Daily News does not publish on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Please email your comments to DailyNews@gov.bw

From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

Archive by year

BOPA News on 11 April 2008

Addressing the Ngwaketse Sub-board members Wednesday, an officer of the department Mr Ngwanathebe Ratshosa said part of the land was not properly rehabilitated and therefore not appropriate to be distributed.

Our findings suggest that rehabilitation of some of the land was not adequate, rendering it unsuitable for any allocation, he emphasised.

Mr Ratshosa suggested that a detailed assessment of the said land was paramount to address the situation.

This means that residents of Moshaneng, a village known for mining of asbestos dating back many years before Botswanas independence, will have to wait a little longer to be allocated land pending a detailed report on the suitability of the land.

Allocation of land in Moshaneng was put on hold in 2007 after the land board found that some of the plots it allocated lie above mine shafts that were not satisfactorily rehabilitated.

The delay to address the issue has however raised suspicion among the community that they were being denied their right to own land.

The land board freezed allocation of land in Moshaneng, which is a planning area, in order to engage the services of the Department of Geological Surveys to further assess the situation.

The final report, according to Mr Ratshosa, might suggest the need for creation of buffer zones around the affected area to avoid any negativity after the lifting of the freeze in the future.

He therefore proposed that a thorough geo-technical survey be carried out holistically to deal with the issue once and for all.

Ngwaketse Land board Chairman, Mr Batlang Lesole concurred with Mr. Ratshosa adding that the proposed survey be hastened because people are affected in terms of development.

Speaking during a BCP rally in Francistown, Mr Gopolang Botsie, said the news media had a tendency of ignoring opposition parties and running behind the president.

Journalists are government bootlickers who cannot report a decent thing that we the opposition say or do, he said.

Mr Botsie told the rally that opposition parties had ideas and visions of how they could help empower the people but when they invited journalists to the events, they were ignored.

Bobegadikgang ja Botswana bo tshwanetse gore bo tlhabologe, he added.

For his part, Mr Onkokame Mosweu, another BCP functionary, advised journalists to desist from ignoring opposition parties activities because they were also part of the society.

On other issues, the officials suggested that government should consider using illegal immigrants to work in the fields such Pandamatenga farm instead of locking them in jails or repatriating them all the time.

Mr Botsie said the government should introduce temporary permits for illegal immigrants so that they could work in the fields at ease.

The launch is certainly going to be this month, even though I will not disclose the date but definitely it will take place, the BTC head of public relations and marketing communications, Mr James Molosankwe explained.

He told BOPA that the commissioning will be in two forms, the first stage is the press and special protocol followed by the public launch where the general public will be invited to experience the new service.

The corporation has been offering customers free sim cards to test the network.

Mr Molosankwe said the experiment started last November with the staff members.

It was later extended to the customers with the trials run only in the cities of Gaborone and Francistown.

He nevertheless indicated BTCs intention of extending the service to other parts of the country where it has customers.

The corporation has 15 000 fixed line customers across the country. Mr Molosankwe said this number was a base BTC hoped to have covered most of their customers.

To reach out to the clients, he said the corporation went into its database, accessed information and sent them packages. Others have to go to the BTC centres and collect the sim cards.

He added that BTC call centers were busy calling customers to come and collect the sim cards.

It has been awarded the 73 range number with which customers call for free and receive international calls.

But currently the corporations sim card could not call other cellular phone networks such as Mascom and Orange.

He said customers would be able to call both networks after establishing the systems functionalities.

The Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) granted the BTC a 15- year service neutral licence in March last year following the issuance of a policy statement by the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology on further liberalisation of the telecommunications market.

The licence allows BTC to provide, among others, mobile telephony, fixed telephony and internet services under one licence.

The corporation therefore joins Mascom and Orange companies in providing mobile phone services in Botswana.

Mogolwane wa mapodise a Serowe Superitendent Thomas Letebele a re kotsi eo, e diragetse ka matlhatso fa batho bao ba eleng batshameki ba setlhopha sa Untouchable Football Club kwa Mosolotshane ba ne ba ya motshamekong wa botsalano kwa Moralane.

A re batho bao ba botlhe eleng banana, ba le lesome le bosupa mo go bone ba ne ba alafelwa dikgobalo tse dipotlana mo kokelong ya Mahalapye, mme morago ba golowa go boela gae fa ba bangwe ba supa ba huduseditswe kwa kokelong ya Nyangabgwe kwa Francistown ka dikgobalo tse di Masisi.

Rre Letebele a re le fa ditlhotlhomiso di sa ntse di tsweletse ba belaela gore e re ka tsela eo e le lekgarapa, mokgweetsi o ka tswa a reteletswe ke go e laola go fitlhelela e tswa mo taolong.

The report says much of the energy used in a building is intended to improve the comfort and effectiveness.

It emphasises that comfort is not only a matter of air temperature but is rather determined by clothing, activity, the temperature of surrounding surfaces, humidity, air movement and other factors.

Some of these, the report indicates, represent opportunities to achieve comfort with less energy.

