the expansion of access to its network to remain competitive and "is embarking on a transformation programme to turn the company's fortunes around".

He said recruitment for leadership posts was in full swing as posts general managers for business finance, corporate services and consumer had been created and advertised including that of chief executive.

The overall transformation programme, which will stretch over a 36-month period, is expected to see BTC transform into a more efficient, customer focused enterprise although the trading outlook for this year remains a challenge with an expected loss.

"This should, however, be significantly reduced or eliminated in the following year, assuming the successful implementation of the transformation programme, the financial restructuring and reasonable trading and regulatory conditions."

The acting CEO further said BTC was engaging in more projects such as upgrading its network to improve its quality and reliability and to be able to offer an improved range of services.

He said BTC was investing over P55 million in the project in the next six months where more optical fibre would be rolled out along major backbone routes to minimise cable damage and increase network availability.

He said last month alone, BTC lost over half a million pula in material costs and repairs due to cable theft and damage between Gaborone and Francistown, but noted that with the rolling out of more optical fibre the incidents of theft and damage were being minimised.

The project Nteletsa will see more than 150 villages enter the telecommunications revolution by early next year with a massive rollout to Borolong, Ngwaketse, Kweneng and NorthEast.

Mojaphoko said the project, funded by government to the tune of P125 million, would include all the villages in these districts where 120 000 people would be provided with access to communication.

Further, a new and customer-friendly regime for charging of telephone calls known as per second billing, which charges for "what you use" becomes effective from October 25.

He said the new system, which is fairer and simpler for customer, was not a tariff increase nor a new billing system and would not affect the bill layout and the payment periods.

He explained that for local calls, customers would be charged 10t for the first 60 seconds and thereafter it would charge per second, thus the shorter the call the cheaper and vice versa.

But all in all, he said the system would not increase or decrease the call charges "but customers will easily know how much they are being charged and the system is in line with best international and regional practices.

It was also a BTC licence requirement. BOPA

Morolong's appearance in Afrikanerdom's most hallowed hall is a tribute to what the great Motswana writer and patriot Sol Plaatje described as the tragic friendship of Moroka and the Boers. This relationship began with 1836 Batswana-Boer alliance against the Amandebele.

Throughout the 1830s Batswana continued to be engaged in a fierce struggle against the invading Amandebele of Nkozi Umzilakazi. While the courage and tactics of such men as Montshiwa and Sebego sustained Batswana resistance, by 1836 the Mzilikazi's regiments had swallowed some 32 tribes.

Recognising that disunity was their greatest weakness, most of the unconquered chiefs had already begun to form an alliance when the first, initially small, parties of Boer trekkers appeared in their country.

Prominent among these chiefs was Moroka, who had established a place of refuge at Thaba Nchu (Black Mountain) in the modern Free State Province. From this natural fortress Batswana resisters and their sometime Griqua allies were able to launch raids against the Amandebele.

From 1834, Boer trekkers began to pass by Thaba Nchu, often en- route to hunt for ivory in the Transvaal. In their arrogance, they ignored warnings about the danger of trespassing into the nkozi's territory.

In September 1836, two parties of Boers were nearly wiped out by the Amandebele. A month later a third party, under Hendrick Potgieter, barely managed to survive an attack by one of the Mzilikazi's generals, Kaliphi, on their laager at Vegkop. The survivors were left stranded with little ammunition or food, having lost all of their livestock. Hearing of their predicament Moroka decided to rescue the Boers, who where escorted back to Thaba Nchu.

In December, the fateful alliance was formed. The other Barolong chiefs, Gontse, Matlaba, and Tawana, joined Moroka, the Griqua Captain Petrus Davids, and the Boer commandants Potgieter and Gert Maritz in planning an attack on the principal Amandebele settlement at Mosega.

