Mmegi/The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM articles from April 2009

Mmegi/The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM archives from April 2009

Fraiser Fancies Scoring Against Chiefs.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane On form ECCO City Greens' striker, Bonolo Fraiser has said he is waiting to punish Mochudi Centre Chiefs when the two sides meet in a be MOBILE Premier league game in Francistown on Saturday. "If I get a chance to...

Still No Sponsor for Volleyball League.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi The Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) vice president (technical) Waboraro Mokgatla has said that the league will not start until a sponsorship has been secured. Mokgatla said that at the moment, the...

Govt Retreats On Education.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki The government has revised up its decision to sponsor only 4, 600 students to nearly 9, 000 students and reduced the cut-off point from 40 points to 36 points for consideration for sponsorship at tertiary...

AfDB to Assist Mitigate Recession.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Wanetsha Mosinyi The African Development Bank (AfDB) is currently working on a Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Botswana to map out interventions of how it will assist the country through budget support, loans and investment as a...

Coal to Open New Economic Corridor.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Thato Moseki Experts say coal mining presents a huge potential for the national drive for economic diversification. That Botswana's long-term economic development will increasingly hinge on the development of its massive coal...

New Business Tools Are IT-Based - Consultant.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Martin Nyirenda The global economic recession should propel businesses to understand and implement the concept of being truly competitive. In an interview, Strategic Change Consultant and professional speaker, Michael...

Pandamatenga Gets P452 Million Capital Boost.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The African Development Bank (AFDB) and Botswana have signed a US$60.2 million (P452 million) loan to finance development at the Pandamatenga Agricultural Infrastructure Development Project. The funds will be...

Zambian Copper Reinforces Its Bid for African Copper.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Brian Benza In a new bid to capture TSX and BSE-listed African Copper, Zambia Copper (ZC) has made a revised offer for the company, replacing the secured $2,5-million bridging facility component of the offer with a secured...

No Easy Task for Women.
April 30, 2009... EPHRAIM KEORENG sounds off the main political parties on the gender question and is met with a resounding concurrence that the scales are tipped heavily - and unfairly - against women Despite a host of international agreements affirming...

What Will They Bank On Now?
April 30, 2009... Drawn the patina of success led by the mining sector in Botswana's second city, financial institutions - especially banks - eagerly set up branches in Francistown. But what now that the global recession is wearing off the veneer, asks? GALE...

Ntuane Hastens Pace for Gaborone West.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Voters in the Gaborone West South constituency are going to face a predicament in choosing between MP, Robert Molefhabangwe, and specially elected MP, Botsalo Ntuane, of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). ...

The Politics of Forgetting.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Jerry Kai Lewis It is now a century since the passing of Belgium King Leopold II (1835-1909), and while many Africans probably would not know who he is, they would nonetheless be familiar with his brutal legacy that is still...

VIPs Presence Sign of Better Days - Seakgosing.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe Painter Ernest Seakgosing is confident a number of government departments will snap up his art pieces if the number of top government officials at the opening of his exhibition last week at the National...

Rapulana Born to Be Actor - Not Pursuing Miscreants.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Sergeant Lebogang Rapulana of the Botswana Police Service is probably doing the wrong job. Rapulana was never meant to be chasing after criminals. For he is proving that he was cut for the big screen. ...

More Needs to Be Done to Secure Passports.
April 30, 2009... The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has sacked about 18 immigration officers. The officers have been dismissed for selling Botswana passports to foreign nationals. We have always known that Botswana passports were openly being sold....

More Soup in the Pan for Mhlauli.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Oarabile Mosikare Justice Moses Chinhengo will hear an appeal by the state against former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Lands, Elvidge Mhlauli on May 8, this year. The state is appealing on a...

Unionists Demand Information On Work Related Accidents.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu The Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) vice-president, Tebogo Sebogodi, complained at the World Health and Safety Day held in Francistown on April 28 about the dearth of information on the extent of...

