Mmegi/The Reporter (Botswana) - AAGM articles from September 2009, page 2

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

GU,Ecco Seek First Win.
September 25, 2009... Byline: Mqondisi Dube Be MOBILE Premier League defending champions, Gaborone United (GU) lock horns with impressive Francistown side, ECCO City Greens at the Molepolole Sports Complex tomorrow afternoon with both sides looking for their first...

DRTS Combats Theory-Testing Backlog.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Gasebalwe Seretse The Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) has increased the pace of theory-testing for driving licence applicants to clear a backlog estimated at 5,000. DTRS spokesman Amos Motshegwe said booking dates...

Radibe Wins Case Against MOE.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki The Ministry of Education has been ordered to pay the president of Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), Japhter Radibe his leave days after he was forced into early retirement. The Gaborone District Labour Officer,...

BCP Condemns Motswaledi's Treatment.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The Botswana Congress Party Youth League has condemned the ruling party for the suspension of its secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi. At a press conference yesterday, the BCP youth publicity secretary Seabelo...

DCEC Grapples With Cross-Border Money Laundering.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The Directorate on Economic Crime and Corruption (DCEC) has said that it faces problems in tracing assets acquired through the proceeds of serious crime in cross border investigations. DCEC chief anti-corruption...

Aids Response Gains Momentum.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki The AIDS response has developed real momentum the last three years as a result of strong leadership and the mobilisation of significant national and international resources, the regional director of UNAIDS for...

Moatlhodi Attacks Women Again.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane Tonota North MP, Pono Moatlhodi was at it again taking a swipe at women who want to have a free ride into Parliament. Last Saturday, the maverick legislator was given the task of thanking the speakers at the 40th...

Acting Pays Dividends for Dramatist Modise.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi It is not an easy task to earn a living through drama, but that is exactly how a determined actor, Gabriel Modise is surviving. Modise cut his teeth in acting during his school days and has never looked back...

General Election Perks to Be Taxed.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Calistus Kolantsho Allowances that will be given to polling officers and presiding officers who will be taking part in the coming general election will be taxed. This was revealed by Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS)...

Mr O to Hit Francistown.
September 24, 2009... Following the successful launch invasion of his long awaited freshman album Tshaba Tshutshu in Gaborone, Mr O! is finally taking the show on the road. This time all roads lead to Francistown tomorrow for what could only be described as the...

RPC's Botswana Revenue Up 22 Percent-Report.
September 24, 2009... Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)- listed consultancy and IT company RPC Data has released its financial report for the year ended 31 May 2009 in which it says performance has been significantly impacted by lack of substantive projects within the...

Private Equity Fund Pumps P30 Million in Nata Development.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Wanetsha Mosinyi A London based private equity fund has said the P30 million cash it has injected into the development of the Nata Sanctuary will benefit communities around the area besides promoting tourism. The directors of...

Sponsor Challenges Volleyball to Up Its Game.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi Capital BMW Motors' representative, Michael Masunga has challenged volleyball to up their game to attract sponsors. He said time has come for sport bodies to seriously brand themselves to attract sponsors and avoid...

Women of Jazz to Invade the Millennium.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Botswana's foremost women of jazz - Punah Gabasiane, Nono Siile, Nnunu Ramogotsi and Kearoma Rantao - will stage a concert at the Millennium Jazz Restaurant in Mogoditshane on Saturday. Punah said their concert...

We Take Orders from Khama - BTV/RB Boss.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Government broadcasting services director, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo says the state media takes orders from President Ian Khama and nobody else. In a statement that echoed the recent High Court ruling against Botswana...

Softball Teams for Zone VI Competition.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi National softball teams left for Harare, Zimbabwe yesterday to take part in the Zone VI competition. The competition was initially scheduled for September 24 to 25 but was moved to October 16 to 17 before it was...

Squash Star Shines.
September 24, 2009... Byline: Boitumelo Khutsafalo England-based Botswana squash player, Alister Walker has made headlines at the PSA Tour Platinum Series in Cairo, Egypt after reaching the semi-finals of the event, which ended yesterday. On his way to the...