The joint Barolong-Boer-Griqua force, armed with guns, struck at dawn 17 January 1837. Daniel Lindly, a resident American missionary, reported:

Sometime before sunrise we were aroused by a startling cry, a commando! A commando! In half a minute after this alarming cry a brisk fire commenced on a kraal of people a few hundred yards from our house.

The fire of one followed that of another in quick succession, and at the thrilling report of every gun the thought would rush on our minds, there falls one, and another, and another of the poor heathen of whose salvation we had once had some hope.

In a few minutes we were in the midst of the slaughter.... The Boers attacked and destroyed 13, some say 15, kraals. Few of the men belonging to them escaped, and many of the women were either shot down or killed with assegais. Umzilakazi, along with most of his warriors, had been further north when the attack occurred. The massacre at Mosega was, nonetheless, a heavy blow.

Some 1 000 Amandebele had fallen. The attackers suffered only two casualties, both Batswana. A Boer, who mistook him for an Amandebele, had carelessly shot one of these down. The days of the assegai were over.

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Nata in his Sebina/Gweta constituency, Mfa said the building of the school would fulfil the residents' long-time wish and will solve the problem of their children going to far-away places for secondary education.

Mfa said other developments planned for Nata include the establishment of a Botswana Defence Force camp, the relocation and improvement of the police station and the development of internal roads network.

He said the location of Gweta Primary Hospital is unsuitable and residents have suggested in kgotla meetings that it be turned into a school or a shopping complex.

He said he had been mandated, together with the minister of Health, to see what could be done about the facility that has now become a white elephant because of under-utilisation.

He told Nata residents that he was not part of the planning process to establish a hospital at Gweta, otherwise he would not have agreed.

He said factors such as jealousy, rivalry and possessiveness between communities led to the location of the hospital at Gweta.

He expressed his preference for Nata because it is well placed as compared to other villages and it is a gateway to Maun and Kasane.

Residents said they never go to Gweta Primary Hospital because it is far and when that hospital transfers them to Nyangabgwe Hospital, they pass through Nata.

They called for the relocation of the hospital to Nata without delay because their village is more suitable than Nata by all standards.

They said they prefer to go to Francistown once to avoid a possible double trip should they be referred. They added that Gweta Primary Hospital has more nursing staff than patients on any given day.

On other issues, the residents complained about the influx of wild animal influx into the residential areas and the resultant damage property and threat to human life.

Mokgwathi Makgesi, Nata's headman, criticised the Department of Wildlife and National Parks for its habitual unresponsiveness every time an appeal for their intervention is made.

Residents also requested government to fence the Francistown-Maun road to keep livestock off, thus reducing road accidents.

They also accused the drought relief programme implementers of their tendency to give tenders to well established and rich contractors over poor individuals with the same required expertise, thereby reversing the whole idea behind the programme.

Residents complained about VAT saying it was rushed and imposed on people before education could be done for everyone to understand.

They said business operators only enjoyed electricity in Nata whereas there was nothing for residential plots. They also wanted to know when a stadium would be built in the area. BOPA

Shimane Mangole, councillor for Bogare Ward, told the third Kgatleng Full Council meeting on Tuesday that it is imperative that Matante should be recognised in that manner because he agitated for the establishment of the Botswana Defence Force.

Matante's suggestion placed him at odds with powerful forces, Mangole recalled, including the late president, Sir Seretse Khama who felt that Botswana being a democratic and peaceful country did not need an army, particularly as it was not fighting anyone.

The suggestion followed a call by council chairperson Motlhagodi Molomo on the councillors to consider honouring the country's heroes and heroines by naming infrastructures such as new roads, buildings and worthy projects after them.

She said the country has a lot to thank such people because they managed to create a viable, independent and democratic state even though the country was surrounded by hostile regimes.

Molomo regretted that the extraordinary and gallant efforts of many people who sacrificed a lot for the country are ignored.

On other issues, she said the Rural Sanitation Programme was started in the 80s to provide rural communities with affordable, socially and technological acceptable disposal facilities.

