Mmegi/The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM articles from July 2006

Mmegi/The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM archives from July 2006

Road Closure Kills Pilane Business.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe The Pilane central business district is on its death-bed three months after the road that connects it to Mochudi was closed. Already six businesses have...

Coca-Cola Hikes Sponsorship.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe The sponsorship for this year's senior secondary school boys' soccer competition has been boosted by P50,000 to P250,000. The event is organised by the...

An Alcoholic Counsellor.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Alcoholism, which the American Alcoholism Association describes as a fatal illness for which there is no known cure, is the addiction to alcoholic substances. ...

'Stealth Strategy' for Regime Change.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bugalo A. Chilume After the West took the decision to effect regime change in Zimbabwe, options for achieving this were considered. More obvious ones were a military coup and an...

Majwaneng Residents to Expel Meddlers.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Onalenna Modikwa SResidents of Majwaneng plan a meeting to expel anybody from outside the village who interferes in their efforts to solve their chieftainship crisis. A resident...

New Look for BTV Mokaragana, And More.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe Botswana television (Btv) channel controller, Kitso Mosiieman, says that the popular Saturday music show, Mokaragana, featuring stage performances by local...

Japanese MPs Meet Mogae.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) President Festus Mogae met with a delegation of visiting Japanese Members of Diet (Parliament) last week. The delegation was led by Yoshinori Ohno, the chairman of the Japan-African Union...

BOCCIM Wants Implementable Proposals.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Kabo Mokgoabone Outgoing Executive Director of Botswana Confederation of Commerce, Industry and Manpower (BOCCIM) Elias Dewah said that they would like to come up with...

Keep City Clean - Mayor.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tuduetso Setsiba Several tours around the world have been done to lure different cadres of the international community to Botswana. First the task was with Botswana Export...

Moloi Eyes Debut Against GU.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshepo Molwane Former Notwane's dribbling wizard, Pontsho Moloi is expected to make his much-awaited debut for Mochudi Centre Chiefs when they take on Gaborone United in a...

Obakeng Kgosi And Francis Cammaerts.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Sandy Grant Unless a columnist has a particular slant on a well reported news story, there is probably little point in adding further comment. In this case, however, the story of...

Schools Contribute to Kidney Patient.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki Secondary schools in the South Central Region last week handed over a cheque of P63,000 towards the Obakeng Kgosi Trust Fund. Kgosi has been battling with a...

Rough Times Ahead for Rough Diamonds.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Joel Konopo The world's largest diamond miner, De Beers, said on Friday that it expects the outlook for the global rough diamond market for the second half of this year to be...

BDF Win Regional Military Soccer Title.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Mosah Mokganedi Hosts Botswana Defence Force (BDF) are the 2006. International Military Sports Council (CISM) and Eastern and Southern African (ESALO) soccer champions. BDF won...

Hope for Peace At Tumasera-Seleka.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Onalenna Modikwa After a marathon battle over the rightful name of the Tumasera and Seleka villages in Tswapong that ended up in court, there is hope that the villagers have...

Do Not Kill Pilane Business.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Elsewhere in this edition, we carry a story on the death of business in Pilane after the closure of the road linking the village to Kgatleng District headquarters, Mochudi. Already six...

You Are Sleeping On the Job - MP Tells Ministers.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Francistown West MP Tshelang Masisi has told the cabinet that it is not doing enough to promote citizen economic empowerment. The legislator almost passed a 'motion of...

'Women and Teaching'.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: D. Molefe, O. Pansiri and S. Weeks Teaching is gradually becoming a female-dominated profession. This is evident in the Botswana education system. For example, the primary school...

More Workshops Please!
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Rampholo Molefhe No so long ago - and not too long after 30th September 1966 - the most revered entertainers in the land shaped the guitars out of the middle sized Olive Oil cans....

Rollers Are the Champs.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshepo Molwane Township Rollers lifted the Kabelano Charity Cup after beating city rivals, Notwane 4-2 in a heated final played before a capacity crowd at the National Stadium on...

