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BOPA News on 08 March 2007

The twelve were members of the first of 29 pre-medical students who transferred from the University of Botswana to South African medical schools in 2002.

A statement from UB says, the doctors are now doing their 12 month internship at Princess Marina and Nyangabgwe Referral Hospitals.

Their successful graduation is one of the key milestones towards the establishment of a medical school at the university.

The statement says, government decided in September 1998 to establish a medical school in a phased fashion.

Since 2002, through UB premedical programme, the Education ministry has placed 222 students in UB partner medical schools and about 85 in other schools around the world.

Meanwhile, the UB has received a request from the Health ministry for land to build a teaching hospital.

The teaching hospital is projected to be ready in 2013.

The request for the land measuring 96 200 square metres situated at the extreme end of the old airport was approved by the University Council in November 2006.

However, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Charles Tibone is confident that current efforts to address this gap through the enactment of a Domestic Violence Act will make swifter progress during the course of this year.

Delivering a message to mark the International Womens Day, today, Mr Tibone said there is need to challenge and take action to address patriarchy and other power imbalances in society.

The day is celebrated under the theme, Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls.

Mr Tibone said Botswana has acceded to the Convention on Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), instruments that guide on what should be done to eliminate gender inequalities as well as to promote comprehensive law and justice reforms.

He pointed out that patriarchal attitudes and behavior as well as discriminatory gender norms and structures were the root causes of violations of women and girls rights.

Culture should be used in more progressive light, rather than to justify violations of the basic human rights of the female citizens. Regrettably, some sections of our society continue to accept, at times even foster and encourage, discriminatory practices that lay the groundwork for impunity for crimes against women and girls.

Mr Tibone said, in some cases, attacks on womens and girls are sanctified as elements of culture laying a foundation for the denial of womens and girls rights.

Toot causes of such violence must be eliminated completely through public education and positive socialisation, he said.

Answering a question in Parliament from Ghanzi South MP Christian De Graaff, he said banks benefit directly while big companies and individuals benefit indirectly through interest earned on their savings/investments.

Mr Mlazie said it should be noted that Bank of Botswana uses BoBCs as one of the instruments to conduct monetary policy, with a view to ensuring monetary stability and proper functioning of the financial system.

He said the BoBCs were introduced to reduce excess liquidity, which was forcing commercial banks to either turn away deposits, put them in non-interest bearing accounts or pay low unattractive interest rates on the deposits.

Mr Mlazie said the benefit of these monetary instruments should be viewed broadly in terms of the extent to which they have influenced monetary policy in the country, thus promoting the development of the domestic financial market.

He said they (monetary instruments) have absorbed excess liquidity in the banking system as a result ensuring positive real interest rates, which in turn encourage savings and discourages excessive speculative lending and borrowing.

Mr Mlazie said BoBCs will continue to be an important tool in the banks monetary policy framework adding that it will also continue to benefit the general public considerably through a sound and stable macroeconomic environment characterised by low and stable levels of inflation.

The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Vincent Seretse, said at the launch of the 2007 directory, that he was delighted that it had been produced internally.

He commended staff who put together the directory in two and a half months and said they worked under a lot of pressure.

Mr Seretse said the new telephone directory was an easy read which includes new features such as, the modern spacing of telephone numbers to improve readability.

He said every effort has been made to update all information to ensure that the most current information is available.

The new BTC telephone directory and yellow pages will be now available via the Internet and can be accessed through the web site at www.btcdirectory.co.bw.

Mr Seretse said BTC decided to compile and publish the 2007 telephone directory and yellow pages after a fallout with the publishers.

She said that is why it is important that an effective policy on culture is put in place in order to take advantage of this potential source of economic development.

Botswana has a rich cultural heritage and an inexhaustible pool of creative talent which is relevant for the development of cultural industries.

Ms Pule was officiating at a stakeholders workshop on the finalisation of the Draft National Action Plan on Culture held at the Oasis Motel, this week.

She said development of cultural industry is an appropriate venture particularly as the country positions itself for the 2010 FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa.

The development of Culture Action Plan will assist key stakeholders to work hard in exploiting this big sporting event.

Ms Pule explained that the Cultural Action Plan will be an implementation strategy for cultural development in Botswana and will reinforce existing efforts being undertaken by the different stakeholders. She said she was optimistic that after its completion, the document will assist the government to fully utilise one of the potential sectors in the overall economic development of Botswana.

Ms Pule therefore encouraged the participants and consultants to work within time and ensure that the project is finalised as planned.

She expressed hope that the National Action Plan will provide a framework through which culture can be preserved, promoted and nurtured .

She told the participants that the National Action Plan on Culture started in 2004 when a team of culture experts from UNESCO and Botswana came up with a draft document .

During the workshop participants spoke of the need to develop a national dress code. They further called for arts and craft to be taken to a higher level and be commercialised.

The attendants also called for the re-introduction of local beauty cosmetic products such as Letsoku which used to nurture and soften the ladies faces without any side effects.

He said over 40 people have been taken to the Mahalapye hospital with conditions varying from serious to critical, while the other bus driver is hospitalised with internal injuries in the chest.

The buses, which belong to the same company collided around 5:30pm along the Mahalapye-Dibete road.

Mr Seleke explained that rescue crews worked for over three hours to remove the bodies from the buses to clear the road while the wreckage was cleared around 11pm. Police are still investigating the cause of the accident.

During a debate organised by the Independent Electoral Commission in Selebi Phikwe,Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) representative,Mr Benjamin Bagayi said opposition parties have failed to run their affairs and now want to become parasites and suck the national coffers dry.

Contributing to the debates held under the theme Nurturing Democracy Through Free and fair Election the case of Botswana ,Mr. Bagayi said it a common knowledge that opposition parties mismanage their affairs.

He said they have failed to organize themselves into respected organizations hence they are desperate to be funded by the tax payer.

However, the opposition argued that if the status quo remained , Batswana would continue to live under what they termed a democratic dictatorship.They argued that funding would level the playing field.

Mr. Moeti Mohwasa of the Botswana National Front (BNF), argued that funding of parties is a must to nurture the countrys democracy.

Mr. Mohwasa said the BDP government enjoys the monopoly of running the elections because it controls the electoral commission, and is given priority during campaigns by the government media .

He said the set up gives the ruling party an edge over other political parties Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) representative Mr. Hloniphani Chengeta called for electoral reforms arguing that such reforms should include proportional representation to nurture democracy.

Mr. Nzwaligwa Nzwaligwa from the Botswana Congres Party (BCP) concured with those sentiments.He also argued that the public should propose electoral reforms not political parties.

Answering a question in Parliament, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Ponatshego Kedikilwe said the scope of the project includes engaging an engineering consultant to undertake an exercise guided by the terms of reference.

He said one of the terms of reference of the consultant was to investigate and study the current water demand in the village.

He said the other term of reference was for the consultant to review the current projected 15-year period water demand for the village on the basis of the village development plan in order to take into consideration new developments such as the second university and the new 1200MW power plant.

He said the other term of reference is to investigate and study the current capability of the village network and optimise it to meet current demand and further design a new network to meet the new projected water requirements for the village.