A dress code that encourages people to wear short sleeves and open necked shirts in summer means that thermostats can be set 2-3 degrees higher without sacrificing comfort, says the report.

On other issues, the report mentions that ceiling or desk fans are effective at making one feel cooler, and also give people control over their environment.

It underscores that this is the case with windows that can be opened when the outdoor air is at a comfortable temperature, or when there is a pleasant breeze that can be allowed into the room.

The report asserts that wearing a jacket and a tie in an office that is cooler than necessary is costing both money and energy that cannot be afforded.

It says working in shirt sleeves with loose clothing in an office that is just cool enough for comfort saves money and energy and that air conditioners should be switched off when they are not needed.

The report explains that lighting control also requires the cooperation of all the users of a building.

He has now introduced a new concept - Big Fish Smart Student Campaign. This niche for motivational speaking, targeting school children, is taking shape.

The campaign is to reach out to all school going children by motivating them to become socially acceptable beings and transforming them into highly charged and super-inspired individuals, he explained Although the idea was initiated three years ago, it took time to take off the ground because of financial problems, as he had to finance all people, who formed part of his entourage.

But as the adage says you cannot put a good man down, Big Fish as Ramatebele is popularly known, was undeterred. He is however hopeful his negotiations with corporate sponsors to finance the project will bear fruit.

This concept comes from the realisation that we lack social motivation at an early age and we stumble into challenges as adults, which we were not prepared for during the critical stages of human development.

As a former teacher, he realised that students are developed academically while the social aspects of their lives are ignored.

That is why we have so many social ills in the society. If people are not motivated how can we expect them to have a conducive platform for learning? The initiative, he said, intends to motivate children on the value of education, respect for authority, financial prudence, abstinence, dreaming and pursuit of success.

Ramatebele said he had recruited well-known personalities to join his bandwagon.

He added: The strategy is to speak with high profile influential young persons such as sports personalities, artistes, radio and TV personalities, young Parliamentarians, as the drivers of this initiative because the students are able to relate well with them.

Franco, Vee, Mapetla and Owen are some of the celebrated artistes that have already graced some of the schools in Gaborone.

We have taken this endeavor as far as Jwaneng. My intention is to take it to other parts of the country.

He said he was satisfied with the response from the schools he has visited.

Goals from Tshepo Talk-Talk Motlhabankwe, Oteng Limkokwing Moalosi, Sekhana Nandos Koko and Pontsho Piro Moloi sealed the victory for Magosi.

Fighters gave the marauding Chiefs a scare in the third minute of the first half as Thatayotlhe Pele Gaokgorwe beat Noah Maposa after the talented goalkeeper spilled the ball, and the second goal came via Barney Marman in the dying minutes of the second half.

Now that the championship is in the bag, Magosi are now eyeing several awards that would be dished out at the end of the 2007/08-league season.

Their hottest striker, Jerome JJ Ramatlhakwana is in contention for the top goal-scorer award as he is currently leading the pack with 17 goals, and missed the Wednesday game as he is reportedly in South Africa for trials with Kaizer Chiefs.

Ramatlhakwana together with other Chiefs stars, such as, Mpho Jomo Mabogo, Moloi, Moalosi and Othusitse Jabu Pilane ensured that the goals kept on coming their way throughout the season.

Chiefs are also eyeing the most supported team award as they have seen multitudes of supporters turn out for their games, whether home or away.

Magosi die-hard supporters, in song and dance, made sure that they become the extra player to motivate their players to have a sense of urgency in wrapping up the league four games before the end.

There is also the award for the best goalkeeper. It may go to Noah Maposa, although he missed some games due to suspension and injury. He ensured that the team did not concede more goals.

Maposa, who has become the countrys number two goalkeeper after Modiri Marumo, excelled throughout the season.

Now that the league has been won, he may give way to his elder brother, Joseph in the remaining games.

Even the player of the season is surely expected to come from some of the talent in abundance at Chiefs. Moalosi had a great season, so is Ramatlhakwana as well as Elijah Hassler Phiriepa, Pilane, the foreign duo of James Kachinga and Given Mpundu.

While they could also scoop the coach of the year, in football anything can happen, as Beston Chambeshi joined them just this year when they were already marching towards the podium.

It could in fact go to former coach, Mike Sithole, currently with Gaborone United, as he is the man who laid the foundation at Chiefs. He has also worked hard to ensure GU fights for the second position.

Chiefs chairman, Ernest Molome, called him in to join in the celebrations after the match as they recognised the important role he has played in making Magosi the historic champions.

The celebrations according to Magosi public relations officer (PRO), Clifford Mogomotsi, will continue with a big one expected after the finishing of the league season.

It was a championship well fought, as Chiefs also made history in terms of spectators coming to watch their games.

Never, in the history of football in the country or the team, had there been such multitudes thronging the football grounds to watch the team that seemed invincible.

One of them, Cllr Rosemary Pilane, complained that the ministry, just like during the outbreak of HIV/AIDS, was slow in spreading information about the problem to Batswana.