The programme has been replicated in all villages of Kgatleng. The move was accompanied by intensive health education on the importance of safe disposal of human waste.

However, she lamented that there is still a huge backlog of uncompleted infrastructures in Kgatleng, noting that there are few sanitation facilities than it was initially planned.

Molomo also condemned the tendency by men to urinate in public as a clear indication of moral decay in the society.

Meanwhile, the council session will discuss 16 motions and 19 questions. One of the motions to be tabled by councillor for Mosanta North Phiri Legase will request the council to ask the Department of Transport to increase combi routes from Jabula road to Letlhabile.

Another from councillor for Bokaa Molapong will ask the council to request the Ministry of Works Transport and Communications to gravel Bokaa/Kopong road. BOPA

Masire was officiating at a three-day workshop of the Okavango Pilot Project held at the Maun Lodge.

Run by Green Cross International, the Okavango project aims at preserving the delta ecosystem.Green Cross previously participated in a study conducted by the World Wide Commission (WWC) and worked with heads of state of the Philippines, Russia and Botswana.

Sponsored by the WWC and The Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the project seeks to foster peace and co-operation among nations that share rivers like the Okavango River.

Masire said resources of the basin had to be utilised in a sustainable manner to ensure maximum benefit. He said it was vital that Angola, Namibia and Botswana, which are the countries sharing the Okavango watders, co-operated in the management of the resource.

There are 261 river basins worldwide that are shared between two or more countries in which Green Cross International plays an important role in managing some of these shared fragile resources.

Masire said it was a great honour that the Okavango River Basin was among the six basins chosen by Green Cross International for the water peace projects.

The aims of the water peace projects include conflict resolution, increased co-operation and curbing water pollution.

Masire said these were ideals that Botswana cherished, noting that he was delighted to contribute to the on-going debate on equitable and sustainable use of the Okavango water resources.

He said the great transformation of hunting and gathering to settled civilisations occurred when man began to "convert forest and savannahs into farms to breed domesticated varieties of plants and animals".

Over time, that transformation altered the ecology of the entire continent. "I am equally convinced that we have learned from the experience of past generations and we cannot avoid working together for our collective survival and prosperity.

This is an essential milestone in our relationships as human beings,he said. Masire said the Okavango basin was an important life support for all those residing in and around it more so that it provided a unique wetland environment and the fragile ecosystem.

"The delta continues to attract interest both within Botswana and world-wide," he said. Professor Anthony Turton, of the University of Pretoria, South Africa, said the purpose of the Okavango Pilot Project was to work only on six international river basins and this time they were focusing on the Okavango River basin with a view to generating "knowledge and scientific material that could empower the Permanent Okavango River Basin Commission", commonly referred to as OKACOM.

Turton told BOPA in interview that the decline of water level of the river had affected the total ecosystem of the region where the three countries meet.

He said the workshop would, therefore, deliberate and take decisions on sustainable use of Okavango basin resources, noting that the purpose of the project was "to enhance co-operation because there is no need to fight over water sources".

The workshop has drawn participants from Namibia, South Africa, Botswana and the United Kingdom (UK). BOPA

The items were presented to new BRCS president First Lady Barbara Mogae at a brief ceremony at the Botswana Red Cross Society headquarters in Gaborone.

Speaking during the hand-over, the team's chairperson, Rastas Moletsane, explained they that raised funds to buy the blankets through a 20km-sponsored walk.

Mogae thanked the team for the donation, saying that the blankets would be given to the BRCS day care centres.

Also present at the occasion was BRCS vice president Lt Col George Tlhalerwa, secretary general Kegalale Gasennelwe, FNB marketing manager Sheila Khama and Red Cross staff. BOPA

The committees, which are part of the restructuring of the SADC institutions, are to be established in each of the 14 members of the organisation.

The decision to establish national committees was made by the heads of state at the 2001 extra-ordinary summit held in Windhoek, Namibia.