Mr Kedikilwe said this project would cater for all the planned developments in the village including the second university and the new 1200MW power plant.

He said his ministry was at the tender evaluation stage to engage a consultant to carry out the exercise, adding that it was expected that the evaluation and the appointment of the consultant would be completed by the end of April and the consultancy work expected to be completed by August 2008.

Mr Kedikilwe said construction whose length would be defined in the design was expected to start shortly after the completion of the design.

He was responding to a question from Palapye MP Boyce Sebetela who had asked the minister what plans are being put in place to upgrade the water infrastructure in Palapye.

Mr Joseph Galebonwe told a one day workshop organised for the out of school youth that 60 per cent of the road accidents that occurred in 2005 involved young people in the 15-34 age group.

He said they should always remember that road safety begins with them as individuals if the objective of reducing the road accidents in the country is to be realised.

Mr Galebonwe, who is a youth reminded his audience that they were the future leaders therefore their actions should reflect their true beings.

He said the government convened the workshop for them because it has confidence in them and believed that they have a role to play in curbing such accidents.

He appealed to his age mates to take the theme Youths, Think Road Safety to 2016, as a challenge by working together to reverse the current trend of accidents. This, he said could help to safe many peoples lives and to avoid disabilities, as the country heads to the year 2016 and beyond.

Giving a motivational talk, a representative from Martin Luther Society in Africa, Ms Masego Leepile said the human rights organisation has opened its doors to assist the youth, the needy and others in the country in skills development.

The approval was put on a vote by deputy speaker Ms Gladys Kokorwe following division of the House on whether the budget should be approved or not.

The vote resulted in 32 MPs approving the budget, seven opposition MPs saying No, one MP abstaining while 19 MPs were absent at the time of voting.

Mogoditshane MP Mr Patrick Masimolole who earlier on complained that Minister Lesego Motsumi had allegedly said ba a sela sela abstained from voting.

Of the seven MPs who said No, Mr Omphitlhetse Maswabi and MP for Kgatleng East Mr Isaac Mabiletsa said they did not approve the budget on grounds that the minister had allegedly said ba a sela sela.

Minister Motsumi had in her response to MPs comments on the budget denied allegations that about 300 employees would be laid off. She said some MPs had tendency to bring issues that were not true into the House.

She said her ministry would bring a statement to Parliament once consultations on the take over of Air Botswana were completed.

Ms Motsumi conceded that repair of vehicles at CTO was often delayed, adding that some departments played a part in the delay by not cooperating with the organisation.

She promised MPs that the matter would be addressed as consultations and studies had been carried out.

She also admitted that sometimes the organisation allocates departments wrong cars without consideration of the roads where the vehicles would be used.

She said government was committed to constructing network of roads around the country.

Ms Motsumi said her ministry often encounters problems with local companies, some of which do not have proper resources while some lack the technical know how.

This, she said did not mean they would paint all contractors with one brush. The Minister further conceded that designs and studies often delay start of projects, but said the processes were important.

On airports, Ms Motsumi said it was in governments plans to upgrade the countrys airports.

MPs had in their debates complained about the status of the airports. Mr Masimolole complained about many consultancies, on which he said a lot of money was spent.

He also raised concerns about the loses that Air Botswana had made since 2005 and the rumours that some employees of the Air line would lose their jobs when a new company took over.

Ngwaketse MP, Mr Mephato Reatile called for establishment of an Auto shop in Jwaneng to cater for vehicles from his constituency.

Mr Kwelagobe said accounting officers continued to make arrangements to localise positions where qualified citizens were available.

According to the Computerised Personnel Management System (CPMS), there are currently 1 477 expatriates in Central Government out of a total complement of 87 586.

This represent a localisation rate of just over 98.3 per cent, he said. Mr Kwelagobe said many of the expatriates in Central Government were found in highly professional and technical ministries and departments such as Health, with 703, Education, with 423, Works and Transport with 96 and Communications, Science and Technology with 55. He added that citizen manpower was not readily available in these ministries because of their technical nature.

He was responding to a question from Tswapong South MP Oreeditse Molebatsi who wanted to know whether localisation in Central Government has been suspended.

Still in Parliament Assistant Minister of Local Government Ambrose Masalila said the problem of lack of stationery supplies for primary schools in Boteti would be addressed by an approved increase of 35 per cent 2007/08 budgetary allocation.

Mr Masalila further pointed out that his ministry advised the Central District Council to ensure that the budget for stationery supplies was always given priority.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Masalila said as, a relief measure the Chadibe Health Post ambulance, which was based 9km from Matlhako had been assisting both areas.

He, however, said the intervention did not work due to the workload in the area, adding that since February, a full time ambulance had been sent to Matlhako to assist until such time that a designated vehicle could be secured.

Mr Masalila said shortage of classrooms was to be addressed through the primary schools facilities backlog eradication programme.

Mr Masalila also pointed out that Mophaneng primary was not included in the packages for 2007/08 and 2008/09 financial years as there were other areas within the central district whose needs were more pressing.

As such the provision of additional facilities will be considered alongside other priorities in the next plan, as determined by the central district council, he said.

Prof. Tlou said currently 33 clinics and 32 hospitals are providing ARVs to 79 490 patients on treatment countrywide. She said this in Parliament on Tuesday during her budget proposals, requesting P1 574 054 820 for the recurrent budget and P635 570 000 for the development budget.

Prof. Tlou noted that the above statistics were factual as at December 2006, with 66 059 patients being from the public sector.

She said the programme to enrol ARVs had been partly outsourced to the private sector to reduce waiting time for enrolment of those who were eligible. The effect of such a move, she said was indicated by the number of home-based care patients, from about 9500 in 2005 to 7045 in 2006.

Prof. Tlou also announced that her ministry was in the process of strengthening its drug regulation and quality assurance systems to ensure that drugs in the local market were safe, effective and of acceptable quality.

To this end, she said the Drugs and Related Substances Act was being amended to harmonise it with the National Drug Policy and other Acts of Parliament that would improve access to essential medicines.

She also expressed concern about the pilferage of ARV drugs, vowing that she was addressing the problem through a vehicle tracking system in drug delivery trucks and was in the process of installing a closed circuit television system at Central Medical Stores.

Cameras have also been located in strategic places and provision of security guard service has been outsourced to the private sector to improve efficiency and effectiveness, she said.

On the diarrhoea outbreak that led to childrens deaths, Prof. Tlou said she had collaborated with ministries of Local Government, and Minerals Energy and Water Resources to prevent water related and sanitation diseases as well as to improve the quality of consumed water at household level.

She expressed concern at the outbreak of extreme drug resistant Tuberculosis in South Africa, adding that preparations were underway to respond to this threat with the assistance of World Health Organisation and the US Centre for Disease Control.

During the last financial year, Prof. Tlou said government developed the national child health strategic plan, which showed where child health fits into the overall health agenda and where the latter fits into NDP 9.

Furthermore, she said last year they undertook an assessment of availability, quality and utilisation of emergency care services for problems associated with pregnancy at childbirth, with a view to identifying factors contributing to maternal deaths.