Work and More Work Keeps Mma Mazile Alive.
September 24, 2009... In May 2006 staff writer TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA spent time with legendary farmer Mma Mazile (Chenngwe Agnes Mazile) at her farm. This week Mma Mazile sadly passed away. To mark and celebrate this vivacious and never-say-die woman we republish...

Smith Wins Mokolodi Mountain Bike Event.
September 24, 2009... Angus Boxshall Smith of Gaborone Cycling Club (GCC) was in a mean mood on Sunday when he outclassed his opponents to win the Mokolodi Scorpion Mountain Bike Challenge. Smith was the only 'cheetah' on the day as he completed the tough 60km...

Ombudsman Office Critical to Good Governance.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Kopano Olesitse The Regional Head of the Ombudsman Northeast region, Edwin Batsalelwang says his office is one of the national institutions that contribute to good governance. "The vision of this office is to promote good governance...

PEEPA Boss Waves Goodbye?
September 23, 2009... Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatization Agency (PEEPA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joshua Galeforolwe is set to lose his position in about four months after the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning declined to renew his...

Ombudsman Urged to Come to the People.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu The Ombudsman held a breakfast seminar in Francistown yesterday to promote collaboration with NGOs. Participants advised the Ombudsdan to sensitise the people about the services of the office. They said the people...

State Drops Corruption Charges Against Guma Moyo.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae The state has dropped its intention to charge former Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Guma Moyo. The Tati East MP was dropped from President Ian Khama's cabinet last year after he was...

Powell Aims to Recapture His Form.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Chippa Legodimo Powell Abednico's arrival at Extension Gunners from ECCO City Greens two seasons ago was met with a lot of excitement and in no time he had endeared himself to the club's supporters. His authoritative midfield control...

Step in the Right Direction.
September 23, 2009... The bold step taken by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to open up an office in Francistown is laudable and one that is long overdue. For a long time people in the northern part of the country have had to drive long distance sometimes just...

LEA Boss Explains Mentorship Programme.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Kopano Olesitse The acting manager for the Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) Francistown branch Kabelo Nkwane has said they only 'divorce' their clients when they develop into large enterprises capable of sustaining themselves. He...

Ex-Shashe Students Bail Out Old School.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane Former Shashe River Senior Secondary School students have come to the rescue of their old school by donating computers, thereby replacing the ones that were recently stolen. They presented the computers to school head...

Create Jobs in Rural Areas, Urges SA Post Office Chief.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Keobonye Majatsie A South African Post Office manager, Janrus Kotsi says home deliveries to Botswana addresses will lead to job creation particularly in rural areas. "If the country is serious about locating its communities, home...

Francistown Independence Cup Battle Continues.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane The 43rd Francistown Independence Cup continues today and tomorrow as four teams battle for a place in the final on September 30. The World Group of Companies has donated P67,000 to sponsor the tournament. Premier...

Magosi Face South African Tycoons.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane Mochudi Centre Chiefs' spokesperson Clifford Mogomotsi has said they are excited by the prospect of playing South African Premier League side, Platinum Stars in a friendly game at the newly-built Moruleng Stadium in the...

Rude Welcome for Premier League Rookies.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Premier League rookies, Killer Giants and Motlakase received a baptism of fire in their debut over the weekend. Motlakase got a 4-2 drubbing at the hands of Nico United while Killer Giants were walloped 4-0 by Uniao...

Metal Orizon Rises From Ashes With Third Album.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane Emerging from hibernation after the death of lead vocalist in 2003, local rock band, Metal Orizon, have risen from the ashes to record their third album. One of the first rock bands in the country, Metal Orizon were a...

My First Day At Secondary School.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Gale Ngakane Like most Form One students in the 1970s, I was awestruck on my first day at Shashe River School then known fondly as Siya Re a Shapa. 'Yarona' Bus Service dropped us by the gate of the boarding master's residence, a...

Dinkwe Nkgoga Set to Release Dvd.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Kopano Olesitse Traditional music sensation, Dinkwe Nkgosa will soon release a DVD for their album Tlhwaang Tsebe, which hit the shelves late last year. The six-track album contains hit songs like Thoang tsebe, Reetsang, Madume and...

