Page2RRS

• 02 Nov 2009 12:24

  Edition 482 30 October - 5 November, 2009 Marching to get tested . . . Members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) making their way to the venue where the annual BDF HIV/AIDS campaign was held at the Maun Camp this week. Under this voluntary operation, code named Operation Survive and Thrive, the soldiers were tested for HIV/AIDS. The operation, a partnership between BDF and the United States Army, tests 6 000 soldiers across the country. Military HIV/AIDS campaign launched The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in partnership with the United States military has launched in Maun the annual HIV/AIDS campaign which is designed to make soldiers aware of their status. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Chris Wyatt, of the United States embassy Office of Security Cooperation in Gaborone, the campaign known as called Operation Survive & Thrive - is an annual, voluntary counseling and testing programme designed to make BDF soldiers aware of their HIV/AIDS status. “Its formal launch in Francistown was the first of several events scheduled to occur during a month-long campaign at all major BDF installations in Botswana, where the prevalence of HIV is among the highest worldwide,” he said. He also noted that the event, which has been running for the past three years, saw BDF surpassing its goal of testing 4 000 soldiers. This year they have raised the bar by increasing the target to 6 000 which equals half of the force's total strength. “The US Defence Department has been supporting HIV/AIDS awareness programmes in Africa since 1999. These allow African nations to more effectively participate in regional peacekeeping,” Wyatt said, adding that to help reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly among military members, the US Defence department and US. Africa Command (AFRICOM), through the U.S. Office of Security Cooperation at the embassy, contributes nearly US$2-million (about P16-million) annually in financial support to the BDF HIV/AIDS programme. KIDS SEE DAD BEATEN BY COPS ‘Eye-witnesses are lying' – Station Commander Children watched in horror as their father was last week brutally assaulted by police officers while they were waiting with him for their mother to finish work at Choppies Supermarket in Maun's New Mall. The police claimed the man was “waiting to rob Choppies.” According to reliable sources and eye-witnesses, the victim was accompanied by a friend who was driving him, and children aged 5 and 14, and a neighbour's child also aged 14. The car was parked near the store. His friend had gone to the nearby Engen filling station shop when two policemen, not in uniform, parked next to the car and started questioning the victim - who does not wanted to be identified until a court case takes place - about the owner and driver of the car. He then told them that the driver had gone to the shop and the officers, of which one was identified as an Inspector (name withheld), told the victim that they suspected he wanted to rob the supermarket. It is further alleged that the victim was surprised by what the police were saying and they immediately handcuffed him, and slapped him in the face and assaulted him. He struggled with the police as they continued assaulting him. The man called for help as the two officers shouted to security guards at bank ATM machines to assist them. The man's wife then emerged from the supermarket with other staff members and a crowd quickly gathered. She told the police the man was her husband and not a robber and also that he was waiting for her to finish work but they wouldn't listen and said the man was not cooperating and was resisting arrest. At that point the crowd threatened to mob the police as the officers did not want to listen and also shouted there was no reason to arrest him. All this time the children were watching and crying. They are currently receiving trauma counselling. The arrested man was placed into the car the two officers were using and taken to the police station where he was told to wait for officers who were on night shift. One special constable is said to have made a remark, saying “why can't we just take the man to Sehithwa cells” (where suspects are jailed as Maun police station holding cells have been declared unfit for occupation). Nine people who had witnessed the incident went to the police station to give statements about the man's innocence. They were all denied the opportunity to give statements. He was later released and told to come back the following day to make a statement. The next day, he came with eyewitnesses who testified before Maun police station commander Robson Maleka that the man was innocent and had been assaulted while he was waiting for his wife. According to the witnesses, Maleka told them that they were lying and further said that people “ hate his officers.'' The victim was then charged with common nuisance and resisting arrest and released without counselling being offered to his children and not taking him for medication. He was taken to the Delta Medical Clinic by his wife and is now on sick leave. The children are receiving trauma counselling at the offices of Women Against Rape. When asked about the incident, Maleka told The Ngami Times that the victim was not cooperative with police. He added that the man refused to give the police officers his identity and was suspected to be a robber. When asked about the injuries which the victim sustained, Maleka said every suspect who resisted arrest “suffered the consequences of the handcuffs.” He denied his juniors assaulted the man. Maleka said all the statements by eyewitnesses were not true and stood by his claim that his police officers did nothing wrong. “These guys are cruel and if they continue conducting themselves like this, they will end up killing someone,” said one eye witness. Another said he wondered whether the Commissioner of Police was aware of what his juniors can unleash on the public. Recently a Maun magistrate warned police not to “brutalise suspects.” It's away with the old and in with the new The North West, Ngamiland and Okavango constituencies have seen a dramatic change in the voting of councillors and members of parliament. The new council's first session will introduce many new faces - and some of the more familiar faces will not be in evidence. The new crop of councillors will also be faced with a mammoth task of electing the new council chairman and his deputy. At the moment it is the duty of the council secretary to act in his capacity to lead the house and at the full council sitting soon, he will be charged with the responsibility of leading the proceedings as well as maintaining order. Councillors are holding party caucus meetings where they will nominate members for particular positions. The departure of former NWD council chairman John Benn will also have a negative impact because besides being a respected member of society, he knew his job. Nothing stopped him from facing reality and sticking by principles, and he was well known for not taking sides. The Council has also lost a number of capable men such as Phillip Wright, Mbathera Ngundura, Kebalepile Nkwane and Gaditshwane Mmutle. Mmutle, popularly referred by fellow councillors as “senior councillor” had all that it took to be a leader. Despite the fact that he had been a councillor since 1966, Mmutle was known for his brilliant thinking and the fact that he was a good philosopher gained him recognition both in the district and outside. He stood his ground at council meetings and always had the last word whenever there was confusion or disagreements. He will be sorely missed in the new council. Mbathera Ngundura is also going to be missed. He lost at primary elections and has not been a very happy man ever since. He was vocal at council meetings and did not mince words when criticising officials, including government ministers. Phillip Wright decided to quit politics and concentrate on farming. His time at council was also well spent and he also did not take sides. Wright was noted for his careful study of the facts and faced reality whenever there was need. Kebalepile Nkwane always brought laughter to the House whenever he stood up to comment. This man liked converting his statements into parables. Unlike Wright, he was forced into retirement by old age. The House will over the next five years not be the same without some councillors . . . Members of Maun's Nhabe fitness club held a 12 kilometre sponsored walk over the weekend in preparation for the club's official launch which is scheduled for November 28 in Maun. The club, which comprises over 50 members came into existence in 2007 and is fully registered with the Registrar of Societies. According to the club chairman Captain Ishmael Dibebe, of the Botswana Defence Force, they are expecting groups of other fitness clubs from neighbouring countries to grace the occasion and share their expertise with members of his club. Dibebe also called on members of the public, both young and old to join the club in large numbers so as to keep their bodies fit. The walk was sponsored by Delta Stores, Midas and A-Z Hardware who donated refreshments Schoolgirl found dead, 3 others alive XHAKAO – A 7 year old girl who stays at the Remote Area Dwellers hostels in Xhakao and went missing on Friday October 23, has been found dead more than 20km away. The child was found dead on Wednesday after she had been missing for five days. According to Assistant Superintendent Size Malibala, of Shakawe Police, she decided to walk to her home village of Tobera, which is about 18km from the hostel. On the way she is suspected to have got lost and started moving away from her route. According to Malibala, search parties could not find the girl until on Wednesday when they found her body under a tree. He said it was suspected that she died on Monday from hunger, thirst and exhaustion. Meanwhile, three others also went missing this week from the same hostels. Malibala said that luckily the three were found alive at their respective home villages. He said police will tell hostel staff to take more care of the children and make sure they do not leave without the company of their parents. It has been revealed that following this incident, some parents are beginning to doubt the safety of the children at the hostels. Some are also said to be contemplating withdrawing their children. Xhakao hostels are under the RADs programme of the North West District Council (NWDC). These were built to accommodate children from very remote areas so they can be able to attend school and the council takes care of the children as in most cases their parents are not able to provide for them. While at the hostels, the children are supposed to be looked after by the matron, staff and security guards. NWDC public relations officer Wada Motsamai confirmed to The Ngami Times that a child was found dead after she went missing last week. Motsamai said they only received the information from the sub district on Thursday, adding “we really do not know what happened and we have sent a team of our officers to investigate.” Motsamai said it was sad that such an incident occurred while they have staff members at the hostels, adding that they have a security guard, a matron and a Boarding Master at the hostels who she said are supposed to take care of the children ‘Get loans from us', say CEDA By Molefi Manyepedza The chief executive officer of the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA), Dr Thapelo Matsheka has called on entrepreneurs to apply for business loans from them, saying CEDA has the lowest interests compared to commercial banks. Speaking at a customer service forum in Maun, Matsheka said people take loans from banks which charge them high interest rates whereas CEDA charges low interest with the repayment period longer than that of banks. “It is very easy to take a loan from CEDA and is not quite often that we need security,” he said. Matsheka added that with the current structure, his office will be monitoring businesses that were financed by CEDA and there will be no money that will be used in wrong areas instead of the business the money was applied for as many people did in the past structure. He said there are many different types of business ideas that can be explored by Batswana as to produce local goods and reduce imports, adding that CEDA has been restructured so as to include all businesses that individuals explore provided they will be able to pay back to the owner. “Producing goods for the country and even supplying across the boarder is a challenge for the producer to produce good quality, time of delivery and pricing of products have to be recognised,” he said. The deputy chief executive officer (Operations), Lorato Morapedi, said the main aim of the forums is to enable CEDA staff to interact with their customers and stakeholders, inform them about the improvements to the organisation and at the same time get feedback. She said CEDA is trying to satisfy its customers and also provide public satisfaction. She said CEDA with its current structure, has turned its customers into friends as CEDA staff often visit their businesses to see improvements that are carried out. Meanwhile, the managing director of Mosu Safari Tours, Oliver Madibela, said getting a loan from CEDA had never been easy and that he felt the reason many people go to commercial banks is because they are not happy with the service they get from CEDA. “Owning and running a safari company has never been an easy thing looking at the fact that most of local people do not travel,” he added. Moemedi Marks Maphane, of Delta Kanvas and Shoe Repair, said he has never seen CEDA staff visiting his business to see if there are any improvements taking place. Editor: Norman Chandler Editorial Comment: Bright Kholi Police must not be public enemies During the past two weeks Maun police have found themselves embroiled in two incidents which have left the public scared of the men and women who are supposed to protect lives and property. In the first incident, which we reported on in last week's edition, a man - stabbed with a knife by his former girlfriend - was neglected by officers when he was taken to the police station to report the matter. He was even told by a police sergeant that his wound was “not a serious one.” The police failed to arrest the culprit, failed to visit the scene of crime, and even failed to open a case against the culprit on the same day that the incident occurred. It was only after family members intervened that police took action - more than 24 hours later. In the second incident, which we carry in this edition, police officers on duty near a supermarket are alleged to have assaulted a man who was waiting to pick up his wife who was leaving her workplace. The man is said to have been in the company of his two children who witnessed how their father was beaten by the police. His sin: To wait for his wife who was knocking off work, and therefore it was suspected that he wanted to rob the supermarket. Most disturbing is the tendency by police to deny everything, even what they do in public. In both the two incidents, the senior police officers in Maun have denied any of these incidents took place. This has opened a debate as to whether the service is credible, transparent and honest. We call upon those responsible to seriously look into these incidents and do the honourable thing in order to save the good image of this organisation. We believe that the police are not above the law and therefore a few individuals cannot be allowed to drag the service into the mud. Trying to protect such perpetrators can only spell mistrust and fear of the police by the public which the police are meant to protect. It is common cause that the whole idea of missionaries was, and still is, to convert non-believers to, usually, the Christian faith. That's the way it has been in old Bechuanaland and new Botswana for more than 100 years. Moffat, Livingstone, Campbell, Mackenzie et al all spread the Word of God in this country without much hindrance as they went about their work in remote villages. Botswana has had legislation in place for many years that gave foreign church ministers the right to preach in our Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, Dutch Reformed, Zionist and other churches. These people did not have to apply for work permits in order to do so as they were given exemptions. Now, however, an earthly being seems to be busy interfering in God's work – telling His messengers they have to have a work permit if they wished to continue preaching the Lord's Message in Botswana. Don't for one minute think this is not true – foreign-born church ministers are receiving letters from the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs that they have to obtain work permits. The ruling is, apparently, according to Government Notice No. 70 of 2009. All organizations, including religious groups, must register with the government, a process that takes 4 to 6 months to complete. Sixty-nine religious groups registered from July 2006 to May 2007 and during this same period 256 religious groups began the process of registration but had their applications terminated after a failure to submit required forms, fees, or a constitution within 90 days, as the law mandates. No existing religious organisation was deregistered It is interesting that Labour and Home Affairs minister Peter Siele says the government “is moving with speed to contain the soaring incident of infighting currently engulfing churches across the country” and “some churches are not sacred places of worship anymore as some greedy people have turned them into money spinning entities, hence instability.” We have seen a few of these so-called church ministers at work in Ngamiland over the past few years so it does not come as a surprise to find work permits are being thoroughly screened to ensure that they operate within the confines of the permits. More than a decade ago Shuffle spent days in the middle of the Congo Republic watching South African farmers put down their roots in an alien land which they hoped to tame in order to raise crops far from their homeland. Now more than 2 000 South African farmers are getting ready to do so again, fearing a Zimbabwe-style land grab in their homeland, an action which will surely spill over into neighbouring territories. The 1990s effort was made possible by the Brazzaville government which invited the farmers to a little place called Dolisie – a one-time shining example of French colonial grandeur but by the time Shuffle reached there, much of the glitter had disappeared in the dirt and squalor of a land unable to see light at the end of the tunnel. The French colonialists had long fled – most will remember the upheavals in the old Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and across the river in what was called “French Congo.” Dolisie was chosen as the starting off point because it was ideally situated for the farmers to cross the mountains to fertile land that had once been farmed by the French. The “roads” were, and still are, increasingly bumpy until they disintegrate into sloshing mud lakes in the rain, and hard-set ridges with potholes of several metres deep feet after the rain (and we are concerned about the Nata-Pandamatenga road!!). Getting to Dolisie was an adventure in itself. A flight to Brazzaville, then to Point Noire on the Atlantic coast and then back into the hinterland aboard a rickety and very old Russian Antonov. Coming into land at the “airport”, the pilot buzzed the strip to get stray cattle of it and landed reasonably well. A very old taxi was waiting to pick up passengers to be taken to the only hotel in town – a truly French-style building with the biggest bedrooms (chambers) one can imagine. The end of the world is nigh. Heard that one before? This time it seems that the Maya calendar, long regarded for its accuracy, is saying that doomsday is December 21, 2012. Jeepers, that's two years away and people are getting nervous. A significant time period for the Mayas does end on the date, and enthusiasts have found a series of astronomical alignments they say coincide in 2012, including one that happens roughly only once every 25 800 years. But most archaeologists, astronomers and the remaining Maya say the only thing likely to hit earth is a meteor shower of New Age philosophy, pop astronomy, Internet doomsday rumours and TV specials. It may sound all too much like other doomsday scenarios of recent decades but this one has some grain of archaeological basis. One of them is Monument Six. Found at an obscure ruin in southern Mexico during road construction in the 1960s, the stone tablet [is] unique in that it contains the equivalent of the date 2012. The inscription describes something that is supposed to occur in 2012 but archaeologist Guillermo Bernal, of Mexico's National Autonomous University, notes there are other inscriptions at Mayan sites for dates far beyond 2012 — including one that roughly translates into the year 4772. Whatever the case, the Makgadikgadi pans seem a good place in which to cower as fire and brimstone engulf us in 2012. Schoolboy held for catching tortoise Wildlife scouts and police took a 15-year-old Maun schoolboy into custody on Sunday for catching a tortoise in the Thamalakane River. He was fishing downstream at the time. The boy told police he was from a poor family “and was hungry.” He said that he had gone to the river to check fishing nets but found that only a tortoise had been caught in the nets – “I decided to take it home to show my sisters and then kill it so that we could having something to eat,” he said. Police cautioned the boy for unlawful capture of protected species of wildlife. Police returned the tortoise to the river. All-out effort to stop damage by elephants With increases in both human and elephant populations and consequent range expansion, escalating reports of Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) and negative attitudes towards elephants, as a result, are apparent. Many local communities are suffering from crop loss, property damage, fear of walking to work/school, and even human deaths due to living in close proximity with elephants. While elephants are afflicted with habitat destruction and/or fragmentation, reduction in home range, loss of natural resources (food, water & shelter) and threat to their lives through hunting and problem animal control. HEC poses one of the most serious challenges to wildlife management throughout Botswana and there is a pressing need to establish effective mitigation strategies to help reduce this conflict. In light of this, Conservation International (CI) recently funded two training workshops for farmers in the eastern Okavango Panhandle and Chobe Enclave. The purpose was to discuss current methods and teach new methods of community based human-elephant conflict mitigation and the use of chilli pepper to deter elephants from agricultural fields. The first at Gunotsoga attracted farmers from Beetsha, Eretsha and Gunotsoga as well as human-elephant conflict enumerators from 10 different villages employed by the Okavango Elephants and People Research Project (OEPRP). The second workshop was held at Parakarungu with Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) representatives from Namibia attending. Officers from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) were present at both workshops. Elephant Pepper Development Trust (EPDT), from Zambia, carried out the training and OEPRP facilitated the workshops. The DWNP were influential in organizing and facilitating these workshops and assisting in supplying farmers with equipment starter packs. The workshops initiated the training and chilli pepper trials that the DWNP is encouraging on a countrywide scale to try and reduce the amount of damage afflicted by elephants to crops. The chilli pepper methods taught rely on the fact that elephants have a highly sensitive olfactory system and therefore chilli peppers can cause them considerable discomfort. Dry chilli pepper can be ground to a fine powder and mixed with old engine oil. The mixture is then smeared on bits of cloth and hung on fences, and also smeared on the string itself. The cloth deters the elephants from touching the fence. Chilli seeds can also be crushed and mixed with elephant dung to make bricks, which are then burnt outside the field to produce a strong smelling cloud of chilli smoke, which again acts as a deterrent. Farmers were also taught the necessary skills required to plant and propagate chilli pepper plants in their fields and act as a buffer crop to help reduce damage to subsistence crops. Straight talking to get things moving The Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Works and Transport, Carter Morupisi, has lost no time in telling staff to get on with the job at hand. He was addressing staff on President Ian Khama's decision to add an extra “D” for Delivery to the initial 4 Ds of Democracy, Dignity, Discipline and Development. This means that there is now more emphasis on service delivery than ever before, reminding them of their duty to serve as civil servants. Morupisi said all public servants should embrace and abide by quality public service delivery. He highlighted issues that contribute to the Ministry's poor performance such as public accounts committee matters, late responses to queries, poor recruitment ethics, lack of information sharing, corruption and usage of government resources, including time, for personal gains. He urged the staff to start pulling together in the same direction in order to improve performance above the stipulated minimum performance level. Staff members replied by saying problem areas included lack of progression and equipment. The ministry of Works and Transport has been changed to that of Infrastructure, Science and Technology comprising of Buildings and Engineering Services, Radiation, and Research departments while the bulk of the former departments like such as Roads, Road Transport and Safety and Central Transport Organization are now part of the former Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology, now known as the Ministry of Transport and Communications, which has other departments such as Telecommunications and Postal Services and that of Information and Technology under its wing. ‘Don't burn your fingers – check out those policies' By The Underwriter The recent big fire in Maun has focused interest on insurance matters. There are at least two major issues which should be taken into consideration when one has been unfortunate enough to have experienced a fire in ones premises - if we have been prudent enough to take out insurance in the first place. The questions to be asked are: “Am I adequately insured is my sum insured correct?”; “Can my business continue to operate and thrive now that the premises and stock have been destroyed?” We have all heard of the term “underinsurance”. It is a far too common scenario, which is nevertheless avoidable and a brief explanation of how insurance works will hopefully assist in determining your own situation. Most insurance policies covering assets contain what is known as the “average” clause. This means, in effect, that the insurance company will pay out the same proportion of any claim that the sum insured under the policy represents to the total value at risk. An example is a house valued at P1 000 000. You have insured it (the “Sum Insured”), however, for only P500, 000. So 50% of the value. Should you have any claim, no matter how big or how small, the insurer will only pay you 50% of your loss accordingly. You will therefore see it is false economy to insure for less than the value of your assets as although you will think you are saving money, when that loss occurs for which you have taken out insurance in the first place, the amount you may get back after the incident will be less than you have anticipated. Let's take this further. The example gives a house value of P1 000 000. That may be the value on the renewal date of your policy. Property values appreciate. This time next year the property may be worth another, say 10%, so P1 100 000. If a claim occurs 11 months after renewal date and the sum insured has not changed then again Average may apply. Always ensure the Sum Insured under the policy reflects the actual value, in 12 months time, not necessarily the value today. Instruct your insurance company or your broker, to include the escalation clause on your policy. This provides for an automatic increase in your sum insured, on a daily basis. At renewal date the new, increased, Sum Insured will be covered, taking care of the problem. The premium will have increased, too, of course. A Fire policy covers damage to assets. It does not cover any consequential loss, loss of profits or business interruption costs. Only 30% of businesses worldwide effect Business Interruption policies. Significant numbers of businesses fail by not having a Business Interruption Policy. Depending upon the nature of your enterprise, you may not be able to operate: you may not be able to open for business: existing orders may be destroyed so you cannot deliver: You will have your normal overheads, staff costs, utilities: VAT costs and PAYE. Customers may well have to seek alternative suppliers and it will take you a very long time to get back to the situation you were in before the unfortunate event occurred. Without adequate Business Interruption insurance you may never recover! It is not expensive and provides real peace of mind should a loss occur. Even if you only run a small office, you will be incurring Increased Cost of Working expenses alternative temporary accommodation, hiring equipment to enable you to continue in business, to mitigate any losses, until you are operating at the same level as prior to the event. You may own a building in which there are/were tenants. Clearly you would lose this rental income if the premises are destroyed or damaged. You may be a tenant yourself. You will be similarly affected. Don't underestimate the losses you could incur if you are not adequately insured. Don't wait until you have a fire or other loss! Dig out your policies now and make sure all is in order! Or contact your broker or insurer for immediate advice and assistance! Land applicants take Board to task By Keagisitswe Dioka and Gaolebogwe Moipei About twenty local residents are accusing the Tawana Land Board of unfair allocation of land following a decision to allocate land to a certain individual even though people have been denied the same property under the pretext that it was a government plot. According to the complainants, they want an explanation from the Sub Land board about the procedures which were followed when allocating a land to that particular person while they were turned down since 1998. Early this year, while complainants had given up hope that no one would be allocated the land, a land board employee, accompanied by other people, measured the land and gave it to someone. The residents then called police to assist and were advised to go to the Tawana Land Board for an explanation. They were also shown a map which also indicated that the land which was given to that particular person was reserved for government developments. Residents also wanted the person who had been allocated the land to tell who had done so. Land Board officials replied negatively. According to the complainants they were turned down by a senior officer at Maun Sub Land board, a person known as Mhapha, who said it would take five years to investigate the matter “and also that the person who was allocated the land does not owe them any explanation.'' They became suspicious that the person who was allocated the land is being favoured and went to the main Land Board where they met Board secretary, Nickson Mogapi, who told them that he would investigate. When the complainants returned to hear the outcome, they were surprised to hear Mogapi say “preliminary investigations show that the land was transferred from another person.” They also said the land certificate issued to the person showed that he was allocated two plots at Boseja and at Disaneng ward on the same day. This further raised their suspicions. The residents said they are very disappointed on how things are done. They said they were told by the land board authorities that there is no way a plot can be transferred to someone without any developments. During a meeting with Mogapi this week, residents said he told them that he had not visited the area since they had raised the complaint earlier this year. They told him that they suspected that only those who are rich are taken into consideration rather than the poor, and stressed that if there wasn't any discrimination, the board could have stopped the person from developing the land. Mogapi told them it will “depend upon the circumstances on the plot when it is transferred”, citing as an example that when someone cannot afford to develop the plot he can transfer it to someone without any developments.” Residents told Mogapi they were not happy about how the matter was handled and said they would take the matter further. Impressive Zebras rattle Zimbabwe From Tirivhanu Mangwiro - The senior national soccer team, the Zebras, gave had an impressive exhibition of football show but failed to hold on as they conceded a late strike from Zimbabwean midfielder Mthulisi Maphosa who scrambled his side into the semi-finals of the COSAFA Senior Challenge. It was a lucky goal in the 88th minute at Barbourfields Stadium on Monday. The Zebras had come out the best in a pool which included the Comoros, Swaziland and the Seychelles. They drew against the Comoros before silencing Swaziland and Seychelles. Their three games without a loss and conceding a goal made them one of the shock sides of the regional tournament. Monday's game was destined to a penalty shootout and they were two minutes away when they conceded a corner kick that resulted in a goal that broke the hearts of the nation. The stadium was filled to capacity, with more than 20 000 spectators to witness one of the crunch matches to be played in this tournament. The home team was favourites and they had the idea of easily beating Botswana, but in turned out to be a nightmare as the Zebras silenced the crowd with their attacking style of play. Zimbabwe started off at a high pace and regularly invaded the Zebras penalty area, but it was not easy to find the back of the net as South African-based goalkeeper Noah Maposa kept the Zebras in the game. In the 7 th minute, Botswana was denied a penalty by referee Martins de Carvlho Helder, of Angola, after match winner Pontsho Moloi was brought down in the penalty box by Zimbabwean defender Gilbert Mapemba. As the game turned into a seesaw, both sides created numerous chances which were squandered by the strikers. Botswana allowed the Zimbabweans to play around the ball, but they were shut down by the hardworking Michael Mogaladi and Ofentse Nato who combined well to pin down their opponents. A chance for the home side went begging in the 25th minute when presented with a chance to lob the ball over the drawn-out Botswana goalkeeper who was agile enough to collect it. Immediately Botswana went on a counter-attack with the troublesome Moloi firing a cracker from 30m and which Zimbabwean goal minder Edmore Sibanda did well to get his fingers to, forcing the ball to crash against the bar. Towards the end of the first half, Zimbabwe had another chance. Evans Gwekwerere had his effort missing the target from a tight angle in the 41st minute. After the break, Botswana were first to try their luck at goal through bulky Onaletha Tshekiso who had got the better of Daniel Veremu and Gilbert Mapemba but his hard shot missed the target. A minute later Moloi forced a good save off Zimbabwe's goalkeeper. In a rare incident in which the Botswana captain put his foot wrong, Thuma miscalculated a centre from the right, gifting Malajila with a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper in the 62nd minute but the striker scooped the ball over the goal. The heartbreaking moment for Botswana came as Zimbabwe won a corner in the 88th minute, and Tafadzwa Rusike took the responsibility, smashing his curling effort against the woodwork. From the ensuing commotion as the hosts battled to clear the line, Maphosa pushed the ball over the goal line to put Zimbabwe firmly on course for a semi-final tie against South Africa in Harare. Stanley Tshosane, the Botswana coach, said he was happy with the way his boys had performed. “and we are now looking forward to maintain the same squad for the next competitions” Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambwa admitted Botswana had given them a torrid time all afternoon. “It was a very tight game, Botswana surprised me, they put up a good show,” said Chidzambwa. Teams: Zimbabwe: E Sibanda, M Maphosa, A Nhongo, M Mwanjali, D Veremu, C Semakweri, T Kamusoko, M Maphosa, E Gwekwerere (P Marufu 46th minute), G Mapemba, T Rusike, C Malajila. Botswana: N Maphosa, N Letsholathebe, Mmusa Ohilwe, M Thuma, P Moloi, O Nato, O Tshekiso (M Mosimanyana 86th minute), M Moatlhaping, M Bolelang (M Mokgathi 63rd minute), O Ntesa, M Mogaladi Zimbabwe leading goal-scorers in COSAFA event Zimbabwean Cuthbert Malajila heads the goal-scorers list at the 2009 COSAFA Senior Challenge going into the semifinals matches. The Dynamos star netted a brace against Mauritius and one more in the 2-2 Group A draw with Lesotho to head the charts with three goals. He is followed by Thabiso Maile (Lesotho) and Mathokoza Thwala (Swaziland) on two goals each. There are 18 on one goal, with the likes of Josemar Machaisse (Mozambique), Lennox Bacala, Oupa Manyisa (both South Africa) and Stopilla Sunzu (Zambia) all looking to add to their tallies in the competition. In total, there have been 25 goals scored in the 13 matches to date. Rollers on a roll against Notwane - In a pulsating Be Mobile league encounter played at the UB Stadium, Township Rollers breezed past a young Notwane outfit and in the process climbed to the top of the leader board via a 3-2 scoreline. Rahman Gumbo's boys have played creative and supremely entertaining football with an overriding concern of scoring more than the opposition. However, it was not plain sailing as Notwane's “Young Turks” pushed the champions-elect all the way and in a furious first half Pako Moloi failed to give his team the lead when he broke through. Moloi was at it again when he dribbled past Kabelo Dambe in Rollers' goals and elected to shoot with two teammates screaming for the ball. Rollers had fewer chances but, admittedly, more gilt-edged than those of Notwane. Tebogo Mothusi failed to put away a glorious chance as Botlhe Moralo parried his attempt for a corner. Rollers took the lead as the first half drew to a close through Terence Mandaza when he benefitted from a weak backpass to wrong foot Moralo for the first goal. Deep into injury time Moloi redeemed himself as Dambe failed to collect an aerial ball and the former headed past the bewildered keeper to restore parity. The second half proved to be a totally different story as Rollers scored two quick goals from outside the area through Amos ‘Shoes' Godirwang and Mandaza. Notwane lost the plot as they kept pumping high, hopeful balls to their attackers. It was an insult as Rollers has two of the tallest defenders in the league in Oscar Ncenga and Itayi Gwandu. A late rally resulted in a goal by substitute Michael Bulaya but it was too little, too late. In other games Uniao Flamengo Santos drew 4-4 with Boteti Young Fighters while Nico United disposed of Jwaneng Comets with a 4-2 scoreline. Ecco City Greens defeated BMC FC 3-0. Mochudi Centre Chiefs defeated Extension Gunners 2-1 while Tafic handed Motlakase Power Dynamos yet another defeat with a 2-0 scoreline. Police XI romped home 3-0 against Killer Giants.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 27 Oct 2009 20:37