Francistowners Fire Up Race for BDP Women's Wing.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Ryder Gabathuse Although this year's Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) congress and elections, billed for Tsabong, appear like a dull affair, it has apparently ignited the mother of all political battles in Francistown. A few...

Gatherers of Wood Find Decomposing Body.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Ndingililo Gaoswediwe A firewood gatherer who thought she had found the best log to banish the cold discovered to her horror that instead it was the partly decomposed body of a person. A woman set out with Monday morning with...

Lesbians Demand Their Day in Court.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Oliver Modise Two members of the Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana Organisation (LEGABIBO) have slapped government with a notice to sue for discrimination. Prisca Mogapi, a lesbian employed at Botswana Network Of...

High Court Reserves Mhlauli Ruling.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae High Court Justice, Key Dingake, has reserved ruling on the appeal by the convicted former permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing Elvidge Mhlauli. Mhlauli is appealing...

Police Investigate Fatal Accident.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu Seven people perished on Saturday in a head-on collision of two vehicles near Mmashoro; the same spot where students from Maun died when a bus they were travelling in collided with a truck and caught fire last...

Rotten Cabbages And Wilted Carrots Fit for Orphans.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Ndingililo Gaoswediwe Unscrupulous shop owners do not only supply orphans with rotten vegetables; they also reduce the contents of the food basket. Guardians of orphans are up in arms in Borolong over what they allege are...

Mapalastina And Matebele in Epic Clash.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane Township Rollers and BDF XI confront each other at the Molepolole Sports Stadium tomorrow afternoon seeking to sustain their slim title ambitions. After starting the season well, Rollers have fallen off the...

A Sad Day for Justice.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Tshireletso Motlogelwa By refusing to assist the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) President Ian Khama and members of the cabinet have shown that they cannot be trusted to put the interests of the country first. Whoever...

Rhinos Face Daunting Task.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Nelson Direng UB Rhinos may not be having it easy this Saturday when they come up against the BDF Cheetahs in the rugby league at the Wharic Park Grounds. Rhinos are seeking revenge after losing 10-8 to the army side in the...

Lessons From the Fall of Rollers, BDF XI.
April 30, 2009... Byline: Dennis Keagile But with only nine games to go, this is no longer the case. As I write this piece, the two have been overtaken by ECCO City Greens, which since the beginning of the second round have only lost one game to title...

Minister Applauds Tourney Organisers.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Boitumelo Khutsafalo Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Gladys Kokorwe has praised the organisers of the Boys Prison boxing tournament that was held a few weeks ago. The tournament was a joint effort between Scud Missile...

Universal And Mandatory Pension Scheme Proposed.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Wanetsha Mosinyi The high administrative costs of local commercial banks have been highlighted as one of the major detrimental factors that will hinder the introduction of the proposed broad-based occupational pension scheme for...

ABC Re-Brands As BancABC.
April 29, 2009... Pan-African bank, African Banking Corporation (ABC), yesterday its rebranding to BancABC. The latest development isa reflection of the group's growth and transformation as it plans to open its retail business in the third quarter of 2009 in...

Appearance Fees Put Bsa in Dilemma.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi The Botswana Softball Association (BSA) is in a dilemma over the payment of appearance fees to national team players. BSA president, Marumo Morule said shortly before being re-elected on Sunday in Gaborone...

PLC Announces Breakdown of Prizes.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Boitumelo Khutsafalo The Premier League Committee (PLC) has finally released a breakdown of individual prizes for the most outstanding performers of the season. PLC chairperson, Mokganedi Molefe revealed that the player of the...

The Nchindo Charge Sheet - What Might Be Dropped.
April 29, 2009... The latest development in the Louis Nchindo case means that some counts may have to be dropped especially those that require President Ian Khama or members of the cabinet as witnesses Count 3 - Khama Count 3 relies on the statement...

High Court Hears Mhlauli Appeal Today.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae An appeal by former permanent secretary, Elvidge Mhlauli, who was jailed for seven years by a magistrate in 2007, will be heard today by Justice Key Dingake of the Lobatse High Court. Mhlauli was jailed after...