Letter From Congo - Part II.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Botsalo Ntuane Hello. Another day. Same country. Today is Saturday and the streets of Bukavu are eerily quiet. The din, noise and general festive cacophony of previous days is...

GIB's Woes Persist.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi All is not well at local insurance company, General Insurance Botswana (GIB), which has been facing financial woes. In the recent past, it was reported that GIB...

DRC Captures World Attention Again.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Dumelang Saleshando October 30,1974 was a big day for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly known as Zaire. The capital city, Kinshasa, was host to one of the most...

Zimbabweans Annoy Botswana MPs.
July 31, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Member of Parliament for Tswapong South Oreeditse Molebatsi has made public his displeasure and discomfort with Zimbabweans including their government. He told...

Tsholofelo Fans Fun And Culture.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Maureen Odubeng While many argue that culture is slowly disappearing, there are still many who find it very necessary to transfer our very own Setswana culture on to the young,...

Softball Captain Confident Ahead of World Championships.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Mosah Mokganedi Women national softball team captain Constance Kolaatamo says they did not play enough international preparatory matches, but this will not affect their...

Opposition Cooperation Test As By-Election Looms.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tuduetso Setsiba Every time a councillor or Member of Parliament dies, uncertainty looms. The major question centres of who will be the successor. The party that the departed...

Three Dikgosi in Waiting.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Keto Segwai Waiting has become a tradition for the three dikgosi - Bathoen I of Bangwaketse, Khama III of Bangwato, and Sebele 1 of Bakwena. Obviously they had to wait at the...

Public to Benefit From BTC Privatization.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Staff Writer The government seems set to find a private partner for the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) and the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation...

Lobtrans Gears for Air Botswana Bid.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Lobtrans (Pty) Ltd, the only local suitor for a strategic partnership in Air Botswana's (AB) privatisation says it is ready to turn around the national airliner if it...

How Government Tenders Are Bought And Sold.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshireletso Motlogelwa In the film Do The Right Thing, police officers come upon a street loafer who has just witnessed a misdemeanour. In their attempt to get information they...

Promising Start for Consumer Fair.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ofe Motiki Preparations for Botswa-na's first Consumer Fair to be held next month in Gaborone are said to be promising, as exhibitors have bought most of the exhibition space....

BFTU Complains to ILO Over Govt Violations.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) The Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) has made a formal complaint against the government to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on what it views as gross and flagrant...

Sebetela Sustains Crusade On Citizen Empowerment.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Maureen Odubeng The MP for Palapye Boyce Sebetela made a passionate plea Parliament yesterday for government to expand the list of businesses reserved for citizens as part of...

BTC, ADs Part Ways.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Staff Writer The relationship between Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) and publishers of its telephone directory African Directory Services (ADS) seems to have fallen...

Job No.1 is Economic Reforms, Not Number of Holidays.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Dichaba Molobe Before we went away for the President Day's holidays, Parliament, somewhat ironically, debated holidays. Some took issue with the number of holidays. On the...

'Open Up Your Heart, Girl, And Let Me In'.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Reviewed by Sheridan Griswold Fred Khumalo (2006) "Bitches' Brew". Sunnyside, Johannesburg, Jacana Media, 326 pages, paperback, P110, ISBN 1-77009-190-4. Available at Exclusive...

Vula Ingae? Where is the Water?
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshireletso Motlogelwa Every now and then residents of Magapatona in Tutume wake up in the morning to something sinister."Vula ingae - Where's the water?" they wonder as they...

Air Traffic Controller in Court Over Corruption.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) An Air Traffic Control Officer appeared before Magistrate Thato Mujaji in Francistown Magistrate Courts on July 14, charged with one count of corrupting a public officer. Following...

Reviving the Ghetto Style.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Patricia Maganu Two youths in Francistown have taken it upon themselves to revive what they call the ghetto style. Thato Kelaotswe, 24, and Trevor Solomon, 25, say that the youths...

More Maturity in Companies Needed.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Consumer Watchdog Last week I wrote about how maturity was a critical attribute of any successful company. I do not mean age, I mean that certain something that comes with...