The findings were used to guide and inform the development and implementation of a road map to accelerate the reduction of maternal and newborn mortality, she said. On HIV AIDS, she said infection rates were now declining especially among the youth with the most recent sentinel surveillance showing reduction from 37.4 per cent in 2003 to 32.4 per cent in 2006.

Local government minister Margaret Nasha told Parliament that Tribal Administration Officers could actually progress up to the level of Director at E2 salary scale and even beyond.

This cannot therefore be considered an anomaly, she said, adding that the grading of jobs was guided by the job evaluation process, which looks specifically at the job content and workload of individual posts.

Ms Nasha was answering a question from the MP for Tonota North Pono Moatlhodi who wanted to know if the minister is aware that certain dikgosi are graded at D2 scale resulting in the capping of the advancement prospects of Tribal Administration Officers in those offices.

Speaking at a panel discussion organised by the Botswana Editors Forum this week under the theme: The collapse of opposition unity talks, implications on Botswanas democracy, Mr Setshwaelo said the initial talks collapsed because they wanted to get into a marriage without getting into much detail with regard to what they bring to the table. He said their differences as negotiating partners became more important than their similarities and that nobody wanted to see their party swallowed.

He said he regretted the collapse of the unity talks because it was bad for the country. What the collapse of the talks means is that there will be more voter apathy, Mr Setshwaelo said, adding that corruption which has been looming over the years will worsen.

He said the economy will also stagnate and collapse and that society and the international community will lose hope in the country.

Mr Setshwaelo, however, said they have sowed the seeds of opposition unity and that it is a struggle that will take time to bear fruits.

For his part, Botswana National Front (BNF) leader Mr Otsweletse Moupo said opposition parties failed to agree on the basics, and that in the long term it was going to be difficult for them to rule.

He said they did not want to repeat what happened in Kenya where opposition parties united to take over power only to disintegrate after that.

Mr Moupo acknowledged that realistically there was no way opposition parties could assume state power in the next general elections.

We would however increase our seats in parliament, in the meantime, the minimum we could do for each other is to avoid sowing seeds of hatred and talking badly about each other, said Mr Moupo.

He said petty politics and attacking each other publicly would just make the electorate lose hope on them.

Mr Moupo said the implications of the collapse of opposition unity talks means the ruling party will win in 2009, but not in the 2014 general elections.

Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) President Mr Bernard Balikani blamed weak leadership among the negotiating parties for the collapse of the unity talks.

He said the leadership was shortsighted, selfish and self-centered, as they put their interests first, their partys second and the nations a distant third.

He said his party is ready to go back to the negotiating table to negotiate with serious minded politicians.

The BPP leader said the implications of the failure of the talks are that accountability will collapse, and that corruption and voter apathy will also increase. Mr Gilson Saleshando of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) denied that the cooperation talks have collapsed.

The BCP and BAM continue to hold the fort of unity talks and this is a temporary setback, said Mr Saleshando.

He said opposition parties might not be ready to unite and remove the ruling party from power, but that Batswana are ready.

He said this is indicated by the 48 per cent of the popular vote the opposition parties received in the 2004 elections.

Mr Saleshando said his research shows that there are two types of groups in the country; those who fear the unknown and those who are concerned.

Those who fear the unknown are not many and their numbers are decreasing and those who want change and are concerned are increasing, said Mr Saleshando.

He added that the civil society in the country is weak and disorganised and incapable of providing checks and balances on the ruling party.

The Deputy Editor of the Sunday Standard Mr Spencer Mogapi projected that due to the collapse of the opposition talks, the BDP will rule for the next 20 or 40 years.

He described the collapse of the talks as a blessing in disguise as people do not know what would happen if the opposition assumed state power.

Mr Maluleke blamed the pupils for causing severe damages to the facility that was constructed at an estimated cost of P260 000.

He said that pupils, who are mostly Basarwa have destroyed the ceiling, broken windows and torn blankets and mattresses provided by the council.

He wondered why the dwellers engage in such intolerable acts that cost the government a great deal of money.

He said the council has spent a lot of money renovating the hostels every time they were destroyed, adding that there were no funds to repair the damages and to purchase new blankets and other destroyed goods.

Sehunou is a settlement about 50 kilometres south of Serowe.

An employee at the hostels, who preferred anonymity, blamed the students behaviour on lack of discipline.

She regretted that elder students sneak out of the hostels at night to drink traditional brew.

Upon their return from their drinking sprees, she said they break windows and doors, and throw stones on the roofs.

To address the problem, he said the students were always taken for counselling.

In addition, she blamed some residents of Sehunou for not helping the situation, as they also vandalise the hostels.

Even the workers had been threatening to down tolls since last year after the owners, Mr. Peter Kirby and his wife, Edith, went into retirement.

After their departure, workers and the new managers were always at logger heads. Employees accused management of ill treating and denying them salary increases.

They also complained that they were not paid bonuses last year. Word reached the Kirbys, who were in the United States, and they decided to come back to save the company.

Last week, a meeting was held with Mr Kirby and the employees. Mr Kirby informed the gathering that the managing director had been fired and assured workers that their jobs were safe.

He apologised to the workers and stakeholders for the poor and unacceptable management style that prevailed during their absence.

He said they decided to return because of the love and bond they have with the people of Moletamane village, the workers and the country.

Mr Kirby said during their brief stay in the United States whey received many calls and emails from concerned workers and stakeholders who asked them to consider coming back to save the company and prevent job losses.

Chairman of the workers committeem, Mr Simon Lewis commended the Kirbys for coming back to restore calm and put the company back on track.

Mr Lewis said the former managing director ran the farm with an iron fist and was not interested in the well being of workers.

The workers, he said summoned the managing director to the kgotla last year where they appealed to him to change his style without success.

Headman of Moletamene village, Kgosi Boitumelo Garegae hailed the return of the Kirbys as a symbol of goodwill and love for their friends and workers.

Kgosi Garegae said during their absence he tried to intervene but his efforts did not bear fruit.

A labour consultant, Mr Sam Leero, urged workers to familiarise themselves with labour laws and issues.

Minister of Works and Transport Ms Lesego Motsumi mentioned this during her ministrys budget proposal seeking P2.1 billion constituting of P1 333 174 840 for the recurrent budget and P785 539 000 for the development budget.

It should be noted that earlier initiatives to privatise Air Botswana did not succeed mainly due to depressed civil aviation market conditions, Ms Motsumi said.

Efforts to privatise Air Botswana started in April last year after government recognised that such a move would avail them a chance to address the challenges of the national air transport industry including the increasing demand for air services.

Air Botswana lost P16.8 million during the 2005/06 financial year and a loss of a similar magnitude was also expected for 2006/07.

The airline was inundated with several problems among them an ageing fleet, cost efficient jet fleet, unreliable schedule and the inability to retain or attract appropriately skilled qualified pilots.

Minister Motsumi told the House that government was planning to undertake a detailed feasibility study for establishing an air cargo hub in Botswana.

The proposed hub is to cater for air cargo traffic emanating from the SADC region as well as the proposed agro-commercial project an Pandamatenga mainly comprising of perishables that require managed cool-chain handling to international standards, she said.