BNF Targets 29 MPs.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The Botswana National Front (BNF) intends to win at least 29 constituencies in the general elections. In a media briefing yesterday, the BNF president Otsweletse Moupo said that his party will perform better than...

Corrupt Immigration Officers Get the Sack.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has said it has sacked 18 immigration officers for selling Botswana passports to foreign nationals. The employees were dismissed after thorough investigations. The...

Aubrey Woki Returns to Gaborone.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Rampholo Molefhe Aubrey Woki's debut album on his return to Gaborone, also the name of the title track of the CD recording, affirms of the spirit of the musical resurgence of the late 1970s, ending almost abruptly on June 14,...

Fetz Revisits Rap Dream.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe He earns his living by installing air conditioners and refrigeration. He is Ofentse Mangope, the businessman. Mangope grew up with a passion for rap, and used to enjoy battling other emcees in rap shows...

Bravo to Labour Intensive Project.
April 29, 2009... When the intensive labour programme was launched, it was easy to dismiss it as yet another pre-election populist stunt by the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). In the early days of the programme, we were sceptical, although we did...

Santos Warn the Reds.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane Uniao Flamengo Santos have warned Gaborone United (GU) not to expect favours when they meet in the be MOBILE Premier League clash at the Molepolole Sports Stadium tonight. Kick-off is at 7pm. GU are second in...

BNF to Expel Members?
April 29, 2009... Byline: Oarabile Mosikare Botswana National Front (BNF) is reportedly planning to suspend and expel more than 50 members for supporting an independent candidate during Thamaga West ward by-election. The members are waiting to know their...

Stage Set for Miss Botswana Pageant.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Maureen Odubeng The next Miss Botswana will be crowned this Saturday, at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) - and the organisers promise that it will be an event to remember with all the glitz and glamour. ...

Big Names Snub DPP in Nchindo Case.
April 29, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae The political leadership has snubbed the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in its corruption case against former Debswana executives Louis Nchindo, Joseph Malope Matome, Jacob Sesinyi and Nchindo's son,...

Industrial Court Awards Employee P20,000.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu The industrial court that sat in Francistown yesterday has awarded an ex-employee who claims that his ex-boss cheated him out of his money P20,000. Industrial Court Judge, Anna Mathiba, said that even though...

Bakgatla Ba Bolotsa Bojale.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae The Bakgatla-baga-Kgafela has resuscitated the initiation schools that they disbanded over two decades ago. On Saturday, Kgosi Mothibe Linchwe revealed that the first batch of women going for 'bojale' will be...

Youth Should Vote.
April 28, 2009... The recent developments in the education fraternity should make young people stand up and ponder their predicament. The reduction of tertiary education sponsorship by government, without any prior warning for parents and potential...

Aids Kills 25 Million Worldwide.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Since the first diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, approximately 25 million people have died worldwide, whilst approximately 40 million are infected as the disease continues to spread, labour and Home Affairs minister, Peter...

BDF XI Lose Ground in Title Race.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Boitumelo Khutsafalo BDF XI's title aspirations were dealt a heavy blow when they lost 2-1 to Police XI in an exciting be MOBILE Premier League match in Molepolole on Sunday. The defeat has resulted in Matebele slipping to...

Kutlwano Tops Phakalane Tournament.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi Kutlwano volleyball women and men teams topped the Phakalane Winner Takes All tournament on Sunday when they overcame Kalavango and BDF VI in the finals at the Police College. Each Kultwano club got P20,000 as...

BDF Celebrates.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane Exactly, what were these men doing rolling all over a woman? And why did she think it was her turn to roll all over them?In another setting, the woman could have screamed "sexual harassment!!" and the courts would...

GU Dinner Moved to May 27.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane Premier League pacesetters Gaborone United (GU) have postponed their gala dinner which was scheduled for tomorrow in Phakalane to May 27. The reason for the postponement is because it clashed with their league...

