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17 Oct 2009 04:45
Edition 480 25 October 16 - 23, 2009
VOTE FOR YOUR FUTURE
Today's general election for parliament and council seats is regarded as one of the most dramatic in the country's 43-year history since Independence.
At stake is a country looking to leap into the future with more determination than ever before, seeking development and foreign investment, and at the same time upholding its democratic aspirations without relinquishing traditional customs and culture.
This morning marks the first time that President Ian Khama will be able to test his popularity as a leader. He was nominated by Members of Parliament as president in succession to Festus Mogae who stood down last year. A total of 723 617 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. There are 403 056 female voters while men make up 320 561. The country has 490 polling districts and 2 288 polling stations.
Though 57 constituencies are up for grabs, with the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) the only party to field candidates in all constituencies. The main opposition, the Botswana National Front (BNF), is contesting 48 while the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and its ally, the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM), will contest 46.
The country's oldest political formation, the Botswana Peoples Party (BPP) fields six candidates and the Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin (MELS) Movement has four.
A key aspect in the election will be the reaction of the electorate to the 4 D's as spelt out in April last year by President Khama when he took office and based his presidency on Development, Discipline, Dignity and Democracy.
One of the early reactions was to an unpopular 30% increase in tax on alcoholic beverages (the president originally wanted a 70% increase but backed down in the face of industry concerns), a cut in bar hours to prevent alcohol abuse, and a determined campaign to rid the country of undisciplined motorists. He has also appeared to alienate sections of the BDP by ousting its secretary-general and other officials, demanding that factions within the party be disbanded, and demanding everyone toes the party line.
The results of the polling will also see how far the new government will go in taking action against proponents of tribalism and sections of the media, which has come under threat as a result of a new Act widely regarded as a first step towards ending Freedom of Speech in relation to the media.
Spyros free from vehicle case
Maun businessman Spyros Nicholau (65) this week had charges against him withdrawn for the alleged possession of stolen vehicles.
Maun principal magistrate Clifford Foroma heard from prosecutor Pascal Mhandu that there was no basis to continue prosecuting Spyros (pictured) as some evidence has been already admitted by the defence and none of it linked Spyros to the case. Now this leaves Nicky Masheko as the only accused in the case. Four state witnesses evidence was admitted by Spyros' defence team of Dickson Bayford and Charles Tlagae. Spyros was charged with Masheko (40) in which the particulars of the offence stated that on July 28, 2007, they were found with four vehicles a Z4 BMW, a BMW Z3, a Nissan double cab 4x4, and a Proto - which were suspected to have been stolen from South Africa. The two were also charged for unlawful possession of goods suspected to be stolen. These were a Sahara Laptop and Sony Handycam video camera. This charge was also withdrawn against the two.
Mhandu asked for the vehicles, particularly the two BMWs, to be given back to their owners. He added that as the accused person is not making any claim of ownership and that the cars have been exhibited, the owners have been asked to claim them. The police were then ordered to release the two vehicles.
Trial is set for May 10, 11 and 12 next year.
Why there is no water in Maun taps
By Gaolebogwe Moipei
Maun is experiencing a huge shortage of water and a lot of factors have been identified as the reasons for the situation. Speaking in an interview with the Ngami Times this week, Maun station manager for Department of Water Affairs, Mpateng Gojamang, said equipment at four boreholes in Matsaudi, Tsutsubega and Kunyere is broken and in addition, pumps were disconnected due to water pressure and Botswana Defence force (BDF) divers had been engaged to re-connect pumps.
Gojamang said it was hoped new equipment would be installed this week and the water supply returned to normal. He added that Sedie, Boseja and Shashe wards were among those affected - we try by all means to inform residents, through loudspeakers and public addresses, about the water shortage. The North West District Council secretary has been taken to the affected boreholes to see the situation for himself, he said. Critical areas in need of water such as the airport, hospital, and all schools are being supplied through water bowsers. Gojamang added the department is facing increased demand due to the relocation of people to Disaneng.
Asylum seekers deported back to DRC
CHARLESHILL Forty-one Congolese men, women and children, seeking a new life in Botswana have been deported back to the DRC by Botswana.