She expressed concern that even the health staff could be in danger as they could attend to such patients without being aware of the risks involved. She implored the District Health Team to educate the public about the disease.

Cllr Motsei Molefi complained that health ministry officials only come to address the council when invited. She said she wondered where a person who died of drug resistant tuberculosis could have spread the virus.

The councillors were responding to a briefing by a health official, Mr Gasekgale Moalosi, who informed them that the Ministry of Health had registered 152 cases of multi drug resistant tuberculosis in Botswana. Nine of the cases were in Kgatleng.

They heard that Extensive Drug Resistance Tuberculosis (XDR TB) was resistant to both first and second line drugs.

It affect mostly patients who default on their treatment and was difficult and costly to treat.

He explained that tuberculosis virus could be easily spread to other people when the affected person coughed.

However, tuberculosis could be easily controlled if people adhered to treatment.

Cllr Isaac Moatshe advised the council to budget for the provision of isolation rooms at clinics.

He observed that people who took alcohol often defaulted on their tuberculosis treatment.

Cllr Joseph Radifalana expressed concern that government was putting the health of relatives at risk by treating multi drug resistant tuberculosis patients at home.

Cllr Peter Mogwera said he wondered whether shortage of drugs at health facilities was not the cause of the high default rate among patients.

The Council Chairperson, Rev. Mpho Moruakgomo, appealed to government to urgently push for the construction of isolation wards in clinics as the drug resistant tuberculosis would exist for as long as patients continued to default on their treatment.

Mr Moalosi admitted that the ministry was slow in reacting to the drug resistant tuberculosis, adding that the problem was noticed in the 1980s, but increased in 2004.

He said the problem was made worse by HIV/AIDS such that even facilities at new hospilas such Sekgoma Memorial Hospital in Serowe were not enough as drug resistent tuberculosis was not the only disease that required patients to be quarantined.

He added that a consultancy was underway to provide old hospitals with isolation wards.

E rile a buisanya le lekalana la dikgang la BOPA mo bekeng eno, Sergeant Stoneham Seemela wa mapodisi a morafe a Thabala a tlhalosa fa seemo se se sa laolesegeng sa go nowa ga bojalwa se dira gore ba iphitlhele ba feletswe ke maano a kafa baka itebaganyang le seemo seo ka teng Are mo nakong ee fitileng bane ba solofela fa seemo se tlaa boela meriting morago ga gore kgosi ya motse wa Thabala rre Abel Kgaboyarona a leke go lwantsha seemo seo ka go tshwara diphuthego go kgalema barekisi ba bojalwa.

Mogolwane yoo o supile fa go dira ka tlhaelo ya ditlamelo di tshwana dikoloi le bodiredi di dira gore ba bereke bokete.

Are mo nakong eno bana le dikgang dile lesome le boraro tse di setseng di sekisitswe tsa dititeo le tsa dikgobalo le di ferangbongwe tse di emetseng go isiwa fa pele ga lekgotla.

Rre Seemela are ditiragalo tseo tsotlhe ke ditlamorago tsa go iphitisa ditagi ga batho bangwe kwa motseng oo.

Kwa motseng wa Mogorosi mapodisi a koo le one bare ga ba robadiwe ke seemo se se sa laolesegeng ga go nowa ga bojalwa kwa motseng oo.

Constable Johane Gaosego are maiteko a dirilwe go leka go lwantsha seemo seo mme go tswe dipe ka batho ba gana go fetola maitsholo.

Mapodisi a dikgotla tseo bare ba lemogile fa go sa laolesegeng ga dinako tsa thekiso ya bojalwa kwa metseng eo ele tsone di tlhotlholetsang dintwa tseo.

Ba ne supegeditse babega dikgang dibetsa tse gantsi di dirisiwang mo dikgannyeng tsa dititeo kwa dipotong mme di akaretsa dilepe, melamu, dithobane le dithipa.

Mo dikgannyeng tse dingwe Rre Gaosego a re ba tshwengwa ke dipego tsa go tshubiwa ga matlo kwa motseng wa Mogorosi a tlhalosa fa erile mo lobakeng lwa malatsi a supa ba amogela dipego di le tharo tsa go sha ga matlo.

O supa fa pego e nngwe el e e mo go yone ngwana wa dingwaga tse lesome le motso go belaelwang ane a tshuba ntlo morago ga go adima mokgwaro kwa lelwapeng la baagisanyi.

Tiragalo e nngwe ke e mo go yone ntlo eneng ya lora beke e e fitileng le dithoto tsotlhe tse dineng dile mo go yone tsa madi a afetang P5 000.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Gaylard Kombani told BOPA that in January 2004, his ministry reduced the turnaround time for registration of companies whose applications were error-free from three months to within 10 days.

While it is true that there are 11 steps required in starting a business in Botswana, the time taken has been drastically reduced following a review of a number of pieces of legislation, he said.

Mr Kombai was responding to a World Bank report, Doing Business 2008 Botswana which says it takes 108 days to start business in the country.