Ms Motsumi said the proposed cargo hub would considerably enhance efforts to diversify the economy.

She further said during the 2007/2008 financial year her ministry would assess modes of equitably using the dry port at Walvis Bay given to Botswana by Namibia.

Walvis Bay according to the minister offered Botswana a very viable alternative to the ports of Durban and Cape Town for its exports and imports.

It is a shorter route to Europe and the Americas, offers highly competitive rates and has better performance indicators than the Durban port, she said.

It was also announced that a consultancy study to develop an integrated transport policy was ongoing, whose aim was to look beyond the traditional transport sectors of moving goods and people, and address broader issues such as economic growth, land use, environment, poverty and the quality of life. As an aid to create a conducive environment to encourage the uptake of Public-Private-Partnership procurement, a framework is being developed with the assistance of PEEPA.

Among others, the minister said the framework would provide guidance to implementing agencies on the processes and procedures to be followed in PPP transactions.

With effect from the next financial year, ministries and departments would be required to issue CTO with letters of authority before they could fuel their vehicles.

This will be done at the beginning of each financial year and it will help CTO to recover the cost of fuel supplied to user ministries and departments, she said.

One other setback that Ms Motsumi noted in her presentation was operating losses registered by Botswana Railways.

The men, who were arrested during an operation by the Department of Waste Management and Air Pollution, admitted that they were fully aware that doing so was an offence.

Deputy Director of the Department Mr Rule Opelo said out of the 132 people who were caught , 125 of them were male while seven were female.

The figure also includes students who were caught urinating near the railway line fly-over bridge after alighting from the combis.

Some of them claimed that they did not know where the toilets were while others said the toilets were locked, dirty or reserved for staff only.

Mr Opelo said some the people who were arrested during the two-day operation were warned, while others were fined between P50 and P200.

One man was jailed for resisting arrest.

He said in most cases, those who were fined were reluctant to accept wrong doing.

Those who could not pay were given seven days to doso or face prosecution. Females, he said, were caught urinating near bars while most men were arrested urinating near trees.

Those peeping in public face a fine of between P50 and P200. Repeat offenders can also be tried and sent to prison for a period not exceeding six months.

Mr Opelo, who is also the Coordinator of the Greater Gaborone Cleaning-up Initiative, said the operation is meant to appealed to people conduct themselves in an environmentally friendly manner.

The operation was conducted at Block 9, Block 6, Phase 11 Bontleng and the Main Bus Terminal.

They said in interviews that application forms for the funds are hard to fill and that their frustrations are compounded by the absence of a youth officer in the area.

However, the youth officer was posted to Mabutsane in January this year. Some youth said prior to her arrival they were disadvantaged as they could not visit the Jwaneng Youth and Culture office for assistance because of distance.

However, Tuelo Zulu of Kokong is one of the few who benefited from the fund. He operates a hardware in the village.

Only two persons have received funding from the youth fund in the current financial year in the village of Kokong.

Zulu said many youth have been turned down because their projects were not viable. In Morwamosu there are no projects funded from the youth fund.

This according to Morwamosu Youth Chairman, Boipuso Tlhapagwane was due to the fact that there was no one who could assist the village youth access the fund.

Tlhapagwane said some youth made efforts to access funding but were turned down because they failed to understand what was required.

However, the problems the youth faced in this part of the country will soon become a thing of the past after the newly arrived youth officer, Opelo Gaopale vowed to make concerted efforts to reach out to youth .

Gaopale said in the coming financial year, she would address Kgotla meetings in all the villages to help the youth uplift their lives through government grants.

Competition for automatic promotion to the elite league toughens with every game. Therefore team coaches and managers have to put up premeditated measures to take a turn for the better.

Margins between the top four teams are very narrow such that a slip will mean shattered dreams to play in the elite league.

After a fierce contest that earned them a 1-0 victory over Red Lions on Sunday, the Mahalapye based BR Highlanders now at the top in the log standing, have a daunting task to remain unbeaten or to win some if not all of the remaining five games to cement their position and thus gain automatic promotion to the Mascom Premier League.

Boteti Young Fighters also face a major test to redeem themselves by winning the remaining games, add more points and regain the top position where they had been sitting comfortably since the last season.

Young Fighters of Orapa host the Ferry Wanderers on their Saturday meeting after playing to a 1-1 draw with Great North Tigers (GNT) last Saturday, the results that saw them climb down the ladder to the second spot.

Orapa Bucs will confront the Francistown giants and third placed GNT on Saturday.

The latter also face a great challenge to surpass the leaders by winning the remaining five games and qualify for automatic promotion.

GNT trail behind BR Highlanders and Boteti Young Fighters with three and two points respectively.

Fourth placed Motlakase of Palapye have been in good form.

It registered an undisputed 5-1 win over Sua Flamingoes last Saturday, which put them only a point behind GNT. Motlakase had also electrocuted Orapa Bucs 4-1 two weeks ago. With 29 points in the bag and five games remaining, the team remains a potential contender in the race for the elite league.

While still at the fifth spot, Mahalapye United Hotspurs aka Amahot believes they still have a chance to win the league, especially with the current form They won three games consecutively though they were still searching for a coach. Amahot will have their next date with the fourth placed Motlakase on Sunday after a 2-1 victory over Ferry Wanderers last Saturday.

Dimpho tseo ba di abetswe ke mongwe wa bagolwane go tswa SOS Childrens Village, rre Kgakge Kgakge go tswa kwa Tlokweng yo o boletseng fa maikaelelo a bone e le go thusa bana ba ba tlhokileng lesego.

Rre Kgakge o boletse fa bana ba go nna jalo ba ba phuthela golo go le gongwe, ba ba kwadise mo SOS go ba fa dithuso tse di faphegileng jaaka go tsena sekole le go ba ruta go lema merogo le ditiro tse dingwe tse di ka ba ntshang mo mebileng.

O boletse fa ba setse ba na le bana ba basetsana ba le 240 kwa sekoleng sa SOS kwa Tlokweng, a re maikaelelo a bone ke gore ba phuthe bana ba le 1500 go tsena sekole seo, mme ba mo lenaneong la go bula se sengwe kwa Francistown le Serowe.

Rre Kgakge a re maikaelelo a bone ke go phutha bana ba ba sa tseneng dikole ba ba dingwaga tse di kwa tlase, tsa go ka bo ba le mo sekoleng.

O ngongoregile ka borre ba ba bayang bana kwa merakeng go ba disetsa dikgomo le go tlhatswa dikoloi tsa bone.

Rre Kgakge a re bangwe ba bana ba ba neng ba tsena sekole mo SOS ba dumeletswe mo dikoleng tse dikgolwane fa bangwe ba tsene kwa Mmadikole.

Mokhanselara wa kgaolo ya Pilane, rre Naphtal Kaeparura, o kgothaditse batsadi ba bana ba batlhoki go tsenya letsogo gongwe le gongwe fa ba kgonang go dira teng. A re ba itse go re e a re go tlogelwa tsatsing se ikise meriting.