They had spent several days in no-man's land between the Namibian and Botswana border gates at Mamuno. The asylum seekers some of whom had been staying in Namibia for six years - had sought refuge in Botswana from war-torn Congo but the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, Augustine Makgonatsotlhe, that as the DRC was now gaining peace the refugees would be sent back. In addition, he said the asylum seekers came from an area where there had never been any fighting.
The Minister of Agriculture, Christiaan de Graaff, and the Permanent Secretary to the president, Eric Molale, visited the group at the Charleshill police station on September 30.
Prison escapees given long sentences
By Gaolebogwe Moipei
Four Zimbabweans who cut their way out of Maun State Prison on August 30 have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms by Maun magistrate Mmoloki Sibanda.
The four - George Themba Bhebe (30), Loyoit Kare Choto (28), Sipho Siziba (39), and Themba Dube also known as Tshepo Salang, (25) - were charged for escaping from lawful custody.
Sibanda said that the 5 days the men were on the run saw the public living in fear.
He further said he considered the way the accused committed the offence, and it showed that the accused showed disregard and disrespect to the court.
Bhebe was sentenced to a year's imprisonment because he was a first offender. The other 3 accused were sentenced to 1 year, 6 months imprisonment each as it seems that the accused persons treat crime as a career.
The prosecutor was Luanda Antonio, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Ramsden's son walks free
Dawson Ramsden (32), facing a charge of murder, has been cleared of any wrong-doing by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the charges dropped against him.
This has been said by the prosecutor Pascal Mhandu when advising principal magistrate Clifford Foroma that he received a document from the Director of Prosecutions to discontinue with the case.
When asked to comment, Charles Tlagae, of Charles Tlagae Attorneys, Maun, who represented Ramsden, said from all evidence he saw it showed that the death was an accident.
He added that evidence also showed that the Chitabe Lodge, where the alleged offence had been committed, had cases of burglaries and theft and therefore the accused had been entitled to defend the company's property as according to Section 16 of the Penal Code any properties or goods that a person is entitled or assigned to take care of, he or she has the right to protect them.''
Ramsden was charged with murdering Goitseone Masasa, a trainee guide at Chitabe Lodge on November 11, 2008. It was revealed that the deceased was killed when a warning shot allegedly fired at the tyres of the vehicle he had taken, struck him.
It has been also said the deceased was supposed to resume duty in the evening of that day and he told his supervisors that he was not feeling well and therefore asked to resume duties next morning.
One of the managers saw the company vehicle coming from the direction of the lodge. and tried to make contact by radio but efforts to stop the vehicle failed as there was no response. Lodge managers then went on a search for the missing vehicle.
The team followed the vehicle to Gurukwa hunting camp where they were told that the vehicle was driven by a stranger who had asked the way to Stanley's Camp. Continued efforts to stop the vehicle failed as the driver did not answer the radio and switched off the lights of the vehicle. Warning shots were made and accidentally killed Masasa.
Foroma has asked the police to return the 30.06 gun to the owner.
Right to vote a big responsibility'
President Ian Khama says an important responsibility in a vibrant democracy is the right and duty to vote.
In his Presidential message commemorating Independence Day recently, he said the anniversary comes at a time when we are approaching our tenth national election.
Khama said Botswana's peaceful voting in free and fair elections has come to define who we are, as well as where we want to go, as a society united in its diversity and confident of its capacity for further progress. He appealed for voters to exercise their right to choose by casting their ballot and added that Botswana's democracy remains rooted in adherence to the Constitution which he described as the legal guarantor of our collective responsibilities to each other as fellow citizens as well as the individual liberties we all enjoy.
I hereby rededicate myself to respecting the constitution and I did during my inauguration and appeal to all Batswana to do the same.
A scandal of epic proportions
The horrifying picture we publish on Page One today is surely a story of incompetence and total disregard for the health of our region.
The over-flowing sewage ponds close to the airport - an international facility now in the process of being renovated - is not a good advertisement for Maun, the North West District Council or the country.
It is instead a scandal of epic proportions that such a situation has been allowed to develop. One can ask: Where are our Health officials?
The NWDC is quick to send its Green Scorpions on to the streets to check on environmental matters and to bully property and business owners into paving their yards, in the process putting out of business numerous companies which cannot afford to do so and are denied trading licences, while just as few kilometers away is a great challenge awaiting them a lake of sewerage busy soaking in the sun, sinking into the soil and therefore affecting our water supplies.