  Edition 481 23 - 30 October, 2009 Meet your representatives in Parliament These are the faces that will be representing the North West and Chobe regions in Parliament for the next five years. These men (from left to right) Taolo Habano (BAM –Ngami), Tawana Moremi (BDP-Maun West), Gibson Nshimwe (BCP-Chobe), Bagalatia Arone (BCP-Okavango) and Frank Ramsden (BDP-Maun East) won their seats in the general elections held on Friday to become Members of Parliament and serve for the next 5 years. In snap interviews, Nshimwe said he was happy with the victory and promised to work with the entire Chobe community. He also said it is important that they make sure that NDP 10 is carried out. Tawana Moremi also said he was happy with the results, adding that he was taking Maun West's grievances to Parliament. He also noted that he will spend his first day in Parliament “learning the Standing Orders.” Habano said he was confident and prepared to join the 10 th parliament to represent the people of Ngami. He had entered politics 5 months before the 2004 general elections in which his party won 4 wards - “I had a passion for politics and I did not give up. I started campaigning again immediately after losing against (Jacob) Nkate in 2004 until managing to beat him.” The only familiar face from this area in parliament is Frank Ramsden, who has now been appointed Minister of Transport and Communications. They have joined 56 other elected MPs, including four specially elected MPs for the swearing in ceremony, endorsing the Vice President, electing the Speaker and electing parliamentary committees. The four specially elected MPs are Kenneth Mathambo, Dorcus Makgatho-Malesu, Vincent Seretse and Lesego Motsumi. History was also made when, for the first time, a woman was elected Speaker of the national assembly. Margaret Nasha was elected and will be assisted by the MP for Tonota South, Pono Moathodi. WOMAN STABS SLEEPING EX-LOVER By Staff Reporters A knife-wielding woman waited until her former boyfriend, and father of her 4-year-old child, was asleep on Sunday morning before allegedly stabbing him in the stomach with a knife. The man survived a second attack by grabbing the knife from her hands, in the process receiving cuts to his hands. The woman, a shop worker, has been arrested by the police. The ex-boyfriend, a taxi driver, has been operated on at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital in Maun and is said to be in a satisfactory condition. It has been established that the couple fought last month when she bit him on an arm. The police were called at the time and advised the two to separate. Last Saturday, the woman apparently went to the man's house at Newtown, found that he was not there and then went to a shop to buy a spare key for his room. She went back to the house and waited inside for him to return. When the man arrived, he asked her what was the problem and what she was doing in his house. The two then started quarrelling and later the man decided to sleep, leaving the woman awake. It was while he was sleeping that she allegedly stabbed him with a knife in the stomach. He woke up and avoided a second stabbing by grabbing the knife with his hands and in the process being wounded further. He then managed to get out of the room to shout for help from neighbours, and went to the landlord where he asked her to take him to the police and to hospital. By this time the ex-lover had run off. The police were called but they did not respond, so the victim went to the police station to report the incident. He was told by a police officer on duty that the stab wound “was not a serious one.” He then went to the hospital where he was admitted and the next day underwent an operation. The woman was arrested and detained for a day before being released pending investigations into the matter. Maun police station commander Robson Maleka confirmed the incident and revealed that the man was at Letsholathebe II Memorial with serious wounds. He said he had no knowledge of the remark allegedly made by the police officer on duty. The names of the two have not been revealed as investigations are ongoing. Okavango Basin under the spotlight By Bright Kholi The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) through its Secretariat which is based in Maun this week held an open house event to familiarise the community and other stakeholders of its office and members of staff. Speaking at the event, the Executive secretary of OKACOM, Eben Chonguica, said that it was important that people know about the operations of OKACOM, especially its secretariat which manages all the decisions of the organisations. He noted that OKACOM was established in 1994 by the governments of Botswana, Angola and Namibia to “manage the water and land resources of the Okavango River Basin in a trans-boundary manner.” Chonguica also said that the project is ambitious - a well deserved one adding that its biggest challenge is to manage these resources at a trans-boundary manner as most activities related to resource management are at national level in all the three states. “The objective of the commission is to act as the technical advisor to the contracting parties on matters of common interest relating to the conservation, development and utilisation of water resources in the Okavango River Basin,” he said. The OKACOM Secretariat office was launched in February 2008 and Botswana is the first host of the secretariat. The country coordinator of the BiOkavango Project, Nkobi Moleele, said the most important message was the Botswana is hosting an important regional institution that is leading the way in sharing responsibility for wise management of “what is perhaps that region's most significant natural resource, the Okavango River.” He said BiOkavango's aim is to remove barriers to effective biodiversity conservation practices in the major production sectors in the Delta which are water, tourism and fisheries. “All these sectors are dependant on ecological services and goods provided by the Okavango wetland system, which has its origins in the highlands of Angola and traverse through Namibia and which is affected be all the landscapes the river passes through on its way to us,” he said. He said what they learn at BiOkavango can be shared with neighbouring governments of Angola and Namibia through OKACOM - “so the three countries can put best practices to work for the river and its communities. We are proud to be part of this international learning process,” he said. INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY KHAMA Excerpts from the Inaugural Address given by President Ian Khama following his election as President of Botswana I wish to congratulate all members of Parliament and Councillors across party lines for their success. Whilst one party may have faired better than others, the overall outcome is more important, as it reflects the will of the people. We are united in our knowledge that our collective aspirations and destiny as a people are far greater than the individual differences we have at party political level. Team work and collaboration will be crucial if we are to deliver to the expectations of Batswana. We must use this opportunity to count our blessings, and remember that many societies find peace and stability elusive which we take for granted; that horrendous atrocities have fallen upon many countries; and that economic ruin has resulted from poor governance which places sectarian interests ahead of national interest. We must forever remain vigilant and guard our treasure of democracy jealously. When I took office in April 2008, I enumerated some of the challenges which lie ahead, and my resolve to harness our collective energies and capacities to overcome them. These challenges, namely, unemployment, poverty, crime, HIV and AIDS, shortage of shelter, declining social values, environmental degradation and global competition remain valid today. I am happy to report that we have put in place a number of policies, programmes and projects, measures and initiatives to tackle most if not all of them and will continue to do so in the coming term. These measures cover a whole range of the development agenda. Particular attention will also be paid to agriculture, education and skills development, health, housing, youth empowerment, sports, the arts, diversification and sustainable use of resources. I remain committed to turning around the agricultural sector, such that production levels of both livestock and crops is increased significantly. Through commercialisation of areas where we have comparative advantage, provision of infrastructure, as well as facilitation of credit, the agricultural sectors' contribution to GDP as well as our food security should improve. Human resource development remains critical. Through our education and skills development policies and programmes, issues of access, quality and equity will continue to be addressed. This is necessary to meet our current and future needs, and for international competitiveness . . . closely related to the development of our skills base is the need to move with speed into a knowledge society. We have long recognised that the diversification of the economy both within the minerals sector and beyond is a key strategy for our future survival. It is for this reason that considerable investment will continue to go into mineral beneficiation, infrastructure development in all sectors including transport, energy and water. The combined effect of our investments in the various sectors will be job creation as well as poverty alleviation. In this regard, I have decided as I did with employment creation which is coordinated from my office by the Vice President that our poverty eradication strategy will also likewise be co-ordinated from the Office of the President by the Vice President to ensure we maximize the impact of our various programmes and policies towards the goal of bringing about dignity for those living in poverty. The Youth are our future. Consequently investment in sports, the arts and youth empowerment schemes will remain a key part of our development agenda.For us to make notable progress, everyone in the public service, the private sector, in every office, mine, farm, masimo, moraka - must all give their best. Every student and teacher must remember that a moment lost relegates us to the bottom of the skills and knowledge hierarchy. Every artist and every sportsperson should strive to be the very best. One of our pivotal aspirations is to create a Compassionate, Just and Caring nation, a key tenet of which is dignified living. This aspiration is driven by our respect for human life. Our health care system, poverty alleviation measures, support for the young, the elderly, people with disabilities, as well as orphans, will be driven in this term by this value system. We preach mindset change to the nation. This ranges from improvement in the nations work ethic, for better productivity and thus improved Delivery, prudent use of our scarce resources and elimination of waste, to the acceptance that no nation is self-sufficient in all areas. In this regard, both foreign capital and foreign skills which are complimentary to our own resources will continue to be welcome. While optimistic about our future, I remain conscious of the challenges brought on by the Global Financial Crisis. In this connection, the private sector must redouble its efforts in a spirit of partnership with government to grow the economy. Let me reiterate that I, as I am sure all of you do, hold dearly the principles and values of democracy and freedom. Adherence to these values allows participation and ownership by our people in the creation of a common destiny. These ideals inform our foreign policy, as we desire for others what we desire for ourselves. We will work with our SADC colleagues to ensure that these ideals become a culture in our region and the continent as a whole. Let me remind the nation at large that everyone must be ready to be held accountable. We need to rekindle our spirit of self-reliance. Like it or not, self-reliance is an issue of willpower and pride, and it requires discipline to stay the course. Our conduct must also be beyond reproach. The new Cabinet PRESIDENT Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama   VICE PRESIDENT Lt. Gen. Mompati S. Merafhe   ATTORNEY GENERAL Athaliah Molokomme (ex officio)   SECRETARY TO CABINET Eric Molale - Permanent Secretary to the President (ex officio)   PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS and PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Lesego E. Motsumi. Assistant Minister - Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi   DEFENCE, JUSTICE and SECURITY Dikgakgamatso R. Seretse   FOREIGN AFFAIRS and INTERNATIONAL Phandu T.C. Skelemani - Minister   FINANCE and DEVELOPMENT Kenneth O. Matambo. Assistant Minister - Charles Mbiganyi Tibone   INFRASTRUCTURE, SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY Johnnie K. Swartz   LANDS and HOUSING Hon. Nonofo E. Molefi   LABOUR and HOME AFFAIRS Peter L. Siele   YOUTH, SPORTS and CULTURE Shaw Kgathi - Minister   TRADE and INDUSTRY Baledzi G. Gaolathe. Assistant Minister - Dorcus Makgato-Malesu   LOCAL GOVERNMENT Lebonamang T. Mokalake. Assistant Ministers - Botlogile Mogogo Tshireletso and Kentse Rammidi   AGRICULTURE Christiaan De Graaff. Assistant Minister - Oreeditse Molebatsi   TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS Frank Ramsden - Minister   MINERALS, ENERGY and WATER RESOURCES Ponatshego H. Kedikilwe   EDUCATION and SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi. Assistant Minister - Keletso Joseph Rakhudu   ENVIRONMENT, WILDLIFE and TOURISM Kitso Onkokame Mokaila   HEALTH John Seakgosing. Assistant Minister - Maxwell Motowane   Councillors who have won seats Chobe District Council Kasane Plateau : Elson Kamwi Samunzala Kasane Central : Chifu S. Munihango Pandamatenga : Jeffery Masa Chobe Enclave East : Bobbie Setlhare Chobe Enclave West : Mwanota Kachana Kazungula/Lesoma : Babaoloki Npebe Mababe/Sankuyo : Mika Thoromo Khwai/Savuti : Kebadiretse Ntsogoto North West District Council Etsha 13 : Dikoro Kahupa Etsha 6 : Gilbert Dithinde Makgobokgobo : Kitso Ngande Tubu : Mpoke Karapo Gumare North : Motlamedi Moqhwa Gumare South : Letshabamang Morulaganye Qangwa : Lefetogile Nxowe Nokaneng : Latlhang Molonda Tsau : Allen Sokwe Kareng : Lekopanye Ledimo Sehithwa : Lucky Phaladi Bodibeng/Bothatogo : Managoba Managoba Toteng : Kgothagano Motsamai Nxauxau/Xaudum : Samson Mauano Shakawe West/Gani : Timothy Sehanze Shakawe East : Kavetu Kangumbe Nxamasere : Segopo Pompong Sepopa/Ikoga : Botshelo Mapa Kauxwi : Senyemba Mohago Timothy Ngarange : Moheto Nyumba Seronga : Kotongwa Saoqho Gunotsoga/Beetsha : Sekondeko Maswabi Gudiqwa/Vumbura : Olatotswe Sarefo Thamalakane South : Benn Jemiah Thamalakane North : Bethia Clement Tebogo Sedie : Kaukapita Selebine Matlapana : Mosika Tapoloso Boseja East : Kgari Baphuthuludi Boseja West : Moreti Vepauine Makalamabedi North : Sekuni Selebatso Geofrey Makalamabedi South : Mogalakwe Moetetsi Shorobe : Chaba Odirile Sam Komana : Morolong Mosimanyana Thitoyamokodi : Modiegi Mmoedi Kubung : Monyame Pelokgale Kgosing : Mhapha Galaletsang Boyei : Morapedi Obonya Botshabelo : Ramasu Botshelobokae Maun's two parliamentary victors were early arrivals at polling booths in Maun East and Maun West, respectively, last Friday. These pictures show new Minister of Transport and Communications, Frank Ramsden, and new MP, Tawana Moremi, in buoyant mood (Pictures: Bright Kholi) The state of the parties Compared to Sunday's figures there was a downward shift in the Botswana congress Party (BCP) vote, leaving them with just over 20% of the total votes obtained. The Botswana National Front (BNF) obtained just over 22%.   Constituency/Party BDP BNF BCP/BAM BPP MELS Indep. Total vote by party* 290,398 124792 110471 7557 292 10521 Total vote % by party 53.3% 22.9% 20.3% 1.4% .0% 1.9% Total number of seats 45 6 5 - - 1 *Total number of votes cast 544,031 EDITORIAL Khama to change the nation's mindset The results of the general election have certainly given President Ian Khama something to think about – and in some respects he has moved fast to implement solutions to problem areas. Delivery is now one of the “D's” which has characterised his administration to date. The others are Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline. It is no coincidence that he has taken a number of key government activities under his wing – the Office of the President is now responsible for information and broadcasting, poverty reduction, disability coordination, and public service reforms. Up until now these have been haphazard affairs with “shoot from the hip” and “knee jerk” solutions put forward. An example of the information and broadcasting situation has been clear for all to see since Friday's election – amateurism in front of the camera and behind the microphone, incorrect election results being broadcast, poor television coverage of the general election and poor TV transmissions (particularly news broadcasts on Tuesday). Reform of the public service in all its departments is well overdue and it will be interesting to see how the government intends cracking the whip in this regard. The President says the nation in general has to change its mindset – he is right. He has himself come across many incidents of public servants literally falling down on the job. He has toured the country since last April asking questions, the answers to some of which are now coming to the fore as he makes it clear Batswana will jump to his tune in the years ahead Elections have a habit of throwing up odds and ends that make a newspaperman's life such fun – or boring. This time it fell to Botswana Television to make fools of themselves by announcing several wrong results, by so doing throwing families and friends into the depths of despair only to find that what was said was the exact opposite of what actually took place. It happened to the Ramsden family in Maun on Saturday as the TV announcer blithely announced Frank Ramsden, assistant minister of Works and Transport in the former government had been beaten in the Maun East constituency. Everybody found it hard to believe but it took the TV station, to which most of Botswana's population was tuned in to, hours to rectify the mistake. The same thing happened to foreign minister Phandu Skelemani who was also said to have received a drubbing in his consultancy. Nope, that was not the case! In addition, the country was kept guessing as to whether Jacob Nkate, of the Ngami constituency, had kept his hold on the Ngami seat. He certainly did not although the “Sunday Standard” trumpeted “BDP strongman Jacob Nkate also had no trouble retaining his Ngami constituency as he beat his challengers hands down”. Whoops! Nkate was bundled out by 271 votes by his Botswana Congress Party opponent. The secret of course is to get it right the first time as the broadcaster (or newspaper for that matter) will have egg on his or her face for years to come. The Ngami Times gets to all sorts of places – if it's not read on-line by a bored weather forecaster in the Antarctic or by someone in Mongolia, then it is read while sitting on one of Namibia's magical sand dunes. Local resident Henk Mieiras was at remote Sossie's Vlei in Namibia recently when he decided it was time to read the real thing – he unfolded his copy of The Ngami Times to catch up on the latest news from home. Here he is pictured sitting comfortably on the sand with his favourite newspaper! Here's something of interest for all our readers This information was in “The New York Times” several weeks ago as part of their “Spotlight on the Home” series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains vitamins B1, B2,B3,B5 and B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B vitamins and carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?  Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing fragrance.Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool this summer?  Works great on wrinkles too!!! Want to avoid a terrible headache?  Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.  Need to fix a squeaky hinge?  Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone! Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa?  Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress. Using a pen and made a mistake?  Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!! Many went to polling stations Blurb Election reports by Bright Kholi, Gaolebogwe Moipei, Keagisitswe Dioka, Basadi Morokotso Residents of Maun and surrounding areas went to the polling stations in larges numbers on October 16 to cast their votes in the general election. Many polling stations were had long queues as early as 6 am and some voters told The Ngami Times that they started queuing between 2 and 3 am. All the polling stations opened at 6.30 am, and at that time there were long queues which unfortunately were not helped by the slow pace at which voters were being helped. The process was slow in most stations but got better as the day progressed. However in areas like Kgantshang and Dikgathong, polling stations did not have long queues in the late morning as voters trickled in to those areas. In Shakwa kgotla, which falls in the Kubung Ward,three parties were represented for both parliamentary and council. Members of the public expressed concern over long queues as they were standing in the hot sun, and they complained that the presiding officers were slow – resulting in long queues. At Shakwa kgotla and other polling stations some voters had a problem in that the voter's roll did not show the same names that were shown on the election blue card and the presiding officer had to confirm names with returning officers – causing further delays. Many elderly people and disabled people voted, so presiding officers had to help them cast their votes. At Shakwa, for instance, the last person to cast his vote arrived at the station at around 18:57 pm. That is three minutes before closing time. Around 6 pm, voters continued to trickle in – an indication that many had voted during the morning and during lunch. At exactly 7pm the gates were closed, and the presiding officers started counting the ballot papers used, unused ballots were gathered together, and they packed up everything used during the day. The boxes were then transported to counting centres. At Boyei Primary School, in Maun West, voters appeared to be eager to vote as there over 150 people outside the polling station by 6 am. The voting process then made things worse as it was very slow, which led to some people losing patience. By lunch time the queue had reduced but there were those who came in drunk and wanted to jump the queue. Numbers started reducing dramatically in the afternoon while at Thogoyatonki Tent, in Maun East, there was concern about the delay caused by presiding officers. They told The Ngami Times while they were still patiently for voters that they woke up as early as 3am in the hope that they would finish on time. There were more than 300 voters waiting when the polling station opened at 6.30am. They also said they expected presiding officers to take the names of the first people in order to avoid the delay when starting. What they expected also was for the IEC to teach people on how to vote as time and again they were asking those who had already finished voting about the symbols of parties and how to vote. Meanwhile, in Shorobe, things were going on well when The Ngami Times visited Shorobe Primary School polling station at 1pm. There were a few people queuing and this indicated that many people had voted early in the morning. Man, boy drown in the river Maun police are investigating two more cases of drowning in the Thamalakane River. A middle-aged man, said to be a refugee at Dukwi, and a 9-year-old boy drowned over the weekend. The refugee is said to have been fishing with another man from a canoe on October 16 at Xhana cattle post. It is understood that the canoe sprung a leak while they were in the middle of the river and the canoe sank. The other man managed to escape and raise the alarm. The dead man was found trapped by fishing net. The incident has been confirmed by Maun police station commander Robson Maleka who said no foul play was suspected. In the other drowning, the 9-year-old boy from Matlapana drowned in the Thamalakane on Saturday. The boy was accompanied by others near the river bank when he fell in. He was taken from the river by passersby and efforts to revive him a medical rescue team failed. He was taken to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital where he was certified dead. Maleka said the numbers of people drowning since the beginning of the year stands at 11. President's office oversees many new state departments Special Correspondent GABORONE – President Ian Khama has decided to restructure certain Ministries and government departments. This is further to the President's new principle of Delivery, the 5 th to be added to his original 4 “Ds” principles that have characterized his administration. The departments of Information, Broadcasting and Government Printing and Publishing Services have been relocated to the Office of the President. The Botswana Government Communications and Information Services Division is also being relocated to the Office of the President. Also moving from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to the Office of the President is the Coordinating Office for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, while a new one - the Disability Coordination Division - has also been created. The Government Implementation and Coordination Office has been merged with the Public Service Reforms Division, both of which are in the Office of the President, to create the Government Strategy Development Office. The Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology and that of Works and Transport have also been restructured. A Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology has been created comprised of the following departments: Electrical and Building Engineering Services; Research, Science and Technology; and, Radiation Protection. A Ministry of Transport and Communications has also been created, with the departments of Road Transport and Safety; Central Transport Organisation; Telecommunications and Postal Services; Department of Roads; and, Information Technology NEWS FEATURE Khama sets out view of democracy By Shaka Ssali Voice of America In a year and a half since President Ian Khama took office, he says Botswana has made great strides in governance and personal freedoms, even within the distinctive characteristics of its own single-party ruling system. As Botswana's vice president, Khama took over from Festus Mogae who resigned the presidency on April 1, last year. In an exclusive Voice of America interview, conducted shortly after Botswana marked its 43rd anniversary of independence on September 30, Khama – who continues as President following last week's general elections - reflected on how Botswana can help countries beyond its borders, from Zimbabwe, to Kenya and Madagascar, to extend the benefits of democratic rule to their own peoples. He noted that Botswana has actively criticised Harare's conduct of runoff elections, land reform, and power-sharing but he also contended that the outlook of Zimbabwe's other neighbors and the impact of western-led criticism of President Robert Mugabe's rule must be taken into account in assessing the effectiveness of the current power-sharing arrangement in Harare. "There is a sense of solidarity on the continent not to try and criticise others. I think those in the international community who led the criticism about Zimbabwe were predominantly from the West, and Robert Mugabe cleverly used that to give the impression that this was a black-white thing, especially when it came to the land issue," said Khama. Zimbabwe's neighbors within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) were reluctant to criticize Harare's attempts to redistribute the land. What was wrong with Zimbabwe's methods, he said, was "the manner in which they went about it, the violence that accompanied it. And that was something which was just unacceptable." Botswana has been disappointed that several SADC and African Union (AU) member states had failed to criticise leaders who come into office and perpetuate their rule after their terms expire either through manipulation, election rigging, faulty runoffs, or flawed power-sharing arrangements. "I think with some of them, they probably looked at it from the point of view that, 'look, this may happen to us one day. And if we have everyone else calling for our removal, let us consider that we may be in the same situation.' And therefore, they are careful about criticizing another leader, even if he is doing things which they may not necessarily agree with," he suggested. The president says he agrees with the notion that countries that freely practice democratic principles should work to extend the spirit of independence across the African continent to engage others by promoting democracy beyond their own national boundaries. Researchers overcome difficulties and dangers of training in bush Running a marathon is never easy, but for Kate Evans and Simon Buckingham (picture above) from the charity Elephants for Africa the challenge is a little harder because they live in the bush and have to train in an area where running is not advised. The New York City marathon on November 1 is the second event in their tri-continent Triathlon through which they hope to raise enough funds to buy a 4x4 vehicle for the charity's research project in the Okavango Delta. The first challenge was taking on the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro, which at 5985m is the highest mountain in Africa. They successfully reached the summit on the charity's 1st birthday (December 18) with their friend and fellow fundraiser, Rebecca Smith. The final event will be an endurance bike ride in Europe. They began training for the marathon in the beautiful countryside of the Cotswolds and the streets of Bristol in England. In August, their running resumed in the lowveld area of South Africa and the coastline of Cape Town. Now they are training in the wilderness of the Okavango delta, where they live and study the largest remaining population of the African elephant. Temik is a killer on the loose Temik, the poison that helped kill dozens of rare vultures near Maun recently, is regarded as one of the worst poisons in existence – and even more deadly than arsenic. It is so powerful that illegal buyers know it as “two-step” – an animal, or a human, given it is said to take only two steps before dying. One teaspoon is enough to kill a grown rhino, a mere 1 mg can kill a rodent weighing less than a kilogram. In recent years, Temik has become a powerful weapon used by burglars to silence their canine victims. In 2003, the poison was used to maliciously kill 97 pets in South Africa's Gauteng province. Now yet another use is emerging – assisting poachers in their deadly work. Earlier this month, five endangered white rhino were poisoned along with scores of other large game in South Africa's Nwanedi Nature Reserve. The fear is that farm invasions in Zimbabwe has resulted in the poison – stockpiled by farmers chased off the lands - being made available to criminal gangs in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Temik is widely used as a pesticide on crops such as cotton, potatoes and peanuts. It is registered in terms of the fertilisers, farm seeds, agricultural and stock remedies. As a member of the carbamate pesticides, classification is divided into super, high and medium toxicity. Temik falls in the super-toxin class, which means that it is highly toxic, says toxicologist Gerbus Muller, from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. The substance has a dark grey to black, granule-like appearance - “farmers won't necessarily be able to operate without this pesticide,” Muller says. The only lawful way of obtaining it is by either being a qualified pesticide operator, or by having a qualified operator present while using the product. However, experts reckon that the widespread distribution and use of Temik is not necessarily linked to