Dimpho tseo, di akaretsa thelebishine, metshameko ya selaka, monopholi le chess.

Rre Kgosiemang a re dilo tseo di botlhokwa fela thata mo matshelong a banana, ka di kgona go aga tlhaloganyo ya ngwana, di sidila mmele le go aga boitekanelo.

O kopile batsadi gore le bone ba se ka ba tlogela go aga bana kwa malapeng, ba itse fa e le tshwanelo go re ngwana a tseye molao kwa lwapeng gore e nne motho yo o nang le boikarabelo, tlotlo le maitseo.

O boletse fa dimpho tseo di tlaa bewa kwa holong di bo di nna le botlhokomedi le nako e banana ba tlaa yang go di dirisa ka yone.

A re ba itumeletse dimpho tseo fela thata ka jaana di tlaa kgapha bana go tlhola ba tsamaya mesepele e e ka tsenyang matshelo a bone mo diphatseng le go tlogela go tsena mo dibareng.

Mongwe wa leloko la DMSAC, mme Supang Kgosiemang, a re dimpho tseo di kaya lerato go tswa mo batsading, maikaelelo e le go fedisa metsamao ya bana.

Mme Kgosiemang a re dithuto di tlaa nna teng go fa banana dikgakololo le gore bana ga ba a tshwanela go tlhakanela dikobo ba sale bannye.

A re bana ba tshwanetse go itse gore tiro ya bone ke thuto e seng go ithuta go tlhakanela dikobo ka jaana seo, se felela se ba bakela malwetse.

A re ba boife Modimo le go tlotla batsadi gore ka ngwaga wa 2016 e bo e le tshaba e e nonofileng e na le boikarabelo.

Mme Tsholofelo Letsholo le ene e le leloko la DMSAC a re ba lebogile fela thata ka dilo tse di filweng bana ka e bile di tlaa fokotsa nnotagi e e dirwang ke bana ba sale bannye.

Boitumelo joo, jo bo neng bo supiwa ka megolokwane le maboko, bo dirilwe mo phuthegong ya kgotla, e mo go yone Kgosi Mmolotsi Sekgoma a neng a ba rurifaletsa fa puso e amogetse kopo ya go tlhatlosa rre Tshipana Tshipana maemo go nna Senior Subordinate Tribal Authority fa rre Koodibetse Keitumetse ene a tlhatlositswe maemo go nna Subordinate Tribal Authority.

E rile Kgosi Sekgoma a buisa phuthego eo, a tlhalosa fa maikaelelo a go tlhatlosa rre Tshipana maemo e le go kaba phatlha ya ga rre Boikhutso Seithomolo yo o neng a tlogela tiro ka bogodi ngogola fa rre Keitumetse ene a tlhatlosiwa maemo go kaba phatlha ya ga rre Tshipana yo e neng e ntse e le mothusa kgosi ya motse wa Mookane.

Rre Sekgoma o kopile morafe wa Mookane go dirisana le magosi a bone ka botswerere gore ba kgone go tsweledisa ditlhabololo tsa motse wa bone a ba a kopa rre Tshipana le rre Keitumetse go tshwara morafe ka tekatekano le go ba lekodisa ka ditlhabololo tse di amanang le motse wa bone.

Le fa e rile kgwedi e e fetileng banni ba motse oo, ba supasupana ka menwana ntateng ya go tlhoka go dumelana ka leina la motho yo o ka tlhomiwang kgosana, ba supile fa jaanong dikgotlhang tsa bone di bepile ka jaana sengwe le sengwe se se dirilweng ke Tona Nasha le Kgosi Kgamane se dirilwe ka fa morerong.

Ba kopile magosi a bone go emisa mokgwa wa go seka ditsheko ka go mpampetsa le go kgetholola dikgosana dingwe tsa tetlanyo ka ba re seo se ka kgoreletsa tiro ya bone le go kgaoganya morafe.

Mookamedi wa mokgatlho wa Nkaikela Youth Group kwa Tlokweng, mme Beauty Mogasha, o buile jalo kwa tshimolodisong ya kgwedi ya banana ba kgaolo ya Borwa Botlhaba kgatlhanong le HIV/AIDS.

A re dipatlisiso di supile fa banana ba itse thata ka dikgang tsa bolwetse joo, mme bothata ke go tsibogela molaetsa.

A re botsogo jwa banana bo tlhokana le go somarelwa ka e le bone bokamoso jwa lefatshe leno, mme a ba rotloetsa go tsaya molaetsa ka bolwetse jwa segajaja tsia ka jaana bo gapa matshelo a mantsi.

Mme Mogasha o boletse fa nako e gorogile gore batho ba itharabologelwe ka matshelo a bone a le mo diphatseng, a tlatsa ka gore ba tshwanetse ba ipotse dipotso jaaka go re ba batla go felela kae jang le gone go re dikgwetlho tse di ba lebaneng ke dife go re ba ka di fenya jang.

Banana ba kgaolo ya borwa botlhaba ba ne ba kgobokane kwa sekoleng se segolwane sa Moeding go iteisana borathana ka metshameko e akaretsa kgwele ya dinao, moopelo, drama e le bontlha bongwe jwa go gasa molaetsa kgatlhanong le HIV/AIDS.

O rotloeditse banana go tsaya boikarabelo ka matshelo a bone nako e sale teng ka jaana botshelo bo ka se busediwe morago, a tlatsa ka gore ba tshwanetse ba itse ditso tsa malwapa a bone mme ba ipelafatse ka tsone.

Mme Mogasha a re bana ba gompieno ba tsholelwa mo nakong ya bolwetse bo gaketse bogolo jang ba ngwaga wa 1985 ka jaana ba gola ba utlwa melaetsa e gasiwa mabapi le HIV/AIDS le gone gore e ka thibelwa jang.

A re gompieno banana ba na le ditirelo tse dintsi tse ba ka di dirang le kitso e ba ka e dirisang mme a ba rotloetsa go itshwaraganya le mekgatlho go na le go kaila mo mebileng.

O boletse fa puso e dirile maiteko a magolo gore kgwedi eo e nne ya banana kgatlhanong le mogare ka jaana gape lefatshe leno le segofetse ka ditlamelo tsa botsogo.

A re fela fa batho ba ka tsaya kgato go itharabologelwa le go itse ka botsogo jwa bone, ditoro tsa Tebelopele ya 2016 di ka fitlhelelwa mme lefatshe leno le nne le batho ba ba itekanetseng.

Mongwe wa banana, Kitso Masi o boletse fa maikaelelo a kgwedi eo e le go abelana megopolo, go ithuta ka go ntsha dikitso tse di farologaneng mabapi le HIV/AIDS.

A re metshameko e botlhokwa mo go gaseng molaetsa wa HIV/AIDS mme a kgothatsa balekane ba gagwe go inaakanya le mekgatlho le metshameko ka jaana e ka fetola matshelo a bone.

Clubs pay between 20 per cent and 30 per cent of the gate takings and the clubs feel that something has to be done to reduce the fees. The charges, they say, have rendered football expensive and non profitable.