Study Reveals Botswana's 'Misplaced Loyalty' to De Beers.
September 23, 2009... Botswana has a 'misplaced loyalty' to De Beers based on the fallacy that it owes her status and development to the diamond mining company, says a South African NGO. Bench Marks Foundation, says in a report to be released in Johannesburg today...

My Star is Rising - Disco King Botshelo.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Although much is not heard and seen about him, Francistown based disco king, Donald Botshelo says his star is still shining. The visually impaired artist is renowned for churning out hit albums. Already, a new...

Motswaledi Appeal to Be Heard On Tuesday.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The appeal lodged at the court of appeal by the suspended Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general Gomolemo Motswaledi will be heard by a special session of the court of appeal on Tuesday, a day before...

Can Khama Still Fly Govt Planes?
September 23, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu The question whether President Ian Khama can fly government aircraft since he is now the state President could not get a straight answer at an Ombudsman breakfast seminar yesterday. One of the participants and...

Ngele Retains Coke Award.
September 23, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi Uniao Flamengo Santos' young sensation, Mogakolodi 'Tsotso' Ngele was once again the toast of the evening at the Coca-Cola Cup awards on Monday. For the second year running, the striker was crowned the flair player...

BOBS Develops International Quality Standards.
September 23, 2009... Botswana has developed over 700 standards based on ISO standards with specifications acceptable in other markets. The standards are used in the areas of Testing, Certification, Calibration and Training Services at Botswana Bureau of Standards...

Tshosane Happy with Cosafa Draw.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Boitumelo Khutsafalo Zebras coach, Stanley Tshosane said yesterday that he is happy with the draw for the COSAFA Senior Challenge last Thursday. Zebras have been drawn in Group B together with Comoros Island, Seychelles and...

BTV-Radio Botswana Must Change after NBB Verdict.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Editor When President Ian Khama went on national radio and TV a month ago to castigate suspended Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi, everyone was taken aback as to how such a purely partisan...

BNSC Indaba Works Wonders for Netball.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi The Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) is proud that the Indaba that they organised for the Botswana Netball Association (BONA) two years ago is bearing fruit. BNSC executive secretary, Kitso Kemoeng, said the...

Govt/De Beers Oppress Minority Groups - Report.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe A report on the mining industry in Botswana has castigated the government of Botswana and diamond giant, Debswana of oppressing communities living in mining areas. Bench Marks Foundation, a church-based NGO...

Debswana HIV/Aids Policy Wins Praises.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe Despite its sarcastic report and heavy criticism of De Beers and Debswana operations in Botswana, Bench Marks Foundation, acknowledges that the mining giants are the best when it comes to HIV/AIDS programmes and...

Teachers Urged to Set Performance Targets.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Kopano Olesitse The managing director of Diamond Educational Publishers, Johnson Chengeta has said teachers must set clear objectives and performance targets to help schools. "Without these, you and your team will be like a boat...

BTV/RB Ordered to Compensate Opposition for Khama Address.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng The National Broadcasting Board (NBB) has ordered Btv and Radio Botswana to avail free airtime to opposition parties to address the nation on any topic. The order comes after NBB found the government Department of...

Mamela Slams Expenditure on Khama Luxuries.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Kopano Olesitse The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) parliamentary candidate for Francistown South, Vain Mamela has criticised the massive spending by the government on luxuries for President Ian Khama. He said this is not fair...

Zim Youth Face Arms Trial Tomorrow.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Ndingililo Gaoswediwe The trial of five Zimbabweans charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition starts tomorrow. Magistrate Pride Rusike remanded the five unemployed youth though two of them - Nhlanhla Ndebele and...

PPADB Boss Warns on Conflict of Interest.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Keoreng Government agencies have been advised to guard against issues of conflict of interest when sourcing consultancy services. Speaking at a capacity building workshop for Procuring Entities (PE) Public Procurement and...

Collapsed Nickel Explorer Set to Bounce Back.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Thato Moseki Australian nickel miner, Albidon, is set to resume exploration under its Selebi- Phikwe prospecting licence after a six-month hiatus caused by the fall in global nickel prices. Albidon collapsed in March, following a...