registered distributors, but to the illegal selling of it as a “domestic rat poison”. Symptoms of poisoning include weakness, headaches, vomiting and eventually death, if untreated – it takes approximately an hour to an hour and a half for symptoms to show, and lasts for up to six to eight hours as it attacks the nervous system and inhibits breathing. The best-known treatment is atropine, injected intravenously or under the skin. Electrolyte therapy and activated charcoal along with a number of other therapies are also frequently used. The survival rate is estimated at 50%-75%, following treatment and the average cost of treatment is estimated to be in the range of P500 to P1 500, depending on duration of hospitalisation and range of treatments used. Major changes in the North West Ngami, Okavango and Chobe political constituencies have seen a dramatic change in the voting pattern for both councillors and members of parliament. The general election held on Friday saw prominent members of parliament from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) losing their seats to the opposition. The first casualty was former Chobe MP Duncan Mlazie who lost to Botswana Congress Party (BCP) candidate Gibson Nshimwe. Mlazie received 3 057 votes while Nshimwe garnered 3 322. Second to fall off was Education and Skills Development minister Jacob Nkate in Ngami. He lost to Habano of BAM. Nkate received 6 565 votes while Habano got 6 836 votes. Okavango's Vister Moruti lost to the BCP's youthful candidate Bagalatia Arone, who obtained 6 211 votes against Moruti's 4 309. The BDP retained Maun East and Maun West with Tawana Moremi and Frank Ramsden who got 4 686 and 6 509 votes, respectively. There also some major political shake ups in the North West District and Chobe councils' elections. In Chobe, the BDP lost Kasane Plateau ward to the BCP which won 587 votes against the BDP's 466. The BDP was also ousted by the BCP in Khwai/Savuti ward by two votes. The BDP received 167 votes against the BCP's 169. In Maun East, Makalamabedi North was won by the Botswana National Front (BNF) got 324 votes, snatching from the BDP which got 319 votes. Another major change was in Shorobe where the longest serving councillor, Gaditshwane Mmutle, of BAM, lost his ward to the BDP. Mmutle got 355 votes while the BDP received 397. In Maun West, only Botshabelo Ward changed hands - from the BDP to BAM. The incumbent, Moses Seboifeng, got a thorough thrashing from Botshelobokae Ramasu. Seboifeng got a paltry 541 votes while Ramasu garnered 1 203. Councillors will also be faced with the task of electing a council chairman and deputy. The departure of former NWD council chairman John Benn will also have a negative impact because, besides being a respected member of the community, he had all that it took to be where he was. He knew his job and always stood his ground. Nothing stopped him from facing reality and sticking by principles whenever that need arouse. He was well known for not taking sides, and those close to him knew this well. Ozone depleting substances come to an end GABORONE - Batswana have been urged to stop using ozone depleting substances (ODSs) by the end of the year in line with the obligations of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The ozone is an airborne chemical that causes both adverse and beneficial health effects. These substances are chemical substances that deplete ozone in the upper atmosphere and include refrigerants (Freon), fire suppression agents (halon), and cleaning solvents such as R-113, TCA and carbon tetrachloride. A news release from the National Ozone Unit says that Botswana signed the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Stratospheric Ozone and its Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone on December 4, 1991, and the London and Copenhagen Amendments to the Montreal Protocol on May 13, 1997. Botswana has had obligations under the protocol for the 1999 freeze, 2000-50% reduction and the 2007-85% reduction and now to totally stop using these chemicals by December 31. The Department of Meteorological Services, the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technishe Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the National Ozone Unit have developed a programme of action and invite various stakeholders public to ensure Botswana complies Delivery elevated to prime spot by Khama GABORONE – President Ian Khama has added a fifth D, for Delivery, to the four D strategy he announced at his inauguration last year. The others are democracy, dignity, development and discipline. The president was addressing an impromptu political rally at Old Naledi in the Gaborone South constituency where the Botswana democratic Party took back the seat after 28 years of Botswana National Front dominance. President Khama said now that the October 16 general election had given him the mandate, he expected everyone, especially MPs, councilors as well as civil servants to deliver services to Batswana. He said there was going to be massive changes in the country in terms of service delivery. According to the president, some MPs and councilors only want senior positions in the party but Batswana have issues and concerns that must be given priority and addressed on time if they want to be voted back into power in 2014. Times Sport Zebras off to a great start! Tirivhanu Mangwiro Reports from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe BULAWAYO - Botswana's Zebras, eager to wipe out the allegations of match fixing in their match against China, started brilliantly in the COSAFA Castle Cup Challenge here this week. They drew their first game against Comoros and then beat Swaziland 1-0 to head the log. They were playing at the time of going to press on Thursday, a game vital if they want to play in the quarter-finals over the next few days. Despite a dull goalless draw against lowly rated Comoros, in the opening game in Bulawayo at Barbourfields stadium on Sunday afternoon, the Stanley Tshosane-led outfit went past Swaziland with a convincing 1-0 win on Tuesday afternoon at the same venue. It was a relief and a sweet victory for the Zebras who are tipped to win the group and proceed to the finals. However Group A has surprise packages. Comoros went into this tournament as underdogs but they have proved to be good and have a great chance of making it through to the quarter finals. In a press conference before the tournament kick off, Comoros head coach Adberemane Chamite said their participation will help to expose their players and also to get experience. The Zebras were expected to have easily marched past the Comoros, but it was not easy as many had predicted.Against the Comoros, the Zebras would have wrapped up their win in the opening minutes of the first half but they have themselves to blame for failing to beat an out-of-sorts Comoros outfit. With a capacity crowd rallied behind the team, they dominated the entire 90 minutes but strikers Onalethata Tshekiso, Mokgathi Mokgathi and man of the match Pontsho Moloi denied Botswana a chance to go top of Group B. With just two minutes of play in the first half, Comoros launched an attack on the Zebras goal area but Miktadi Doud blasted his effort over the bar after he received a perfect pass from captain Mohamed Mouigini. The game picked up in the 9 th minute when the Zebras took control as they forced the Comoros to play in their own half. BDF XI striker Mokgathi Mokgathi exchanged passes with Tshekiso in the Comoros goal area, but he fumbled his shot with goalkeeper Mroivili Mahamoud to beat. Another chance for the Zebras went begging in the 13 th minute as Tshekiso, Mokgathi and Moloi all missed a perfect cross from the left wing by Dirang Moloi, who also had an outstanding game. The Comoros could not easily beat the Zebras defence which was well marshaled by Ndiyapo Letsholathebe; skipper Mompati Thuma, Mpoeleng Mpoeleng and veteran midfielder Michael Mogaladi who played the right back position. The Comoros were forced to defend, and had goalkeeper Mahamoud to thank as he shut down most of the raids by Botswana. Just before the half time whistle, the Zebras might have found an opener, but Tshekiso shot his effort over the bar after being fed by Moloi who had a field day in the middle of the park. After the break, the islanders brought in Nazaralli Issa for Mohamoud Farouk but the changes did not make a difference to the complexion of the game. Zebras brought in Mmusa Ohilwe in place of the injured Mogaladi. Premature celebrations by Tshekiso in the 64 th minute cost the Zebras, after he lobbed the ball over the advancing Comoros goalkeeper Mahamoud, but the ball struck the crossbar and cleared off the line by the defence as Tshekiso was already celebrating. Despite playing much of the game in their own half, the Comoros held on until the final whistle to settle for a draw. In another match played on the same day, Swaziland beat Seychelles 2-1. In Harare, the host nation Zimbabwe thrashed Mauritius 3-0 before being held to a 2-2 draw by Lesotho in their second game. Had they won their game against Lesotho, Zimbabwe would have qualified for the quarterfinals, but they now have to wait for the match between Lesotho and Mauritius. The Zebras second game – against Swaziland – was a must-win if they wanted to stay in contention.  Tshosane made a few chances to the team which played in the opening counter and Kemmy Pilato, Mmusa Ohilwe and Mosimanegape Ramohobidu started the game ahead of Dirang Moloi, Mogaladi and Mpoeleng. The Zebras started off at a low pace and were nearly caught unawares by Swaziland as Sabelo Hlatjwako nearly got the opener for his side in the 10 th minute but squandered the golden opportunity that might have put his team ahead. As time went on, the Zebras managed to combine well to create scoring chances. A foul was committed just outside penalty box, Mokgathi Mokgathi was brought down in the 18 th minute and this was an opportunity to take the lead but Moloi shot straight to the Swazi goalkeeper Sandile Ginidza. Zebras looked determined and focused, but they allowed Swaziland to play more in the middle of the park where they dominated the most. The Swazis were forced to make an early substitute when Lwazi Maziya was injured and replaced by Sifiso Dlamini. That nearly worked for coach Ephraim Mashaba as they came close to getting a goal through a corner kick which was headed away by Mxolisi Mtsefwa. After a pep talk from the dressing room, the Zebras came back attacking from all angles but credit must go to Pontsho Moloi who turned out to be the fans' favourite. Malepa Bolelang rose from the bench and broke the hearts of the Swazis with a decisive header on 55 minutes. The goal proved to be the difference between winners and losers. After just 3 minutes on the field, the star striker never put his foot wrong as he scored the only goal for Botswana after being fed by the shining Moloi, who was back again very quickly but his effort was tipped over the bar by Ginidza. Moloi was Man of the Match for the second time in two matches. When speaking to Times Sports in an interview, Moloi said that he is looking forward to the finals – “we played as a team, and that is why I got this award. Without my team mates, I would not have got this award” Botswana now has 4 points from 2 games, while Comoros Islands beat Seychelles 2-1 in another match. By the time of going for press, Botswana will know their fate in their last game against Seychelles on Thursday afternoon. It will be also another interesting affair for the Zebras who need to win this encounter to go through to the quarter finals.     A cesspool of sewage . . . the overflow from Maun's sewage ponds has seeped into the ground over a large area near Maun airport and Botshabelo. This aerial picture clearly shows the overflow which was originally close to the ponds but has since spread. The Local residents fear that diseases could result from the overflow as the sewage sinks into the ground water supply. By Keagisitswe Dioka The Maun Shuffle ** **

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 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 - 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.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 12 Oct 2009 21:33

  Edition 479 25 October 9 - 16, 2009 Spar Safari gets a major facelift Spar Safari opposite Maun's New Mall has been given a face lift, changing its previous somewhat dull and dark look with old equipment into a modern supermarket. The refurbished store was re-launched this week with the prices of most commodities slashed. Bobby Rushforth, Group Marketing Executive of the owners, Tsetseng Investments, said in an interview that the store was old and it was necessary to revamp it and also to extend the premises. “We revamped the store to give it a new bright customer friendly image,” he said. The changes include new lighting, new signage, new refrigerators and other improvements and Rushforth added that the shop is one of the oldest in the group, had old equipment and had outdated settings. It cost P2.8 million to revamp the store. This picture shows part of the interior of the store, with (inset) branch manager Emil Bouwer (left), assistant manager Joseph Rasekopo and administration manager Oboetse Phamolano. ZEBRAS ‘MATCH FIXING' SCANDAL Botswana's national football team, the Zebras, is embroiled in a major scandal over match fixing. The team lost 4-1 to China in a friendly international played in China 10 days ago. The Chinese are said to have offered P600 000 in order for their side to win the game. As a result, the Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive officer, Mooketsi “Tosh” Kgotlele, has been suspended indefinitely following allegations made against him. The scandal comes on the eve of the COSAFA tournament in Zimbabwe and is the second major soccer scandal affecting Botswana in four years. At the World Cup in 2006, a top BFA official, and a patron of the association, was caught selling his free tickets for monetary gain. BFA president David Fani said the BFA convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to receive a report concerning the Chinese match - “the report indicated that, during the organisation of the match, certain incidents took place which were not in line with competition and fair play and which were not in the interests of the game of football in Botswana, the senior national team, or the Botswana Football Association,” Fani said. He added that the BFA took a serious view of the allegations raised and subsequently agreed to institute an investigation to determine their accuracy - “The National Executive Committee took the view that this was necessary in order to protect the reputation and image of the game of football in Botswana. The National Executive Committee decided that, pending the investigation and possible disciplinary action arising there from, the BFA chief executive officer, Mooketsi Kgotlele be suspended from duty with immediate effect. “I am not in a position to divulge details regarding the allegations. We will move quickly to get to the bottom of the matter and the outcome will be communicated to the public,” It is reported from Gaborone that sources close to the developments said Kgotlele was suspended after authorising the Zebras' trip to China despite opposition from some BFA officials. It is said the BFA was unanimous that the trip should be abandoned but it went ahead after Kgotlele reportedly secured funding for the Zebras. Senior national soccer team coach Stanley Tshosane told The Ngami Times the team played very well, though he also mentioned that fatigue played its part to the defeat. “We had a very long trip, we spent almost two days travelling, we could not train the same day we arrived so we had only one day to prepare and it was not enough,” said Tshosane. “There were a few blunders from individual players, especially the goalkeeper, but I must say it was not his day. And also we had to introduce new blood of players who have been with the national team, but did not have game time. I was also looking at trying out these players because this is the only preparation game we had before we travel to Zimbabwe (for COSAFA).” Reports published on the Internet also say since the Chinese were celebrating their Independence Day, they were prepared to win the match “by hook or by crook.” The reports said that if the match was fixed, then it cannot be Kgotlele alone who is involved,” said one source quoted on the Internet this week. It was also speculated that a member of the technical team blew the whistle about the match-fixing attempt and the Internet also says there are unconfirmed reports that an unidentified Chinese handed over money to a BFA official. Tax collectors accused of P500 000 theft Two former Revenue Officers at Gumare and Maun revenue offices have appeared before Maun principal magistrate Clifford Foroma for allegedly stealing by servant in which they are accused of taking P500 000 of State money while employed as civil servants. The two are Odumeleng Dollah Mosarwa (43), who worked at Gumare, and her superior, Christinah Matlapeng, 41, who worked at the Maun office. Mosarwa told the court this week that she had not asked witnesses, who had given testimony in court, questions during t the trial as she was “scared and confused.” She also testified that since the case started she had suffered psychologically. She said this during her defence when giving evidence. Mosarwa who was not represented, told the court that she went to Maun Revenue Office on March 31, 2005, where she gave Christinah Matlapeng a cheque worth P500 000 to cash for her. She said Matlapeng then gave her part of the money and told her that she had “shortages.” was not sure about the time she arrived at Gumare and did not know who was driving her vehicle. She also told the court that she lent a police officer P16 000 from the money and she was not sure when he is going to pay it back. Cross examined by Charles Tlagae, of Charles Tlagae Attorneys, Maun, who represented Matlapeng about when she discovered that the money was missing, Mosarwa's response was that she only found out that the money totalled P300 000 when she was at Gumare Revenue Office and only when an inspection was carried out. Tlagae asked her why she didn't ask “the witch doctor” who testified in court that she (Mosarwa) telephoned him asking for his assistance “to make the case disappear as she stole money and that he had warned her several times not to steal government money.” Asked why she didn't report or fax documents which supported she had used the money, she told the court that their office was running out of stationary, while the fax and the telephone were out of order and there was no electricity. The prosecutor, Pascal Mhandu, also asked her why the cheque did not appear on form 252B which is used to write the amount used and taken in as well as in a cash control book. She responded that it was an omission. Mhandu also asked her whether it was not the right procedure to send and cash cheques with supporting documents and her response was that a cheque had to go with its supporting documents, adding that she was busy and couldn't do those documents. Both parties are to submit their written submissions by November 6 while judgment will be on November 16. Maun businesses and residents are up in arms over widespread disruptions in the local water supply. They blame the Department of Water Affairs for poor service, claiming that “continual excuses down the years” about broken boreholes and other malfunctions are no longer acceptable. Business people this week said that they “occasionally received mains water” and this me instances was affecting business. Production of The Ngami Times, which partly relies on water being available, is also affected on a regular basis. Owners of bottle water companies said that they had noticed a big upward movement towards purchasing their products “when it is available”. “The rivers are full, there is water wherever one looks and we still have to put up with a dreadful service that is not of our making,” said one irate business person. Many employees are often late for work as they regularly find taps empty in the mornings. Some are bathing at midnight rather than in the mornings because of the situation. Meanwhile, unseasonal end of September rains drenched large areas of northern Botswana. A total of 14.4mm was recorded in various parts of Maun last week while there were heavy downpours in the Ngamiland and Ghanzi districts as well. Election fever now in top gear There's a week to go before the country goes to the polls to elect a new government that will rule for the next five years. Much has been written and talked about in the run-up to the parliamentary and council elections and many will be watching with interest the performance of candidates for the ruling party, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), in view of criticisms levelled against the party and its leaders by not only outsiders but also by members of the party. The sacking of its secretary-general by party president Ian Khama has sent shockwaves through rank-and-file members as they fear there could be a backlash against them too if the BDP is returned to power with a larger majority than previously achieved. Khama, in his capacity as President of Botswana and of the BDP, has made it clear factions will not be tolerated within his own party and that unjustified criticism in general of him and his policies will also not be easily tolerated. Sections of the media appear to be in his sights and as a former military man, he will no doubt outflank these whenever he chooses. That unambiguous warning was given in a recent speech delivered in Maun when his irritation with what he termed “the tarnishing of my name” came through loud and clear. He has made it clear however that he would continue to uphold democracy as decreed in the Constitution. Next week will be a fascinating one for Botswana and the results of Friday's polling will be eagerly awaited. Either the Bank of Botswana has slipped up or banks in Namibia are out of tune with the rest of the international banking fraternity! Botswana visitors to Namibia during the Independence holiday period found to their horror that Namibian banks - such as Nedbank (apparently not related to a bank of the same name in South Africa) – would not accept the new Botswana pula notes as “we have not been informed” (that new notes were in circulation). Shuffle was one of those luckless visitors, and was moved to ask the foreign exchange teller whether he was being difficult or whether Botswana's currency was regarded as being “Mickey Mouse”. The suggestion that the pula was stronger than the Namibian dollar and the South African rand was met with an icy glare. The statements went down like the proverbial lead balloon as the teller seemed unmoved by the situation. In the end, Standard Bank Namibia accepted the notes in exchange for Namibian dollars while an officious woman teller at First National Bank Namibia also would not accept Botswana currency from a person carrying a non-Botswana passport despite being informed the customer was a resident of Botswana. Shuffle mentions this because there is a lesson in all this - If you travel outside the country with the new Botswana banknotes don't expect to be able to exchange them for the currency of the country you are visiting. Dear old Air Botswana has done it again, again and again. Passengers aboard one of the new ATR aircraft discovered their luggage was still in Maun when they arrived at Johannesburg's O R Tambo International airport the other day. There was much screeching and yelling from Japanese visitors who were enroute to Tokyo and some Americans going home after their African safari. At least local passengers knew about the situation as they had been through the mill before, as the saying goes. Shuffle cannot understand, and this is along with everyone else, why such a situation has been allowed to develop. Surely Air Botswana must have known at the time of purchasing that the aircraft could not take both passengers and luggage? It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to work out that a change in the seating configuration in the passenger area would assist in making space available for luggage and that it would in the long run save Air Botswana money as there would be no necessity to pay a delivery company to travel from one end of Johannesburg to the other in order to drop off luggage which had been sent on a later plane. Shuffle knows of one person who had to attend a wedding in Johannesburg wearing his Botswana khaki clothes because a suit, shirt and tie were in a suitcase still on the apron at Maun airport! Did you know? Cockroaches are some of the most ancient insects. Fossil records show their relatives have been around, virtually unchanged in appearance, for over 350 million years. Cockroaches carry over 40 different pathogens which could potentially be transferred to humans. These include plague, pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), dysentery, cholera, leprosy, typhoid fever, polio, hepatitis, and other diseases you don't want to get. Cockroaches' favourite food is the glue on envelopes and on the back of postage stamps. Cockroaches have 18 knees but only 6 legs and these insects have teeth in their stomachs. · So, next time you come across a cockroach, stamp on it or use insecticide. You will do everyone a favour by preventing disease. Letters to the Editor Sir, - I recently bought a .458 double rifle. The rifle was made by a Mr. A.W.J. Ritchie, a South African gun maker. I telephoned Mr. Ritchie who told me two interesting points. Firstly the rifle was made for Mr. Tommy Friedken, an American who at one time owned Safari South and, secondly, that this is one of a pair – the other rifle being in .375 calibre. If one of your readers knows where this rifle is, I really would appreciate hearing from you. My cellphone number is 71782937 and e-mail: phil@oshaughnessys.org PHIL O'SHAUGHNESSY Kasane Eye-opener weekend in the new hospital Sir, - Spending Independence weekend in the new Maun hospital, voluntarily I may add, was an eye-opening experience. It reaffirmed my faith in human nature. The many cleaning staff who keep the hospital orderly are cheerful and relentless in their efforts to keep it spotless. And they manage this with a ‘tool” I haven't seen in my native Australia for about 30 years – the good old fashioned no frills mop. Without even the aid of a squeezey bucket. The washing/polishing machine that was mean to have been supplied by October 2008 has still not materialised. It seems that even the squeeze mop is beyond the budget of this hospital at the moment but the intrepid orderlies and cleaners keep the floors spotless anyway. My grandmother would have been impressed! Staff over the independence holiday was kept to an essential minimum. Hardworking doctors were the rarest of creatures around and were only called in for emergencies such as an adventurous small BDF youngster whose attempt at killing an Egyptian cobra ended in a nip on the finger. Moral of the story – leave Egyptian cobras or any other snake or venomous creatures) well alone. I have read many negative reports about the hospital but have myself personally been impressed with all aspects of the institution. Thank you to all involved. JANE BETTENAY Maun The poisoned vultures photographed by Grant Reed, of Letaka Safaris. The vulture with the slender beak is a Hooded Vulture and the other is a White-backed Vulture, both protected birds. Protected vultures poisoned by poachers One of the most serious wildlife poisoning incidents on record in this part of the world occurred last week in the Xudum concession when over 50 globally threatened White-backed and Hooded Vultures were found dead at two giraffe carcases that had been laced with poison. The horror scene was discovered by Grant Reed, from Letaka Safaris, while out on a foot patrol in the area which is south-east of the world-famous Moremi Game Reserve. “We were investigating a column of vultures spiralling in the sky, and were expecting to find a lion kill – instead we were confronted by the depressing and nauseating sight of large numbers of dead and dying vultures and other raptors. “They had been feeding on the carcases of two giraffe, killed illegally by poachers operating in the area, and sprinkled with poison. “It appears as though the poachers are deliberately aiming to eliminate every vulture in the area since the birds are quickly alerting the concessionaires to the occurrence of their poaching activities” he suggested. The incident was reported to BirdLife Botswana and the Department of wildlife and national Parks Anti-Poaching Unit, and although the poachers escaped, sufficient evidence was gathered to identify them. An empty poison container was found, and the poison was identified as carbofuran by Dr Peter Apps at the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust. Carbofuran is a highly toxic agricultural insecticide meant for use on non-food crops – it is highly unlikely that it has any legitimate use in northern Botswana. “We are very concerned by the escalating indiscriminate use of poisons for killing vultures as this has decimated their numbers throughout Africa, and is the single greatest threat facing all vulture and raptor species here in Botswana” said Pete Hancock, BirdLife Botswana's Conservation Officer in Maun. “We are embarking on an awareness raising programme to address this issue, and will also be working for legislation to restrict the availability and use of poisons such as temik which is highly toxic and a threat to our environment and human well-being” he said. The perpetrators, when brought to book, will face serious consequences – vultures and the giraffes that were used to kill them are protected game animals in Botswana and the penalty for killing one of them is P10 000.00 and 10 years imprisonment. Ghanzi council telephone problems GHANZI - Problems in accessing Ghanzi District Council through the telephone switchboard number: 6596211 have been ongoing for some time and became a source of concern to the public in need of assistance from the Council. The number can be can still be accessed even though some numbers within it are malfunctioning. The council says it is working on restoring the switchboard back to normal by revamping the whole system for easy accessibility. Some Council departments which experience an influx of calls can be accessed through contacting the following direct telephone numbers: Council Secretary: 6596193, Customer Service Centre: 6596504, and Human Resources and Administration: 6596084, Election Special 2009 In the run up to the election next Friday, October 16, we present candidates from all political parties who state what they would do for their electorates if voted to parliament or district council. This newspaper offered candidates for Maun East, Maun West, Ngami, Okavango and Chobe constituencies the opportunity to provide their pictures and manifestos but despite this, these were the only candidates who responded .Reports complied by Basadi Morokotso and Bright kholi. Presidential Candidates BNF President Otsweletse Moupo BCP President Gilson Shaleshando   BDP President Seretse Khama Ian Khama   Parliamentary and Council Candidates NGAMI CONSTITUENCY       JACOB DICKIE NKATE - Ngamiland Constituency - Botswana Democratic Party Parliamentary candidate   “I was born in Tsau in 1961 and am a lawyer by profession. “I became a Member of Parliament in 1994 and since then I continuously represented Ngami constituency. Currently, I am happy with the services I rendered to my constituents. I wish to make mentioned specifically in the following areas: Roads There used to be a time when you needed a 4x4 vehicle to go anywhere in the constituency. It used to take a good 8-10 hours just to travel from Nokaneng to Qangwa/Xaxa, a mere 120km because of the state of the road. As I speak, it takes only 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Qangwa and the road is accessible by any type of vehicle. Other roads such as Gumare-Tubu, Makakung-Semboyo, Phathane-Kareng, and Kareng-Makakung-Semboyo are easy to travel. Water- Water problems in Gumare, Tubu and Etsha 6 have been resolved by pumping water from big lagoons in the Okavango. To the east of the constituency - Bodibeng, Kareng, Bothatogo, Sehitwa and Toteng - residents drink from the boreholes at Somelo. This is just to mention those, and I do so because they are very recent developments. There are of course many other smaller projects. Health- A new big hospital is being constructed in Gumare, and it will cater for the large number of people in that area. A new model clinic is also being constructed in Kareng, whereas new health posts were also completed in Habu and Bothatogo. We now have resident medical officers in the constituency, based in Sehitwa. Education- As Minister of Education, I have pride in the various major projects my ministry is undertaking throughout the country. These include a second university, a medical school, and primary, junior and senior secondary schools. The only determination has always been where the greatest need is, and not favoritism or corruption. Other developments: Tribal administration offices have been built recently in Habu, Bothatogo, Xaxa, Qangwa, to mention but a few. These have come together with attendant support, which includes personnel and vehicles. The Maun abattoir is to be opened in March 2009, government having approved some P80 million for the renovation of the plant. The buffalo fence is being revamped to strengthen it. It will be a strong 2.4 metre double fence to tackle the current situation where cattle mix with buffalo, resulting in disease outbreaks I call on Batswana from all spheres to go out in large numbers and vote me back in parliament for continued good service delivery.   LATLHANG MOLONDA Nokaneng/Habu Ward- Botswana Democratic Party Council Candidate   My work for the past five years as councillor are visible, and so I want to travel another mile and confidently advocate for the people I represent, the people I have instilled trust in. I want to continue liaising with my people and tackle issues such as assisting the youth in my area to understand, as well as showing them the need to enroll in youth programmes. To see to it that developments take place in Habu/Nokaneng as quoted in the District Development Plan 7 e.g. the upgrading of Habu health post into a fully fledged clinic as well as the provision of adequate accommodation for government employees in Habu/Nokaneng. To develop Remote Area Dwellers (RADS) hostels into a Day Care Centre. To push for the building of two teacher classrooms in Danega To see to it that the Habu/Konde gravel road is tarred   I would like to urge people in Nokaneng/ Habu to vote for me and take me back to council in large numbers so that we continue with developments and push pending ones because otherwise if you vote for the opposition it will be a major drawback as everything will have to start afresh. I have confidence that together we can achieve, so let us not have our projects delayed deliberately   OKAVANGO CONSTITUENCY     VISTER MOLAPO MORUTI   Botswana Democratic Party Parliamentary candidate   I want to continue where I left off and implement NDP10 and carry on with some of the projects I started during the Mid Term Review (a) Construction of the on-going Senior Secondary School (b) Construction of Shakawe Primary Hospital (c) Construction of Mohembo Bridge and tarring of Mohembo/Beetsha road (d) Construction of Shakawe Central Transport Organization (CTO) (e) Construction and expansion of Tsodilo and Shakawe airports (f) Construction of Shakawe Sub District Offices as planned (g) Establishment of cluster centres i.e. Seronga, Xakao and Sepopa to have 24 hour clinic services   TOURISM: That Batswana in Okavango should benefit from the industry (a) Tsodilo development to improve tourism in the area which we have already planned (b) To encourage the government to engage more Batswana in the ownership of projects within the delta   Okavango has previously been under the leadership of opposition MPs, so I request Batswana in the Okavango constituency to give me another five years to bring changes. The first five years only allowed me to take off, so I need to settle in the space for development.   