The authorities, above all the ministries responsible for the Environment and for Health, need to react quickly to what is a definite hazard to everyone. Already, as the picture clearly shows, the stream of filth has crossed over roads and seeped into various properties.
Now's the time to take action or suffer the consequences of a myriad of diseases.
The Maun Shuffle
This column is always searching for something out of the ordinary to pass on to readers.
Sometimes it is about water, other times about people and animals such as pets, and on occasion about incidents in our desert or bush which are frightening!
This week it is about the latter.
Over in Ghanzi, Merle Grant is still shaking in her shoes after a rather large lion walked up to her blanket box on the tent's veranda and promptly scattered blankets in the bush (like a rather large kitten ?)
He then walked around the tent... and she woke up husband Kevin with the magic word lion.
Says Merle: I froze and saw the beast through my window He then walked to Kevin's window and they stared at each other - Kevin then whacked him on the nose with a torch as he was sort of making a low roar.
The lion ran away and then came back and marked his territory all over the front of our tent and departed as by then, a friend in a nearby tent had climbed into his car, put the lights on and come to us.
Kevin felt bad about whacking the lion as we are in his territory. Possibly getting to used to people? And playing?
Also, at Leopard Pan that afternoon, Merle says she almost walked into a big mommy lion
She backed off to the car ever so smartly but the lioness was most unconcerned and flopped into the sand where she had been standing . . .
On driving around we saw another 7 lions lying in the shade of trees on the side of the camp!!!
Too much for me, I'm afraid, and told Kevin in no uncertain terms there will be no more trips without a roof top tent!.
And Shuffle agrees whole-heartedly.
If you hurry you can fly from Francistown to Johannesburg and return for P1 758.00 a saving of about half the fare it would cost you normally to do the Maun-Johannesburg-Maun route.
It's on Air Botswana and some may think it worthwhile to drive to Francistown from Maun to take up the offer while promotional fares are in operation.
Here's another now being touted by the airline P1 858.00 return from Kasane to Johannesburg.
Notwithstanding that these are promotional and subject to what the airline terms L and V' class availability, it is still a bargain. A word of warning from those who know - there is no guarantee your luggage will make it to Johannesburg!
I can't wait to try this!
It's mosquito time right now and the mossies were having a ball biting everyone.
To stop their antics, a man at a recent party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the little demons disappeared. And voila! - that worked well.
It worked when spraying around the food table and the standing water nearby. It is a lesson for everyone - during the summer, don't leave home without it....
The effects last a couple of days. Don't spray directly on a wood door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the window frames, and even inside the dog kennel.
Now does anyone know of a surefire cure for ants?
F I R E S P E C I A L
MASSIVE BLAZE GUTS TWO BUSINESSES
A huge blaze, believed to have been caused by a faulty computer unit, caused a fire which gutted thepremises of Lepopo liquor and food wholesalers and the adjoining Orient Express Safaris on Thursday morning.
Black smoke billowed into the sky, drawing hundreds of people to the scene just after 8am. It is understood a staff member of Orient Express opened the door to her office on arrival at work to find a fire raging. It quickly spread through the complex, causing fires to break out in the roof and in other offices.
The heat was so intense that the roof buckled.
The alarm was raised and surrounding businesses supplied fire extinguishers while the airport's fire tender was called into service. Smaller firefighting units, including those of the 911 Neighbourhood Watch, were also in use in a bid to bring the fire under control. Gas cylinders were heard exploding at one time. Dozens of townspeople ran to help the firefighters.
Herman Grobler, managing director of Lepopo, said it was not known how much of his company's stock had been destroyed or damaged, and added that it appeared the dry goods warehouse was not affected. As a precaution, office equipment, files and other property was removed from that building, which also houses the local offices of HATAB and a computer communications provider. The fire is the second to have involved Lepopo under its previous name of Pula, the company's bottle store then situated on Sir Seretse Road in the New Mall, burned down several years ago. As a result of that fire, a public demand was made by North West District Council chairman John Benn for the building of a fire station in Maun and this building is expected to be completed early next year.