Discovery Metals Reports 75 Percent Increase in Total Assets and Equity.
September 22, 2009... Promoters of the Boseto Copper project, Discovery Metals Limited, have announced its financial results for the financial year ended June 30, 2009, with a more than 75 percent increase in both total assets and equity. In the period under...

Ministry of Trade Decentralises.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu The Ministry Of Trade and Industry (MTI) has finally decentralised its operations to Francistown. For a long time now, people in the north had been crying that they could not access some of the services at this...

Baroda Robbery Suspect Accuse Witnesses.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Isaiah Morewagae One of the accused persons in the bank of Baroda case, Edward Mzwinila has accused the investigating officer and some state witnesses of fabricating evidence against him. He faulted the evidence of Tebogo Rantshese...

Motswaledi Finally Appeals.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Ryder Gabathuse Botswana Democratic Party secretary general, Gomolemo Motswaledi moved to the Court of Appeal yesterday in a bid to reverse his suspension by President Ian Khama and recall as a parliamentary candidate in Gaborone...

Maposa's Boots Too Big for New Custodian.
September 22, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane Youngster Gontse Tlhowe had a shaky debut for Mochudi Centre Chiefs on Sunday as he found the boots of on-loan goalkeeper, Noah Maposa, too big to fill. Though he was protected by a rock-solid rearguard manned by...

Music Producer Fights Possible 5-Year Jail Term.
September 22, 2009... One of the leading music producers in the country, Robert Dargie, a Ugandan resident in Botswana, was on Friday arraigned before Broadhurst Magistrate Court facing criminal charges relating to swapping of hologram devices, a crime that carries a...

Moeng College Back Then.
September 21, 2009... In January 1984, I went to Moeng College together with 15 other students from Maunatlala Primary School, with the rest going to Maunatlala Community Junior Secondary School. Some of them joined us later at Moeng College for Form Four. Going...

Taking Life Positively.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Kopano Olesitse She is 34 years old, robust, enthusiastic and generally passionate about life. Her name is Onnie Marry Phuthe, tall, light in complexion and if you were a single man she would definitely make an impression but would...

Sparkling Night at Vision 2016 Awards.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe The organisers of the 2009 National Vision 2016 Awards pulled out all the stops to put together a breathtaking show at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) last Friday night. It was simply...

Lenyalo La Setswana at Maruapula School.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Gasebalwe Seretse The Maruapula School Setswana Week, which started with the 'mother of all concerts', that featured some of the leading performing artists in this country, ended last Thursday graced by Balete Kgosikgolo, Mosadi...

What is the Meaning of Vision 2016 Awards?
September 21, 2009... The nation has just held the National Vision 2016 awards ceremony at the GICC. On the surface it was a night of pomp and ceremony with firecrackers, and glamorous lighting effects for television. However, a few embarrassing facts came out...

Churches Vow to Fight HIV/Aids in Selebi-Phikwe.
September 21, 2009... Churches in Selebi-Phikwe have vowed to tackle the HIV/AIDS scourge that has hit the mining town. Speaking to Mmegi in an interview, Selebi-Phikwe Churches Committee Chairperson, Pastor Rickson Teemane said the only way to win the battle...

Bakgatla Celebrate Culture, Heritage in Style.
September 21, 2009... The Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela Tribal Authority in South Africa's North West Province today begin hosting their heritage week to celebrate the Bakgatla culture and officially welcome home more than 3,000 initiates who recently returned from initiation...

Inmate Loses Court Bid to Vote.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Justice Key Dingake of the Lobatse High Court has dismissed a landmark case in which a Gaborone prisoner, Thomas Sibanda wanted the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to be ordered to allow him to vote. In...

Shortage of Health Personnel Remains a Challenge.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Chandapiwa Baputaki Despite a slight increase in the output of nursing graduates this year, the challenge of shortage of different cadres of health care personnel in the government facilities remains a matter of great concern, Health...

The Happy People Are Happy Again.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane The happy are happy again if the wild celebrations that followed Township Rollers' 2-0 win over Extension Gunners in the be MOBILE Premier League at the Molepolole Sports Stadium on Saturday evening are anything to go...

Killer Giants Fail First Test.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Chippa Legodimo Killer Giants failed their first test in the be MOBILE Premier League losing 4-0 to Uniao Flamengo Santos in Lobatse on Saturday. The new comers conceded a goal as early as the fourth minute when Farasai...