The University of Botswana which charges a flat rate of P2 500 per game is seen by many clubs as the cheapest, while other grounds especially those that are under the management of government institutions, such as town and city councils charge 30 per cent of the gate takings.

The grounds under the Department of Sports and Recreation like Molepolole Sports Complex charge 25 per cent.

Mochudi Centre Chiefs communications manager, Clifford Mogomotsi regretted that while the clubs continue to pay this high amount some of these expensive facilities have no ablution facilities.

Mogomotsi suggested that, those who own stadiums must try to use the revenue they acquire from the stadium levies to improve their facilities.

He also observed that, some facilities are deteriorating in standard despite generating huge sums of money for government institutions under which they fall.

Mogomotsi wondered why Lobatse Stadium was closed last year for supposed maintenance while nothing seem to have improved at the ground.

He also suggested that if the fees can not be reduced, stadium authorities must take care of the security aspect during league games because the currant arrangement where teams pay extra monies for security over burdens them financially.

Chiefs communications manager is however aware that maintaining the stadiums might be too costly in view of the water restrictions that have been imposed on the use in the country.

Notwane communications manager, James Mooki is equally disturbed by the high stadium fees imposed on the clubs, saying the high fees go a long way in pushing clubs towards indebtedness.

People forget that all these stadiums were built with the tax payers money, yet the charges are unreasonably too high, he charged.

Mooki is worried that many some grounds which did not have even seats, were charging more than he UB and national stadiums.

He contended that football teams were being used to raise money for some institutions through an unfair manner.

On the issue of security, he differed with Mogomotsi and suggested that, the Premier Football League secretariat must shoulder the responsibility for security as part of its preparations for games.

Clubs he said must be asked to provide marshals because only marshals know their trouble making colleagues.

Kitso Dlamini of Lobtrans Extension Gunners is equally concerned with the high stadium fees charged on premiership clubs, most ofwhich, according to him were poor.

Teams have gone into unnecessary debts because the monies which could otherwise have kept them afloat end up going to pay for the use of stadiums, he said.

Dlamini said in Lobatse , they have raised the issue with the town council authorities. He said a lasting and sustainable arrangement must be identified to solve this problem.

Dlaminui suggested that, because clubs have no land on which they can erect their own stadium, they be allowed to buy stakes in town council stadiums or be given an opportunity to subscribe for the use of such grounds.

The premier football league secretary general, Setete Phuthego has however indicated that, efforts are being made to discuss with councils around the country to see if they can not reduce the sadium fees.

He acknowledged that, the high fees do not only affect the clubs but has also impeded on the growth of the premier league secretariat.

The PFL secretariat is also financed by the revenue collected from the gate takings of the league games.

Also local jazz artists continue to develop their own distinctive style and recording pieces worth listening to.

Jazz musicians such as Socca Moruakgomo, Citie Seetso, the late Duncan Senyatso, Puna Gabasiane, Ndingo Johwa, Lister Boleseng, Shanti Lo and Nick Ndaba have fused some elements of jazz into today's contemporary sounds.

The new sounds appeal to locals and an appreciative international audience giving birth to a growing Botswana jazz tradition.

Veteran jazz artist cum journalist Rampholo Molefhe traces the development of Jazz music in Botswana back to the late 60s.

He says the major development can be traced back to Francistown which saw the emergence of jazz gardens and centres .

Francistown was a sort of a convergence place for expatriates and refugees who were already exposed to this kind of music. With time, influence took toll and locals began to have a common liking for jazz music, he said.

Molefhe says that while the origins of Jazz music can be traced to America, Africans were able to infuse American technique of playing music into traditional forms to make it more appealing.

Africans took the idea of instrumental music into the direction of what became known as 'world music', creating a sound that crosses borders with a mix of African, American and other styles for a versatile musical genre which has become to be loved by many.

What is now being referred to as Jazz, he says is the rhythm which has been borrowed from American jazz adding that Africans created the music which borrowed a little from Jazz and fused it with the African rhythm.

The establishment of local bands like the Metronomes and the Scarers , he says, did justice to the development of the genre.

Metronomes band consisted of the likes of Jackes Sebiya, the late Prince Qobo and Razer Mangoi, Stanley Tholo, Box Montsho, Ntshetsa Mothibatsela, Noni Pilane and Grace Peterson. They popularized Jazz music even though they lived in different parts of the country . They always came together for the love of music.' He recalls Gale Letsatle , whom he described as one of the jazz movers of his time. However Molefhe points at the emergence of jazz promoters and flourishing of jazz clubs which contributed to the growth of jazz music in Botswana.

Jazz promoter and founding member of the Orapa Jazz Club in the 80s Soares Katumbela says jazz clubs served as a meeting place for all jazz lovers.

We played jazz to our members only on Sundays. Occasionally we would have jazz listening sessions at a member's residence whereby members would bring in their records.' He says refugees from South Africa who stayed in Francistown played a part in popularising jazz music.

We learnt a lot from them regarding jazz music and jazz artists. We used to invite the likes of Paul Lunga, The Jazz Merchants, Jazz Impacto, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwanga, Sakhile, Dorothy Masuku and the late Dudu Phukwana to perform at the New Yorker.

Soares of the Lizard Lounge says, by then Francistown was more organized than other towns in promoting jazz music.

Realising the love for jazz music and its potential , Soares continues to promote jazz music opening more jazz joints.

Rre Kereng yo o neng a bua kwa phuthegong ya VDC kwa Goo Moeng, a re seemo seo se tsenya matshelo a batho mo diphatseng tsa bolwetse le go tlhaselwa ke dirukutlhi.

A re matshwenyego a mangwe ke go re bagwebi ba dibuchara ba tlhabela gongwe le gongwe, a re go ka bo go setse go dirilwe matlhabelo mo motseng.

Rre Kereng o tshwenyegile ka dilo di le mmalwa jaaka go tlhoka dibanka, a re seo se dira gore babereki ba senye nako ya tiro ka go latela ditlamelo tsa dibanka kwa Gaborone mme maduo mo ditirong a wele tlase.

E rile mogolwane wa sepodisi sa morafe mme Moshengwa Kabelo, a itebaganya le borukutlhi, a kopa setshaba go thusanya le mapodisi go bo lwantsha gore tiro e tle e nne motlhofo, ka ga ba ka ke ba kgona ba le nosi.

Mme Kabelo a re borukutlhi bo ka kgonwa fela fa batho ba dirisa molao, ba tlogela go thapa batswakwa ba se na dipampiri ka fa molaong.

E rile mogolwane wa sepodisi sa Botswana, rre Solomon Makola, a tswa la gagwe, a gatelela kgang ya borukutlhi thata, a tlatsa ka gore batho ba ka kgona fa ba ka loma mapodisi tsebe, ba tlogela gore ba tshaba bosupi.

A re batho ba nne ba laela ba ba bapileng le bone fa ba tswa gore ba sale ba ba beetse leitlho.

O ba kgothaditse gape go kgaola diheje go itsa dirukutlhi go iphitlha mo go tsone.

Rre Mokola a re batho ba tshwanetse go tshwaya dikgomo di sa le di botlana le go di jesa omang gore di se ka tsa oka magodu a leruo.