The Weekender
Oldest well helps keep wheels turning
Maun's oldest water well, situated in the grounds of the property occupied by The Ngami Times and two other companies, has come to the rescue by providing water for the newspaper operation. After weeks of fits and starts in the water supply a regular occurrence throughout Maun - the unsealed well was opened to check on whether there was sufficient water to assist the production and there was, literally thousands of litres! Staff lowered a bucket on a rope into the well and brought to the surface litres of water. On Monday this week, Department of Water Affairs officials were switching off water supplies to many industrial and resident properties in Boseja because of alleged non-payment of accounts. However, the department's computer system was offline so industrialists were asking how the cut-offs could take place on a day when the computers were not in operation - and when there was water in the taps.
Great fun at Kasane music festival
KASANE - The Kasane SPCA and Chobe River College are in desperate need of funds and to overcome this have jointly held the first music festival in Kasane's history.
The day started off with clouds on the sky, which brought concerns about the possibility of rain as the outdoor event would have been ruined. However, the weather held.
In recognition of World Animal Day, support was received from various exhibitors and organisations such as Elephants Without Borders, Birdlife Botswana, Caracal - the snake park, Fair Lady Day Care Centre, Mario's Meat Market, the Art Gallery, Children from Pandamatenga and SPCA Kasane. Also on sale were pottery, beading, drawings and plant cuttings. Live music was provided by Kasane's Bojang band and things really heated up when Robert Koch and his Band handed out 120 drums. This drumming session had to be seen to be believed.
An auction was held and raised more than half of the much needed funds. The organisers wish to thank Brett MacDonald from Flame of Africa and Zambezi Queen who sponsored a 3 night houseboat trip on Lake Kariba, Jonathan Gibson for an overnight stay at Chobe Game Lodge, Rex Kelly for a 3-hour ride on the Munitenge, the 50-seater flagship of Chobezi and Chris Anagnostellis for an overnight stay at Elephant Valley Lodge.
Those who made the festival possible and a success were thanked by Bettina Kelly, the organiser and chairperson of the SPCA Kasane the festival was such a success we are thinking of making this an annual event, she said.
If you would like to support the SPCA, or have any suggestions or enquiries, contact Esther on 74061120 or email bettina@caterplus.co.bw
Groundbreaking for new foster care home
It was a landmark day for Love Botswana Outreach Mission Trust in the Boro Ward when a groundbreaking ceremony was held for The construction of the Lorato House of Love. The house will be a licensed foster care institution designed to house infants who are in need of shelter care. The license process had been approved by Local Government officials and forwarded to the Department of Social Service in Gaborone for review and approvals at Ministry level. Funders and supporters of the project were present with hard hats and shovels to conduct the ceremonies. Representing the Preik Family Foundation, United States, were Mr. and Mrs. Reinhold Preik; representing First National Bank of Botswana Foundation was Edie Maruza; a private investor Jacob Bonnema; representing Love Botswana Outreach Mission Trust were Pastors Jerry and Jana Lackey, Founders of the Mission, and Kgosi Kealetile Moremi. This project has been in the planning process for a number of years and will serve the nation as a specialty unit for infants, toddlers and disabled orphans. While this facility is under construction, another spacious facility on the Mission base will be used once licensing is in place. The project is expected to be licensed and complete by May 2010.
Helping to house Nata grandmother
Another Good Samaritan . After reading a recent article requesting donations to build a house for Nata's Grand Old Lady, Thamalalo Reetsanye, 70, who lives virtually in the open with her four grandchildren, Maun businessman Addmore Zimie has been to The Ngami Times office to make a donation. He is pictured here (right) handing over P1 000 cash to The Ngami Times News Editor, Bright Kholi. Zimie wants the money to help in buying building materials. Meanwhile, an appeal is being made to business people with trucks to help transport 1 000 bricks that were donated by Caldec Investments, Maun. The bricks have to be transported to Nata and they are currently the only reason that construction of the house has not yet started. In Nata, China Jiangxi Corporation, which is constructing the Nata/Sepako road, has also offered materials for the house. More help is also needed with regard to clothes, blankets and anything else that can help her and the grandchildren.
Anyone who would like to help with transport and further donations can contact Bright Kholi at The Ngami Times on 686 4807 / 71820939 or Pedro at 75014128 in Nata.
Botswana Insurance launched in Maun
Frank Ramsden receiving a token of appreciation from BIC Managing Director Dziki Nganunu after launching the Maun Office
By Bright Kholi
The Botswana Insurance Company office in Maun was officially launched at an event in Maun.