BAGALATIA ARONE   Botswana Congress Party Parliamentary candidate   Ke ipega mo batlhophing ba Okavango ke le ntlhopheng wa palamente wa diphathi tsa BAM le BCP mo ditlhophong tsa 2009. Ke le solofetsa tse di latelang:   Thuto: Ke tlaa rotloetsa bana ba dikolo go tlhoafalela dithuto tsa bone ka go buisa diphuthego tsa baithuti ka nako tsotlhe fa ke etela magae a bone. 1.Ke tlaa bua gape ka dikgwetlho tsa barutabana, tse di akaretsang boroko, parallel progression, transfer policy, teacher-student ratio jalo jalo. 2.Ke tlaa bo gape ke itebagantse le letlhoko la didirisiwa mo dikoleng, go ema nokeng bana ba ba dirang bontle mo dikoleng le go tlhomamisa gore go tsewa ke puso ga Shakawe Brigade go digagale ka bonako go tokafatsa seemo. 3.Ke tlaa kopa gore project ya CITF e nnele ruri mo Shakawe Botsogo: Ke tlaa netefatsa gore sepatela sa Shakawe se agiwa ka bonako, ga mmogo le go kgaretlhela gore dikokelwana tsotlhe di nna le bongaka le didirisiwa tse di lebaneng. Ke tlaa dira gape gore makgotla a botsogo a tokafatsa dithuto ka HIV/AIDS. Ditiro: 1. Ke tlaa ruta le go rotloetsa batlhophi go dirisa mananeo a puso go tlhama ditiro, ke bo ke kopa puso go simolodisa masimo a nosetso mo Okavango. 2.Ke tlaa kopa lephata la fisheries go bula a fish industry mo Okavango, ke bo ke kopa puso go kopa mineral prospecting companies go lebaleba gore a go ka se bonale diteemane le ole kwa makgobokgobong ka go na le kgonagalo eo. Metshameko: 1. Ke tlaa ema nokeng maiteko otlhe a go tlhabolola metshameko mo kgaolong ka go bereka komiti ya kgaolo ya metshameko. 2.Ke tlaa rotloetsa metshameko ka di seasonal tournaments. Banana: 1. Ke tlaa ema nokeng maiteko otlhe a go tlhabolola banana, ke bo ke leka go thusa banana go itse le go dirisa mananeo a puso go ba tlhabolola. Ko palamenteng: 1.Ke tlaa bua ka melao ee itebagantseng le go tlhabolola matshelo le go sireletsa ditshwanelo tsa batho. 2.Ke tlaa bua gape ka ditshwanelo tsa badiri jaaka seemo sa dituelo. Kemedi/political leadership: 1. Ke tlaa bula ofisi ya bopalamente kwa Seronga go atolosa ditirelo. Makhanselara otlhe a tlaa nna le diofisi. 2.Ke tlaa bopa komiti ya bogakolodi jwa mopalamente go tokafatsa seemo. 3.Ke tlaa tlhoma baemedi (contact persons) go ntekodisa ka seemo mo metseng yotlhe le go tlhomamisa gore ba na le megala ya letheka. 4.Ke tlaa bopa konmiti ya therisanyo ya baemedi ba maphata le bagolwane ba dikomiti ba rerisana ka dikgwetlho tsa kgaolo (connsultative council) Twantso borukutlhi: Ke tlaa dirisana le makgotla otlhe a itshireletso go tlhomamisa gore kgaolo e sireletsegile.     MAUN WEST     MOAPARANKWE MPHO Botswana Alliance Movement Parliamentary candidate   I do hereby offer my services to you as the parliamentary candidate for Maun West constituency for the 2009 elections. I hereby request you all to consider casting your vote in my favour on the day of elections. If elected I shall tirelessly strive for (a) Free and compulsory education for all (b) Elimination of under tree classes in primary schools (as they cannot be effectively conducted during the rainy season and in winter time) (c) Special education teachers and special education for the disabled to equip them with skills that will enable them to live better lives like others, and even compete for better jobs with other citizens. (d) Construction and equitable distribution of junior secondary schools to cater for the constituency's different catchment areas (e) Construction of the first ever government senior secondary school in the district (f) To advice communities in matters pertaining to the fields of hydrology, land survey, environmental impact assessments etc (g) Creation of youth and other related group/clubs with a view to source funds and create employment for themselves. (h) To encourage and fight for the spreading of the word of God through different churches in the district as well as countrywide (i) The provision of a well defined land use looking at most of the constituency's areas which are non-proximity to social amenities Please examine just the few points that I have mentioned, and see if they can add value to your life and that of the entire nation, then think of making a historic political change after 43 years of our independence and vote me. Remember together we can make this “BIG” historic political change! SELOILWE KEOTSHEPILE SELOILWE   Kgosing ward Independent council candidate I pledge to be the best independent candidate and the best councillor Kgosing ward will ever have had since Independence. I am one person who believes in peace, transformation and advancement in politics and economic diversification as well as massive reforms over political matters in general. We are a political organisation which aims to bring good education for all, advanced control measures over public revenues as it remains impossible to develop any country in a democratic state without first educating its people. We believe it is an absolute failure for a government with massive steel structures and industrial buildings and is not willing to have their people empowered. Proper consultation with people before going to council or parliament is an important factor for each ruling government. I personally believe and wish to abide by the above factors, and deliver to my people. I also aim to work harmoniously and round the clock with the people I represent so that their desires are met and their problems and concerns solved amicably and well in time. So I would like Maun people, particularly those from Kgosing ward and the youth to vote me to council for change!       OAGETSWENG MALAKIA   Botswana Alliance Movement council candidate Boyei ward   If elected to council, I will strive to work tirelessly for Boyei ward residents and Batswana as a whole. My top priority will be to: 1. Provide adequate water for Boyei. 2. To fight the eradication of the Foot and Mouth Disease in Maun 3. Promote a people centered social agenda 4. To fight for free and compulsory education (Convention of the Right of a Child (UNICEF) aged from 1-18 years to be provided with free education) 5. To develop the full potential of youth by way of developing a sound youth policy 6. To spearhead the response of HIV/AIDS in my ward.   MAINA MAVIS MORUIMANG   Botswana Alliance Movement council candidate - Thitoyamokodi ward   I pledge to take the position of councillor with commitment and to work diligently because I know the problems you face as well as your challenges. If elected to council I also pledge to achieve the following: (a) Fight poverty and hunger that people are faced with y striving to create more jobs (b) Improve the quality and increase the quantity of water (c) To empower women and youth in major responsibilities (d) To effectively and efficiently fight the eradication of Foot and Mouth Disease (e) To encourage farming by irrigation, with the intention to bring about a mass production of vegetables, grains and fruits at a level that will achieve major job creation (f) To improve the standards of roads and communication in Thitoyamokodi ward and improve labour work relations. (g) To establish a cultural recreational and sporting centres in order to reduce undesirable habits such as substance abuse.   CHOBE CONSTITUENCY   DUNCAN MLAZI Botswana Democratic Party parliament candidate, Chobe   ‘Ke a tshepega e bile ke a romega' “The value of my stay in Parliament has been the successful recognition of Chobe as a stand-alone district; accordingly it has the right to its ownbudget. “There has been the taking off of significant projects like the Nata/Kazungula road, the Ngoma/Kachikau road, the almost complete Kasane Bus and Taxi Rank, Kasane Landfill, completion of the Kachikau Police Station, Magistrate court, the ongoing construction of the Fire Brigade, Shorobe/Mababe road, Mababe Bridge, Mababe Customary court, Khwai Village gazzetted, Water pipe network in Khwai, Khwai Tribal Office and wildlife camp, Kasane Urban Land Servicing. On this note, I could also mention the upcoming multimillion pula Zambezi Integrated Agriculture Project at Pandamatenga which will totally change the face of Chobe as it includes the establishment of an agricultural town modeled after the mining towns of Selebi Phikwe and Jwaneng respectively. “The construction of the Kazungula Bridge that comes complete with a railway line running from Mosetse to Chobe district is an important SADC region economic network linking the whole regional trade block. This is what he had to say about culture: “During my stay in Parliament I have been a major promoter and sponsor of cultural activities. In these terms I have managed to purchase uniforms for all five Seperu groups in Chobe. When I took the oath of office in 2004 there was, unfortunately, one operating Village Development Trust, (Mababe Village Development Trust) whereas the rest of the trusts had their ‘quotas' suspended due to gross financial mismanagement. It was during my tenure that I worked tirelessly with the Village Trust Committees and the Technical Advisory Committee to arrest this state of affairs. The introduction of communication centres inthe Chobe enclave was also part of my efforts. My efforts to bring a Senior Secondary School in Chobe has resulted in the construction of a Senior Secondary School in Nata (reducing our costs on transportation to senior secondary schools in Maun and Francistown.) I and my councilors have been lobbying for a primary school to be built in Kgaphamadi, Kasane to ease congestion at Kasane Primary School, another primary school in Pandamatenga and a third Junior Secondary School in the district. “Chobe has the potential to be the bread basket of Botswana and Southern Africa. “Together, by giving me another mandate to represent you in parliament we can make Chobe a home you will always be happy to belong and identify yourself with. United and overlooking all tribal and skin differences, we can bring change to our district which we have been experiencing since 2004. Reviving our cultural heritage, such as in all forms of traditional dances, and places of historical significance, increased support of religious institutes and promoting freedom of religion, lobbying for support for various sports code from the business community like I have demonstrated by sponsoring the football's Independence cup (Mlazie Independence Cup) for the five years beginning 2008. This sponsorship has been extended to places like Khwai, Savuti, Sankuyu and Mababe starting in 2009. Introducing a local or district news paper modeled after the likes of The Ngami Times and the tabloid, The Voice . The establishment of the constituency website that is www.chobecon.info . Itgives information on thepeople of Chobe, their culture, tradition,Bojanala/Tourism, and inside, encouraging citizen empowerment on tourism related projects considering that they are few Batswana involved on high yielding tourism ventures, opening up of restricted designated fishing spots in the national park. looking forward to the establishment of community radio stationsmodeled along the Lozi radio station - the aim is to have programmes including news broadcasted in our local languages. GIBSON NSHIMWE Chobe Constituency-Botswana Congress Party Parliamentary candidate   2009 CHIRIMO CHE CHINCHENHO Ke nna lentswe la gago la popota ko palamenteng go ka lere diphetogo mo kgaolong ya Chobe. Tlhopha ka keletlhoko ka October 16   2009 BCP COUNCIL CANDIDATE FOR PLATEAU WARD-CHOBE CONSTITUENCY.   CANDIDATE NAMES: KAMWI ELSON SAMUNZALA “Hands On”   As your BCP council candidate I pledge to represent you people of Plateau Ward well on issues affecting your lives. RECOGNITION OF PLATEAU KGOTLA SHORTAGE OF LAND PROBLEM ANIMALS HEALTH, AMBULANCE AT PLATEAU CLINIC Improve ROADS situation STORM WATER DRAINAGE : PUBLIC TRANSPORT: SEWERAGE CONNECTION :. In conclusion, I commit myself to serving you the people of Plateau Ward very well. I wish to bring to your attention that we as the BCP are a party that truly cares for you and I urge you to vote wisely by voting for us in the entire Chobe Constituency and me for Plateau Ward to serve you diligently. I believe unlike my competitor, Mr Benson Rogers, I am mature and principled than him. As an opposition Councilor I would speak fearlessly about your issues as you know BDP representatives are muzzled by the party leadership. They can not speak about your concerns for fear of being victimized by their hawkish party President. As we move closer to the national polls, you should reflect on how good the BDP leadership has been in our district on issues that affect you and your children's. As the Chinese say, “teach a person how to catch fish and not give them fish”, should be the way a government empowers its people and not giving hand outs as the BDP government is doing. JONATHAN TRIO MOYO BOTSWANA CONGRESS PARTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE PANDA-MATENGA   Why i opted to stand for elections   Having been born, lived and grown up in panda matenga, i have seen 4 councilors being voted but all of them have not made any changes in peoples lives. In a place with rich soils and natural resourses like panda with a population of less than 2000 we still have the highest rate of unemployment, less developments, poorest housing,no toilets, dangerous roads, and so forth so as a young person i thought i should stand for elections and fight for the rights, and improvements of social lives for the people of panda. 80% of the food in botswana comes from panda but 85% of the people there live under extreme poverty.   What are my key issues after being voted in: · Youth development · Unemployment · Improvements of workers rights especially at pandamatenga farms · Peoples developments · Improvements of internal muddy roads · Promotion of rich cultures · Envolvement of youth in developments · Creation of trade union for farm workers · Power to empower my people     MAUN EAST ONTLEMETSE “ISHY” GOMOSIE Independent Parliamentary Candidate He is the voice, face, icon and a representative of all. Someone who better understands our lifestyle and has our interests at heart and someone who will change our lives to better them through creation of employment, housing, health and education. Diversification of economy from mineral dependant to Eco-tourism, Human resource and Agriculture. We also want to turn Maun into a tourist hub and the city of the North West region. Eco-tourism: We need to diversify, venture and invest in eco-tourism and to market Maun as the gateway to Botswana's tourism and ideal holiday destination for locals, the entire region and the world at large. We will use revenue to improve the lives of Batswana and eradicate poverty. All these will require expertise, hence job creation for locals. Education/Human Resources: We need to bring the highest and quality education to the region, from pre-school till tertiary, as a way of investing in Human resource, empowering people with knowledge and practical skills in all sectors such as mining, health, security, finance and banking, tourism and leisure, arts and sports technology because we believe everyone is entitled to education and knowledge. Health: We will bring world class health facilities, hospitals and clinics for both government and private institutions. Youth: They will be empowered with necessary information, skills and assistance as they are th future generation of the country. We will also create recreational facilities in sport and entertainment as a way of keeping them away from crime and social ills.   MOARABI SEPEGO GAREBAGAE   Botswana Alliance Movement council candidate - Thamalakane South   Government should establish a framework within which development can take place and to provide assistance for the communities in their efforts. My strategy is an open door policy in which everyone will be allowed to submit oral or written submissions on how we can best develop our areas. In my activities, I shall be guided by Consultation, Consensus and Compromise, hence my policy shall be known as (Triple C). If elected, I will work to do the following: 1. To encourage the establishment of small holding schools for small children in rural areas 2. To encourage the construction of houses for destitute and disabled persons 3. To encourage the standardized medical services at all health facilities 4. To encourage the upgrading of roads by gravelling and tarring, not at election time only 5. To encourage the supply of clean drinking water in every household as well as the supply of electricity at subsidised prices to every household. 6. To encourage the construction of drainage systems, sanitary facilities and eradication of mosquitoes 7. To encourage the culling of elephants and other species of wild animals and sell their carcasses and skins to foreign countries. I believe my policies shall depend on crystal sincerity.     Thomas Perschil   Independent Council Candidate - Matlapana Ward   Are you tired of? Bla,bla politicians Councillors that disappear after elections No development in your village No water for days Do you want?   More Clinics A school bus service for your children Reasonable water supply A vibrant village community, which creates employment on your doorstep Do you want a councillor who is all the time there for YOU   Then vote for ME Tigers crowned as A to Z Independence champions Nhabe regional giants Maun Tigers retained the A to Z Independence Cup played in Maun. Tigers never put their foot wrong from the beginning of the tournament despite parting ways with their coach Jabulani Ncube. The team remained determined and won the trophy and first prize money of P4 500 when they beat Maun Terrors 2-1. Hundreds of people, among them Ngamiland District Commissioner Bernadette Malala and Kgosi Tawana Moremi, flocked to Maun Sports Complex to see the final. Much was expected from Terrors who have experienced tough competition in the National first division league, but that was not the case as Tigers proved to be better than them. Terrors coach Jabulani Ncube would have wanted to prove a point against his former club, but he failed to beat his tutor and former player George Jacob who is most likely to take over as Tigers' coach. Terrors took the lead through hardworking and reliable striker Pelontle Shakes Dimbo, but their celebrations were cut short as Tigers equalised through former Delta Winds striker GC Lemphorwana. The tournament's top goal scorer Tshepo Simon sealed the victory for Tigers towards the end of the second half. Tigers walked away with a floating trophy and P4 500, while Terrors received P2 850. The 3 rd and 4 th prize money of P600 went to Delta Winds and Maun Heroes, while the teams knocked out in the 2 nd round received P500 and P400 for the 1 st round exit. Terrors host Miscellaneous in 1 st division game Maun Terrors have an uphill task over the weekend when they take on visiting Serowe side Miscellaneous in the National 1 st division league match at Maun Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon. Despite winning their first game convincingly with a 6-0 drubbing of Orapa Bucs last week, Terrors will need not to be carried away by the result as they need to be determined and stay focused. Miscellaneous is one of the teams which gave Terrors a hard time last season, but with the home team's performance in the opening game of the new season, an interesting match is on the cards. The visitors have vast experience and they missed a Premier League spot berth by a whisker so they will be looking forward to revive their hopes and start their campaign on high note. Nevertheless, it is not going to be easy. Maun Terrors has beaten the transfer window to bolster their squad. They have brought on board one of the best midfielders in the region; Zola Dinonyane formerly with Maun Tigers, while BMC defender Lemogang Motlhanke has also joined and another midfielder Kaizer Muzi is from Premier League side Ecco City Green. Terrors coach Jabulani Ncube revealed to Times Sports that they are ready and well prepared for the game - “What happened last season is now history, we are looking forward to the weekend game and our hope is to collect maximum points and I have players who can deliver” said Ncube. “We need a Premier League team. It's high time we work together and strive for a spot in the elite league. We have players who are capable of playing in the premier league and what we need is support and positive advice” he added. Meanwhile Maun Terrors has lost the services of two of its most influential players - striker Gaogalelwe Dipateletso has joined Orapa Bucs, while defender Collen Sebako has joined Selebi Phikwe's Premier League team Nico United. Rollers' bright start switched off! Sports Correspondent - Township Rollers' bright start to the Be Mobile Premier League was brought to a grinding halt by a youthful Uniao Flamengo Santos in Molepolole on Saturday. In the process the Gabane outfit leapfrogged Rollers into second place behind surprise leaders Nico United. Many had predicted a Rollers' win on the strength of a two-match unbeaten run and the absence of Mogakolodi ‘Tsotso' Ngele who was in China with the national team. Rollers started brightly and had the Santos rearguard under siege but could not convert gilt—edged opportunities into goal in an eventful first half. Their two-pronged attack of Terence ‘Scarce Skills' Mandaza and young Aubrey Kebonnetse failed to capitalize on Santos goalkeeper Ola Tsae's Achilles heel – of not leaving his goalline in time-and fired blanks the whole afternoon. It was the Santos backline that should get the plaudits for shutting out a rampant Rollers with timely tackles and excellent covering. Letsweletse ‘Ace' Seane and Kaizer Seforo at the centre of the defence stood out in a workmanlike performance. Rollers had two glorious chances to grab the ascendancy when first Mandaza robbed Seane of the ball, strode into the eighteen yard box and centred for a seemingly bemused posse of teammates who reacted slowly and allowed the Santos defence to clear. Then Kebonnetse failed to put away his chance when presented with a one-on-one opportunity and allowed Tsae to gather the ball. Whenever, the Santos forwards broke through the Rollers fortress seemed to crack and when Farazai Nyamunamendo arrowed a delightful pass to Boitshoko Zikhale there was only one result at the end of the latter's sprinting. Rollers were 1-0 down. Again Bakang ‘Dolezar' Moeng threaded a through pass to Godfrey ‘Veron' Ngele but the alert Kabelo Dambe swallowed Ngele's effort as Santos delivered due warning. Rollers second half attempts to get the game on level pegging could not bear fruit with their best chance coming from Amos ‘Shoes' Godirwang whose screamer was fisted to safety by Tsae. In other games, BMC overcame Francistown giants Tafic courtesy of a goal by Kenanao ‘Flo' Kgetholetsile in Lobatse while Motlakase shared the spoils with Extension Gunners in Francistown. Nico United continued their fairytale run in the league when they notched their third victory on the trot. This time Police XI were the victims.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 29 Sep 2009 20:09

  Edition 478 25 September - 2 October, 2009 There's nothing better to warm the cockles of the heart of presidents and politicians . . . a sea of outstretched hands all wanting to be shaken. This was the scene in Maun last Saturday when President Ian Khama arrived to lend his support to Botswana Democratic Party candidates for parliament and council. KHAMA ON THE WARPATH President Ian Khama is worried by rumours affecting his presidential tenure but he is not prepared to put up with it much longer. That is the essence of his address to a Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) rally in support of Maun East parliamentary candidate and former MP, Frank Ramsden, and council nominees in Maun at the weekend. Thousands of red-shirted supporters shouted encouragement as Khama got into his stride in attacking his detractors. He admitted to being worried about accusations levelled against him “by some people and some media houses who have branded me a dictator”, saying he always stands his ground when advocating good service delivery. “They go around tarnishing my name, saying I have hired former soldiers (for government positions),”.he said. “What surprises me is the fact that I am not the first president to bring in ex-soldiers. Former president Sir Ketumile Masire hired my vice president Mompati Merafhe. I was hired by former president Festus Mogae and I hired only two (soldiers) that I know of, but the way they put it makes one wonder because now it appears I am the pioneer of this ex-soldier web. “I think journalists should take into consideration that these ex-soldiers are also Batswana and are also entitled to available government positions provided they qualify. “I have also come to r ealise that some of these journalists are campaign managers for some opposition candidates, so they feel they are better placed to advocate for their people by tarnishing my good name.” Then came the warning from the president – “they need to play their cards well because I am not going to look back or tolerate anything just to please people who think they are head and shoulders above the rest,” he said. Khama said some members of the public also decried the fact that he is “always touring the country unnecessarily” and claiming to hear people's grievances whereas in actual fact he allegedly helps campaign for BDP candidates. “They are also very wrong here because, as president, I also manage the affairs of the country. So how am I going to liaise with my people if I do not move around just because I am afraid of a certain, less observant concerned group? “I am going to intensify (his travels) and whoever feels I am not doing things right will have to re-consider because I am always out on a mission, (and) not to do favours for anyone. “I have also come to realise that some people are so tribalistic that they combine politics and tribalism, more especially those in the opposition. They are very good at fooling and misleading innocent people and turning them against what is right. “We have seen divisions in some countries which were a result of tribalism. We are not going to support it here because we want a united nation,” he said. Khama has called on potential voters to vote for the BDP on October 16. He said members of the public should learn to prioritise and choose what is best for them, adding that if they voted for the opposition “there will be a major drawback because the works of the opposition have never been seen.” Khama said former MPs Ronald Ridge, Jacob Nkate and Frank Ramsden worked tirelessly for their respective constituencies and put a tremendous effort in convincing government to bring about developments as well as stressing the need for the urgent re-opening of Maun abattoir so as to address the needs of Ngamiland farmers who have been affected by the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease among cattle herds. Khama also urged his members to refrain from building up factions and even before he became president, he had seen factions brewing and which resulted in members being offered positions on the party's central committee, adding that this is “a very wrong practice which should be discouraged. “This is killing us and you need to do away with it. Those of you who have been defeated at primary elections should step in and help campaign for those who have won. Don't be rivals because, otherwise, there will always be rifts, leading to some of you standing as independent candidates,” he said. Death of Maun's chief magistrate The judiciary and legal professions are in shock following the death of Maun chief magistrate Mmopa Baakile, 42, on Monday. Confirming his death at a meeting held at Maun magistrate's court by regional magistrate Lorraine Makati Lesang, she said she had come to Maun last Saturday to find that Baakile was not well. She then returned to Francistown. She said on her arrival there she tried to call Baakile but his telephone was not answered. She later received a call from him, telling her that she “should not worry as it is just that he has a heart problem which occurs once in a while.” She said: “He promised me that he was okay.” On Monday she received a call from Baakile's colleagues that they had gone to Baakile's house and found him unconscious. He had been taken to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital and on arrival he was confirmed dead. Baakile was born on October 9, 1966, in Shoshong. He was first appointed a trainee magistrate in July 1993 and later attached as a principal magistrate in Gaborone before being confirmed as a magistrate in July 1994. He was later promoted to a magistrate Grade 1 in September 1996 at Lobatse High Court and was in January 1997 transferred to Maun magistrate's court. While in Maun he was promoted to Senior Magistrate in February, 2001. He was then promoted to Maun's principal magistrate in February 2004 and in the following year transferred to Palapye. He went for further studies in 2007 at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa where he studied for a year before returning to Palapye. He was then appointed as Acting Chief Magistrate and transferred to Maun in September 2008 as chief magistrate. Elderly plot forger gets four years Shakapira Judas Kangondo, of Etsha 6,has been sentenced to four years imprisonment, wholly suspended, and fined P2 000 for obtaining by false pretences and forgery by Maun magistrate Clifford Foroma. The particulars of the offence as led in court are that that Kangondo, 65, together with Nicky Masheko and Mavura Mavura (39), Sedie, Maun, had between July 1 and 30, 2007 acted together with common purpose and with intent to defraud, forged a Tawana Land Board Agreement of Grant of Lease for a residential plot situated along the Thamalakane River in Maun. In second count of obtaining by false pretences, the trio were said to have jointly and acting together with common purpose and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of P50 000 from Steve Carl Huebsch by falsely presenting by words and conduct that Kangondo had lawful authority and title to sell a residential plot situated along Thamalakane River. It was been said Kangondo had no such authority and title over the said plot and the accused knew that the presentations were false. Kangondo admitted to have been given a cheque amounting to P35 000 on July 31 by Huebsch and another cheque of P15 000 was given to him on October 16 after having an agreement to sell the resident plot. He further admitted to have forged a Tawana Land Board lease and pretended to be the owner of the plot. Kangondo also told the court that he had no any defence that he can present before court adding that he was committing such offence to permanently deprive the complainant. Tawana Land Board secretary Nickson Mogapi asked for the court to revert the plot to the Land Board as he said it was not formally allocated to anyone. When asked by Foroma about their intentions about the plot, Mogapi told him that they are going to allocate it to someone who qualified for it. The complainant asked to be compensated his P50 000 adding that he used P200 000 for developments on the plot. He also said he wanted to be compensated for the money he used to buy materials. When asked to comment, Kangondo denied the P200 000 which was said to have been used for buying materials. He however said “only experts will know” that the amount used was P200 000. The prosecutor was Isaac Mamadi, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. In his plea of mitigation, Kangondo asked for a lenient sentence, saying that he is an elderly widowed man taking care of his children. He also begged for a lenient sentence saying that he was a person of ill health and asked for a non-custodial sentence. He also said he will refund the complainant. He was found guilty. When passing sentence, Foroma said he considered the fact that the accused was a first offender, had pleaded guilty and did not waste the court's time in investigations. That showed remorse. He also said the accused was elderly, but that did not mean old age is immunity to a custodial sentence. He also considered that the accused, by forgering the lease, had a criminal mind in order to sell the plot. On the request made by the Tawana Land Board that the plot be returned to them so that it is allocated accordingly, he said as the land was not leased according to the Tawana Land Board, the land still belongs to the land board and they and are the only one who can decide on what to do with the land. He further added that as the complainant said he wanted a refund from the accused for the amount of P250 000 – including P200 000 for developments made on the plot, Foroma said as the accused agreed to compensate P50 000 and not P200 000 it is not yet clear on the issue of land as to what the land board may say as they are still reaching a decision. Foroma said he balanced the competing factors, and said the accused at his age committed a serious offence and said that people who are old should not take their age as an excuse in committing an offence and a custodial sentence for a man of such age won't work. Editorial Editor: Norman Chandler Editorial Comment: Bright Kholi Politicians miss an opportunity One would have thought that political candidates from across all parties who are standing for the general elections on October 16 would have taken advantage of an opportunity presented by this newspaper to further their image and tell the electorate about their ideas for government at parliamentary or council level. This newspaper saw the need to produce an election supplement on October 9 in which all candidates from Maun East, Maun West, Ngami, Okavango and Chobe will be accorded free space to state who they are and why the respective electorates should vote for them. To eliminate complaints of candidates saying they have been misquoted, we asked them in two advertisements published in recent weeks to themselves write what they want to appear – a rare opportunity as newspapers are fiercely jealous of editorial independence. The response is disappointing as only between 20-30 % of all the candidates have responded. The deadline for entries was this week. Some candidates appeared to misunderstand the whole concept as they constantly talked about their academic background which they did not want the public to know about. We however made it clear that we are only interested in their manifestos and what they would do for their electorates if voted into office. This has shown us that some politicians still view the media with suspicion and have not realised the best mechanisms for campaigning. It also shows that some have no idea how to utilise opportunities for campaigning, and particularly those complaining of being denied space in the state media. This newspaper is classified as independent so one would have thought the complainers would have taken up the offer. It was with great sadness that we have come to realise that these are the same people who did not take the opportunity in 2004 when Frank Ramsden and Ronald Ridge took up the opportunity and won election to parliament. It may be the new entrants who do not see the need to use newspapers to further their aims. In the five constituencies in our region, The Ngami Times has the largest readership of any newspaper circulating in the area - and this would surely have worked to the candidates' advantage The Maun Shuffle That amazing story we published last week about allegations of witchcraft involving the village headman of Motopi brings to mind the fact that these practices have not died out in Botswana or indeed in other parts of Africa. Let me also remind readers that witchcraft in some form or other is also not unknown in Europe, for instance, and most certainly in the eastern European countries where gypsies and peasants still hold sway with tales of sorcery, wizards and witches. The Motopi story is however horrifying in this modern day and age. Mud in the office, leaves from the wreaths on the graves of dead people, deaths in the family and spells being cast all contribute to a scenario that more educated people find disturbing, to say the least. These horrors are like something out of Stephen King novels or invoke memories of other spine-chilling books one may have read in one's formative years and some of which have been the subject of television stories. Right here in Maun, for instance, this newspaper has over the years published stories about tokoloshes, zombies and similar. While one is inclined to laugh about it, there is somewhere deep in the recesses of our minds the thought that there could be a grain of truth in the practices. Did you know ?    