BMWU Wants BCL to Explain Cheque Movement.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Onalenna Modikwa Botswana Mining' Workers Union (BMWU) secretary general, Jack Tlhagale has written a letter to BCL general manager Montwedi Mphathi demanding an explanation over...

Treat Batswana CEOs Fairly.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) In the recent past, there has been persistent debate on Batswana's seemingly inherent pull-him-down (PHD) syndrome. The debate has reached fever pitch in Parliament where a motion on the...

Gunners Warn Rollers.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshepo Molwane Lobtrans Gunners have sent a stern warning to Township Rollers ahead of their Orange Kabelano Charity Cup semi-final meeting at the National Stadium in Gaborone...

BNF is Not a Big Brother.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Log Raditlhokwa The BNF president Otsweletse Moupo and other BNF followers have offendingly proclaimed that they're an indispensable Big Brother (BB) in the opposition movement,...

Doctor Appears in Court.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Assan Chou Magendo, 50 a Congolese (DRC) national employed as a Medical Doctor appeared before Magistrate Thato Mujaji of the Francistown Magistrate Courts on 14 July 2006 charged on one count...

Arbitration Headmen Not Civil Servants.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Parliament was told this week that headmen of arbitration are not civil servants as prescribed by the Public Service Act. Instead, Assistant Minister of Local...

Corruption Squad Investigates P80 Million Water Project.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshireletso Motlogelwa The award of an P80 million contract for the construction of the Maitengwe Water Supply Project has raised eyebrows and attracted the attention of the...

Bosele Marathon Gets IAAF Status.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ernest Kelapile The annual Bosele Marathon has been sanctioned by the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF). This means that the event will be one of the...

No Plans to Relax Citizenship Acquisition.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has no plans to relax the language requirement system for foreigners to acquire Botswana citizenship, Assistant Minister Olifant...

'No Traditional Dance, Winter Break'.
July 28, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bashi Letsididi The Gaborone West Grand Stand, according to Steve Raman, cost P20,000 to construct. At this point in time, this is the only structure in the country that is solely...

Street Horn Releases Anniversary CD.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Jazz promotion company, Street Horn has compiled a 14 track CD to commemorate its 10th anniversary. The memorable CD is composed of old tracks by both local...

Big Brother Dashes Fani's Hopes.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshepo Molwane When the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) went for its general assembly in Maun last weekend, former Botswana Football Association (BFA) president David...

Teachers Plan MOU for Unity Talks.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki Teachers' organisations will next week sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide their attempts to cooperate or merge and turn into trade unions. The...

More Constituencies for 2009 Elections?
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe Government statistician Annah Majelantle says there is a possibility that the number of constituencies could increase prior to the 2009 general elections....

Dry Cleaners Feel High Fuel Pinch.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Dry cleaning businesses have joined the fray concerning the persistent fuel hikes. The manager of Daily Express Dry Cleaners, Elizabeth Ndobe said that though...

Teachers Oppose Abolition of Boarding in Schools.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki Teachers' organisations have raised concern that it is too early for the Ministry of Education (MoE) to start phasing out boarding in schools. They argued that...

Gaborone Hosts Military Games.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Mosah Mokganedi Major General Pius Mokgware of Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has challenged countries participating in the 46th annual International Military Sports Council (CISM)...

SRC Official Oppose Linking Accommodation to Meals.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tuduetso Setsiba The decision by the University of Botswana (UB) that students who eat frequently at the two campus cafeterias would be given first priority in accommodation has...

GH Races Against Time for Casino.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe Gaborone Hotel (GH) is racing against time to get its casino running by August to avoid its permit being revoked. The hotel, which is situated at the...

Merafhe Dispels Perceptions On Diplomatic Life.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Staff Writer The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mompati Merafhe has dispelled perceptions that the life of a diplomat is about wining and dining. Speaking during a farewell dinner in...

Teaching Beyond the Classroom.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Two secondary school teachers have ventured into music because they want to take their message beyond the classroom. Childhood friends, Connie Baepanye and...

BOCISCOZ Deserves All Our Support.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Dan Moabi The Botswana Civil Society Coalition for Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ) has been in existence for only a short time, but has already done much to keep the Zimbabwe problem in the...