Speaking at the launch, which was attended by business people and politicians at Cresta Riley's Hotel, the assistant minister of Works and Transport, Frank Ramsden, commended the BIC for having seen -it to re open an office in Maun. BIC is not new in Maun. They used to have a branch here which they closed and now we are simply re-launching their branch, Ramsden said.
Ramsden said that in this era, insurance remains vital, adding that people should understand what insurance policies are so that they can safely protect their property - we have all sorts of property and it is always wise to insure them at the earliest time possible as accidents can occur any time.
Ramsden also called on insurance companies to try and adjust their policies so that they become friendlier to customers.
Martin Wright, who is currently heading the Maun office, said that by having an office in Maun, BIC will be able to provide local and personal service. We have been able to visit clients at their businesses and their homes, and to service the brokers, giving technical and risk management advice when necessary, he said.
He also said that BIC will be able to assist their clients as appropriate with most of the insurances required by either the North Wets District Council or the department of Tourism for their licensing requirements.
Quite rightly evidence of adequate and in some cases, compulsory insurance is now a prerequisite for the issue of licenses, Wright said.
The managing director of BIC, Dziki Nganunu, also emphasised the importance of insurance. He said Maun has great potential for growth and they therefore decided to serve their clients at source.
Former Maun journalist dies in Namibia
The former News Editor of The Ngami Times , Rodrick Mukumbira(above), has died in Windhoek, Namibia.
The 38-year-old journalist, who was controversially told by the government to leave Botswana in 2005, died at the Katutura State Hospital after a short illness. He was buried at his home village of Zvishavane in Zimbabwe on Sunday.
In spite of worldwide requests by media and civil rights organisations, no reason was given by the government for his expulsion from Botswana.
Mukumbira, a self-imposed Zimbabwean exile, worked as a sub-editor of Namibian Economist at the time of his death, and also worked on newspapers in Zambia and the United Arab Emirates after leaving Maun.
He had also been a Botswana correspondent for the French news agency, Agence France Presse.
Mukumbira was a Foster Davies Fellow of the world-renowned media training institution, the Poynter Institute, in the United Sta
tes and also attended media courses in Kenya, South Africa and Sweden on behalf of The Ngami Times
Prior to being ordered to leave Botswana, Mukumbira had while working as News Editor, for two years been involved in training the newspaper's editorial staff. He said at the time that I consider coaching writers to be the central part of my job, being the News Editor in a newsroom where all the reporters are not trained and lack the basic skills in news gathering and writing.
Norman Chandler, the editor of The Ngami Times , said this week: Rodrick's untimely passing is a huge loss to not only his young family but also the newspaper profession in general.
He was well trained as a journalist and had produced outstanding articles on various issues for not only this newspaper but also for foreign publications.
We offer our sincere condolences to the Mukumbira family.
Mukumbira is survived by his wife and daughter, Nyasha.
Choppies suspends six for talking to the media
By Basadi Morokotso
Six employees of Choppies Supermarket in Maun have become the latest to be suspended from work for talking to the media about work-related grievances.
Responding to questions from The Ngami Times, Choppies group public relations director Benn Stegling said staff met with the Human Resource division where each member was given an opportunity to state their grievances. He said staff had planned to register various grievances with management team.
At the same meeting, staff was advised that they had the right to self organise and bargain conditions of work through laid down procedures of the company.
At the end of the meeting some staff members are said to have opted to have media interviews. While this is allowed, subject to an agreement with management, the staff did not see the need to engage management on this matter. Later, on the radio and TV, we heard news that was never part of earlier discussions (and) to our consternation, a few members of staff were spotted with the media.
He added that it must be noted that every work situation places both the employer and the employee in a labour relationship which must be nurtured by trust, understanding, facilitative communication, verbosity of support and so forth. The absence of such qualities simply renders the labour relationship null and void, he said.
When questioned why the suspended staff members were immediately replaced with those from another Choppies branch, Stegling said the redeployment of staff from one unit to another is purely an operational function.
You need to understand that we have a duty service for our customer base in Maun and everywhere else. How we do it is our problem. Whilst each one of us is entitled to an opinion so I believe these complainants are more so that an opinion.
Even in the absence of these underlying qualities, the Human Resource opted for an extremely lenient reprimand hence subjecting these to a sanctioned suspension.
He said it was expected the suspended staff would return to work soon and with a renewed attitude to work.