O gakolotse Balete go inaakanya le ntebele ke go lebele le go kopa botsadi go rotloetsa banana go tsena diphuthego ka di le botlhokwa mo matshelong a bone.

Mogolwane wa ofisi ya mesepele, mme Idah Chalekwa, o rotloeditse Balete go tsaya dipasa tsa bone kwa ofising le gore botsadi bo direle bana dipasa ba sale ba botlana.

Mma Chalekwa a re go botlhokwa go nna le pasa, mme ba tlogele gore fa motho a setse a na le mathata a tshoganetso a batla go tsamaya, e bo e le gone a reng o tla go kopa go direlwa buka ya mosepele.

Mogolwane mo ofising ya banana, mme Thapelo Gasemotho, o tlhaloseditse bagolo le banana gore go na le mananeo a banana le gore ba a dirise go itlhamela ditiro.

Mme Gasemotho o tlhalositse fa madi ao e le P50000 le gore banana ke ba dingwaga tse di 18 go fitlha ka 29 le go ba rotloetsa go dirisa mananeo a puso go itirela botshelo go na le go baya fela mo go thapiweng ke puso le go lela ka letlhoko la mebereko.

Lemmenyane, who was appointed the new director of Maitisong after the departure of David Slater, said they will also be celebrating 21 years of developing the arts in the country.

Maitisong festival is upon us, and this years festival promises pomp and merriment to all the arts lovers in and around Gaborone, said Lemmenyane.

The Department of Arts and Culture, the Chinese Embassy and Alliance Franoise sponsor the festival with the support of the French embassy.

The festival began in 1986 when Maitisong was opened and has attracted artists, dramatists, musicians and dancers. Films, fine arts and books have also featured In 1996 an outdoor programme which focused on Old Naledi residents was introduced where free shows were provided over the weekends.

These have proved hugely successful and thousands of people flock to the Freedom Square to watch them, he added.

He said the festival targets a wide audience which includes school children, artistically educated and less educated people as it aims to develop the arts in the country.

The festival includes Ditshwanelo Human Rights films which are expected to start on March 15-22 at the Grand Palm Hotel.

Tickets are available at River Walk and Maitisong.

The AAG are scheduled to be played in Algeria in July while the Africa Nations Cup is billed for September.

The team came second after losing to South Africa in the finals. Three players from the team also won awards: Francis Dingwe won the best blocker, Lee Tsipane the best defender and the Cuban based Odirile Driller Sibanda the best attacker.

The womens team failed to qualify for the continental games after losing 3-0 to South Africa in the finals.

However, three of their players also won awards. Tshepo Serwe was selected as the best defender, Kelebogile Mahupela the best server and Tebogo Sejewe the best attacker.

A Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) official Mission Mereyotlhe said the womens team was unfortunate not to have qualified.

He said the mens team was fortunate because Algeria qualifies automatically by virtue of them being the hosts, while Nigeria qualified as previous host.

Mo molaetseng wa gagwe wa go tshwaya letsatsi la bomme, mosong ono, rre Tibone o gwetlhile Batswana go ema puso nokeng mo maitekong a go nyeletsa dikgwetlho tse a reng di senya ledulo la puso ya batho ka batho le go aga tebelopele ya go nna tshaba e e kutlwelo botlhoko.

A re go fedisa boganka le kgokgontsho ya bomme le basetsana, go batla boikarabelo jwa botlhe ka e le jone bo ka etleetsang tlotlo ya ditshwanelo tsa Batswana go sa kgathalesege bong jwa bone.

Mopitlo a tlhola malatsi a robabobedi, ke letsatsi la mafatshe la bomme le monongwaga le ketekwang ka moono wa: Go fedisa boikgantsho mo go ba ba nang le seabe mo kgokgontshong ya bomme le bana ba basetsana.

Rre Tibone a re letsatsi le, le naya mafatshe sebaka sa go lemoga fa go fitlhelela kagiso le tswelelopele, le go batla ditshwanelo tsa setho, go ka diragala fela fa go na le tekatekano le tlhabololo ya bomme.

A re moletlo oo gape ke segakolodi ka seabe sa bomme mo matshelong, go kgaratlhela tekatekano ya bong, mo go tsa itsholelo le mo mererong ya sepolotiki.

O kaile fa go oketsega ga melato ya kgokgontsho jaaka dipolao, tlhakanelo dikobo le bana ba dingwaga tse di kwa tlase, go sotlakakwa ga bana ke ba masika le dintwa tsa malwapa, e le dikgwetlho tse di tshwanetseng go tsibogelwa ke Batswana ka kakaretso.

A re se se ngomolang pelo ke gore go santse go na le bontlha bongwe jwa tshaba ya Botswana jo bo amogelang go sotlwa ga bana le basadi, e bile bo rotloetsa kgethololo e e dirang boikgantsho mo go ba ba nang le seabe mo bosuleng joo, ba bo ba ipone e le bagaka.

Rre Tibone a re ka ntlha ya gore ngwao le yone go lebega e amogela kgokgontsho e ka mokgwa mongwe, bomme ba tshelela mo tshotlegong le boikuelo jwa bone ka dinako tse dingwe bo wela mo ditsebeng tse di thibaneng.

Ka ntlha ya se, ba iphitlhela ba rontshitswe ditshwanelo tsa bone ka fa gongwe setshaba se felela se sa lemoge fa ba le mo kgokgontshong.

A re ka ntlha ya go re mafatshe ka bontsi a dumela fa tekatekano le go pataganela ditiro mo malwapeng ga borre le bomme go tsisa thokgamo, lephata la merero ya bomme le rotloetsa setshaba go nna le seabe mo go fediseng kgokgontsho ya basadi le bana.

Rre Tibone a re nako e tsile ya go re go lekanngwe bana ba basimane la ba basetsana mo mererong yotlhe ya botshelo, e ka nna mo go tsa molao, dikole, boswa, kgotsa mo ditseleng, gore ba gole ba lekalekana ka dithata.

Botswana o amogetse melao ya lefatshe e e eletsang go nonotsha boleng jwa bomme go re ba tle ba kgone go tshela botshelo jo ba bo batlang, e le badiragatsi go na le baamogedi ba ditirelo fela.

O boletse fa phenyo e tona e le go rotloetsa bomme le go ruta Batswana go fetola mekgwa ya ngwao e e gatelelang bomme le go tla ka molao o o tlaa gamolang phogwana ba ba sotlakakang bana ba basetsana le bomme.

Four teams are expected to take part in the May Zone VI club championships, though softball has been without a league for the second year running.

BDF IX and Vikings male teams are to represent the country while in the female games Police IX and Bears will raise the flag.

BSA popped out P15 000 to organise the two day tournament after the Zone VI club championship scheduled for the weekend were postponed to May.

BDF and Vikings were pitted against Rail Giants and Scramblers while Wells and Vikings took on Police and Bears.

Scramblers gave the two representatives good match practice and many softball lovers enjoyed the fierce competition between them and Vikings in the mens final.