The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.). It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts, and has a population of 80, 20 less people than The Vatican state.. It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is. The other week, this column published a story about how plans to curb the number of tourists visiting our northern national parks, and therefore our town, could see the economic ruin of the region. In our defence of Maun and businesses here, Shuffle gave some interesting statistics which are undeniable by anyone interested in the development of Maun, in particular. Of course there is always someone who, hand on heart, claims otherwise – the problem is that to lose sight of what the future may hold if the government forces through its plans to cut down on self-drive tourists in favour of what is regarded as high value low volume, then Maun is in for a torrid time after 2010. Already immigration officials are implementing at the borders new regulations which make it an offence for cross-border safari operators to carry passengers into this country if the operator does not hold a special licence. The other day, a Namibian licenced professional guide, with four or five British tourists wanting to visit Botswana, was stopped at the Mamuno border post near Charles Hill and told to pay US$2 500 (about P20 000) for the privilege of entering Botswana. The problem though was that the guide was to hand over the tourists to a legitimate registered Botswana professional guide with his own Botswana-registered motor vehicle and with all the licences God ever made. The immigration people wouldn't even allow the tourists passage across no-man's land between the two border posts! Now that is what Shuffle regards as high-handed and totally inappropriate. The tourists were understandably very angry at being turned back. The Namibian guide had no idea whatsoever that the new regulation was in place or in force as there had been no publicity given to the change in Namibia. In Botswana there has been the odd poster devoted to this decision - mostly at border gates. Surely department of Tourism people could show a flair for public relations by placing advertisements in newspapers in South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe – to mention but a few – so that people do not make pointless journeys. It's called Public Relations, you know. Man discharged and acquitted for rape By Keagisitswe Dioka A 30 year old Shakawe man - facing a count of rape – has walked from court a free man after being found not guilty by Maun magistrate Rebecca Motsamai. Galebolelwe Thari was discharged and acquitted as the complainant was ruled to be not reliable and inconsistent to the court. Motsamai said it was clear that the accused had carnal knowledge with the complainant on May 6, 2006. She had said in court that the accused went to her at the victim's sister's place and asked for his cell phone. The accused then kissed her and put a knife in his pocket. It was also revealed that the accused then went away and later came back to the complainant. Motsamai also said the complainant told the court that the accused forced her to accompany him to his place, adding in her summing up that the complainant further stated that there were people following them and she did not ask for any assistance from them. Motsamai stressed out that the complainant would have not allowed Thari to drive her away from her sister's home as he had earlier forcibly kissed her. She also said it had been said the complainant knew that the accused person was in possession of an Okapi knife and by that she could have asked for help when the accused forced her to accompany him. The court heard the complainant told the court that she was raped by the Thari at his place and that at around 9pm her sister had telephoned her. That's when she went to neighbours and reported the alleged rape. Thari had told the court he had carnal knowledge with the complainant as she was his girlfriend but she had told neighbours that she was raped by him. The accused however told the court that the complainant was afraid of telling her sister as she was going to be angry with her that she left the children alone. Motsamai ruled that the complainant was not credible, adding that if indeed she was raped by the accused, she would have first reported the incident to her sister instead of neighbours. Botswana again ranked as ‘Economic Freedom' leader Botswana has again been placed among the top performers in the 15th annual index of Economic Freedom, which was published this week by the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal. This year's index measured the level of economic freedom in 183 countries and territories, once more focusing on 10 specific categories: labor freedom, business freedom, trade freedom, fiscal freedom, government size, monetary freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom, property rights and freedom from corruption. Scores in each of these categories are averaged to create an overall score for each country or territory on the index. With an improved overall score of 70 (69.7) Botswana is now ranked 34th in the world and second in Africa after Mauritius, scoring well above the world average on eight of 10 areas measured. The report further notes that Botswana's global competitiveness is founded on a sensible business regulatory environment, openness to foreign investment, and relatively flexible employment regulations.” Hong Kong retained the highest overall index rating (90.0), followed by Singapore (87.1), Australia (82.6), Ireland (82.2) and New Zealand (82.0). In the report's country profile, Botswana is characterised as “a politically stable multi-party democracy with a market-oriented economy that encourages private enterprise”, which despite its significant natural resources has “avoided the perils of corruption and violence that often accompany such endowments” The authors take the view that Botswana could still do more to improve its scores in trade freedom and freedom from corruption, further adding that:   That magnificent baby in his flying machine! The Buck and Hunter, popular haunt of pilots and others, will surely never be the same on Friday nights when a new breed of baby pilots turn up at that establishment! It appears the first of the many new little ‘uns who are taking to the skies has arrived in town – meet Matthew Weyl “flying” a Cessna Caravan. Maun, the centre of aviation in Botswana, is famous for its many aviators – from the oldest pilots to the youngest who are still wet behind the ears when it comes to flying. Many come here for on average two years to hone their skills over a difficult terrain before progressing to larger aircraft and eventually jets. Witchcraft allegations divide residents - Following the recent revelations at Motopi's village kgotla after the discovery of alleged witchcraft, it is evident that this usually quiet village is destined to be to be torn apart as some residents believe their chief, Dimbo Selabe while a majority accuse him of “some evil acts.” His supporters say their chief was framed and that jealous people might be responsible for the situation because Selabe had earlier on admitted to some of the allegations. A cleaner at the tribal administration offices, Leatametse Phisi, said although she does not know exactly who could be responsible for what “now seems like a daily bread,” she has been disturbed because she is always at the receiving end as her job entails that she cleans the premises day in and day out. She said apart from the heaps of mud which were found inside Selabe's office, the chief's chair still has on it “a reddish substance” which is smeared over it, and it is the same office which she has to make sure is thoroughly clean everyday. “I must tell you it was such a frightening sight. I did not know what to do or who to confront until I finally collected my courage to phone my superiors in Makalamabedi for their insight on the issue. “They too were shocked as the story was just too complicated to believe. They wondered how Selabe could have spilled muti on the same chair which he shares with top government officials, including the Member of Parliament, whenever they visit. “I am just let down by the turn of events because Selabe is not just a village elder. He is also my closest relative and I still respect him. “I want to set the record straight because some villagers believe I am the one who pointed him out. That is not true. I do not think I was wrong to question things which I thought were not being done the proper way,” she said. Kgosi Gonkgang Mankgatau said in an interview with The Ngami Times that other officials in Serowe are to hold discussions “to settle the matter.” A further public meeting at the local kgotla is expected to take place soon. Okavango water under discussion Botswana water engineering technicians are exchanging knowledge with experts from Mozambique. One of the visiting experts is Casimiro Beurai from the Cabo Delgado province who is working for his country's regional water management administration to develop better supply of water to towns and villages. His colleague, José João, is secretary of a farmer's union in neighbouring Niassa province, developing cooperatives for marketing vegetables grown by small farmers. This week both have been touring the Okavango Delta's Panhandle to learn how the Okavango's communities are facing the future of the river. Hosted by Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) Secretariat in Maun, they are part of a delegation of 10 Mozambicans travelling with Botswana country members of the Okavango's Basin Wide Forum to villages where they are seeing and hearing first-hand how local people who depend on the river for their livelihoods are participating in its planning and management. Later this year, Batswana representatives will pay a return visit to the Rovuma River Basin in Mozambique where a similar trans-boundary river basin management programme is underway with Tanzania. These exchange visits are supported by the German capacity building organisation InWent, whose training programmes in sustainable development have recently focused on trans-boundary river basins in southern Africa. InWent trainers have been working with Mozambican for more than a year, exposing them to the latest ideas and techniques in water conservation and treatment. Understanding water engineering techniques is only part of the solution to good planning for big river basins like the Okavango and the Rovuma, said OKACOM executive secretary Eben C Honguiça “Working with communities directly affected by changes in water quality and flow is really important for good governance and effective sharing of the river's benefits. That's why OKACOM has been involved in developing the Every River has its People Project and the Basin Wide Forum. “This exchange partnership lets our Mozambican colleagues see how we are putting the strong Botswana tradition of consultation and discussion to work for wise management of the river basin,” he said Mother daughter sentenced for hurting child By Gaolebogwe Moipei and Molefhi Manyepedza A Shakawe woman and her daughter have been sentenced to three years and two years imprisonment respectively for the unlawful wounding on the former's 13-year-old son. The two however had their sentences suspended by Maun magistrate Mmoloki Sibanda on condition that they do not commit similar offences. The court heard that February 26 the boy's mother, Kayama Phoraki, with her co-accused and daughter, Kebonyemang Phoraki, 20, tied the boy to a pole and burnt him with plastic and dry grass. When the accused were asked about the reasons that made them to commit such an offence, Kamaya said she was disciplining her son after suspecting him of stealing P4. He was rescued by a passerby who then reported the matter to Shakawe police station.The prosecutor, Luanda Antonio, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), told the court that the victim sustained minor injuries on legs and knees during the incident. Both accused persons pleaded guilty. The accused pleaded for a lenient sentence and Kayama said “I am a breadwinner, taking care of my children who do not have a father and also taking care of my mother” while Kebonyemang said she helped her mother in taking care of her brother and sisters and requested the court to consider her age when passing sentence, adding that she is a first offender. When passing sentence Sibanda said he took into consideration the fact that the two were first offenders and normally first offenders are given chance to rehabilitate, and the way the offence was committed is also taken into consideration. The two had committed a serious offence and in an extreme manner which is unacceptable. He said the motive behind was to punish the boy, and which was done unlawfully. He also considered the mitigations and the relationship the two accused has with the boy, adding a custodial sentence would not solve the problem. “If the primary caregivers go to jail, how will those left behind live, who will take the responsibility, the court won't help and looking at facts that the young boy is still in his early teen ages he needs both guidance from the mother and the sister,” the magistrate said. Sibanda gave the two accused a chance to rehabilitate and that they remain a loving mother and a sister to the family. When giving a word of advice to the accused and the community, Sibanda urged people to take care of their children and not to abuse them, and those who abuse them will be dealt with accordingly. He added that burning someone over a stolen P4 is “really unreasonable.” The boy is still with the SOS children's care organisation in Serowe and it is not finalised as to when he will be taken back home. The prosecutor was Luanda Antonio, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions Maun Prison escapees again face the court By Gaolebogwe Moipei Four Zimbabweans who escaped from Maun State Prison on August 30, have appeared before Maun magistrate, Mmoloki Sibanda for escaping from lawful custody and pleaded guilty to the offence as charged on September 22. The four accused are George Themba Bhebe (30), Loyoit Kare Choto (28), Sipho Siziba (39), and Themba Dube also known as Tshepo Salang, (25) who are alleged to have jointly and acting together with common purpose and with intent escaped from Maun State Prison by cutting through the roof and two fences. Bhebe, Choto and Siziba were allegedly charged for robbing businessman Muhammad Farhan's house at Botshabelo ward and stole cash, cell phones and a laptop. It has been revealed that they were armed with a pistol and other dangerous weapons and also used violence. They had been remanded in custody on August 21 for this case. Tshepo Salang is said to have on January 6, 2000, using the names of Trust Salang, been convicted of common assault by Maun Customary court and was flogged by five strokes, while in another case, using the manes of Tshepo Salang, on July 24, 2006, he was convicted of stealing from a person and sentenced to 7 months in prison. The four accused admitted that they are guilty as charged and that they “really intended to escape from prison and had no right to do so.” Sibanda accordingly found them guilty as charged. On September 5, the four accused were arrested by the police while taking a taxi in Maun and were remanded in custody. In a plea of mitigation, Themba Bhebe asked for a lenient sentence saying that he is a married man with 2 children, a first offender and will be happy if he is given a wholly suspended imprisonment because he is still facing charges for other offences. Kare Choto asked for leniency, also saying that he is a married man, a first offender, his wife is pregnant, and said that he will never repeat the same offence again. Sipho Siziba also asked for a lenient sentence saying that he is sick. He accepted that what he did was wrong and told the court that what he needs is “to be forgiven by God.” He described himself as a breadwinner to his family. Themba Dube, also known as Tshepo Salang, asked for a lenient sentence, saying that he still facing other offences, his young child is still at the house and as the father of the child he is supposed to be there. He told the court this would be his first and last time committing such an offence and would “only need at least to be given strokes than to be in prison.” The prosecutor in this case was Luanda Antonio, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The sentence was expected by the end of the week. Students urged to concentrate on education not sex By Molefi Manyepedza The guest speaker at the Maun Secondary School prize giving, tourism specialist in the BiOkavango Project, Lefatshe Magole, has told students that they should concentrate on education first before assuming the roles of mothers and fathers. He said they face challenges as this year he came across an article in The Ngami Times stating that Maun Secondary has a very high rate of dropouts due to pregnancy. “If you are a female learner at Maun SSS, you can not fulfill the role of a spouse whose role includes being pregnant and raising children. Similarly if you are a male student at Maun SSS, you are not a father and can not fulfill the roles of a father,” he said. Magole pleaded with more older people to stop viewing students as potential lovers and not to propose to schoolgirls as this is classed as abusing them. Magole said it is not surprising that MSSS is one of the biggest secondary schools in Botswana, with an enrolment of 2 400, 159 teachers and 108 support staff members. He further said its total population is comparable to the population of villages such as Toteng, Seronga and Sepopa. Magole said academic performance in MSSS has been average compared to other senior secondary schools in the country and said that the circumstances under which MSSS operates are different. He encouraged students to take academic seriously and not leave sports behind - “I am informed that in the 2009 BISA national athletics finals, Maun SSS won 17 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze medals, while 5 teams reached national finals in ball sports competition,” he added. Patients suffer at the hands of clinic nurses News reporter Basadi Morokotso recently witnessed at first hand how some nurses ill treat patients and also speak to them in foul language. There is something very wrong and unacceptable taking place in medical facilities in this area. During a visit to a clinic I collided head on with a somewhat arrogant male nurse whose behaviour was not acceptable. This was the first I had witnessed down the years when visiting the clinic. The staff is always more than willing to assist, and at times sacrifice their lunch hours to treat patients. This nurse's attitude towards patients who had visited the clinic that day left tongues wagging because he was not only rude, and also did not show any remorse when confronted by angry patients. Instead, he deliberately whiled away the time and at about 4pm sauntered out of his consulting room, both hands in his pockets, and said “coming in 15 minutes.” He never showed up. One patient after the other went to find out what could be delaying him, and one woman patient (name known to The Ngami Times) said she overheard him belittling the status of area councillors, saying Maun residents have a tendency of voting in councillors who have never represented them well. I personally confronted the nurse (whose name is known to this newspaper) after I was asked by an elderly woman to call him so that he could explain why he could not offer assistance. When I finally found him, he was busy in a dressing room making preparations for the next day. He had the temerity to tell me he was “too busy to come” and that whoever felt he or she was being delayed in terms of medical treatment they were at liberty to seek help at Letsholathebe hospital. I told him I could not pass on his response because it was unacceptable and rude. When I returned to the patients - some of whom would not take no for an answer - they were so furious that they decided to confirm what I reported to them - only to be told the same thing. The nurse gave me his name and said I could report him to “the council secretary or the permanent secretary (of the Department of Health) and I will give them the same response because they also know what we are going through,” he said. The nurse said “I was not even supposed to have assisted you in the first place because I am charged with assisting patients at the ARV section. It is true that I mentioned councillors, but I was not talking to anyone of you and that has nothing to do with this issue.” The following morning, I telephoned the council secretary's office and was referred to Lawrence Mazinyane, the CS who heads Maun Administration Authority. I told him the story in the presence of two senior nurses. They promised to follow it up and Mazinyane apologised and said it was unfortunate what patients had to go through. “I am let down by what you people experienced. We do not and never will condone such behaviour. “If a nurse utters such words and mentions politics while in line of duty, then it is quite clear that he or she is not representing us. The Ministry of Local Government which offered him the job is made up mostly of politicians, the very people he undermines. It was very wrong for him to have behaved that way and highly regrettable. “We will follow up to get a clear picture of what transpired,” he said. The understaffing at clinics in Maun and also countrywide is well known. It does not mean, however, that a nurse can abandon patients and choose to run his or her errands without explaining the reason to patients. While one cannot rule out the possibility of patients overreacting and being unwilling to listen to whatever is being said, nothing allows nurses to do as they wish or to say whatever they feel like. Major changes coming for Botswana tourism GABORONE – It is understood that a draft Bill to be presented to the first session of the next parliament will provide for the establishment of a Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) to replace the Botswana Tourism Board. The object of the Bill, published in the Government Gazette of September 11, is to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, the Botswana Tourism Board Act. It is proposed that the BTO Bill provides for the establishment of a board of directors and be empowered to market and promote tourist attractions, and to encourage and facilitate travel by local and foreign tourists. “Botswana Tourism will also be expected to plan, develop and implement tourism marketing and promotion strategies aimed at creating and sustaining a positive image of Botswana as a tourist and investor destination,” states the proposed Bill. “It will also plan, formulate and implement strategies for promoting sustainable tourism development in collaboration with the private sector in the tourism industry, local authorities, local communities and nongovernmental organisations.” It will also have the function of grading and classifying tourists' enterprise facilities. According to the proposed Bill, “any person who operates a tourist enterprise that is not graded in accordance with the new Act commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P20 000, or an imprisonment term not exceeding five years, or both” It also states that a tourist enterprise may only operate for 12 months on the ungraded symbol, after which it shall attain at least one star symbol. A grading certificate, unless revoked, will expire after 24 months and failure to pay grading fees shall attract a fine of P10 000, or an imprisonment term not exceeding four years, or both. Zebras off to play China in friendly The senior national soccer team, the Zebras, fly to Beijing, China, on Sunday for a friendly game against the Chinese. They are in camp preparing for the international encounter on September 29 before participating in this year's COSAFA Cup in Zimbabwe. Zebras' coach Stanley Tshosane has called on locally-based players for both the China game and the COSAFA Cup. The coach wanted to have foreign-based players but this has not been possible since the China game falls outside the FIFA calendar. The game against China was said by Tshosane to be the only friendly match before they go to the Cup competition. “We have limited time for preparation for the Zimbabwe games because of our tight schedule, but we will try to utilise the little time we have to be well-equipped for the China match,” he said. China is currently ranked 108th in the world, their lowest since 1976. Botswana is 137th. After the China friendly, the Zebras will go straight to Zimbabwe to join 14 other Southern and East African countries for the Cup. Easy draw for the Zebras in COSAFA games The draw for the COSAFA Cup matches in Zimbabwe next month was conducted in Harare last week with Botswana getting rather a fair draw against Swaziland, Seychelles and Comoros in pool B of the group stages. The top six ranked countries from the region - Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Zambia - all received byes in the preliminary round in which eight countries were divided into two groups of four. The annual competition, which has grown to become the flagship tournament of the region, will run from October 17 to November 1 in Harare and Bulawayo. Thirteen of the 14 teams participating in the competition are from the COSAFA region but Madagascar withdrew and was replaced by Tanzania who will be making a guest appearance. Botswana has brought up a strong squad of local based players which is expected to travel to Zimbabwe without foreign players. This is due to the fact that the competition falls outside the FIFA calendar dates; therefore it will be difficult for foreign players to be released by their teams. The eight unseeded countries will battle for two of the eight quarterfinal places after which the competition will take a knock-out format. Of the other seeded countries Malawi will battle it out with Mozambique while Namibia squares up to Zambia. Group A of the preliminaries comprises of Zimbabwe along with Tanzania, Mauritius and Lesotho The draw: Group A: Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mauritius, Lesotho. Group B: Swaziland, Comoros, Seychelles, Botswana. Quarter-Final 1: Malawi v Mozambique; Quarter-Final 2: South Africa v Angola; Quarter-Final 3: Namibia v Zambia; Quarter-Final 4: Winner Group A v Winner Group B. Heroes through to A to Z Independence semis Nhabe regional league first division league new boys Maun Heroes booked their place in the semifinals of the A to Z Independence Cup tournament with a 3-1 win over Police outfit Fuji Rollers on Sunday. Tlhalefo “Raul” Ndlovu's first effort opened the floodgates to the four-goal thrilling encounter. Other goals from Keabetswe and Jojo were enough for the newcomers to claim a place in the last four. The Heroes will meet Nhabe league giants Maun Tigers in the first semifinal. Much was expected from this game, and Maun Heroes kept their calm as they went through and showed signs of what to expect in the new league season. Heroes team manager Norman Sebele hailed his boys and he promised fireworks in the semifinals against favourites Maun Tigers - “My boys played very well. I was expecting more from the team, but we missed most of our regular players. We had about five players from last season who were part of this team which went through to the semis and I believe we are on the right track”. Maun Terrors continued with their brilliance as they booked themselves a place in the finals by beating Delta Winds 3-1 on Wednesday night. A first half double strike by hardworking striker Pelontle Shakes Dimbo was enough to send Terrors through to the finals. Delta Winds scored a consolation goal through Menson ‘Firo' Mompati. In another games played over the weekend, Moeti United ended their campaign on a low note by losing 2-0 to Maun Terrors, Delta Winds fought hard to march past 2 nd division league side Gaegolelwe with an impressive 2-1 win. Meanwhile, sponsors A to Z added to their donation 300 t-shirts worth P6 000.00 to all the teams that have participated in the tournament. Terrors face Bucs in league opener Nhabe region's National first division league representatives, Maun Terrors, will be in action over the weekend as they take on visiting Orapa Bucs in the opening game of the season on Saturday. After finishing last season in the bottom half, Terrors are looking forward to their hopes and start off on a high note. Nevertheless, it will be difficult for Terrors as they will be without five of the regular players who contributed much to the success of the team last season. Terrors will be without strikers Gaojenkabo Bahenyi and Kenny, while Sonny returned to his former club, Moeti United, Omponye Kebaetse who is most likely to join one of the Be Mobile Premier league teams and Collen Sebako is his studying in Selebi Phikwe. Team captain Ronald Sebako admitted that they will miss the players - “they were the most important players we had in the team but we have to put that behind us and work with what we have. “It's going to be difficult to find replacements but with the transfer window open, we are trying to beef up our squad,” said Sebako. Just before the transfer deadline, Terrors netted eight players including two schoolboys from Maun Senior Secondary School. The players are Moses Kobamelo and Boniface Moapelwa from CTO, Kagiso Moatshe (Makgabisanaga), Thato Manowe (Tlokweng Home Sweepers), Kesego KC Mmolainyane (North West United) and Oris Salepito (Sankoyo). In the other games to be played over the weekend, Mahalapye Hotspurs play newly promoted Ferry Wanderers from Kasane, Tasc face up Palapye United, FC Satmos entertain Orapa Wanderers, Sua Flamingoes play BR Highlanders and Miscellaneous play Great North Tigers in Serowe. Meanwhile Maun Tigers has parted ways with their coach Jabulani Ncube who has already joined Maun Terrors. Ncube was on the bench when Maun Terrors went through to the semifinals of the A to Z Independence Cup.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 22 Sep 2009 12:41