Establishing the committees was aimed at ensuring that member states effectively participate in SADC affairs so as to derive maximum benefits from the process of regional integration.

The committees will be chaired by the SADC National Contact Points and will comprise representatives of ministries, non-governmental organisations and the private sector involved in the core areas of regional integration and co-operation.

Botswana National Committee comprises of 22 members and is chaired by the Secretary of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Banni Molosiwa, who is the Botswana National Contact Point.

Martin Silongo of the Exporters Association of Botswana was elected Vice Chairperson of the committee.

Other members of the committee include representatives from the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA), Botswana Council of Non Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO), Exporters Association of Botswana and Botswana Community Based Organisation Network (BOCOBONET).

Functions of the committees include among others to promote and broaden stakeholder participation in SADC affairs in member states and to facilitate information flow and communication between member states and the SADC secretariat.

The Report on the Restructuring of SADC will also be presented during the launch. MPs, members of the House of Chiefs, senior government officials, members of the Diplomatic corps, representatives of NGOs and political parties are expected to attend the ceremony. BOPA

The issue has pitted the government of Botswana on one hand and local and international organisations, ostensibly human rights organisations, Ditshwanelo, First People of the Kgalagadi and Survival International (SI) on the other.

Government is persuading Basarwa to relocate to settlements outside the reserve, and has already resettled a fair number at New Xade and Kaudwane in the Kweneng District, where they can be provided with social amenities.

However, the move is opposed by the organisations because it is a violation of Basarwa's right to stay and be developed where they are.

Consequently, some Basarwa who have been relocated to New Xade have returned to Metsiamanong settlement inside the reserve, while one family at Gugamma also inside the reserve is refusing to budge.

Members of the organisation, First People of the Kgalagadi which claims to be fighting for the cause of Basarwa is accused of addressing meetings at New Xade and Kaudwane settlements with a view to persuading people to go back into the game reserve.

One of its leaders, Roy Sesana has come under heavy attack from government and other Basarwa for trying to halt efforts to develop Basarwa, even though he does not reside in the reserve.

He is alleged to have a home in Ghanzi township, while his children attend English Medium schools. Government stand is clear. It wants to develop and empower Basarwa so they can live a normal life like every Motswana rather than continue to subsist as hunters/gatherers in the reserve.

To achieve this, government relocated willing Basarwa to settlements outside the reserve and given them cattle and goats to rear.

Others are being trained in sewing and knitting, brick moulding, carpentry, as well as tannery and leather works.

In addition, government has provided them with services and amenities such as schools, health posts and potable water for both human and livestock consumption.

For its part, SI has launched an international campaign against Botswana, decrying the relocation as a violation of human rights.

It is also campaigning against Botswana's diamonds, arguing that the government is using revenues from the sale of the gems to oppress Basarwa. Botswana government has not taken the campaign lightly and has gone on the offensive and recruited a public relations company to counteract the allegations abroad.

At home, it has formed a four-member ministerial committee to deal with the matter. The committee, which is headed by Foreign Affairs minister, Mompati Merafhe and comprise ministers of Local Government, Margaret Nasha, of Minerals, Energy and Water Affairs, Boometswe Mokgothu and of Trade, Industry, Wildlife and Tourism, Pelonomi Venson visited the settlements on Monday.

Most of the people who spoke at the meeting were critical of Sesana and his organisation for jeopardising what is promising to be a better life.

In fact, one of them Kelereng Ramathwaatoga criticised government for being lenient of the likes of Sesana.

He said such people should not be allowed to address clandestine meetings. "If they want to address us, they should do it at the kgotla in the presence of our local authorities from Molepolole, Letlhakeng, Salajwe and Kaudwane," he said.

He lashed out at people who come into the country under the guise of tourists, while their motive is to hinder and disrupt the country's socio-economic development efforts.

He also accused the phoney tourists of exploiting Basarwa by taking them pictures which they later sell at huge profits.