The report was the fifth in a series of annual reports investigating the regulations that enhanced business activity and those that constrained it.

It ranks Botswana 51 out of 178 economies while Singapore is the top ranked economy in the Ease of Doing Business.

Mr Kombani explained that the World Bank representatives were updated late last year on the developments in Botswana.

It is clear that they have not updated their website and we will write to them to update them on the current situation, he said.

Mr Komabi said the ministry had completed a project on the computerisation of the Office of the Registrar of Companies at the end of February and started trial runs at the beginning of last month.

We are confident that once we complete all the teething problems that we are currently addressing, we will further reduce this turnaround time to less than the current average of five working days.

In an effort to create a more conducive environment for investment attraction, business growth and diversification of the economy, he said, the ministry reviewed a number of its laws such as Companies Act, Trade Act, Liquor Act and Industrial Development Act.

However, the report says Botswana excels reasonably well in creating conducive business environment in the areas of regulation and tax, corruption, female participation in senior potions and business ownership.

Getting credit, Botswana is ranked 26 while Britain is the top ranked economy followed by Hong Kong, China, Germany and Australia.

The soccer showpiece is expected to be played in front of a sell-out crowd.

Miscellaneous are currently perched on the second spot. It will be a tricky top of the table clash.

Cheered on by a home crowd, GNT will be confident to snatch victory from their bitter rivals and possibly book themselves a ticket to the prestigious Mascom Premier League.

The team is expected to field a host of young and upcoming talent that includes skillful Mothusi Ntatane.

He has been called on to do the job since the departure of the Zambian man, Joseph Chanda to Premier league side, TASC.

Ntatanes runs and confidence in front of goal has been an asset to GNT and his combination with the enterprising, Barulaganye Radiakanyo, might prove difficult for Miscellaneous rearguard to contain.

Miscellaneous will need a polished performance to edge out GNT who are currently at the top of their game.

They will need to double their efforts to stay clear of Satmos and Motlakase from Palapye who are heavily breathing on their necks at 28 points each, only two points behind them.

Last week, Miscellaneous title aspirations were dented after drawing with Mahalapye Hotspurs. Nevertheless they still have a chance of defying the odds and prove their mantle.

One interesting player to watch in their camp is Goitseone Direkileng who salvaged a point for them in Mahalapye last week.

Miscellaneous remain seven points adrift of log leaders with six games to play.

GNT have a mammoth task of winning their remaining fixtures and can only hope that all the three contenders lose or at least settle for a draw.

The teams public relations officer, Amogelang Mabote, says they intend to shake the disappointments of the past four seasons by winning the league honours.

Both teams usually show no respect for each other. However, Moyagoleele as GU are affectionately known, go into the game with a psychological advantage over Sechaba.

GU are eyeing the leagues runner-up position after they toppled long time second placed Uniao Flamengo Santos. On the other hand, Notwane are struggling to find their footing in the league.

Notwane are in fact fighting very hard not to fall into the relegation zone, which could see them mixing and mingling with other relegation threatened teams such as Extension Gunners, Mogoditshane Fighters, Tafic, Tasc and BMC.

GU on the other hand are enjoying one of their best seasons.They are under the tutelage of former Mochudi Centre Chiefs coach Mike Sithole.

They are lying on the second spot with 41 points and are left with seven games to solidify their position. They stand a good chance of representing the country in next years continental competitions.

Moyagoleele have made many people eat humble pie.They came into the race as dark horses, making their way up the ladder through spectacular wins.

Their youngsters such as Molatedi Mabina and Ntirelang Mirror Simanyana have managed to jell with the senior players to make a formidable side.

Notwane have to come well prepared for this encounter, lest they find themselves in the precarious relegation zone.

In other games on Saturday, bottom of the table and relegation haunted Jwaneng Comets meet Township Rollers in a survival match at the National Stadium.

It is a do or die encounter doe Comets as their place in the Mascom Premier League depends on a win. At the same time other relegation threatened teams need to drop points.

Another relegation candidate, BMC, face Mogoditshane Fighters in Lobatse, while Extension Gunners will be await TASC at UB Stadium at 7pm. Recharged Nico United face BDF XI at Selebi Phikwe. a place Majombolo has turned into a slaughterhouse.

Police XI will host in-form Boteti Young Fighters at Otse while on Sunday, Ecco City Greens and Tafic meet in a Francistown derby that is expected to attract a capacity crowd.

The bill, Mr Gaolathe informed MPs, seeks to amend the 2001 Act to address concerns raised by procuring entities, contractors and other stakeholders concerning the provisions of the Act.

Among the amendment to be made is the prohibition of all holders of elective political office including councillors from becoming members of the board.

Currently the Act only prohibits MPs from being members of the board. Under Clause eight, the PPADB would follow standard audit procedures followed by parastatals whereby audited accounts were submitted to Parliament through the parent ministry.

Another amendment worth noting is under clause nine, which would allow aggrieved parties to refer their cases to the Independent Complaints Review Committee without having to obtain the boards review of its position first as it has been the requirement.