  Edition 477 18 - 25 September, 2009 Alleged desert killer goes to court . . . This 33-yearold man (centre) from Xhabacha cattle post in the remote north-west is accused of murdering three people near the cattle post. This week, Mungunda Mushongu appeared before Maun chief magistrate Mmopa Baakile for mention. He is charged with three counts of murder and one of robbery. Mushongu is said to have murdered Mozulu Jackson, Kathiko Jackson and Kebonyekgosi Kayupura on April 28 at or near Chukumuchu .It is alleged he robbed Kathiko and Mozulu Jackson of two Nokia cellphones and P1 000 and that before robbing them, he used violence to obtain their property. State prosecutor Mompoloki Gaboiphiwe told the court that investigations are on-going and Mushongu should be further remanded in custody. When asked to comment by the court, Mushongu said he had nothing to say. He appears again on September 28. (Picture: Lets Open) Nata's Grand Old Lady gets help Following the article in last week's The Ngami Times about an elderly Nata woman who lives virtually in the open and does not have a house to sleep in with her four grandchildren, there has been a big response from concerned business communities in Maun and Nata. Thamalalo Reetsanye, in her mid-70s, and her grandchildren need shelter and a toilet. Caldec Investments in Maun has offered 1 000 blocks to help in building the house and arrangements are being made to transport the material to Nata. In Nata, China Jiangxi Corporation, a company which is constructing the Nata/Sepako road has offered to help with extra materials needed for building the structure, especially in the form of sand and gravel. More help is needed and we call on those who can assist to contact The Ngami Times (Bright Kholi) on 686 4807 or 71820939 or in Nata contact Pedro Martinez on 75014128. ‘WORKS OF THE DEVIL' MOTOPI - The village headman here has heard in his own kgotla details of horrifying witchcraft allegations made against him. Residents of the village say Dimbo Selabe has been at the centre of acts of witchcraft and other unusual things experienced at the Kgotla and at the village cemetery. The activities have been branded as “works of the devil”. Residents were this week summoned to the village Kgotla and they attended in their droves. They heard and commented upon unusual things which they could neither narrate nor understand. The tribal administration staff claimed to be the hardest hit because things had happened under their very noses and all fingers pointed to the village headman of records, Dimbo Selabe. as the mastermind behind these “works of the devil.” A resident Kenosi Makgetho told of how they had always felt lazy or at times reluctant whenever they were to attend Kgotla meetings because they “always lost concentration while there or ended up dozing most of the time”, and as a result preferred to stay home or some spent time at shebeens. For this reason they have a feeling their Kgotla has been cursed. Even cases which could have been attended to are pending for no good reason, they claimed. Kabalele Baane told of how people have been dying mysteriously in the village, about 85km from Maun in the Boteti sub-district. Some body parts were found to be missing but no action ever taken. He said even rape cases are never heard. “The police here do all that they can, but it all seems useless and a waste of time because things just disappear,” he told the kgotla. Makalamabedi Subordinate Tribal Authority, Diane Sepako, told how just recently he received a telephone call from an official at the Kgotla informing him of an unusual sight at headman Selabe's office. When he and his subordinates got there, they discovered what looked like mud in the headman's office. They confronted him about it and he was quick to admit responsibility, saying the reason why he bathed and brought muti in the office was because he had not been well for some time. This puzzled Sepako as he said he had never experienced rituals being performed in a government office, wondering at the same time why Selabe could not have used his own house, his fields or any other place. “I made him aware of this and told him it was very wrong for him to have done that, more especially that the office, let alone the Kgotla, is not his personal property but belonged to the public. “I told him to appoint someone from his family to come and clean the office as we honestly could not order the cleaner to do so. He (Selabe) declined but instead chose to do the sweeping and mopping up himself. “We thought all was finalised and we went back to Makalamabedi, only to be called back again when we received another call that as staff at the Kgotla reported for work recently, they were saw with disbelief wreath cuttings, all facing westerly and planted in and around the Kgotla premises. “I asked Selabe and other headmen (about it) and all of them denied knowledge, even though the majority felt Selabe was at it again. “I personally felt the matter was above me and I telephoned Gonkgang Mankgatau, Senior Subordinate Tribal Authority in Rakops, and he ordered that a kgotla meeting be called so as to get your views”. The Ngami Times learnt at the meeting that the headmen, accompanied by the police, followed tracks from the Kgotla to the village cemetery where they discovered that the wreath cuttings were taken from the grave of Pule Sebetwane, the son of headman Letota Sebetwane, who was chopped to death in July by his girlfriend. The deceased's' father said all along it never came to his mind that someone was behind his children's deaths. They had, he said, “been dying one after the other. “It pained my family a lot when my son was chopped to death even though I did not suspect foul play (at the time). “This incident is now an eye-opener to us all even though we cannot fight back as we believe God has answers to all this. I just cannot sleep at night when I think of these things happening to my family and I wonder if my son is peacefully resting. “I want this matter to be taken forward and for justice to take its toll,” he said in a shaky voice. Speaking in his defence, Selabe admitted to the first incident (the mud in the office) and that he was innocent of the second (the wreath leaves). “There is really nothing I can say. I told everybody who was there during the first incident my side of story and I admitted it. “I was told to clean up the mess in full view of the people who were present then and I abided because I knew I was to blame. The reason why I refused to call in my wife or children to come and clean on my behalf was because I did not want to involve them in things that they did not know from the onset. “I am equally surprised about the wreath cuttings you see here and do not know why everyone of you think I am responsible. “Why not call in traditional doctors or prophets so that they could caste their spells? The truth must prevail and if it means me being jailed, I won't hesitate to serve provided there is enough proof linking me to it. I still maintain my innocence,” he said amid laughter from residents. Selabe's nephew, Mosinyi Kenewendo, told of disappointment and embarrassment over the accusations levelled against his uncle. He said his uncle never told them, as a family, and that they “just heard news on the village grapevine”. He added: “I am stuck for words and do not know what to say because this man is my ‘father'. “He could have called a meeting before the news spread so as to clear his name, but I think now it is a bit too late because things have gone from bad to worse.” Sepako told residents to expect another meeting in which Gonkgang Mankgatau, from Rakops, will be present. He said in the meantime residents should not hold grudges but work harmoniously with Selabe until the matter has been resolved and judgment passed by those in higher authority. He said he was disappointed by the turn of events because government officials might in the future not want to work in the village . Contractors who fail projects are warned By Basadi Morokotso The Minister of Local Government, Ambrose Masalila, has sent a strong warning to local contractors whom he said should show seriousness and commitment whenever they have been given work to carry out if they want to stay in business. He said one thing that makes a good contractor is his ability to prove himself to be trustworthy, reliable and honest, a thing which he said still lacks behind in most of them. The North West District Council; (NWDC) has in the past also accused the contractors of issuing false performance bonds so that they could be awarded tenders, only to fail to meet the terms of contracts and delaying the provision of service delivery. Speaking at the official opening of the l's completed projects in Maun at the weekend; Masalila said that contractors have also developed a tendency of getting their mobilisation money before the commencement of work- and then disappear into thin air. For this reason he said the ministry was left with no option but to take up the matter with the High Level Consultation Committee under BOCCIM for possible assistance. He gave an example RADs hostels in Mantshwabisi in the Kweneng District which took close to seven years to complete. “It is so amazing because after we lose hope and terminate contracts, the same contractors take us to court even when they know they should carry the blame. “We are not going to tolerate this behavior anymore because they are a waste of time and stand in the way of productive people who would have completed their works and saved us time”. Masalila said also that the completion of projects in Maun - comprising the state of the art council chamber, the landfill, the Andrew Wellio Memorial School, Kareng Clinic, Matsaudi Health Post and Disaneng Primary School, which were constructed at a total cost of P48, 331 105.54 marks a significant step in the realisation of the objectives of the Ngamiland District Development Plan 6 which contributes to the overall objectives of 2016. He said the NWDC found it compelling to build the two schools after discovering that Boseja and Gxhabara schools, which share the same locality were overpopulated by 299 and 40 students, respectively. Andrew Wellio alone currently has seven classrooms and seven teacher's houses and was constructed at a total cost of P6 599 997.80 with a total enrolment of 596 pupils and 19 teachers. Disaneng on the other hand has a student population of 310 and eight teachers and has the same number of classes and teacher's houses with the total construction cost standing at P9 070 855.90. He said the council chamber was built after there was an increase in electoral constituencies which in turn increased the number of councillors. There are a total of 71 councillor's seats, 112 seats for the public, the press gallery and other associated facilities. The minister also expressed worry about the slow pace of construction works at the new bus rank - “I always run out of words when I have to comment on this one and I suspect something somewhere is very wrong. “I want thorough inspections to be carried out there because otherwise it's like we are heading nowhere while members of the public suffer at the end. These are just deliberate mistakes that we cannot handle anymore. I would suggest now that these people should be followed every step of the way”, he said. Former Council Secretary Paulos Nkoni said regardless of the many difficulties encountered while the projects were being carried out, the NWDC managed to beat all odds and came up with positive results which can be witnessed by everyone. He said the achievement as a district was a result of a good team spirit that was bestowed amongst himself, his staff, the District Commissioner's office as well as other stakeholders who worked tirelessly to see to it that all was in place even though time did not favour them at times as well as the many challenges that they came across. He said since the projects were carried out before the global recession, they benefited the North West as a district and called on those who will be in charge of their everyday use to take extra care because there will never be money to carry out renovations. He said also that the facilities are meant to improve the livelihoods of Batswana and therefore they should take full responsibility of seeing to it that they are well kept. Meanwhile, projects which are expected to be completed soon include the Thito and Matshwane Primary Schools, Maun fire station, Matshwane, Disaneng and Maun West clinics, and the bus rank as well as the upgrading of 33km of Maun internal roads to bitumen standards of which 13km are already complete. Vote Jakes ‘or you will regret it' By Basadi Morokotso SEHITHWA – The electorate in Sehithwa and surrounding areas have been urged to vote for the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) parliamentary candidate Jacob Nkate “and not waste their votes on candidates from opposition parties because they will never bring them anything of value.” Addressing a rally here over the weekend, Vice President Mompati Merafhe said democrats and the ruling party cannot afford to lose someone of Nkate's calibre because he has a good track record. Merafhe hailed Nkate for his “loyalty and bravery” by heading the Ministry of Education and Skill Development which not every minister would have tolerated, looking at the past and recent controversies that it is faced with, he said. “But because he has vowed to serve his people regardless of the many hardships, setbacks and all the criticism which he has and continues to come across while in the line of duty, he has never given up, lost hope or abandoned the ministry. Instead he continues to fight on so that your children and Batswana as a whole could benefit,” he said. Merafhe also said that should people vote for the opposition, they would have squandered the five years which could have worked for them if they had voted Nkate. He said Nkate has a good reputation of advocating for his people, giving as an immediate example the re-opening of Maun abattoir which is currently undergoing major renovations and expected to start operating in mid-2010. “He gave us a hard time both at parliament and at cabinet soon after this area was hit by Foot and Mouth Disease. He and Frank Ramsden (Assistant minister of Works and Transport) stood there for all of you right from the onset and convinced government to come out with other alternatives of assisting you to sustain your lives, otherwise if they could have kept silent and ignored your grievances, no one was going to notice.” Thato Kwerepe, a member of the BDP central committee who lost to Nkate during primary elections, said although Sehitwa residents voted for him in large numbers then, they should now vote for Nkate to parliament because he deserves it. He said he did not hold a grudge against for Nkate “like many people think”, adding that even in a competition, one is destined to win while the other loses/ “We still lack the spirit of oneness in this district. The odd things that have been going on are not commendable at all. I personally feel we should stop them because they are not bearing any fruit. “There is no way we can run a district or our country if we are not united,” he added. EDITORIAL The need to develop The North West District Council's new chamber was formally opened at the weekend with all the due pomp and glory. It is appropriate that Maun, for too long the Cinderella of development in Botswana, should now have such an excellent facility which will we are sure be utilised to the full in the coming years. Maun, indeed all of Ngamiland, continues to need development in a similar vein so that we can grow to our full potential. Right now, the North West looks at what is taking place in the new industrial axis of Palapye-Serowe, where massive multi-billion pula investments are being made and being encouraged by the government. There's the extension to the power station, the development of natural gas deposits, industrial expansion at Palapye, the plans for a new hotel in Serowe, a pipe-making factory, the technical university, new roads and such like. No one should begrudge that area its successes but fair's fair – Maun is growing apace and needs to be nurtured by the State and parastatals such as the Botswana Development Corporation. Instead, what do we get? Foreign construction companies that don't finish off their contracts satisfactorily or long delays in completion of other projects, and a lack of infrastructure (such as a dependable water supply in the Maun area). Apart from the Council Chamber, we believe we are close to completion with our new fire station, the soon-to-be re-opened abattoir, and government buildings at the Rural Administration Centre (RAC) in Maun. One hopes that the parliamentary and council nominees for the October 16 general elections will take all this into consideration when they make their election promises to the electorate. This area is hungry for development and the wishes of the people for more development should be heeded. Election fever is in the air. Politicians are right now making promises as to how they will act on behalf of their constituents if they are elected to parliament and councilson October 16. Of course, as most people are aware, pre-election promises don't always become fact during the four-year term of office and it is for that reason that for decades people have been making fun of anything political, particularly in the run-up to elections. Here's a sample of some classic remarks - * If you can't convince them, confuse them - Harry S Truman (33rd president of the United States * The President has kept all of the promises he intended to keep. * I'm not a member of any organised political party, I'm a Democrat! – Comedian Will Rogers. * If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one? – Abraham Lincoln (US President) * Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least. * The problem with political jokes is they get elected. * Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least -  Robert Byrne, American author. * Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge where there is no river. – Nikita Krushchev, Russian leader * He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career. – George Bernard Shaw. Remember the old warning: “Don't swim in the sea! Jaws is here . . .” Well, now Shuffle hears this may be the case with your daily shower as well. You may not be getting you as clean as you think when you take a show as an American study has found many showerheads are dirty and may be covering you in a daily dose of bacteria that could make you sick. An analysis of 50 showerheads found that about 30% had high levels of something called Mycobacterium avium — a group of bacteria that can cause lung infections when inhaled or swallowed. Researchers found the levels were 100 times higher than those found in typical household water. “If you are getting a face full of water when you first turn your shower on, that means you are probably getting a particularly high load of Mycobacterium avium , which may not be too healthy,” said researcher Norman Pace. These germs are linked to pulmonary disease, causing symptoms such as a persistent drug cough, breathlessness and fatigue, and most often infects people with compromised immune system but can occasionally infect healthy people. ** Hurrah! Shuffle is due to come into money he didn't even know he had. Yep, the Nigerian scam has been taken to new heights with an offer to give Shuffle US$500 000! I kid you not . . . read this for yourself: I am happy to introduce myself and my office to you. I am the leader and the Chairperson of the above mentioned name (EFCC), and my office deal with cases of banking fraud and the internet scams. Following to the resolution of the Nigerian Government over the people who have been scammed by some fraudulent workers and fake people of the country, the new Government under the President of Chief of the armed forces of the federal Republic of Nigeria, the Senate committee and the National House of Assembly have passed a motion to compensate those victims that was scammed, and during the routine check from the office of the External Affair, name has come up as one of the people who is to benefit from the compensation payment as the office of the presidency have approved and instructed for the payment of the compensation of $500,000 to you.” A quick check on the Internet showed this con to be just that – a scam which has been swallowed hook, line and sinker by thousands of people. If any reader receives a similar e-mail, please send it back with an impolite couple of words that may or may not lead to more money being offered. ** Here's something to make you laugh: A giant ship's engine failed. The owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine.  Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was young. He carried a large bag of tools with him and immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed!  A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for10 000 US dollars. “What?!” the owners exclaimed. “He hardly did anything!” So they wrote the old man a note saying “Please send us an itemised bill.” The man sent a bill that read: Tapping with a hammer...... ......... ........ $ 2.00 Knowing where to tap.......... ......... ...... $ 9 998.00 Khama promises that democracy will be strengthened and nourished KANYE - Botswana Democratic Party leader and Botswana president Ian Khama has promised to strengthen the promotion of democracy in the country. He told an election rally here he would even teach other African communities about the importance of adherence to democratic principles. Khama said although he has been advised to pursue quiet diplomacy when dealing with some regional issues, there is no way he could keep quiet when another leader in the region uses his position to harass his political opponents through the police and soldiers. “If in Botswana we want peace and stability, we want others in the continent to also enjoy it,” he is quoted by the Botswana Press association 9BOPA) as saying. Khama said there is no way that the ruling BDP party can use the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) “to rig the elections just because it wants to stay in power for long as it is happening in other countries. We do not want life presidents; here in Botswana we want a president to serve 10 years.” He was also perturbed by reports that the election date favoured the ruling party, adding that those who spread the reports were unfair to him because he announced during his inaugural speech in April last year and later in November that the elections would be held in October this year, thus giving local political parties an opportunity to prepare themselves for the elections. Khama said his administration would not condone corruption, adding that Batswana need a pat on the back since recent surveys has identified Botswana as the least corrupt country in Africa. He also said his government would continue with the promotion of human rights adding that even though the press often attacks him to the point of dubbing him as “a dictator,” it deserves to write about him. On developments, Khama promised that the government would continue to implement development infrastructures such as roads, electricity, tertiary institutions and healthy facilities with funds accrued from diamonds sales. Three for presidency Three of the country's recognised five political partiers have nominated Presidential candidates for the October 16 general elections. Incumbent president Ian Khama has been nominated by the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) with Gibson Saleshando's name being put forward by the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Otsweletse Moupo is the Botswana National Front's (BNF) candidate. The Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) has aligned itself to the BCP and therefore did not make a nomination. Two other parties, MELS and the Botswana Peoples' Party could not nominate candidates as their support base is too small. A monkey picks out a meal on a rubbish bin. Gontse Gareebine-Bass cannot believe the state of rubbish bins in our national parks. How to beat sorry state of parks By Gontse Gareebine-Bass ( Former Maun journalist now living in Norway ) I recently found myself yet again a frustrated tourist in my homeland, Botswana. And it is all to blame on unbelievable occurrences that continue to take place within our national parks and game reserves. Whether it's an expedition off-the-beaten-track of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Moremi Game Reserve, Khutse or Mabuasehube Transfontier Park, to mention but a few of our so-called pristine environments, someone always goes out of their way to ruin my holiday. The simple truth is there are always Wildlife staff that do not give a hoot about their jobs, and tourists that I would love to shoot with my homemade catapult that was originally meant for wild baboons that steal your food the minute you look the other way. There are some annoying tourists who disturb the peace and make those who are environmentally friendly, and have perhaps traveled half-way across the globe, to undergo unnecessary stress when all one really wanted was to get away from it all. When one needs to get away from air pollution, car horns, loud music, loud people and other unsociable conditions, you would think what better place is there than running off to the African wilderness? Think again because there are boorish groups who come into our parks and national reserves year after year and break rules and regulations that are put in place to protect our heritage to make sure that people from all walks of life enjoy our nature. There are too many examples of chumps breaking the protective speed limit of 50km/h within our parks by doing a crazy 60km/h or more, churning up the roads, racing across the pans at night, feeding the animals, leaving behind half-burning fires in campsites, treating these pristine environments as playgrounds for macho behavior. Mind you, they do all this under the very noses of the idle and inefficient park officers. Racing 4x4 on the pans isn't all. Arriving in convoys (like trekkers) of eight vehicles or more, overloading campsites meant for fewer vehicles, leaving heaps of rubbish in the parks and making a noise, these hooligans are treating our conservation-areas like the picnic-grounds and Sunday afternoon braai spots of Johannesburg. Just what is our policy on people who disobey our rules? Let them go scot-free? What is even more bewildering is the unresponsive Wildlife officer, who when you report anything to them, just stares at you, shrugs his shoulders, and says that there is nothing he can do about it. Go report it to headquarters, is the answer. How about park employees getting empowered to do something about it then instead of everything being centralised at Tourism headquarters that are hundreds of kilometres away? Staff member need the power to act when the bosses are out of reach and they are always, if not most of the time, out of reach attending endless meetings and conferences. As a country, Botswana has the upperhand in the tourism sector in Africa. With some of the most sought-after wildlife, bird species and the best tourism attractions in the world, perhaps we need ecologically switched-on people to gain entry into our parks seeing that we get substantial revenues through tourism every year. This can be done through camping and park entry fees, from buying food and gas, to clothing, accommodation, and other necessities tourists need, to mention but a few. What is the department of Tourism/government doing about this as one too many park staff members seem less enthusiastic about their work? If you go to any of our parks today you will find yourself embarrassed by the appalling state of ablution blocks. That is one of the many examples where people do not show enough interest in their work. The toilets are simply filthy. Where are the cleaners who are obviously not doing their job? Where is the maintenance department responsible for fixing broken taps and pipes when the need arises? Where are the people responsible for emptying bursting rubbish bins before the monkeys and baboons have a party? Even if ecologically switched-on tourists come and explore Botswana, and actually enjoy their stay here, they will have nothing good to say about our hygiene, and it is a frustration as anywhere in the world where a state is judged by the state of its public toilets. What about future funds from the European Union (EU) not getting wasted on building fancy new gates, like they did at Moremi recently, as there was nothing wrong with the old ones apart from lack of regular maintenance and, instead, train future Wildlife staff in maintaining the parks and keeping the ablution blocks spick and span? Back to the boorish tourist, who most of the time get away with their uncultured, shameful behaviour in our parks. Perhaps fining them could put an end to this. What about liability-deposits made prior to park bookings? Perhaps limiting group sizes can avoid, ahead of time, a bunch of noisemakers in our parks. Most people visit mainly to hear lions roar, jackals howling and hyenas laughing. What about availability of empowered staff members next to camp sites so that frustrated tourists can report immediately they start hearing loud and annoying fake hyena laughs in the wilderness? To the boorish loud mouths - if I were a gemsbok I would turn my long, straight, sharp horns on your alcohol supply for starters! That will show you to respect wildlife environments. Government has no plan to abolish community trusts The government says it has no intention to disband community trusts even though it has decided to abolish the intermediary Village Trust Committees (VTCs). According to ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism's acting public relations officer Olerile Orapeleng the community trusts are there to stay and the decision to abolish VCTs was because they had reached finalisation and had also added a layer of bureaucracy, creating another centre of power on top of trust boards. “We are saying the trusts with the right frameworks and the communities they are serving are at a stage where the boards can run the trusts without another layer of the institution in between,” he said. Orapeleng told The Ngami Times that VTCs were initially established in multi-village community based organisations during the infancy of the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) programme to link different villages to the trust boards. “Specifically VCTs were to monitor village technical and financial performance, co-ordinate area development plans, plan, implement, and monitor multi village projects and also oversee natural resources management at village level,” he said. He however noted that over the years the concept of a trust and trust boards had taken root and that the intermediary trust boards have to a larger extent transformed themselves to alternative boards at village trusts. He said his has not only added a layer of bureaucracy but created another centre of power where some are already squabbling with the board for control of the trust and its assets. He said the ministry never had intentions to create rival structures but to smooth the implementation of CBNRM and “with these developments, it is considered that it is time to wrap up village trusts.” The role that has been played by VTCs will be fully assumed by the main Trusts. Asked about the concerns that some community trusts regarding the misuse of trust funds and not necessarily village trusts, he said over the years VTC operations duplicated the main trust activities and moved away from the supportive role they were meant to do. He said over time the resources that the trust board availed to the VTCs to facilitate their development objectives were increasingly used to cover operational expenses of the VCTs. “With this scenario, it means that operating expenses of each trust are directly proportional to the number of villages covered by a trust. For instance, if a trust covers 5 villages, it would mean that it would support 6 (5VTCs) Boards in the form of sitting allowances and related costs. In many instances the number of meetings held and special meeting called are outrageous and the amounts paid per each sitting invariably high.” He said other new developments will be to ensure technical people employed by the boards such as managers and accountants are left to do their jobs without much interference of the boards. VTCs are also to handover and register all the trust assets in the name of the main trust. BDP's Motswaledi's hopes are dashed LOBATSE - The hopes of Gomolemo Motswaledi secretary general of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to have his suspension from the party lifted and be allowed to stand as a parliamentary candidate for Gaborone Central were on Friday quashed as he lost his High Court application against President Ian Khama who is also president of the BDP. Khama suspended Motswaledi from the party last month. Some party elders tried to arbitrate but their efforts failed as Motswaledi took the matter to the High Court in which he wanted the court to set aside the decision by the president to suspend his membership, wanted the respondents to be interdicted from taking any steps to give effect to the decision to suspend him and also from organising and holding primary elections for Gaborone Central, and also not to approve anyone except him. The three judges who heard the case - Chief Justice Julian Nganunu, Judge Isaac Lesetedi and Judge Ian Kirby - jointly agreed that the Botswana Constitution gives the sitting President total immunity against both civil and criminal suits. The judgment said when immunity is granted to a sitting President by the prohibition of the launching of civil suits and criminal prosecutions, there are consequences that follow. The “clear and obvious consequence” is that suits that have been prohibited for the term of his office are deferred, and some litigants will suffer because it may be too late to sue after the retirement of the particular President. Motswaledi's lawyers have since indicated that they are going to appeal the outcome of the case. Aviation authority denies employment irregularities The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has refuted allegations by some employees that it pays lower salaries, employees are subjected to poor working conditions and that it intends to retrench some employees seconded to it from the old Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). Replying to an enquiry from The Ngami Times, acting CEO Sekgele Kolo dismissed the statements as “untrue” saying instead that “CAAB salaries are more competitive than those of the former DCA, and all the seconded employees are paid the secondment allowance over and above their government salaries.” A source at Maun Airport complained that CAAB is paying lower salaries as compared to the DCA. He also complained that there is a shortage of manpower which meant employees were only able to do their secondary objective rather than their primary objective. Another officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, reiterated that a communiqué from CAAB circulated to all the employees did not state how employees will benefit from the new authority. “We are now suspicious we will not enjoy the working conditions and remunerations we were used at DCA,” she said. On the question of working conditions, Kolo could not deny or confirm the situation saying he should have been provided with examples. He however said it is their “intention to continuously improve the working conditions of their staff. “ He explained that it was never the intention of the government and the CAAB consultants to copy the organisational structure of the former DCA and therefore some positions which were available in the former DCA might not necessarily be required within the CAAB. “There is no way we can retrench staff in the formative stages of this authority. Staff who cannot be recruited by the authority will remain government employees,” said. Recruitment to fill CAAB positions is ongoing and seconded employees have been given first priority. CAAB has taken over assets and operations of the former DCA. The organisation also regulates air transport and certification of aircraft, licences of pilots, provision of air navigation and offers other air traffic services. Zebras gear up for COSAFA tournament Botswana, which has showed a marked improvement in international competition over the last years, is using COSAFA tournaments as the basis of their preparation and progress. It took almost a decade of competition before the Zebras made a breakthrough, but the side reached the semifinals of the COSAFA Castle Cup in 2006 and repeated the feat the following year. Now the Zebras want to do the same when the event takes place in neighbouring Zimbabwe from October 17 to November 11. The hype for the tournament has been growing in neighbouring countries in recent weeks with squads being named. Two of the country's main grounds, Rufaro Stadium in Harare and Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo. will play host to the biggest soccer showpiece Zimbabwe has seen. Fourteen countries – Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe – will be participating, Botswana has of late dominated over their Southern African counterparts, and will be looking forward to making a break -through and play in the finals of the tournament. From the list, Angola, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have won the trophy in the past, all of them three times, since the competition started in 1997. The tournament will be bankrolled by the Zimbabwe government which chipped in with a whooping US$1-million (about P8-million) with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority weighing in with US$100 300 (about P1-million) and COSAFA also contributing a substantial amount. National team coach Stanley Tshosane has assembled a strong squad. After having put in place a friendly against China, Tshosane said he is looking forward to keep the players that he had worked with lately. “We want to maintain the squad which was too have played against Kenya. We have retained all the players back in camp except for Lemponye Tshireletso and Raphael Ntwane who have been replaced by Tsotso Ngele and Dampe. The two are out through injuries, but they will be available for selection if they are back to full fitness,” said Tshosane. A to Z Independence tournament kicks off The 2009 A to Z Hardware Store sponsored Independence soccer tournament kicked off in Maun over the weekend. The tournament is being sponsored to the tune of P20 000 for fives years, starting in 2004. A total number of 18 teams from the regional first division and the 2 nd division are battling it out for a place in the finals to be played on Independence Day, September 30. All the 14 teams in the Nhabe first division and 4 teams - Brothers of Peace, Maun Heroes, Gaegolelwe and Boseja Chiefs - from the 2 nd division were in action for the P4 500 first prize money. Kgosi Tawana Moremi kicked the first ball to start off the series at the MTC Grounds on Saturday, where Maun Terrors trounced Sankoyo Bush Bucks 4-0. CTO failed to show up for their match against Brothers of Peace, and they forfeited the points to BOP. Gunners of Khwai, who had an outstanding show in the last season failed to click, as they were hammered 3-0 by Delta Winds while Cubs were knocked out by regional league new boys Maun Heroes 3-0. Moeti United moved through to the next round on soft points after Maun United also failed to honour their fixture. Both CTO and Maun United struggled last season, and it is left to wonder how they will manage in the coming season. Asked why they failed to honour the games, they told Times Sports that there was no clear communication between them and the organising committee apparently after a change of time and venues. Fuji Rollers booked a place after beating North West United 5-4 on penalties and there was drama on Sunday when Maun Tigers beat Makgabisanaga 4-2. Tigers proved too good as they went through to the next round. In another dramatic game, BMC were knocked out 10-9 on penalties by 2 nd division side Gaegolelwe. Botswana success at badminton Botswana beat Namibia by 21 games to 8 in an international friendly series played in Gaborone at the weekend. In the under-15 matches, Botswana won all 11 games while in the seniors the home team was 10-1 victors. In the veterans, Namibia beat Botswana by 7 games to 1. Nhabe region league to start next month Nhabe regional football league is expected to start on the second week of October. This was confirmed by region secretary Thari D Mooketsi. The league is expected to have been completed by the time of FIFA World Cup in June next year. Having played last season without a sponsor, the region is not yet certain whether they will find a sponsor before the scheduled kick off. Last season was described as the worst in the region as teams struggled financially, and some clubs failed to honour their games. Mooketsi said they would not want a repeat what happened last season - “we are doing the best we can. The league committee and the regional league committee are trying to find a sponsor before the kick off of the league.”