Ghetto Derby Ends in Stalemate.
September 21, 2009... The 2009-2010 be MOBILE Premier League season finally got underway in Francistown before hundreds of supporters who witnessed a pulsating soccer display by ECCO City Greens and TAFIC. Though the game failed to produce goals, the supporters got...

Sports Officials Graduate After Five-Day Course.
September 21, 2009... Officials from different sports codes graduated on Friday after a five-day leadership and management course organised by the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC). The course was conducted by the Institute of Development Management (IDM). ...

Zulu Blasts Referee After Goalless Draw.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Tshepo Molwane Notwane stand-in coach Fabian Zulu blasted referee Kutlwano Leso for inconsistent officiating during their be MOBILE Premier League opener against cross-town rivals Gaborone United (GU) at the Molepolole Sports Stadium...

PPADB Gives Tips to Suppliers.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Ndingililo Gaoswediwe Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) hosted a food rations and general supplies workshop on Friday to increase awareness by stake-holders. The workshop was meant to empower suppliers to perfect...

Vehicle Buyers Defy Recession.
September 21, 2009... Botswana consumers have buckled the global trend in recession by buying more vehicles, figures from First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) show. Though the country is technically in recession, FNBB's vehicle purchase financing arm, WesBank, has...

NDB Boss Challenges BCF to Spread Chess.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Mosah Mokganedi The acting chief executive officer of the National Development Bank (NDB), Tshekiso Monyatsi has challenged the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) to work hard to increase its membership. He expressed disappointment that...

Ceda Holds First Forum for Its Clients.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Baboki Kayawe Local entrepreneurs have been advised that citizen empowerment and promotion of citizen-owned businesses is not tantamount to locking out foreign enterprises from the local economy. Citizen Entrepreneurial Development...

Khama Shuns Vision 2016 Awards.
September 21, 2009... Leading politicians, including President Ian Khama and Vice President Mompati Merafhe turned down invitations to the national Vision 2016 awards. The awards were held on Friday night at the GICC, with assistant Minister of Finance and...

Ntime Gets the Nod.
September 21, 2009... Gaborone lawyer, Gabriel Kanjabanga has ultimately lost his bid to contest the general elections as a Botswana National Front (BNF) parliamentary candidate for Gaborone North. This means that Lemogang Ntime, who was endorsed by the party...

Palai Commends Red Cross Society.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Frederick Kebadiretse Permanent Secretary (PS) Bruce Palai has said one of the reasons Botswana has remained stable and peaceful over the years is because it has followed the founding principles laid down by the International Red...

BNF Loses Again.
September 21, 2009... Byline: Lekopanye Mooketsi Six Botswana National Front (BNF) council hopefuls beat the count of Friday when the High Court reversed their expulsion from the party with two hours to go before the close of nominations. Justice Gabriel...

Informatix Receives BOBS Award.
September 18, 2009... Byline: Martin Nyirenda Informatix Industry Services, has been awarded Botswana Standard (BOS) ISO 9001:2008 for embracing quality business management systems and processes. Informatix is a software application technology company whose...

FNBB's Expansion Pushes Profits Up.
September 18, 2009... Byline: Brian Benza First National Bank of Botswana (FNBB) has announced impressive results for the year ended June 2009, which saw retail banking pulling up profit earnings for the period. In a statement, the bank, which is now the...

BNPC's Lebang Retires.
September 18, 2009... The Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC) Executive Director, Thembo Lebang is to retire from his Post at the end of October this year after leading the Centre and the national productivity movement for twelve years.He will be retiring to...

Private Sector Must Steer Clear of Politics - Dewah.
September 18, 2009... Byline: Patricia Maganu Former BOCCIM CEO, Elias Dewah, says in a democracy, the private sector must remain independent of structures of government and of politics while being an impartial economic development partner of government and other...

It is Summer At Wilderness Again.
September 18, 2009... Byline: Sheridan Griswold The Rowing Lesson earned Anne Landsman this year's Sunday Times fiction award. It was promoted recently in Botswana as part of a selection of new books of merit from South Africa. The Rowing Lesson was written at the...