Mmipi is Miss VIP Deaf.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi It could just have been like any other beauty pageant. The beautiful contestants were parading in stunning evening wear and waltzing to some breathtaking background music. The only difference about the Miss...

Inflation Rate to Reach BoB Target in Third Quarter.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Brian Benza The annual inflation rate is likely fall within the Bank of Botswana (BoB) medium to long-term target of between 3-6 percent by the third quarter of the year, economist Keith Jefferis has said. In the first...

Distribution Deal Ahead for Maretlwaneng Film.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe After recently returning from the 2009 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival where his film, Head Up won in the best soundtrack category, young Botswana film maker, Thabiso...

PPADB Approves P57 Million 'Extra Cash' for Consultants.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Tshireletso Motlogelwa In the midst of the biting economic crisis, it has emerged that the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) has approved an increment of P57 million in consultancy fees for various government...

Gumbo Attacks Matengu.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane Township Rollers' coach, Rahman Gumbo slammed his goalkeeper, Anthony Matengu for conceding silly goals in the 2-2 draw with TAFIC in Francistown on Sunday. Gumbo told Mmegi Sport that a change of attitude is all it...

Fiasco At BDP Councillor's Launch.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi That the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) factions are alive and kicking became clear in Molepolole over the weekend where two council candidates were launched. The two council candidates were launched on...

ICT Sector Grows At Snail Pace.
April 28, 2009... Byline: Brian Benza Driven mainly by a conducive environment and infrastructure set up by government, Botswana's Information, Technology and Communications (ICT) sector continues to develop although at a slower pace than expected, an...

Bontleng Market Becomes Criminals' Haven.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi If ever there is a project that is constantly giving the Gaborone City Council sleepless headaches, it is the market at the Bontleng shopping mall. The market still remains a white elephant even though the...

Alleged Radio Thieves Turn On Each Other.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu An accused person shocked the court when he related the events of what took place on the day he and a friend allegedly stole a car radio. Leatile Ntsima and Thsokolo Lekoko are accused of stealing car radio...

Homeowner Spills Sheriff's Guts, Police Sued.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi A Gaborone deputy sheriff, Misheck Nyakaswa, is suing the police for negligence after a man whose house he had gone to attach in Gantsi in 2005 attacked him. Nyakaswa went to execute a court order to attach...

Molefhabangwe Vows to Tackle Unfinished Business.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mookets Love him or hate him, but you cannot ignore the fiery Gaborone West South Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Molefhabangwe. "Molf," as he is popularly known, is the kind of politician who never hesitates to...

Kgatleng BNF Wants Kgosi in 'The House'.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae The Member of Parliament (MP) for Kgatleng South East constituency, Isaac Mabiletsa, has described as 'political prejudice against the Kgosi', the stand off between Bakgatla and the government over their...

Premier League Spared New Fines.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi The Botswana Football Association (BFA) plans to review the new rule requiring players and match officials to pay fines for receiving cards during matches as it emerges that the law is only being applied in the...

Players Leave for Davis Cup.
April 27, 2009... Four players from the Under-23 national tennis team were scheduled to leave for Turkey yesterday to represent Botswana in the Davies Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group Three competition. The players are the Under-23 John Pickles and Son winner,...

Salomao Launches Sadcas to Boost Regional Trade.
April 27, 2009... A brand new quality assurance body for southern African countries was launched Friday night in Gaborone. To be known as SADCAS (Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service), the SADC subsidiary will provide accreditation...

Where is the President?
April 27, 2009... It is scary. People are wondering what is happening to this country and they are not getting answers. This is because of the recent announcement by government not to sponsor students who have not attained marks above 40 points for...

Where is First Division Sposorship Deal?
April 27, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Talk about the envisaged First Division sponsorship has fizzled out. This is despite the fact that early this year, officials of the Botswana Football Association (BFA) confirmed that they had secured...