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 15 Sep 2009 10:31

  Edition 476 11 - 18 September, 2009 Running in heels . . . the community turned out in force at the weekend to raise funds for breast cancer treatment, but there was a price to be paid by the men. They had to compete in a fun run wearing high heels – a real case of blisters for sisters! The photographs show the agony of participants as they got into the spirit of the occasion by wearing dresses and high heels (not all the men could fit into the female shoe sizes available in Maun!). The organisers raised P46 500 for the breast cancer campaign through sponsorships, donations and entry fees. ESCAPEES CLAIM POLICE TORTURE By Keagisitswe Dioka Another claim of “torture” by the police has been made in the Maun magistrate's court. However, unlike in a previous case two weeks ago, the accused was not given bail. This week, four Zimbabweans, who escaped from Maun State Prison on August 30, appeared before magistrate Mmoloki Sibanda for escaping from lawful custody. All pleaded guilty. The four - George Themba Bhebe (30), Themba Dube (also known as Tshepo Salang), 25, Loyoit Kare Choto, 29, and Sipho Siziba, 39 – were remanded in custody until the next hearing on September 22. Siziba told the magistrate that he had been assaulted and “tortured” by the police and was in pain. The claim was made after prosecutor Luanda Antonio, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, asked the accused to be remanded in custody, adding that the matter was still under investigation. When asked to comment on what the prosecutor said, Siziba told the magistrate that he was assaulted by the police but had not been taken to hospital. for treatment. He added that “the pains” were getting worse and that he had been “tortured with electricity.” The court ordered the police to take him to the hospital. In another case, the four also appeared this week before Maun chief magistrate Mmopa Baakile for mention in other cases. Three of them - Bhebe, Siziba and Kare - had earlier appeared in connection with a robbery. They were also alleged to have been in possession of firearms and a large amount of money at a rented house in Boseja, Maun. Prosecutor Luanda Antonio said investigations were ongoing adding that the investigation had been “disturbed by the escape of the accused persons.” He asked for them to be remanded in custody. Salang appeared in connection with a pending robbery case. In an unrelated case, two alleged robbers of a gang that raided the Sedia Riverside Hotel in late August were given bail by magistrate Clifford Foroma after they claimed to have been tortured by police. The magistrate said the police should investigate without brutalising suspects and also said any evidence led of alleged torture is likely to favour the accused. Borolong complains about thieves in bush areas Borolong ward residents have filed a complaint with area councillor John Benn over riverside bushes in their ward. They are complaining the area has been turned in to a sanctuary by criminals. The residents related this concern with Benn, who is also chairman of the North West District Council (NWDC), when he addressed a Kgotla meeting last weekend. Residents said an area opposite the Thamalakane River leading from old Maun General Hospital to the old bridge is overgrown with Mosu trees (umbrella trees) where criminals hide to pry on unsuspecting passing people. Borolong Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson Peo Setulo told Benn that debushing this area is the only solution before the situation gets out of control. The VDC also brought to Benn's attention that policing authorities abandoned and unoccupied houses along the river bank are being utilised to “house criminals” Setulo also complained about the lack of street lights along gravel roads in Borolong saying they render the area crime prone, particularly after dark. A resident said that during day time thieves, especially “Zimbabweans lie in wait for unsuspecting people. You go to this bush area now and you will find thieves cooking and sitting there as I speak”. Benn told residents “not to worry”, explaining the area is scheduled to be debushed under the Ipelegeng Scheme next year. He also said the NWDC is in the process of erecting spot lights throughout Maun. Benn also there had been a lack of cooperation by Ngamiland farmers to help the Ministry of Agriculture in its war against the eradication of Foot and Mouth disease in Ngamiland.” Recently some cattle had been found at Kgantshang and it was established the animals had come from the Lake Ngami area despite the ban on cattle movements. Benn also said the Ministry of Health, through its initiative to improve on the health wellbeing of Batswana, had taken a decision that all patients suffering from critical medical conditions will not pay medical fees at council clinics and government hospitals. Church man in court for indecent assaults By Keagisitswe Dioka A Zion Christian Church (ZCC) member has appeared before Maun magistrate Mmoloki Sibanda for indecent assault. According to the charge sheet, Monkgomotsi Keakabetse (34), of Riverside , Maun, allegedly indecently assaulted two women. It was alleged that on October 20 last year, Keakabetse indecently assaulted Bone Makuku by inserting his finger on her private parts. He was also charged for indecently assaulting Gomorena Motswagole at Riverside on February, 20 last year. by allegedly inserting his finger on her private parts. The accused who was represented Wanano Lumbile, of Charles Tlagae Attorneys, Maun, and pleaded not guilty to the offences. The prosecutor, Patrick Fane, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, told the court that investigations had been completed and asked for a trial date to be set. Keakabetse will appear for mention on November 3 and the trial is set down for December 3. ‘Suspicious arrest' helps acquit accused By Gaolebogwe Moipei A Botshabelo man, Mmusi Tshibilili, has been discharged and acquitted by Maun principal magistrate Clifford Foroma on a charge of unlawful possession of 3 uncut precious rough diamonds worth P90 440.71. When passing judgement, Foroma said he took into consideration of how the suspect was arrested by the police, saying that the circumstances were highly suspicious. He also added that the evidence led before him by the witnesses and the police officers “truly showed that the accused was framed.” Foroma also said the chain of events that were told him were “highly suspicious” and there was no evidence linking the accused to being in possession of rough diamonds. Tshibilili said that on January 5 this year he was telephoned by a Sergeant Kajata of the Maun Police stating that he had left affidavits for Tshibilili with Johannes Keolebogile, of Lewis Stores, Maun, and ordered him to collect them because he wanted to register the case with the court at which the accused was found to be in possession of elephant tusks and that he submit them the affidavits) as soon as possible. The suspect stated before the court hearing on January 6, he went to Lewis Furniture and asked for the affidavits from Keolebogile. He said Keolebogile brought the folded affidavits and “threw them” over to him. Within 30 seconds police officers appeared and ordered him to stand up. He was searched in the mouth, his shoes were searched, and the police took a clear plastic with 3 rough diamonds wrapped in a tissue. When he was asked what the stones were, he stated that they were diamonds and was asked who was the owner. He said the diamonds were for Johannes. He was searched by Kajata and Baruakgomo. When giving evidence, Kajata testified that he was with other police officers doing normal surveillance and then went into Lewis Stores where they found the suspect seated. That was when they searched him. Foroma dismissed Kajata's testimony as he said they were on a normal search and because the suspect went to the store to collect affidavits it did not mean he was not supposed to visit any furniture store even though he had a case with the police of allegedly possessing elephant tusks. Foroma said it seemed to him that Keolebogile had been framed. Keolebogile was found not guilty by the magistrate as he said the State did not have enough evidence and said evidence given by witnesses was suspicious and showed that the accused was framed. The prosecutor was Patrick Fane, of the Directorate Public Prosecutions. Proper guidance needed for children in conflict with the law The department of Social Services has held a training workshop this week aimed at strengthening relations between stakeholders within the administration of juvenile justice and equipping them with techniques of handling children in conflict with the law. It was also aimed at making stakeholders appreciate the protection that has to be supplied to offending children, charting the way forward on working relations for the betterment of service delivery. When welcoming participating stakeholders comprising magistrates, social workers, prosecutors, health workers and the police, the newly appointed director at the department, Loeto Dilampi, said it is expected that after the workshop, participants will be in a good position to foster satisfactory working relations among themselves because they would have achieved a common goal of protecting children who appear in courts either as defendants, witnesses or victims and are in dire need for help. He said currently the School of Industries which provides institutionalised rehabilitation for juveniles is never operational at full capacity of 100 trainees at a time, adding “while we cannot be happy to see the facility full of such children, we at the Ministry of Local Government are wondering if this means there are no children who commit offences that warrant sending them to the school, or if such children are there but not benefiting from the service that is provided by this facility.” Dilampi said currently there are 26 trainees at Ikago Centre in Molepolole and the department is faced with many challenges, including trainees scaling the fence and committing the same offences again. Social workers felt their work has in the past been made complicated because they had always been expected to accompany juveniles “from day one” whenever there were court hearings and so forth, something that they did not approve of. They said social workers are not lawyers for juveniles and therefore should not be expected to work the same way as officials from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Inspector Caroline Sefudi, from the Botswana Police Service. said in her view social workers should be there every step of the way until the last day when the juvenile is taken to Ikago for rehabilitation. She said it is high time social workers bury the confusion that they have, re-build their mindsets and start working round the clock and deliver services as expected. She also quoted Section 81 of the Children's Act which says any person having reasonable cause to believe that an offence has been committed by a child shall, make a report to a police officer in the district in which the offence was alleged to have been committed. Police would then investigate the alleged crime and a social worker is assigned to further investigate and file a report to the children's court on the general conduct, home environment, school records and medical history of the child. The social worker would also recommend the best way of dealing with the child. Regional magistrate (North), Lorraine Makati-Lesang, said for stakeholders to be successful, they need to familiarise themselves with and see if the Act supports them so as to see if there can be any amendments made so that it can also favour and protect the interests of the juvenile. She shared the same sentiments with Sefudi that it is the role of the social worker to defend the rights of juveniles and see to it that they are secure. Participants were also told that although some cases are usually prolonged for various. Editorial Editor: Norman Chandler Editorial Comment: Bright Kholi All should go out and vote October 16 is the day on which Batswana will exercise their democratic right to vote for the political leadership they prefer to take the country to 2014 when the next general election will be held. This right is one that every eligible citizen should utilise, as it is their responsibility to vote for the leadership they want in power. It is on this premise that we call upon voters to visit the polling booths on October 16. A good turn-out will greatly enhance our democracy. Voter apathy is not a healthy option. The Independent Electoral Commission has done all it can to educate the public on the importance of voting and also educate political candidates on the best way of politicking. Therefore, what takes place in five weeks time is in the hands of the electorate. There are people who do not vote as they do not see the importance of the exercise. This kind of mentality should be abandoned and people should learn to play their roles in such national activities. We cannot emphasise it too strongly that when it comes to elections, it is imperative that people make their voices heard and by so doing they will not be able to blame anyone else for electing a government they do not want. The youth – many of who will cast their vote for the first time and in all probability be a decisive factor in many constituencies - should also utilise this opportunity to make their voices heard. This age group has been lagging behind on issues of national, regional and local interest and we urge them to start taking the responsibility if, as future leaders, they want to play a big role as to which political party will rule this land. If voters are not sure of who to vote for, the time is now to listen to different parties' manifestos, listen to different candidates and make informed choices. Let us vote for political leaders who we want to have in office to shape our future. Maun businesses fear a proposed clampdown on self-drive tourists will cripple the town economically. During this time of recession, the government has signaled its intention to make it difficult for this sector of the lucrative tourism industry by increasing park fees by as much as 500%. Participants at a recent Tourism Pitso in Gaborone were astonished when it was disclosed that a rise in park fees was likely and that self-drive tourists would be targeted. Shuffle hears a senior government official spoke about “stopping these people from coming here (to Botswana )”. For example, from last week all foreign-based safari operators have to obtain a licence to enter Botswana . Operators without such licences will be prevented from entering the country Overlander tour buses are also starting to give Botswana a wide berth as life is being made very difficult for these operators. Increased costs are being levied and a recent ruling that licences have to be obtained for every manner of transport is riling these operators. The companies say they would rather route their clients through Namibia , Zambia and even Zimbabwe rather than enter Botswana – after all, as one told Shuffle, the attractions across the border are just as good if not better than those in this country. The upper-end of the market is what is favoured by the government but somehow someone has lost sight of the real situation. The tourism industry, the second biggest earner of foreign currency after diamonds, relies on foreign visitors – many fly in from Europe and North America to luxury camps in the Okavango delta, Central Kalahari and Chobe National Park , while thousands more utilise the mobile safaris sector or are self-drive holidaymakers. Complaints have been heard from the mobile sector that self-drive tourists allegedly have no respect for the environment in places such as the Moremi Game Reserve but as one of Shuffle's sources said: “Far and away the worst perpetrators in this regard are government vehicles, which travel at breakneck speeds along 4x4 tracks, some making their own tracks, and with no regard for other traffic.” Thousands of self-drive tourists from South Africa and Namibia pass through Maun each year enroute to game reserves, paying for the use of campsites and lodges, and buying from supermarkets, filling stations and restaurants. Many also take scenic flights. The knock-on effect of any difficulties being placed in their way could be a wholesale switch in travel plans from Botswana to Namibia and Mozambique, and to Zimbabwe when the political situation settles down in that country. In a snap survey of business in the town, Shuffle found that supermarkets and other shops would probably suffer the most as these tourists purchase large amounts of foodstuffs. Maun has six major supermarkets, restaurants, take-away restaurants and other facilities. The town's filling stations believe they could lose up to 40% of their fuel and spares turnovers, particularly during the popular tourist months between May and September, while camp sites could stand to lose up to 60% of their business. It was pointed out that the luxury establishments in the delta, for instance, would not suffer the same hardships as their well-heeled tourists have usually paid in advance, outside the country and with little or no input into the local economy. It amounts to a tough call for tourism in this country and one would think an urgent re-look at the proposals would be appropriate. Happy Bee-day, Lee! It was a great start to local businessman Lee Ouzman's birthday this week. He woke up to find a few bees coming out of a crack in the ceiling of his home – so did the natural thing. He sprayed a weapon of mass destruction into the hole. Wrong! The whole hive came roaring in, and Lee and his faithful pal, Pebba the dog, took refuge under a mosquito net until the danger had passed. “Pebba and I were hostages for an hour! Interesting start to the day....,” says Lee. The Weekender A picture to tug at the heart strings. Bright Kholi, News Editor of The Ngami Times, came across this pitiful sight when visiting the Nata area recently. He found liying in Manakanagore ward an old woman in her mid 70s - what makes her different from other grandmothers is she does not have a house to live in, and neither does she have a toilet. Thamalalo Reetsanye lives literally in the open with four grandchildren dumped on her by seemingly uncaring parents. Their arrival has made life even worse for her as she survives on her food rations from the local council and her old age pension, which she has to share with her grandchildren. United States Peace Corps volunteer Pedro Martinez said Reetsanye and her grandchildren – one of whom attends Nata Primary School - live in appalling conditions. It appears the parents are able bodied and are supposed to take care of their children but have instead sent the children to their grandmother. Martinez says he would like to see the old woman being helped with a house and a toilet to escape the harsh weather conditions. She is “not supposed to be living in those conditions. I simply call upon the business community everywhere to help put up a structure for her,” he said. Those willing to help can call Peter Martinez on 75014128. (Pictures: Bright Kholi) ‘Image makeover' planned for vultures BirdLife Partners in Africa and elsewhere have joined with raptor conservation and research organisations around the world to call for an “image makeover” for vultures. This comes against a backdrop of recent reports of problems facing vultures in Africa and the ongoing ones in Asia . There have been mass vulture deaths in East Africa associated with misuse of chemicals, huge population declines in West Africa due to habitat loss, and the disappearance of vultures from large areas of their former ranges in Southern Africa because of the continued use of vulture parts in traditional medicine and witchcraft. Other threats identified include power line collisions and electrocutions, disturbance at breeding sites, drowning in farm reservoirs, direct persecution and declining food availability.Vultures are said to fulfill an extremely important ecological role. They keep the environment free of carcasses and waste, restrict the spread of diseases such as anthrax and botulism, and help control numbers of pests such as rats and feral dogs by reducing the food available to them. They are of cultural value to communities in Africa and Asia , and have important eco-tourism value. Two drown in flooded Thamalakane By Lets Open Two men, one believed to have been fleeing from robbed householders, drowned in the Thamalakane River at the weekend. The unidentified men died at Tsanokona and near to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) camp in Riverside . The man who drowned at Tsanokona was carrying light household goods when he met his death. Eyewitnesses said that as he swam across the river, he suddenly stopped, waved an arm in the air and disappeared, fuelling speculation that he may have been killed by a crocodile but this could not be confirmed. His body was recovered the following day. The other man, aged 18, died while swimming across the river from the Disaneng side. His body was also recovered. According to an eye witness, the young Sedie man apparently lost his patience while waiting for a mokoro that usually ferries people crossing the rive and decided to swim but got into difficulties. The eye witness ran to the BDF camp to raise the alarm. BDF personnel removed the body from the river. Man sentenced for raping two youngsters By Keagisitswe Dioka A 30 year old man Gumare man has appeared before Maun principal magistrate Clifford Foroma on two counts offences of rape and was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment. Monnaatsipi Mange was found guilty of raping two young girls aged 8 and 10 years. The offence was committed on July 26, 2005, at Gumare. When delivering judgment, Foroma said it was clear that the accused knew the victims very well as he was their neighbour. He had been left to be with the victims as their sister had gone to church. The court heard that the accused had told one of the girls to wait by the door and keep a look out for anyone coming towards the house. He then proceeded to undress the other child and unlawfully had carnal knowledge with her. He then ordered her to get dressed and called the other one who was at the door. He then raped her while the first victim was at the door. Mange then told them not to tell anyone about what had happened. Two days later, the mother discovered changes on them as the younger one was limping. The two children were also had blood stains on their clothes and the mother and sister asked them what had happened. They told of how Mange raped them. The younger victim was found to have injuries on her private parts. Neighbours including the accused were called and when the victims revealed their ordeal, the accused ran off. He was later arrested and told the police that he only slept with the 10-year-old, describing her as his “girlfriend.” The accused also gave sworn testimony in which he denied ever having carnal knowledge with the two girls. He told the court that he ran away from the gathering at the victims place as he was “afraid of soldiers.” Foroma said it was clear that the accused person raped the two and said the medical report also corroborated the evidence led in court. Mange then found guilty and charged with two counts offence of rape. In mitigation, the accused begged for a lenient sentence saying that he was an orphan. Foreign contractors may bring in own workers FRANCISTOWN – The lack of skilled manpower for construction projects could result in foreign companies bringing in their own nationals to do the job. This has emerged from a recent tour of government projects in this region when it was disclosed that a lack of skilled manpower is the reason why most projects are behind schedule. The possibility now exists that some government ministries are planning to allow foreign contractors to employ people from their own countries to work in Botswana in order to tackle the backlog of jobs. Delays at seven project - the Dikgathong Dam, Francistown-Ramokgwebana Road , the Francistown airport, the Francistown sports stadium and Nata secondary school - is seen as the result of a shortage of local skilled labour. The worst hit is the P557-million Nata Secondary School , where the contractor told visiting reporters that his current staff compliment is 50% of the required number. He noted that those needed of all are bricklayers. It was said the Nata area has many projects on-going, especially the Nata-Pandamatenga road and the tarring of the road to Sepako. However the two projects are said to different from the construction of a school since constructing a road does not need bricklayers. With regard to Dikgathong Dam, the problem is claimed to lie with local plant machinery operators which are not readily available. As with the Francistown-Ramokgwebana road, these two projects are being done by the same contractor, Sino Hydro Corporation. On trying to find out more about the issue of shortage of skilled labour locally, some residents in Tsamaya had a different story to tell. They allege that a lot of things are not done properly by the contractors insofar as wages and salaries are concerned. It was alleged by one employee that citizen plant operators are given less money compared to Chinese or other expatriate operators. This is said to have led to a number of labour cases at the Francistown Labour Office and leading to the shortage in manpower. The contractors claim the shortage has nothing to do with the labour cases but rather due to the shortage of skilled staff. Some residents in Francistown also say there cannot be a shortage when many operators have been retrenched from the mines - “The issue here is not about non-availability of operators but failure to pay operators adequately,” said a former employee of a mine. In Nata, some people have indicated that it is more worthwhile to work on drought relief projects than for “these Chinese companies.” Bricklayers are said to prefer the rates they get when they work for drought relief projects. It appears that companies may have to be helped to secure such skills from outside the country. The technical manager at the ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture, Keitsile Kutoro, told journalists at Francistown stadium that his ministry had decided to go out of the way to help contractors to get the skills needed. He said this was necessary to ensure that the project is finished in time for the World Cup next year in South Africa . It also appears other contractors will get assistance. Some people say this might be a loophole through which contractors will avoid paying local workers well, because then they can bring in their own employees from the contractors' home countries. ‘Convict Gweta accused' - prosecutor By Keagisitswe Dioka The prosecutor in the Gweta robbery case, Pascal Mhandu, this week asked the Maun magistrate's court to convict three accused. Mhandu said this during his final submission before magistrate Rebecca Motsamai. He said the evidence is overwhelming against the accused persons - Ephraim Mpofu, Gasemotho Keleemetse and Bonani Matebesi - as it has been testified by the accomplice witness, Lemogang Chinyepi, when giving his testimony before court and by Mathews Gaobodiwe. The case arises from the theft of a substantial amount of money from a filling station on the outskirts of Gweta which also saw an employee bundled into a vehicle and taken into the bush. Mhandu said Chinyepi was a trusted witness and that a court can rely on his testimony. What makes him to trust Chinyepi was the cellphone which was stolen from Gaobodiwe at the time he (Gaobodiwe) was loaded into a car boot. He said the phone was identified to be the one which was stolen from Gaobodiwe. He said it was clear that Mpofu was involved in the robbery case as he was working with Gaobodiwe and that, according to Chinyepi, he directed the robbers to Gaobodiwe's place. Mhandu said Mpofu was involved and asked the court to find him guilty. He said Chinyepi testified that he was with the other accused persons and that they were a gang of six when robbing the Trans Makgadikgadi Filling Station shop. Mhandu said Keleemetse he organised the trip and directed other accused from Francistown to Gweta where the robbery was going to take place. He added that Keleemetse supplied cellphone numbers of all who were to be involved. He said it was clear that Keleemetse gave Chinyepi the cellphone which was later identified by the owner. Mhandu dismissed the accused's evidence that he was in Tonota with his girlfriend and described this as an after-thought as he never mentioned it at the time he was arrested. Mhandu also asked for Matebesi to be found guilty He said the statement recorded by Matebesi when he was arrested that he was with Balisi Tabengwa and were going to Sebina for a wedding during the night of robbery was false. He said this was countered by Tabengwa himself as he denied ever going with Matebesi to a funeral but however said they once met at a wedding but he was not sure about the dates. The accused persons opted to give written submissions. Two other accused persons - Isaac Boyace and Nyerenda Nyerenda - are still at large. All the accused were charged with robbing Trans Makgadikgadi on May 20, 2007 and stole money amounting to P15 000. Judgment is on September 16. Holiday permits for bus companies The Department of Road Transport and Safety is accepting applications for temporary permits for the coming Independence holidays. Public transport operators on long routes can their applications at DRTS Headquarters in Gaborone . The department will accept applications from September 14 to22 between 8am and 4.30pm but no applications will be processed after September 18. Requests for trip variations over the holidays must be made available by September 18. Permits issued for the holidays will be valid between September 29 and October 4. Operators interested in the Gabor0one-Maun route will have to provide 60-seater or more vehicles. Applications for additional local transportation will be processed by the respective DRTS stations and no temporary permits will be issued at bus ranks. All applications need to include the NTC 1 form stating explicitly the route applied for, a copy of Registration book, a valid roadworthiness certificate, a certified copy of Omang, a copy of the certificate of incorporation and share certificate if applying under a company, and a copy of the current permit in use Thirsty thief caned for theft A thirsty man found this week that while times are hard, so is the cane. The 25 year old from Disaneng ward in Maun appeared before the Maun Customary Court facing a charge of burglary and theft. According to Constable Londani King, of Botswana Police Service, Mothusi Friday trespassed into Onnei Monnaamasole's yard in Newtown on September 2 at about 3am and broke into the house. The court heard he stole 2 pints of Chibuku beer valued at P10 and about P400. Friday pleaded not guilty to both charges. He said he can only plead guilty if charged with the offence of trespassing. Giving evidence before the court, Monnaamasole said during the early morning of September 2 he heard dogs barking loudly. When he woke up, he found one Kelebogile's door open with a light moving from one point to the other. “The accused ignored and passed me standing by the door when he was leaving the house and was holding 2 pints of Chibuku,” Monnaamasole said. He further told the court that when he tried to stop Friday, he threw a pint of Chibuku onto his face before he started fighting him. While they were fighting, Monnaamasole shouted for help from neighbours who then came to his rescue. In cross examination, Friday asked “what exhibit can you produce before the court in connection to your allegation that I broke and entered into Kelebogile's house?” Monnaamasole said he could produce his torn t-shirt, that he was wearing when they were fighting, empty boxes of Chibuku and people who found them fighting. He added that on the arrival of police officers, they asked the accused what he was looking for in the yard in the early morning Friday answered them by saying he wanted to buy a cigarette. A witness, Mmabatho Obonye, said on her arrival at the scene she found the accused grabbing Monnaamasole down and was rescued by a man known as “K”. Giving evidence in his defence, Friday said after he found Rra Di Nama bar closed around 10pm, he went to Monnaamasole's place to look for cigarettes - “there was a door ajar. I knocked and got no answer from the house. I then heard a voice from nowhere asking me who I was,” he added. He further told the court that the person who was asking the question then started fighting him. “The evidence is enough and you are to be sentenced,” Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe told the accused. In mitigation, Friday said, “I am a breadwinner for our family. I am responsible for taking care of my family's livestock and also waiting for my reply after applying to pursue a course in computer studies at National Institute of Information Technologies (NIIT) in Maun” Kgosi Letsholathebe sentenced Friday to 3 strokes of the cane for house breaking and 2 strokes for theft both, on his bare buttocks with no option of a fine. He then ordered the accused to pay Monnaamasole the sum of P410 within 6 months and failure to comply would result in him being imprisoned for 2 months. Presidential nominations due soon While the date for a general election is October 16, the next important date is the nominations for president. Following on the dissolution of parliament on August 21, a general election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution in accordance with Section 90(3) of the Constitution and once that was decided, nomination day for presidential elections must be held on the first Saturday following the expiry of 20 days from the date of dissolution. In accordance with the Presidential elections (Supplementary Provisions) Act, this means that nominations have to be made by September 12. The nomination day for parliamentary and council candidates must also be held not less than 5 and not more than 10 days after the nomination day. Zimbabwe to host COSAFA tourney The ball has been set rolling for the Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) Challenge Cup tournament in Zimbabwe . The draw will be conducted this month with the event scheduled to start on October 8, and the final played in Harare on November 1. Botswana Football Association (BFA) chief executive Tosh Kgotlele said they have confirmed that Botswana will be participating in the tournament. He said the only problem is that the BFA was notified late and it will mean a re-look at the Be Mobile Premier League fixture list. League officials have already drafted their fixtures in preparation for the start of the season next weekend. The other problem that worries the BFA is that the date of the tournament does not fall within the FIFA calendar. “We thought the tournament would fall in the FIFA calendar, and that would enable us enough time for preparation and also to give chance to participating countries to field their strongest teams,” said Kgotlele. Kgotlele said the BFA and the premier league have also to sit down to discuss the up- coming Zebras' game against China scheduled for September 30. “At the moment all is in the right direction, we have started our talks and we will continue to engage each other to ensure the Zebras and the league programmes both run smoothly.” Kgotlele also applauded the Stanley Tshosane-led technical team for their effort to play around with all players to get the right combination. “I am happy at what is happening at the moment, the coach is working hard enough to bring in more young players to the team so that they can gain international exposure. We need to start looking ahead for the future, and that is something one can commend the coach and his technical team,” Kgotlele added. Fair play urged by FIFA FIFA boss Seth Blatter has urged footballers to show “more fair play”. He is using the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and the official FIFA Fair Play to send out a strong message calling for fair play on and off the pitch - “Fair play should come before anything else in football. “Through football, we protect and communicate the strong basic values that children and young people need, such as solidarity, tolerance, respect and discipline. Football is a school of life,” said Blatter. “It teaches us how to win as a team, but also how to lose as a team.” The fair play principles of world football's governing body will be the focus of attention once again through the qualifying stages, with points up for grabs in dozens of stadiums around the world in the race to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa . He added that it was even more important in vital matches such as these to uphold the values of fair play. They should encapsulate the sporting, moral and ethical principles for which FIFA has always stood and leave a lasting impression. Meanwhile, Ghana became the first African nation to secure a place in the 2010 World Cup. Brazil and England also qualified this week. Cup qualifiers so far are hosts South Africa ; (Africa) Ghana ; (Asia) Japan , Australia , South Korea , North Korea ; (Europe; Netherlands , England ; (South America) Brazil . Motlakase powering up for the elite league - Newly-promoted Motlakase Power Dynamos are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to be a permanent fixture in the elite league. The have unveiled grand plans to secure their ambitions- the first one being the construction of their own stadium in Palapye. In the meantime they will use the Francistown Stadium as their base. According to public relations officer Monty Gagomokgwa they have several players that they are targeting to beef up a squad that is lacking in premiership experience. Already they have signed defender-cum-midfielder from Jwaneng Comets, Zimbabwean Marshall Gono to shore up their defence. Another target Monametsi “Sunday” Kelebale of Extension Gunners has been priced beyond Motlakase's reach as the P80 000 asking price seems to have jolted the minnows into getting their priorities right. With a huge construction bill to deal with, Motlakase opted to route their money to the latter rather than a player whose form has been at best patchy. They have however recruited a number of starlets to beef up their team. The team has been involved in a series of friendlies to prepare for the new season. They have drawn 1-1 with Police XI and lost 2-1 to Miscellaneous before losing to both Ecco City Greens and BMC FC by 3-1 margins. Motlakase has also crossed the border to play Vodacom league side Pietersburg Naughty Boys, a match which they won 1-0. One thing they would be hoping for is a favourable fixture list that would not pit them against the stronger sides especially at the beginning of the season as they try to find their footing. Badminton teams to play Namibia Botswana Badminton Association is hosting Namibia this weekend in a series of matches in Gaborone . This event is part of an exchange and development programme between the two countries as they strive to improve the game. The Botswana teams are Under-15: Boys - Richard Mokgoro, Moemisi Wankie, Mothusi Marumo. Girls: Dodo Bantusitse, Masego Seniors – men: Oreeditse Thela, Mpiwa Bosenogile, Tebogo Ramotlopi, Tholego Chamo, Martin Ngwanabotho. Women: Kgalaletso Kegakilwe, Botho Makubate, Lesego Kgsosidiile Veterans: Benard Gondo, Ms E. Hassen, Jonathan Carline, Ms N. Gureja, Moagi Gaborone, Dr Zhang, Milind Kumar, Mmetla Masire Inline hockey rules change helps The Mukwa Leafs inline hockey team that did well in Swakopmund recently The Namibian Inline Hockey Association (NISA) has made significant changes to the rules of inline hockey – scrapping the off side and icing laws. The result is a much more open and free flowing game with far fewer stoppages – and a much more fun game both to watch and to play. At the recent championships in Swakopmund, Maun's Mukwa Leafs adapted very quickly to the new rules and finished second in the Masters division behind Coastal Pirates, from Swakopmund. The Badgers and Old Crocks, from Windhoek , and the Scorpions, from Otjiwarongo, rounded out the field. Mukwa Leafs Gardens in Disaneng have now officially embraced the new rules and interested players and spectators are invited to visit the rink (tel 6862872). Stadium shortage hampers preparations Botswana Football Association CEO Tosh Kgotlele is concerned about the shortage of stadiums, which he said will hamper the national teams and Premier League games. In an interview with Times Sports, Kgotlele said that all the stadiums which are available are not ready to be used. “We are looking at having more friendly games for the national team before the COSAFA Cup kick off, but the unavailability of stadiums have put us on hold,” he said. The Zebras will be going into camp in preparation for a friendly against China in Beijing at the end of the month. “We had wanted to play more friendly games after the China match, but as for now we are still hoping to acquire proper stadiums, or otherwise we will be forced to play away games,” he added. The University of Botswana Stadium and sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) facilities have been the only venues available for soccer matches in Gaborone after the closure of the Police College stadium and the National Stadium for renovation. The closures now mean that the southern part of the country is left with two stadiums - Lobatse and Molepolole.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 07 Sep 2009 12:18