Meanwhile some of the suspended employees told The Ngami Times their grievances were not addressed professionally and that whenever they raised concerns, they are either shown the door or intimidated.
They said although they are to report for work on October 29, they are not sure if they will get their jobs back because they were told that they will still be expected to reveal the name or names of those who have leaked information, failure for which they will be dismissed.
Zebras want to bounce back after China
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The COSAFA senior challenge that will be held in Zimbabwe from Sunday provides Botswana's Zebras still reeling from match fixing allegations in the 4-1 defeat by China - with a perfect opportunity to redeem themselves and win back the hearts of Batswana.
In a group that includes Swaziland, Comoros and Seychelles, the Zebras are odds-on favourites. The four teams which make up group B with Group A Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mauritius and Lesotho.
Zebras' patchy form has resulted in them losing the seeding and having to play in the preliminary stage of the cup. They would be looking for an emphatic win in the first game against the Comoros and consolidation against Swaziland so as to need only a draw against Seychelles.
Barolong Toldo' Lemmenyane who had a wretched game against China has been dropped in favour Noah Maposa who arrives with Pontsho Moloi from South Africa's Bay United. In defence the expectation is that Mpoeleng Mpoeleng assumes the rightback position while Mosimanegape Ramohibidu will operate on the left. Mompati Thuma and either Joseph Phetogo or Ndiapo Letsholathebe should be deployed as central defenders.
Keabetswe Jenamiso whose call-up has been long overdue provides backup in the centre of the defence.
Zebras' inability to put opponents under siege has meant that the strikers work from scraps but with the quality of the opposition in the group they might just be that little bit more adventurous. Swaziland seems to be the only side that would provide a formidable challenge to the Zebras ambitions. The Comoros and Seychelles, nations without any footballing pedigree, should provide fodder for the Zebras and Swaziland. The winners will join the six seeded teams in the quarter-finals which are Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Zambia.
Meanwhile, the Ngami Times special representative who will be attending the opening rounds of the event says the Zebras are ready for COSAFA despite allegations of the matching fixing scandal involving China.
National team coach Stanley Tshosane says they have put that aside and are concentrating on the upcoming games.
At first when the news broke, it might have disturbed some players psychologically but I am proud that they overcame it and preparations went on smoothly without any doubt. The boys are ready and I am pleased, he said.
Tshosane says the prestigious event will afford players the perfect opportunity to gain experience of tournament play having been knocked out of the running for a place at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Zebras up against Bafana Bafana in Nations draw
Teams from the COSAFA region have learnt their fate as qualifying begins for the 2011 African Nations Championship to be held in Sudan.
The competition, which features only players who ply their trade in local Leagues, was first played in Cote d'Ivoire earlier this year, with the Democratic Republic of Congo running out inaugural winners as they beat Ghana in the final.
Teams will compete over two legs in a first qualifying round, with the winners advancing to the second round, where the victors will book their place in the finals from January 21 to February 10, 2011.
Botswana will play South Africa in their first round tie, with the winner taking on Zambia, which has a bye into the second round. Seychelles tackle Namibia, with the winner taking on either Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Madagascar will have it all to go against Angola, with the winner taking on Malawi or Mozambique for a place in the finals.
First round ties take place on the weekends of March 12-14 and March 26-28, 2010, with the second round ties on the weekends of May 21-23 and June 4-6, 2010.
What you will pay to see COSAFA Challenge
Ticket prices have been announced for the 2009 COSAFA Senior Challenge in Zimbabwe.
The tournament features the very best of Southern Africa's talent and will afford spectators the opportunity to see not only the finest talent but the stars of tomorrow in a two-week celebration of the region's football.
All countries in the COSAFA region will be participating except Madagascar, whose international schedule does not allow them to feature and with Zimbabwe gearing up to host the competition for the first time.
Matches will be played in Harare and Bulawayo. Entrance to games in the first round through to the third-fourth place play-off are priced at US$2 (about P16) for standard seating, US$5 (about P40) for seating in the wings area (apart from the quarterfinal between South Africa and Angola, as well as the semifinals and third-fourth place play-off, which will cost US$8 P64) and US$15 (P120) for the VIP area.
The final in Harare on November 1 will cost US$3 (P24) for standard entrance, US$10 (P80) for wings and US$15 (P120) for the VIP area.
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