If unsatisfied with the response, the aggrieved party would under the amended law be allowed to seek an interim interdict from the High Court.

Minister Gaolathe observed that aggrieved parties had been avoiding referring cases to the Independent Committee and had instead preferred to seek an interim interdict from the High Court thereby delaying project implementation as projects had to be frozen indefinitely pending a court review.

This negatively impacts on the public interest, in particular on the implementation of development projects, some of which may be extremely urgent, he told Parliament.

Also, the bill provides for suspension or blacklisting of contractors who do not comply with the code of conduct or the contract concluded with a procuring entity.

An amendment Under Section 44 would provide for retroactive approvals of payments by the PPADB in circumstances of urgency and emergency.

Under the current Act, the PPADB cannot approve payment for contractors and service providers who undertook procurement activities for which procuring entities had not obtained prior approval from the board.

As a result the ministry had to pay such suppliers under a special dispensation authorised by the minister.

The bill further seeks to amend section 72 to accommodate citizen preference at the technical evaluation stage of the procurement process.

Citizen companies are currently given preference at financial evaluation stage and majority of them however get eliminated at the technical stage.

Debating the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal (Amendment) Bill, 2008, Lobatse MP, Mr Nehemiah Modubule argued that government takes long to pay contractors.

Consequently, he said this causes contractors to run short of working capital hence their failure to complete projects on time or at all.

Mr Modubule said it was a blunder for Parliament or even the minister to have omitted specific provisions for the financial audit of PPADB, as is the case with other parastatals.

Regarding amendment of Clause 9, the MP said he does not see the difference the amendment would make if a complaint is to be referred to the Independent Complaints Committee before seeking an interim interdict from the High Court.

He said this would instead make the process long. MP for Tswapong South, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi also criticised the government of failing to pay contractors on time.

He said most often contractors are paid three months late thereby making it difficult for them to pay their employees or even complete projects.

He complained that some strict measures are not brought against companies known for corrupt practices.

Mr Molebatsi noted that some corrupt officers at PPADB are treated with kid gloves because instead of disciplining the officer, he was transferred to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.

Francistown South MP, Mr Khumongwana Maoto however advised that contractors should not be overwhelmed with projects, which could makes it difficult for them to complete projects on time.

He disagreed with the provision that allow contractors to hire plant machinery, saying it encourages them to operate as they please.

For his part, Mr Calvin Batsile of Kanye North called for the monitoring of local contractors that front for foreign ones.

He cited contractors from China, which he said are often fronted for while on the other hand they have a tendency to use cheap material procured from outside the country.

Legislator for Selibe Phikwe West, Mr Kavis Kario supported the amendment on Clause 10, which provides for blacklisting of contractors who do not comply with the code of conduct.

He said strict measures should be taken against those who do not comply with the code of conduct.

On the issue of de-listing or suspension, he said the provision should allow the contractor to operate after having gone through a rehabilitation period.

Mr Kario called for the establishment of the Local Produce Empowerment to support local industries for sustenance of their services.

Kgalagadi North MP, Mr Victor Motobake emphasized the importance of financial auditing to ensure that funds are used accordingly.

He said it was important to find the root cause of the many complaints often leveled against PPADB.

Letlhakeng West MP, Mr Filbert Nagafela and Kanye South MP, Mr Omphitlhetse Maswabi said it is good that all holders of elective office are prohibited from approval of tenders.

Mr Nagafela said it was better for politicians to act as advisors. Being prohibited to approve tenders is important, as they could easily be tempted to favour some contractors, he said.

On other issues, Mr Nagafela said local contractors should be empowered to be able to compete with other foreign companies.

They were each incarcerated for five years. The Bangwato Deputy Tribal Authority, Kgosi Tholego Seretse, rejected their grounds of appeal, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the cases were not handled appropriately by subordinates tribal authorities.

Of the 39 stock theft appeal cases handed to the customary court for appeal, 25 were thrown away while 19 previously convicted prisoners were discharged and acquitted in 12 cases.

The remaining two cases in which three people were implicated were still pending. They all involved stolen goats and cattle The cases were initially handled by the lower customary courts in Palapye, Boteti, Mahalapye, Tutume and the Serowe.

Kgosi Seretse said the petitions dated as far back as 2005 to the end of last year. Serowe started attending the cases from March 18 to April 8, 2008.

He told BOPA that after completing the appeal cases his office will endeavour to handle them every three months depending on their flow to avoid a backlog.

He decried the rate at which stock theft cases were reported and called for the introduction of other forms of penalty such as corporal punishment to go along with the prison sentences.

Kgosi Seretse believed this could deter would-be criminals from committing this serious crime.

The Police Officer Commanding in Serowe, S/Supt Boikhutso Dintwa said in an interview that 303 cases involving stock theft were recorded in 2005 while 257 cases were reported the following year. Last years figures stood at 305.

Some of the reasons advanced for such criminal acts, according to Mr Dintwa, were lack of means of gaining income. The perpetrators therefore steal stock and sell them to earn a living.