Dirang Moloi Torments Former Club.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Boitumelo Khutsafalo New signing, Dirang Moloi gave a sterling performance against his former club, Notwane in Mochudi Centre Chiefs' 2-0 win in a be MOBILE Premier League match in Molepolole on Saturday. Moloi who has been...

Let Prisoners Vote - Tshireletso.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Bame Piet The MP for Mahalapye East, Botlogile Tshireletso has said prisoners should be allowed to vote to instill dignity in them. She said that Botswana can learn many things from South Africa to improve its electoral system....

Bakgatla in Scrap With Khama Over Kgafela.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae Kgosi Kgafela has turned to the Mochudi Kgotla after he was turned down by Kgosi Khama on advice about his legal entitlement to attend Ntlo Ya Dikgosi even if he does not make decisions at the main decision...

Letebele's Escape Blinding Inferno.
April 27, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane The Letebele family in Block 7 are still thanking their lucky stars after escaping in the nick of time from their burning house a fortnight ago. There were seven occupants in the house when a flame from a candle...

OP Stops Pheto's Motion.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Bame Piet The Office of the President (OP) has thwarted attempts by Lentsweletau MP, General Moeng Pheto from moving a motion requesting government to come up with clear legislation on the gratuity and pensions of ministers and...

Citizens Identify Sources of Education Funds.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Bame Piet The announcement that there is no money to sponsor over 20,000 school leavers for tertiary education has sparked controversy throughout the country with some youth reported to be threatening not to vote for the ruling...

Working for Tolerance All Over the Planet.
April 24, 2009... A young Afro-American lawyer who worked for the Obama campaign is visiting Botswana to speak on the responsibility of young people in the political process and civic action. EPHRAIM KEORENG spoke with Christopher Young and learnt that asking...

Is the Menace of DIS a Figment of the (Public) Imagination?
April 24, 2009... Less than a year after it was established, the Directorate of Gun-toting agents of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) have become a menace to members of the public. A Gaborone man says he recently came within a hare's...

Of Youth, Future Vagabonds And the Education Fiasco.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Lawrence Ookeditse A generation of angry people is being bred. Future generations of leaders will have to contend with such an angry people. The Ministry of Education in its quest to cut costs has targeted students and...

Defence Calls Confessed Counterfeiter a Fabricator.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Oliver Modise An accomplice witness in the P20 million Central Medical Stores (CMS) fraud case has told the Village Magistrates Court that he got assistance from a Zimbabwean national by the name of David to commit the crime. ...

Court Wrangle Over P80 Million Serowe Project.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae The former senior engineer at the Water Affairs Department, Joseph Nyandiko, has told the Village Magistrate Court that he was forced to re-write the recommendations he earlier made for ASA Enterprises. ...

Thapong Hosts Preserving Culture, Heritage And Tourism Exhibition.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Gasebalwe Seretse Critiquing somebody's work more-especially when you don't know where he or she comes from can prove to be a difficult work and that is exactly what happened when this writer had to look at Christopher...

Artists Dance As Khama's Directive Pays Dividend.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Some of the initiatives President Ian Khama has come up with might not be popular in certain quarters, but they have certainly made him a star among the struggling local visual artists who see him as their...

BIFM Advocates 'Independent' Diamond Marketing.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Brian Benza The current turmoil in the diamond industry should be used by the government as an opportunity to take a second look at the diamond marketing and trading agreements signed with De Beers. This is suggested in a...

Property Market Withstands Global Recession.
April 24, 2009... Botswana's restrictive land tenure system that does not allow foreigners to buy tribal land has had the salutary effect of staving off the impact of the global recession from the property market, says realtor Montshwari Mooketsi in an...

Slow Growth Prompts BoB to Reduce Bank Rate Again.
April 24, 2009... Byline: Brian Benza In response to weakening inflationary pressures, the Bank of Botswana (BoB) on Tuesday reduced the bank rate by another 100 basis points to 13 percent, bringing cumulative rate cuts to 250 basis points since December...