One of the youth at Kaudwane, Kgaolelo Pehelo vowed they would never return to the reserve. He, however, complained about lions that are kill their livestock provided by government. He called on government to increase the food rations as they are too small and to be also provided with special hunting licences.

Speakers said Sesana and members of Survival International want to rob children of Basarwa of the opportunity to get educated like them.

Ministers Nasha, Merafhe, Venson and Mokgothu visited Kaudwane, Mothelo, Metsiamanong and New Xade settlements to get first hand information on the situation.

The family that is still holding out at Mohelang is composed of about 16 members. That was left behind during the relocation exercise because their father was seriously ill. But months after his death, they still do not want to move.

They say they survive on the juices of tubers such as kgengwe, mokapane, moko and maritse, while their donkeys and goats go without water.

One of Mohelang's daughters, Gabosediswe Tshotego claimed they were never consulted about the relocation exercise, but only told to pave way for wildlife.

However, council and government officials have rebutted the claim, saying Basarwa were fully consulted and it was during the process that other families at Gugamma agreed to be relocated to Kaudwane.

Another handful of people are still holding out at Metsiamanong settlement. Returnees from New Xade recently reinforced them.

It seems the tussle between the protagonists in the matter is now being played to the gallery and it appears the one to win the propaganda battle will win the war. BOPA

Kedikilwe, who is patron of Kubu family organisation, said government decided to relocate Basarwa from CKGR to New Xade because it was the only way it could provide them with sustainable developments.

Kedikilwe said there were other Basarwa enjoying amenities like any other Batswana, citing those residing in Damochojenaa and Robelela.

He also told Damochojenaa residents that it was untrue that government discriminated against Basarwa and their culture when relocating them from CKGR, explaining that government wanted to see them lead a normal life like other Batswana regardless of their tribe.

Welcoming the MP, Kgosi Motsholetsi Kebalepile suggested that civil servants should always accompany the MP so they could answer questions concerning their departments and explain government programmes to the people.

Residents requested a telephone at the primary school and additional vehicle to be used at the kgotla, saying there was only one vehicle, which they shared with Mmadinare.

They raised concern about the shortage of water for watering their livestock through the Remote Area Dwellers (RADs).

One resident, Tlhaloso Kebalepile, commended government for relocating Basarwa from CKGR to a better place where they can enjoy access to health, education and other social amenities like other Batswana.

He said Basarwa should also be encouraged to improve their lives and reduce their dependence on government.

Responding to some of the issues, Bobirwa Sub-district assistant council secretary Isaac Mabechu said the council would equip the borehole to be drilled for them.

He also promised those who have not yet received their cattle following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that the animals would soon be distributed to them.

Residents were reminded not to wait for the MP's meetings to raise their concerns but should lodge complaints with relevant offices.

Kedikilwe commended the village's health choir for winning the clean-up music trophy during the competition held in Mmadinare recently.The MP donated P1 150 to the choir. BOPA

Addressing a kgotla meeting at Nata in his constituency on Monday, Mfa said tribalism is not good for building a peaceful co-existence.

Mfa, also assistant minister in the Office of the President, warned Batswana to guard against peddlers of tribalism, saying such people use the issue to achieve their own agendas at the expense of the united and peace-loving Batswana.

He called on his constituents to join hands with people who detest it and have undertaken to fight the evil so that its peddlers, who are small in number, are defeated.

He accused some of his constituents, particularly those from Nata, of the tribalism vile, saying there is currently a simmering plot to replace him with one of their own as they no longer want to be represented by an outsider.

Mfa originates from Nshakashogwe near Sebina.The MP narrowed his accusation to a certain family in Nata, saying its members have a burning desire to conquer the whole community by being in the community's tribal and council circles, and now they want to send one of their own to Parliament.

He said should the affairs of the village be left to the mercy of a single family, corrupt practices such as nepotism and protectionism cannot be ruled out.