Divisions Emerge On Khama's Flying.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Members of Parliament have reacted with mixed feelings to the answer given by Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Phandu Skelemani on Tuesday why...

Business Opportunities for Mantshwabisi.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe The deputy director of tourism, Wazha Tema wants to see companies involved in the running of the famous annual Mantshwabisi race. To this end, Tema has...

Botswana Falls in Davis Cup Opener.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe Hosts Botswana started the Davis Cup Euro-Africa Zone Group III tournament on a sour note yesterday after falling to second seed Ivory Coast in Pool B....

Parliament Approves Chinese Loan.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Members of Parliament have unanimously approved a P104 million loan from Chinese Import - Export Bank to build Dutlwe - Morwamosu Road. Speaking after the approval on...

Ntlo Ya Dikgosi Representation Should Be Handled With Caution.
July 27, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Editor When government decided to increase representation in the House of Chiefs, there was some measure of elation. To some, this was a positive step that would go a long way in...

Botswana Has Lowest Telecom Cost - BTA.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Joel Konopo Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) Chief Executive Officer, Moses Lekaukau surprised participants at a press conference when he announced that...

Molebatsi Fires in Parliament.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet Member of Parliament for Tswapong South Oreeditse Molebatsi joined other MPs on Monday to slam the civil service. Molebatsi's stick was laced with a barb which was...

SRC President Suspension Lifted.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tuduetso Setsiba The suspended president of Student Representative Council (SRC) at the University of Botswana Obonye Jonas remains defiant and claims that his suspension is...

Contract-Breaching Lands Artiste in Court.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Thaba Thaba, a Phikwe- based Kwasa-Kwasa artist was last week dragged before the magistrates' court by his former sponsor, Dimpho Regoeng for failing to pay back...

Let Us Speak Setswana.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Molotsi Peto Sekgoma When I listened to the radio programme 'Maokaneng" not so long ago, I was pleasantly surprised to realise just how many Batswana are keen to ensure that we...

Zebras' Fans Gearing for Zambia.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Tshepo Molwane Members of the Zebras' supporters club have said that they are working round the clock to prepare for the upcoming COSAFA Castle Cup semi-final duel with Zambia at...

Fifa Man Identifies Weaknesses of African Soccer.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Mogomotsi Moloi A FIFA instructor from Germany, Gunter Zittel has said that African teams still lack the technical and scientific ability and that is why their soccer is lagging...

Sprucing-Up the 'Ghetto'.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Former army sergeant and current managing director of Errorless Investment is a man on a mission. Noah Majube, who heads the environment-cleaning enterprise says...

Is Baba Missing Drake?
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe The Botswana Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) secretary general Marx Nthusang has said that the country's game has declined because unlike before, current...

Did Mi Or the Police Shoot the Robbers?
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Staff Writer Two more armed robbery suspects died in Princess Marina Hospital yesterday. The two got injured during a shoot out with police officers in Broadhurst on Monday. Their...

Water Restrictions Modified.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Joel Konopo Government has finally modified water restrictions measures imposed during the dry spell, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Charles Tibone has said....

We Have No Ghost Teachers - TSM.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki The director of the Teachers' Service Management (TSM), Opelo Mkhandlela has said they always recover the double salaries mistakenly paid to teachers on...

We Do Not Know Each Other - Seeletso.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Onalenna Modikwa Although government efforts to increase representation to the Ntlo ya Dikgosi particularly in areas that were previously not represented this has largely been...

Did VP Khama Violate the BDF Act?
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Vice President Ian Khama took control of a troubled Botswana Defence Force (BDF) plane in mid-air though the military pilots in charge could have handled the...

Skelemani Defends Special Constables.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Ryder Gabathuse Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Minister, Phandu Skelemani has said the fact that Special Constables are living outside police quarters cannot...

MPs Welcome Khama's Cockpit Exploits.
July 26, 2006... (From Mmegi / The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM) Byline: Bame Piet MPs across the political divide failed yesterday to grill Vice President Ian Khama and interrogate the government's reasons for allowing him to fly military aircraft....