Also he said there were reports of the culprits selling the stolen livestock to deviant butchery owners.

Senior Private Secretary to the President, Mr Samuel Rathedi, confirmed in an interview that the one-day summit would confine itself only to the potentially volatile situation in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe held parliamentary and presidential elections 13 days ago but there had been no official word on the outcome of the presidential poll, with officials maintaining that they were still busy collating and verifying votes.

President Khama on Wednesday met with Zimbabwean opposition leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, who was on tour of SADC capitals in a bid to highlight the political problem obtaining in his country.

Against Mr Tsvangirais trips is a pending High Court ruling lodged by MDC to force Zimbabwean electoral authorities to release the results of the presidential poll results.

The SADC Chairperson and Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who in the past publicly criticised Zimbabwean government, comparing the plight of the countrys economy to the sinking of the titanic, has called the special summit.

President Robert Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and the country has the highest recorded inflation ever.

Speaking after a brief meeting at the Office of the President Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr Phandu Skelemani, explained that it was President Pohambas wish that countries which had benefited from Cuban assistance should thank president Castro for his contribution towards the development of the Southern African Development Community region.

The Cuban government has helped a lot in this country especially in the area of health by providing nurses, doctors, teachers and other medical specialists, he explained.

He said noted that President Khama visited Cuba when he was still vice-president for the unveiling of the statue of Botswanas first president, the late Sir Seretse Khama, in Havana, an event that symbolised the continuation of good relations.

Mr Skelemani said President Khama was positive about the idea because of the help that Cuba has rendered to Botswana.

He noted that this was a good initiative from the Namibian leader to recognise that other countries had played an instrumental role in the development of regional partners.

The Assistant Minister of Local Government, Mr Olifant Mfa told Parliament that he was aware that the treatment plant, meant for reducing scaling on specialised hospital and air base equipment, was under construction by the Department of Water Affairs.

Mr Mfa said this would be for supplying Molepolole, Thebephatshwa Air Base and Thamaga from Mantshwabisi well field.

He said however that the current production boreholes had insufficient yield to meet the demand for these two villages and the air base.

He said as such, the Department of Water Affairs could not supply Mantshwabisi and Sasakwe villages until new production boreholes had been drilled to augment supply.

Mr Mfa said it is true that the villages of Maboane, Takatokwane and Dutlwe were supplied with untreated water from Magagarape well field, which also supply Jwaneng mine.

He said the water quality from this well field was acceptable in accordance with Botswana Bureau of Standards drinking water quality standards.

Mr Mfa said that he had been informed that the Kweneng District Council was proposing two treatment plants to be built during National Development Plan 10.

He said one was for Magagarape well field to serve the cluster of villages including Maboane, Takatokwane and Dutlwe. The Sasakwe well field is to serve Lentsweletau, Medie and Kweneng cluster.

Mr Mfa was answering a question from the MP for Letlhakeng West, Mr Gordon Mokgwathi, who had wanted to know whether the minister was aware that water from Jwaneng mine and Thebephatshwa air base was treated before use and that a water treatment plant was under construction for treating water supplied to Molepolole and Thamaga.

A press release from the Ministry of Trade and Industry says the implementation was delayed because law enforcement agencies around the country were not notified about the changes and it had just been published in the Government Gazette.

The regulations were not as strict as they were when trade and industry minister, Mr Neo Moroka first presented them.

At the time, it was proposed that bars operate from 5 p.m. during week days and not open on Sundays. Parliament adopted a motion by Specially Elected MP Mr Botsalo Ntuane for consultations with the nation before the regulations could be adopted.

Following the consultations that took place countrywide, Parliament adopted the regulations.

Under the new regulations, trading hours for bars were between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. from Monday to Thursday; noon to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.

Trading hours for bottle stores remain the same. Nightclubs operate between 7 p.m. and midnight Monday to Thursday and between 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Liquor depots open between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.

Liquor clubs operate between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. to 10 pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Holders of temporary liquor licenses issued on special occasions such as trade fairs could sell liquor between noon and 6 p.m. from Mondays to Saturdays. For festivals, liquor could be sold between 2 p.m. and midnight.

The times for picnics were noon to 7 p.m. and for other public activities, liquor would be sold between 2 p.m. and midnight.

Sebui sa mapodise a Martins/drift Assistant Superintendent Kealositse Konyana a re monna yo o ne a bolelela moratiwa wa gagwe wa pele gore kgwedi eno ga e kake ya fela a ise a mmolaye ka jaana a kgaogane nae.

A re monna yoo, wa dingwaga tse di masome a mararo le boraro o tla isiwa kwa kgotleng ya ga mmakaseterata kwa Palapye morago ga ditlhotlhomiso tsa mapodise di sena go wediwa.

Rre Konyana ba tshwentswe thata ke dikgang tsa batho ba ba ikemiseditseng go nyeletsa matshelo a batho ba bangwe ka ntlha ya marato.