The soldiers from Francistown beat Vikings by 6 runs to 5 and pocketed P3000 whilst Vikings walked away with P2500.

In the womens final, Bears proved too much for Police beating them by 12 runs to 4, the highest score of the tournament. Bears pocketed P3000 whilst Police got P2500.

Rail Giants pitcher, Romeo Tshelametse was probably the toast of the tournament despite his team not making it to the final.

In their game against BDF, Romeo was too much for the likes of Desaily Tompson, a feared batter, Jury Manaka and Godson Motsumi,despite losing by 4 runs to 2.

On the other hand, Mogoditshane fighters would not want to surrender their lead any time soon.

At stake is the championship and automatic promotion to the elite league, while a second placed team may have to fight it out with others in the play offs to gain promotion.

On paper, Fighters has an upper hand, and judging from their recent form, this promises to be a difficult assignment for the Tlokweng lads.

Fighters have the chance to increase the lead to nine points while Naughty Boys could narrow the gap.

However, Naughty Boys supporters said they would not accept anything less than a win. They need to narrow the gap and continue to challenge for the league championship as well as to protect their position from other teams.

In other games, on Saturday Blue Diamonds hosts third placed Killer Giants. Giants have lost two consecutive games so far, and a victory over Blue Diamonds would ensure they continue to challenge for honours.

Wonder Sporting, a team yet to win a game since the second round started, are reported to have parted ways with their coach and this Saturday they face Tlokweng United at Naughty Boys grounds.

In another Saturday game, Kgabosetso Southern Callies, a team that enjoys a huge following in Moshupa, and is among the best supported teams in the MedRescue First Division, hosts Young Strikers.

On Sunday, bottom placed Cosmos Blizzards would be battling against another red taped side, Red Sparks at Jwaneng Galaxy Stadium.

Blizzards have been performing badly this season, and judging from their performance, they are the most likely candidates for relegation.

Still on Sunday, Mochudi Buffaloes hosts Masitaoka in a game that promises to have the best any football fan would expect.

E rile a buisa phuthego ya UCCSA ka Matlhatso kwa Kanye, moitseanape mo malwetseng a pelo, rre Kiran Bhagat go tswa Gaborone, a bolela fa go le gantsi dithuto di ganelela mo bolwetseng jwa AIDS ntswa go na le malwetse a le one a nang le seabe se se tona mo go bakeng dintsho.

Rre Bhagat o boletse fa bolwetse jwa sukiri e le bongwe jwa a a di gogang kwa pele fa go tla mo dipalong tsa balwetse, a bolela fa mo nakong eno dipalo di supa go re go na le balwetse ba sukiri ba le 15 billion lefatshe ka bophara.

O tlhalositse fa malwetse a madi a matona le sukiri a tsamaelana, a bo a bolela fa mo lefatsheng ka bophara batho ba le masome a mabedi le botlhano mo lekgolong ba na le madi a matona.

Moruti wa Kanye UCCSA, rre Mosimanegape Kebafe, o ne a bolela fa maikaelelo a dithuto tseo e le go bona gore batho ba itse ka botsogo jwa bone le boitekanelo.

Rre Kebafe a re e le ba kereke ba setse morago lengwe la matshego a Tebelopele ya 2016 la tshaba e e itekanetseng.

O gateletse go re go botlhokwa go itlhatlhoba ka jaana bolwetse joo bo sa ame fela bagodi kgotsa ba ba mmele o motona jaaka bangwe ba akanya.

Dr Bhagat a re bo tshabelela thata batho ba dingwaga tse 25 go ya kwa go tse 95. A re bolwetse jwa madi a matona bo kgona go felela bo koafatsa dikarolo dingwe tsa mmele mme bo bitse malwetse a mangwe jaaka stroke.

A re bolwetse joo ga bona kalafi mme a kgothatsa bao ba leng mo lenaneong la go bo laola go tswelela ka go tsaya dithuso tseo dinako tsotlhe.

O boletse fa bangwe ba sa tseye dipilisi tsa madi a matona sentle ba re di a ba otsedisa, a a fa sekai ka bakgweetsi ba dipalamo tsa setshaba mme a re go dira jalo go felela go baka stroke. Rre Bhagat a re go botlhokwa gore motho a netefatse gore o tlhatlhobilwe sentle gore go twe o na le bolwetse jwa madi a matona, a tlhagisa fa dipilisi tse di ritibatsang botlhoko di kgona go isa madi kwa godimo mme ka jalo go sa siama go itlhatlhobela madi a matona morago ga go di nwa.

O ntshitse tlhagiso go re ga go a siama gore e re motho a tlhathobelwa madi a matona a bo a tshegetsa letsela le le tsenngwang mo letsogong go le gagamatsa ka jaana go dira jalo ka bo gone go isa madi kwa godimo ka selekanyo sa 20%.

Bontsi jwa batsena phuthego ba ne ba supa fa ka nnete ba tle ba kopiwe ke ba bongaka go tshegetsa letsela leo fa ba tlhatlhobelwa madi a matona.

A re go dira jalo go feletsa go ntsha maduo a e seng a nnete mme fa gongwe motho a felele a tsena mo lenaneong la go laola madi a matona ntswa tota seo e se nnete.

Sengwe se se bakang boletswe jwa madi a matona a re ke go tlhoka go ja sentle jaaka go ja letswai le mafura a mantsi le go tlhoka go itshidila.

Mangwe a malwetse a a boletseng fa a sala morago jwa sukiri ke jwa tlhaloganyo e e sa iketleng mme go latele malwetse a megare jaaka malaria le kgotlholo e tona.

E rile a akgela mongwe wa maloko a kereke, mme Ophone Sennanyana, a bolela fa dingwe tsa dingaka di itsapa go dira tlhatlhobo e e tseneletseng, mme di ganelela fela mo bolwetseng jwa nako eo.

Five artists Sedibeng Mothibatsela, Jeremie Brochot, Mike Robinson, Meleko Mokgosi and Steve Jobson have collaborated with Nucleo De Arte, a group of artists from Maputo-Mozambique.

The collaboration will allow the two groups to exhibit their works in both countries. The exhibition dubbed exchange exhibition collaboration will start on March 16 and run until the end of the month.

Coordinator of Thapong Visual Art Center Reginald Bakwena said the artists decided on the exhibition after realizing the importance of international exposure.

Exchange exhibitions are an amazingly efficient method for gaining the necessary exposure and they are using that as a platform of putting their artworks on the world map, he said.

Bakwena said while it is common for many artist to expect exhibitions to be organized for them, the time was ripe for them to begin to initiate such on their own. Without putting more effort and coming up with initiatives, government will not recognize the capability in us, he said adding that lack of initiation can be a drawback on the part of artists.

Sedireng Mothibatsela is a Mixed Media Artist. He has exhibited widely in the US, South Africa and Botswana.

Jeremie Brochot is a Painter. As a City painter ,his colours and imagery capture the dynamic ism of city living. He has exhibited in France and Botswana.

Meleko Mokgosi on the other hand is a Painter. He makes monumental works of social criticism while Mike Robinson explores the nature of the sacred. He uses the process of painting as a subconscious search.

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