He said once, during a kgotla meeting he addressed the Basarwa community from the village complained that there was a tendency by village leaders to discriminate against them, especially concerning a fair distribution of social services and benefits.

He said Basarwa had already attempted to make representations to the president concerning the issue of discrimination in the village, which they find difficult to live with.

Mfa emphasised the fact that communities were built by settlers from various parts of the country and beyond, adding that no one should be denied the right of residence or status just because they settled later than others.

He told the residents that his mission was to unite them and bring the much needed developments to people irrespective of which community they belong to, especially that it cannot be possible for each and every village to have their own MP as the number required is limited.

He said therefore some would have to contend with having MPs that are not necessarily from their communities, a phenomenon that obtains elsewhere in Botswana.

For their part the residents said tribalism was fuelled from Gaborone by academics under cultural associations which the communities at local level do not understand.

One Keiphile Stephen said if big tribes continued to fight over the issue of tribalism, Basarwa would feel the most heat because "when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers."

He said tribalism would never end as long as the country remains divided according to tribal territories rather than geographical lines.

Responding to the MPs admonition on the choice of representation, one Bonewamang Ntuane, said there was nothing wrong if the residents wanted to be represented by one of their own, adding that Mfa should know and accept that he can be challenged by whoever wishes to stand for elections.

He accused the rulers of their tendency to regard people who are vocal and question things in kgotla meetings as subversive, saying it amounted to gagging. BOPA

Stone Breakers had their hearts broken by gallant TASC who would not want to become part of their statistics and were eager to put behind them the humiliation they suffered at the hands of Tafic in the Coca-Cola Challenge Cup final.

Tlokweng United also went down 2-1 to Township Rollers, but the two still have more appointments lined up when their campaign in the Toyota First Division league starts after Roller's exit from the elite league.

Coca-Cola Cup champions Tafic, still revelling in the glory of their win, got a rude awakening by Notwane who ousted them by a solitary goal to book themselves a place in the quarter-finals. The hopes of die-hard Mochudi Centre Chiefs' supporters were also dashed, as the team's streak of bad luck continued to dip, losing 2-1 to Nico United.

Chiefs have been finding themselves casualties in too many cup challenges while other teams continue to collect some silverware at their expense.

Already the team has lost the Kabelano Charity Cup, Coca-Cola Cup and now in the preliminaries of the just started Independence Cup.

But Centre Chiefs have bedmates in none other than another great crowd-pullers, Extension Gunners, who have not ceased to surprise with their inconsistent play.

Like Chiefs and Tafic, Gunners kissed the dust via a 1-0 defeate from their Lobatse counterparts BMC while FC Satmos also brushed aside Police IX 3-2.

Mogoditshane Fighters and Prisons IX were not any luckier as they saw their dreams of laying their hands on the coveted trophy go up in smoke when they were beaten by Jwaneng Comets and BDF IX 1-0 last night.

This weekend TASC will face Nico at Francistown. Notwane has a date with Rollers at the National stadium while BMC will entertain BDF IX at Molepolole stadium.

FC Satmos, who have just bounced back to the elite league after a stint at the lower division, meet Jwaneng Comets at Selebi-Phikwe on Sunday.

The semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend of September 21 at the National Stadium before the final on Independence Day on September 30 at the same venue.

The gold medallists will also pocket P58 000 in prize money and runners-up P33 000 while losing semi-finalists would get P12 000 each and quarter-finalists P3 000 each.

Those who kissed the dust at the first hurdle in the likes of Chiefs, Gunners and Tafic, will get P2 250 for their efforts. BOPA

She was speaking at the official handing over of a two-roomed house built at the cost of over P10 000 by the Selebi-Phikwe Lions Club in collaboration with Sefhophe Practitioners of Theatre (SPOT) to a family of four orphans in Sefhophe on Saturday.

The minister said the increase in the number of the destitute and orphans "makes it difficult for the government to cope and as a result there is need for everybody to lend a hand".