E ntse ele kwa Ratholo monna mongwe wa dingwaga tse di masome a mabedi le bobedi o tshwerwe mabapi le go betelela mosetsanyana wa ngwaga tse di lesome le botlhano yo eleng moithuti mo sekolong sa Mmachibaba Community Junior Secondary.

Rre Konyana o boletse fa tiragalo eo e diragetse kgwedi eno e tlhola malatsi a le marataro, mme mmelaelwa a tshwarwa mo letsatsing le le latelang.

A re e tlare morago ga ditlhotlhomiso monna yoo, yo a santseng a tshegeditswe ke mapodise a isiwe kwa kgotleng ya ditsheko go ya go lebisiwa molato wa petelelo.

The renovations could have started, but the Department of Building and Engineering Services (DBES) has been asked to wait until after the games.

Sedimo said they could not close the National Stadium because it is the only facility that meets CAF and FIFA standards.

The eight-track album features a nice blend of dikhwaere music with back up instruments such as guitar and keyboard.

Group member Alfred Maghebula Keorete, says they started composing the songs last year.

Songs in this album carry diverse messages such as the one in track eight, Naledi, which is about appreciating our loved ones.

He explained that their music is a mixture of instruments with dikhwaere to create a rhythm that would appeal to the youth. He however indicated that the aim was to produce an album that would attract everyone.

Track three, Dipitse, is about the national football team, the Zebras.

Through this track the group encourages Batswana to give unwavering support to the Zebras in good and bad times.

Other songs include Boipuso, which is about the countrys independence and Sananapo, derived from a traditional folklore.

Assistant Superitedent Chalengwa Ngachala a re madi ao a tswa go lemogwa kwa bankeng fa bagwebi bangwe mo Ghanzi bare ba ya go baya madi ao kwa bankeng.

Ngachala a re ke tiragalo ya boraro e diragala monongwaga.

O kopile Sechaba gonna pudi matseba fa ba ka bona madi a di nomoro tseo.

E re dikgang di eme jalo mapodisi a Ghanzi a tshwere Basimane ba le boferabongwe (9) mabapi le go thubiwa ga marekisetso mangwe mo toropong ya Ghanzi.

Rre Ngachala a re Basimane bao gantsi bane ba utswa dilwana tse di dirisang motlakase le diaparo.

A re makawana ao ke ba ba feditseng lokwalo lwa form three ngogola e bile ba tlholega mo Ghanzi.

Ngachala a re mapodisi ba santse bale mo ditlhotlhomisong mme fa basena go fetsa ditlhotlhomiso tsa bone makawana ao a tla lebisiwa molato wa go thuba dishopo ba bo ba utswa moteng.

Assistant Minister of Local Government, Mr Ambrose Masalila told Parliament on Wednesday that the establishment of Diphuduhudu was necessitated by the need to provide services to communities who were previously scattered in small settlements and cattle posts.

He said this was the principle that was used in the establishment of all other remote area dweller settlements and some villages in Botswana.

Mr Masalila said following consultations with the then scattered communities of unrecognised settlements, it was agreed that the council would provide logistical support in the form of transport during the relocation exercise, which it did provide.

He said in the case of Kaudwane and New Xade residents, government made a special dispensation to compensate them because some settlements, like Xade, were already fully established in the game reserve.

Supt King Tshebo, the station commander, said the suspect, who had not yet been charged, was an employee of one of the companies that provide aviation fuel at the airport.

The arrest follows two incidents of aircraft fuel theft. One involved 40 litres of aviation fuel valued at P420 from a fuel tank of a Kalahari Flying Club aircraft on March 28. It was replaced with what appeared to be water.

The second incident involved the theft of 100 litres valued at P1000 from a Delta Air aircraft on April 3.

Supt. Tshebo dismissed criticisms of lax security at the airport, saying: These thefts comes once in a blue moon and we cannot say they are numerous.

He said since 2006 there had been only one case of robbery at the airport, two of cable theft and the current one of fuel theft.

He said the police undertake daily patrols at the airport to complement the Department of Civil Aviation security.

Rre Koone Toteng wa polase ya Mabolawa a re o ruile dikhudu ka maikaelelo a go atolosa bojanala mo lefatsheng leno.

A re o ithutile fa khudu ele setshidi sese boikobo e bile e se letshwenyo.

A re e rile ka ngwaga wa 1996, tsala ya gagwe ya mo America ya mo gakolola go rua dikhudu. go mogopolo wa go rua dikhudu.

Lefa go tsere nako go simolodisa maikaelelo a gagwe, o ne a etela maphata a a amegang jaaka ba bogosi, molaodi,lekgotla la kabo ditsha le ba lephata la diphologolo.

A re o filwe teseletso ka ngwaga wa 2003 mme setlankana se na le melawana e robabobedi ya thuo ya dikhudu.

Mongwe wa melawana e, e mo tlama gore a seka a bolaisa dikhudu tlala le gore o letlelelwa go di tshwara gongwe le gongwe mo Botswana.

Mo nakong ya gompieno, Rre Toteng o na le dikhudu di le lesome le borobabongwe, tse thataro ke tse di tonanyana fatse di namagadi dile lesome le boraro.

A re o tshameka natso motshameko o o bidiwang nonyane ya matsoga pele e ja seboko sese nonneng.

O supile gape faa di file maina, mmaatsone ele Backhouse, go nale Sheilla, Shell le Baby.

A re dikhudu di a farologana mme go na le ya mantswe, ya motlhaba, ya mokgacha le ya seloko.

Rre Toteng a re o na le mefuta yotlhe ya dikhudu. A re o di lemela dinawa gore di je morogo wa tsone.

O di fa marotse le metsi e bile o di agetse matlwana a di tlaa bong di nna mo teng mme di kgaogantswe.

Rre Toteng yoo dingwaga tse masome matlhano o tlholega mo kgotleng ya Sekao mo Serowe, e bile ele rraagwe bana ba babedi.

Ms Sarah Parrish, A US peace corp volunteer, who worked on the film, True Love Waits, said in an interview that the film was shot in Ghanzi and will be launched in Ghanzi at the end of May.

True Love Waits is also the name of an organisation that Ms Parrish belongs to.

We have targeted the in and out of school youth in Ghanzi. Our intention is to also develop a curriculum to accompany the film for peer educators to use when they go out to teach the youth.

Ms Parrish said the film will inspire and educate at the same time, adding that it targets the youth in Ghanzi, but might be sold to those who want it.

All the actors are residents of Ghanzi. In the film Mmaago Josey has three children with different fathers and she does not want her daughter, Josey, to go to school.

However, Josey who practices abstinence, wants to further her studies and live a good life.

The actress, whose real name is Akolang Kelewendo, says her part, sends the message that abstinence is good. Im telling the youth not to rush into sexual relationships. Some people think drama is just a joke but it educates. Some people still do not believe that AIDS exists but through drama, we hope people will change their attitudes towards sex, says Kelewendo.

True Love Waits started in America in the 80s and came to Botswana in 2001.

The organization is supported by funds from missions in the Netherlands and the District Multi Sectoral AIDS Committee through ACHAP.

A 2004 Botswana Aids Impact Survey II, indicates a 33 per cent infection rate among females aged between 25 - 29 years in Ghanzi, compared to 6 per cent among their male counterparts.

Debating the amendment of the Act in Parliament, Ms Tshireletso said politicians sitting on the boards are often under pressure from companies who tender for projects.

Some, she said are often accused of being corrupt and some are subjected to abuse from those who have tendered for projects.

She said removing politicians from the board would also enable them to tender for projects without fear of being accused of corruption.

Ms Tshireletso also supported retroactive approvals of payments by the PPADB in circumstances of urgency and emergency, as it would remove delays in payments to service providers.

Tonota South MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi also supported the amendments, which he said would solve some of the teething problems experienced in implementation of the original act.

He however lamented the prohibition of politicians to sit on the board, saying that politicians represent interests of the public and should therefore be included in the board.

Mr Moatlhodi further called for localization of posts at the PPADB, adding that the Finance and Development Planning ministry has a pool of highly educated staff who can be seconded to the board.

On citizen contractors, Mr Moatlhodi called for soft conditions when dealing with new local contractors, who do not have much experience.

Mr Olebile Gaborone of South East North said in addition to blacklisting of companies, disciplinary action should be taken against project supervisors under whom contractors do poor jobs or abandon projects while at the same time being awarded more tenders.

He called for more protection of citizen contractors, as big contractors push them out of business.

Mr Gaborone noted that contractors who fail to comply with Black Economic Empowerment conditions in South Africa relocate to Botswana because they know they would not be subjected to such conditions in the country.

He objected to retroactive approvals of payments by the PPADB, saying it would open floodgates of allocation of tenders where tender procedures are flouted.

Mr Gaborone supported removal of politicians from the board, saying, We cant make laws and implement them.

He said declaration of assets by political leaders would have been one way of avoiding conflict of interest.

Major General Moeng Pheto of Kweneng East also spoke in support of the bill with particular reference to clause four, which prohibits holders of elective political office including councilors from becoming members of the Board. The clause would protect the integrity of political leaders, he said.

Ms Moggie Mbaakanyi, Specially elected MP voiced concern that politicians are often removed from such boards with an impression that they are corrupt.

he said declaration of interests when the tender board sits, should be one way of avoiding conflict of interest.

Also, she said politicians like any other Motswana have the right to own businesses and to tender for projects.

Ms Mbaakanyi also supported clauses eight and 10, which deal with giving preference to citizen contractors and suspension or delisting of companies that perform badly.

MP for Kweneng South East, Mr Mmoloki Raletobana expressed concern that most technical officers in government departments are foreigners.

He suspected that this could be contributing to rising cases of corruption in awarding of tenders.

Mr Raletobana called on government to look into tender documents that quote the exact amount as estimated by a government department. He complained that empowerment of citizen companies is slow, adding that Chinese companies should also be looked into as some do shoddy jobs.

Archive by year