She said there were over 32 000 orphans in Botswana and although the government was trying to meet their needs it was only providing food and clothing.

Dr Nasha commended the Lions Club and SPOT members for their generous donation. On the Masiela Trust Fund, she said research findings showed that the area of most need for orphans was shelter and day care as parents stopped working a long time before they died due to illness.

She noted that the trust's board of governors had, therefore, come up with an architectural plan for the type of house to be built for orphans, adding that in future those who wished to build houses for the orphans should approach the board for the plan.

Spar managing director Karan Cathely, who sponsored the handing over ceremony, pledged to look after the family and to employ the eldest family member who is 20 years.

SPOT chairperson Molebeledi Segona said in December 2000, through the help of the social and community development, they identified the four orphans and started asking for donations towards the shelter project.

Segona said their efforts to get assistance from various individuals failed and ultimately found sponsorship from Lions Club of Selebi-Phikwe who provided about 75 per cent of the total cost.

A member of Lions Club of Selebi-Phikwe Siva Prasad said the club did not have money in its coffers but managed to finance projects through community assistance.

He noted that in the 28 years of the club's existence they have made several donations among them a P1 million workshop for the handicapped called "Re ka Kgona", a P100 000 children's project in Selebi-Phikwe and a P58 000 ambulance for the Selebi-Phikwe hospital.

The local business community, the MP's family and members of the general public made several donations to the family. BOPA

The prosecution says Temane, 29, former employee of the Bank of Botswana and son of MP for Maun/Chobe, stole money that came into his possession by virtue of his employment when he was a clerk of the bank.

In the first account, Temane is alleged to have stolen R984 850; the second count involves R1 979 800 being the property of Bank of Botswana.

Submitting evidence before court, Nancy Baker, a supervisor at the settlement unit with bank of Botswana told the court that she verified and authorised messages for transactions with sold deals 4276 and 4277 which was prepared by Temane meant to pay two companies: Pacific Gull Traders and SBF General Supplies.

Baker said she was approached by Phuti Motlhame, a secretary with the bank, to ask for sold deals 4276 and 4277 because they were wanted by Temane who had no access to the swift room where Baker was on November 9 year 2000.

She said she gave those sold deals to Motlhame but asked Mooketsa Mokube, a settlement supervisor to prepare sold deals which Temane did not finish the previous day as he was on sick leave but Mokube found a stamp used bearing sold deal number 4278 instead of 4276 as the last sold deal number on the register was 4275.

She said the sold deal was then hand corrected to put in 4276 and signed as they took it as an error because the register contained sold deal numbers ending at 4275.

Baker said the settlement manager on November 13, discovered that some duplications had been done on 4276 and 4277 and Baker asked Temane as to why he brought in a journal ending with 4275 instead of 4277.

Temane told him it was a mistake. She explained that it was discovered later that a journal ending with 4275 was the one that had been filed instead of 4277.

She said they continued checking for the sold deals 4276 and 4277 which could not be found anywhere and ultimately checked with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning but also came out with nothing.

She said she checked in the ministry's banking hall and remittances department but could not find anything relating to sold deals 4276 and 4277.

She said since Temane was the one who prepared those two sold deals Tebogo Hikhwa, a supervisor with BoB asked him on whose behalf was he requesting those messages and he told him somebody had called from the finance ministry.

The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning was called for confirmation but nobody knew about what was being talked about.

Chief Magistrate Leonard Sechele is presiding over the case, Lizo Ngcongco of the Attorney General's Chambers is prosecuting and the defence attorney is Moses Kadye.

Ministry Permanent Secretary Deputy PS Trade and Industry T C Moremi A Matlhaku G Kombani Health M Chakalisa K Skelemani Communications, Science & Technology I M Nganunu L Moahi Environment, Wildlife & Tourism L P Gakale T Tsiang

Works & Transport G N Thipe T M Lekaukau G L Tlogelang

Redeployment takes effect from the 15th of this month.

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