  Edition 475 4 - 11 September, 2009 Tradition dies hard .Women, all immaculately dressed in colourful dresses and Di Tjale (shawls) returning home after they had taken a bride to her in-laws at a wedding in Thito in Maun on Saturday. This practice is only common in the North West region and highly respected as part of tribal culture. Only women take part in this activity known as Popeletso . Traditionally this marks the official handover of the bride to the groom and her in-laws. When taking the bride to her in-laws, the women walk very slowly and this according to elders is to teach the bride to always do things slowly when she gets to her in-laws without rushing them as this might lead to mistakes. It also shows she must be cool and collected in whatever she does. Picture: Bright Kholi Four dangerous prisoners escape By Staff Reporter Four dangerous prisoners staged a daring early Sunday morning escape from Maun prison. They are still on the loose. The department of Prisons is asking the public to assist with information leading to the arrest of the four remand prisoners. It is thought the four – three of whom were alleged to have been in possession of arms and a substantial amount of money dug up at a house in Boseja recently - climbed over the newly-erected spike fence surrounding the prison. All four are Zimbabweans - Sipho Siziba, 39, who was in custody for robbery and lived in Boseja ward, Maun, Loyoit Kare Choto, 29, of Harare and also living in Boseja, who was remanded for robbery and has a scar on his left leg and Themba Dube (also known as Tshepo Salang), 25, who has a tattoo on both hands and is described as having “a coffee colour face.” He was living in Riverside , Maun and previously in Tonota. The fourth escapee is George Themba Bhebe, 31, who was in custody for robbery. He also has a tattoo in both hands. Bhebe, Choto and Siziba were charged for allegedly robbing businessman Muhammad Farhan's house at Botshabelo ward, stealing cash, cellphones and a laptop. It has been revealed that they were armed with a pistol and other dangerous weapons and used violence. Bhebe has a criminal record dating back to 2005. He was charged with Metlha “Golden Tooth” Maphanyane and Phaa Ndiweni for robbing Maun's Open Door bureau d'Change and was found guilty while the others were discharged. Bhebe was later discharged and acquitted at Francistown High Court last year. Bhebe was attacked by a mob while walking on a Maun street on August 17 last year as he was said to have been involved in a robbery at a local bar. He was then taken to hospital where he complained of a stomach ailment, was escorted by a police officer to a toilet and escaped naked through the toilet's window. All the four escapees are still at large. ‘PLEASE DON'T KILL ME' By Staff Reporters A young boy pleaded for his life after a jealous boyfriend stabbed his sister in their home last weekend in a passion killing attempt that has shocked the community. The boyfriend then committed suicide by hanging himself, thinking he had killed the girl who, however, is now recovering from her injuries. In an incident one would only see on TV, the Boseja man arrived at his girlfriend's house because he thought she was having an affair with another man. The horror passion killing was apparently triggered by a man who had told him there was a car parked at his girlfriend's house whenever he was not visiting. After hearing this, it is alleged that the boyfriend threatened to kill the girl about a week ago, after which she feared for her life and asked to stay with neighbours and relatives. An eyewitness told The Ngami Times that on the fateful night, the girl decided to sleep in her mother's house. Her young brother, who is in standard 7, was also in the same house. At about 9pm, the man came to the house, broke the window and entered the premises. He then started attacking the girlfriend and stabbing her with a knife several times as she tried to fight him off. She managed to escape the terror by climbing through the broken window. The jealous lover then threatened to kill his girlfriend's younger brother who begged him not to do so. He had also helped in trying to save his sister. When he realised that his girlfriend had called for help, it is alleged that the man then got out of the house through the main door, rushed to his girlfriend's house and used a rope from fishing net to hang himself. The witness said it would appear the deceased had been watching the movements of his girlfriend the entire evening until he saw an opportunity to attack. It is also believed that he had planned the whole thing as even the knife he used was new. The incident was confirmed by Maun Police CID Officer in Charge, Assistant Superintendent Alakanani Raymond David. He said the woman is still recovering at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital. According to the police, the man had stabbed the girl in the stomach. Desert triple murder: Suspect arrested A man suspected of having shot and killed three people whose bodies were found last week near Xabacha cattle post in the Okavango sub district has been arrested. The 33 year old Mungunda Mushongu, of Xhabacha cattle post, appeared on Monday in the Maun magistrate's court charged with three counts of murder and one count of robbery. According to the charge sheet, Mushongu murdered Mozulu Jackson, Kathiko Jackson and Kebonyekgosi Kayupura on or about April 28 this year at or near Chukumuchu village in the North West District. He is said to have robbed Kathiko and Mozulu Jackson of two Nokia cellphones and P1 000 and before robbing them used violence on the victims in order obtain the property. In an interview with The Ngami Times this week, Assistant Superintendent Ndiko Size Malibala of Shakawe Police said the suspect was arrested last Friday with the help of the community. According to Malibala, the suspect was arrested at Matlamaere cattle post between Tsodilo Hills and Kgomokgwana quarantine area. Malibala said following the discovery of the three bodies, all of which appeared to have been shot, residents started providing information which led to effective arrest of the suspect. The Ngami Times is reliably informed that Mushongu was “like family” to the three people he murdered as his girlfriend was Kathiko Jackson's sister. This is said to have given the accused the knowledge of what the couple were doing as he was aware that on the day they died they were going to Chukumuchu. Matters are said to have been worsened by the fact that the couple had sold 12 head of cattle during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Hoping to find the money from the sale on them, the accused is said to have followed them though under the guise that he was going somewhere else. The couple is said to have used the money to buy a borehole engine and only had P1 000 on them which they were to use to buy pipes for the borehole. The accused has been remanded in custody. Foreign troops to transit Botswana on exercises The armies of two African countries are to pass through Botswana from the weekend on their way to multinational exercises in South Africa . The SADC Brigade training exercise, codenamed “Golfinho” or “Dolphin Phase II”, is to take place from September 9 to 26 at South Africa 's Lohatlha combat training centre in the north-west province. Botswana military will also be involved in the exercise which is designed to prepare SADC troops for multi-dimensional peace support operations in line with the African Union's standby force decision. The exercise will deploy a force comprising military, police, prisons, correctional services and civilian personnel from all the SADC states except for Seychelles . Botswana is sending a battalion including personnel from the police, prisons and civilians. An advance Botswana team of Special Forces arrived at the centre on August 23. The contingent from the Tanzania People's Defence Force and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) defence force consisting of military, police and civilians will pass through Botswana between September 6 and 8. They are scheduled to enter the country at the Ramokgwebana border and go out at the Ramatlabama gate. The same contingents will return to their respective countries using the same route between September 26 and 30. Huge success of the solar-powered boat The solar-powered trans-Okavango voyage in a solar powered sloop has been completed in less than 10 days without a hitch. Mark Rodwell and Mark Nordin, of Alternative Power Systems Africa (APSA), had long been convinced of the value of solar power but their problem was how to prove it. The project took a year to plan. The flat bottomed aluminium boats that ply the Delta are perfect for travel in this vast wetland but fuel is a huge issue -. “Fossil fuels are costly and not sustainable but the sun is always there,” says Rodwell. After much technical planning they launched their boat, Solar Sloop, in the northern panhandle at the peak of the flood waters coming into the Delta. The boat was specially designed to hold panels on the roof to catch as much sun as possible while providing shade for the sailors. While fossil fuel powered boats roared past, Solar Sloop sailed serenely and quietly down the Delta. There were sceptics galore – “watch out for Jao Flats, you'll never get through. Watch out for the hippos – they are very aggressive” were some of the messages - but Solar Sloop defied them all and cruised into Maun nine nights and 440km later having completed a faultless maiden voyage. In fact, the hippos they saw just popped their heads up to have a look as the boat slipped silently past. ‘The hippos heard us coming but had time to move away so we were never a threat to them,' the sailors explained. ‘The fossil fuel boats are noisy and fast and surprise the hippos which probably makes them more aggressive.' “Basking crocs and African Skimmers rested on white sandbanks and seemed to accept us as part of the scene rather than intruders,” said Riaan van Zyl, one of the sailors. “Maybe we came across as some sort of rather weird silver hippo or elephant but we were certainly not a threat.” Not only is solar power practical and appropriate for a unique wildlife environment like this, but it also has other benefits. It makes lodge life and game viewing much more pleasant as one can listen to the sounds of the African bush and cruise quietly in the channels. Tourists around the world are demanding responsible tourism and what better way than using solar power, say the developers - “solar is carbon neutral so for those who are worried about their carbon footprint, the sun is a perfect way of reducing it. It can be used to run not only boats but to run entire camps in the Delta. And what a pleasure not to have a generator pounding in the background while you sip your gin and tonic around the campfire.” Consumer Fair a huge success By Molefi Manyepedza - The 2009 Botswana Consumer Fair which ended last week was bigger and better compared to previous years. More improvement was done with all stalls placed in paved areas while eating facilities were on one side to facilitate hygiene. Local mobile telephone operators Orange , Be-mobile and Mascom were among stalls that provided visitors with entertainment. There were five aside football matches that included teams such as Township Rollers and BDF XI, live entertainment by Botswana artists, competitions, and Yarona FM radio station partnered with exhibitors to advertise their products live on air and pay for the service. Fairs and Exhibitors manager of Fairground Holdings, Frieda Bamu, said there were 25 categories for exhibitors, including government departments, leather and handicraft, service providers and information technology, diplomatic missions and national stands, traders and furniture. She said there were over 400 stalls booked including exhibitors from Ghana , Iran , Swaziland , Lesotho , Japan , Kenya and South Africa . Foreign exhibitors constituted 20% of this year's event. “The founding premise of the fair has always been to offer opportunities to consumers to come into direct contact with wholesalers, retailers and service providers” Bamu added. Prison break-out a cause for worry The escape of four dangerous prisoners from the high-security Maun Prison this week is a discredit to the prisons service. The four – including three Zimbabweans who had been found with a cache of rifles buried next to their rented house in Boseja and a large amount of money buried in a nearby rubbish tip – have as we go to print not been re-arrested, and probably never will be as they may in all probability have disappeared into Zimbabwe. The fourth prisoner is one who is familiar to our readers. George Bhebe, another Zimbabwean, was one of the people involved in the Open Door Bureau d'Change robbery some years ago. The prison in question has a double row of high barbed wire around all four sides. A dog run is between the two fences, which are also well-lit, and there is only one formal entry point. This can only mean that by some means still to be determined, the four broke out under the noses of their warders. The suspicion lingers that until otherwise proved, it would appear there may have been other people involved in the incident which took place at 3.20am on Monday. We urge the prisons service to redouble their efforts to prevent similar escapes in the future. In the present circumstances, such exhortations don't do the public at large any favours as innocent people are now having to take precautions in case of further criminal activity from these four if they are still in the Maun area. All this talk about water, water everywhere is more serious than previously thought People have been astonished to discover just how much water has been coming down the Okavango River from the eastern highlands of Angola this year. It is not that we have had a tsunami racing down but a gentle spreading out of water over a huge area of northern Botswana . Lake Ngami is full, rivers serving it are in flood, the Boronyane river has water coursing through it for the first time in 20 years, the Selinda Spillway has joined up with the Okavango, and incidentally for the first time in a quarter of a century linked the Okavango delta/swamp to the Indian Ocean via the Chobe and Zambezi rivers. Now Shuffle can report that for the first time in at least 40 years the Shashe River here in Maun has started to flow as well, reaching and going through the Shashe bridge on the road to Sehitwa. It is only a matter of time before the Shashe reaches the Thamalakane River . What this all means is that many parts of Maun are islands because of the large number of rivers and streams in our area. This used to be the case before a seismic incident, as it is called, resulted in many of our rivers drying up back in the mid-1980s. It will be recalled that northern Botswana had two seismic incidents in the past year – one in the Toteng region and the other in the Linyati area (which was felt in Maun on Good Friday this year). Perhaps it is as a result of those events that the water has spread so widely. Only hydrologists will be able to confirm whether this was indeed the case. There are magical shoes out there and the land of happy endings is without a princess. Will one of our female readers be the one to wear them and walk away as the newly- crowned princess? MNet's Face of Africa competition is searching for the loveliest face in the land. This is the last chance to enter and walk away with US$50 000 (about P400 000) cash and a modelling contract with O Model Africa. If you're between 18 and 24, are at least 1.72 metres tall and don't yet have a modelling contract, then call in at the open auditions at Multichoice Botswana, Riverwalk Mall, in Gaborone from 9am on September 14. When the 911 Neighbourhood Watch radio bursts into action at 3am, one knows there is something amiss. It means that the crooks of this world are out and about while the rest of the peace-loving people of our town are sleeping. The police and 911 have continually called on the public to ensure they are safe and sound, day or night, but there is always someone who has not heeded the advice. Several incidents in recent days highlight the problem, so once again Shuffle is joining the police and 911 in urging the public to be vigilant because the criminals, armed and dangerous, are after your property. Stop them on their tracks! Something to chuckle over . . . The Silent Treatment A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realised that the next day he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, ‘Please wake me at 5:00 AM ‘ He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, ‘It is 5:00 AM. Wake up.' Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests. Mmeseng Tlale, with 3 of his grandchildren, picture in front of his house in Manxotai. Still remember him? ......Those who read The Ngami Times will remember this old man from Manxotae - Mmiseng Tlale - whom we helped to get groceries, clothes and a one roomed house courtesy of A to Z wholesalers, Maun branch, in 2007. Over the weekend, News Editor Bright Kholi was in Nata and drove to remote Manxotae to find out how an old friend was doing. The 93-year-old is still as strong as ever and was more than happy that Kholi had checked up on him. Tlale says he now gets a monthly food ration from the local council and also an old age pension. Tlale also tells of how the house has helped him escape the cold and rains over the past two years. Sadly, some youngsters - some of whom are what he calls his “wayward grand- children” - helped themselves to some of his clothes which were donated by different business houses and individuals people in Maun. What the old man needs right now is a toilet and a fence around his house. Old as he is, whenever he needs to go to the toilet he is forced to walk a long distance. An appeal is again being made to those who can, to help in the fencing of his yard and erecting a toilet in his yard. Any old clothes will also be appreciated and will be handed over to Tlale. You can always contact us if you want to help. Call The Ngami Times @ 686 4807 or email: tnt@info.bw or call Bright on 71820939 Youth urged to take responsibility Batswana youth have been called upon to be accountable and take responsibility of their own lives if at all they want to succeed. They have also been urged to participate in youth programmes which will benefit them and help them sustain their livelihoods as well as that of their families. This was said by Debswana diamond company's Boyce Sebetlela who was guest speaker at the annual general meeting of the Botswana National Youth Council over the weekend. Sebetlela said the fact that BNYC is fully fledged and well represented by able bodied people is enough testimony that it can stand on its own and represent the youth if the need arises. He said the BNYC should strive to work co-operatively with the government and assist with ideas and suggestions where possible so as to show the state the need to introduce youth-friendly policies which will be easily understood and be accessible. He also hailed Batswana youth whom he said have been recognised the world over – such as Mpule Kwelagobe, Kaone, Kario and Amantle Montsho. Out-going board chairman Ellias Rantleru said although he had no intentions of standing for election, he was more than willing to continue working and giving advice to the BNYC and Batswana youth. “I believe I have done my best during my tenure in office and I also believe there are capable leaders who can succeed me and do the job exceptionally well. “You should also remember that we have had ups and downs which I believe were a result of things which were not properly understood. Remember, some people and the media once labelled some of us as illiterate. “This should not hold you back. Instead take them as constructive criticism that should help mould you into better people.” Chomi Letlole was elected as the new board chairman with Simon Moabi as vice-chairman. Charles Mabjeng was voted into the post of Secretary General and Andy Boatle as treasurer. Unity Isaac, Taylor Mononyane and Grace Setofane are additional board members Botswana takes part in military programme A Botswana delegation of 10 comprising military, government and non-governmental organisations, academic and medical personnel has recently attended a three-day “State Partnership Programme” (SPP) workshop in North Carolina , United States . The delegation was led by the commander of the Botswana Defence Force, Lieutenant-general Tebogo Masire. Botswana is the North Carolina National Guard's latest partner in the Us Department of Defence's SPP which is designed to exchange best practices in various fields from emergency management, military experiences, to medical and infrastructure projects. Councillors cry foul as drought projects lag behind Councillors cry foul as drought projects lag behind By Basadi Morokotso North West District councillors are dissatisfied with the manner at which some Drought Relief projects in the district were awarded because some if not all are not what they had proposed for their respective areas. This was after they were read a statement from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Thato Raphaka, that when coming up with the ceiling being reached for Drought Relief programmes, factors which were considered were population and the development status of the constituencies. The funds were also allocated on a constituency basis as directed by Presidential Directive CAB 24(A) of 2009. Ngamiland and Okavango constituencies were each allocated money totalling close to P4-million each while Maun West and Maun East each received P 3 958 926.16 and P3 816 549.95 respectively. Councillors were told that project implementation will start with the maintenance of projects for the months of August to November 2009 and continue with bush clearing and grass cutting from f January to March 2010. The programme is scheduled to be halted in November to December so as to allow beneficiaries to undertake ploughing activities. The ministry has also taken a decision to assist households which were affected by recent floods through the labour intensive public works and costing P4-million from the National Disaster Relief Fund. Councillor Samson Mauano, at a special Council meeting, raised concerns about late payments for those who have been engaged to work on various projects, saying this is “just too discouraging” and has on many occasions led to people dragging their feet and not finishing projects in time, while they also fear that if they complete works before the scheduled time, they might not get further payments. Commenting on the same issue was Matlapana councillor Tapoloso Mosika who said he was “a little relieved to hear” that there will be de-bushing of Ditshiping road, construction of a bridge as well as maintenance works at Matlapana primary school, which had had to be stopped because of insufficient funds. It was important too for the building of an office and toilet at Sexaxa Kgotla as well as the maintenance of the shelter at Matlapana Kgotla which is dilapidated. He also suggested they be given ample time to further look at the projects they have been allocated so that they give preference to those that they need as a matter of urgency. Councillor Phillip Wright said he was surprised by the confusing allocation criteria because it is evident the relevant authorities did not seriously look into it. As councillors, Wright said they had met earlier with their respective Village Development Committees and other community leaders to discuss and prioritise projects they would need, only to be given the unexpected result. He said it would be wise for authorities to inform them well in time whenever there are budget cuts so that they (councillors) could give their input. Regional programme coordinator (Ipelegeng) Daniel Katjinotjwa told councillors that they should feel at liberty to come to his office in person so that they can make amendments wherever possible. He promised that his office will in the future undertake proper consultations so as to avoid further confusion. Kazungula bridge talks going well GABORONE - Works and Transport minister Johnnie Swartz says the Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi River has progressed well despite previous setbacks. Describing it as “a noble project”, the bridge is intended to construct a southern Africa that is “economically integrated and prosperous.” Swartz added at a meeting with a Namibian delegation “that is the only way in which our region can be globally competitive, create jobs and improve the living standards of its people. “We are therefore not only brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, but are also strategic partners in development. We are together involved in fighting poverty, unemployment and disease.” Namibia has indicated an interest in exploring the possibility of linking Impalila Island in the Zambezi to the Kazungula Bridge . Intruders enter couple's bedroom A Maun man and his wife had a frightening experience recently when they awoke to find two intruders in their bedroom. The men, carrying a knife and an iron bar, demanded money and the keys to a car. They grabbed the couple's 911 Neighbourhood Watch radio and P7 000 in cash before running off. They did not find the car keys. Police were alerted but the footprints of the two disappeared on the river bank. V-P spells out successes and challenges LETLHAKANE – Vice-President Mompati Merafhe says that the Vision 2016 awareness month's theme of “Turning challenges into opportunities: the journey continues” encourages the nation to stay the course, “however harsh the terrain.” Speaking at the launch here, he said “the important thing about this launch is that it gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves of what we have achieved and what we have yet to achieve. Most importantly, it alerts us to the fact that the year 2016 is almost upon us. “With only seven years left before we celebrate our golden jubilee, we should always be mindful of the truism that ‘time and tide wait for no man,” he said. Vision 2016 rests on seven pillars which define aspirations as a nation. The record clearly shows that while there are still challenges to be tackled (but) “we have, on the whole, made what can be characterised as good progress.” Under the pillar of “Building an Educated and Informed Nation,” there has been an enrolment of 86% of students in primary schools and access to print and electronic media has also gone up significantly. About 85% of Batswana are able to tune into Radio Botswana (RB1) while 40% have access to Botswana Television. Female participation in the national workforce has risen to 45%, with more women occupying senior positions, especially in the public sector. The informal sector has also grown substantially. The agricultural sector, which has not been doing too well, is being restored to its rightful place in the national economy. “We already have concrete evidence that recent efforts by the government to resuscitate this sector through the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) will bear fruit. The Letlhakeng sub-district is itself a good example of how effective ISPAAD has been,” he said. Merafhe said “our commitment to building an open, democratic and accountable nation has never wavered. Tolerance and respect for differing opinions is still part of our culture and has helped Botswana remain politically stable.” Botswana is also ranked No 1 in terms of control of corruption in Africa and No 38 internationally. Botswana is also “ranked highly both regionally and internationally due to our sustained commitment to practice freedom of association, free media, government respecting the rights of citizens to take part in the affairs of the state, and general respect for human rights.” Merafhe listed challenges to be tackled as a 100% enrolment in primary schools and 100% literacy rate. Democrats urged to vote for Tawana By Basadi Morokotso Botswana Democratic Party supporters in the Maun West constituency have been urged to vote for Kgosi Tawana Moremi in large numbers “that would suit his status.” This was said over the weekend by Francistown South parliamentary candidate Wynter Mmolotsi who also said that should any one not vote for the ruling party “they would not be doing justice for themselves as they will be throwing their votes into the mud, something which they will in the long run live to regret.” He said people should refrain from voting for opposition parties such as the Botswana Congress Party and Botswana National Front because they, he claimed, had misled people in the past and failed to deliver to expectations. “These people have long lost direction so it would be useless if you were to vote them into power. They have also run short of the very ideas that they steal from us, they run their parties like stokvels and have had a slip of mind, so how do you expect to be lead by people like that?” he said. Mmolotsi claimed the BDP had a clean track record in developing the country and empowering Batswana as a whole as well as maintaining peace and tranquillity that Botswana is well known for even globally as well as striving to make the country corruption. He admitted there were “usually setbacks here and there.” He said people in opposition parties have developed a habit of opposing everything even those that they know are straight forward and have benefited and sustained them and their families, citing youth development projects which the opposition usually criticised even though these have also embraced as welcome developments. Speaking at the same rally was Moshupa parliamentary candidate Mokgweetsi Masisi who said he has no doubt that Tawana will make it to parliament as it is evident that he has no opposition in the constituency. He described the recent situation over party secretary-general Gomolemo Motswaledi as “an in house matter that the BDP will tackle without hassles” and therefore people should not use it as an excuse for not voting for BDP candidates. Tawana Moremi told the rally he is confident of a win and as a result had nothing more to say, let alone worry about. He called on fellow democrats to stand their ground and do what's best for them by voting him and Maun West council candidates into power if what they want is to move forward. Maun woman in top ranks of fraud examiners Austin , TX – (4/08/2009)- The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world's leading provider of anti-fraud training and education, is pleased to award Noeline Ndaba, of Maun , Botswana , the globally-preferred Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential. In order to become a CFE, an anti-fraud professional must meet a stringent set of criteria and pass a rigorous exam administered by the ACFE. Ndaba has successfully met the ACFE's character, experience, and education requirements for the CFE credential, and has demonstrated knowledge in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: Fraudulent Financial Transactions, Criminology & Ethics, Legal Elements of Fraud and Fraud Investigation. Ndaba joins the ranks of over 23,000 business and government professionals worldwide who have also earned the CFE certification. Ndaba is currently Managing Director for Ausi Holdings in Maun Botswana . CFEs have the ability to: Examine data and records to detect and trace fraudulent transactions; interview suspects to obtain information and confessions; write investigation reports, advise clients as to their findings and testify at trial; be well-versed in the law as it relates to fraud and fraud investigations; and understand the underlying factors that motivate individuals to commit fraud. Certified Fraud Examiners (CFE's) on six continents have investigated more than 1 million suspected cases of civil and criminal fraud. About the ACFE The ACFE, the world's premier provider of training and education for fraud detection and deterrence, has nearly 50,000 members, sponsors more than 125 chapters worldwide and provides anti-fraud educational materials to over 100 universities. Identified as “the premier financial sleuthing organization” by The Wall Street Journal , the ACFE has captured national and international media attention. For more information about the ACFE visit www.ACFE.com . Postponement a blessing for top league sides Sports Correspondent GABORONE - The postponement of the start of the Be Mobile Premier football league has afforded teams to get their preseason preparations on track for the grueling season that lies ahead. At present clubs are busy getting their teams to peak physical fitness and also working around the clock to beat the transfer deadline and bolster their squads by signing new players. The current champions, Gaborone United, buoyed by a hefty prize of P1-million won in last season's league season, have led the race in securing Tumisang Sekanonyane from BMC as well as Botlhe Rankgomo from relegated Tlokweng Naughty Boys. The Reds are also on the verge of signing Mandla ‘Spikiri' Mgadla from Mogoditshane Fighters. The youngster was rumoured to be on his way to Notwane but it seems the fact that his father Reuben Mgadla once played for GU swung the pendulum. After losing two highly-influential players in the mould of Noah Maposa and Pontsho Moloi, who have joined Bay United in South Africa 's Mvela league - a second tier league there - it would be interesting to see how Mochudi Centre Chiefs will respond. Known for their furious transfer market activity, Chiefs is expected to launch a bid for some of the more revered players in local football. However, a failure to retain the league title and the Coca Cola Cup might impede its spending this season. Young Jackie ‘Pele' Mothatego who spent an almost-anonymous season at Notwane, has also crossed over to join Police XI and his replacement looks to be Kgaodi ‘Deco' Odirile from Naughty Boys. In the previous season Kutlo ‘Tsotsi' Sejeso struggled at left back and two former Notwane leftbacks, Oabile Tlhajwane and Boniface Makolo, have been practising with Toronto with the hope of landing a contract. A Zimbabwean defender is also currently on trials at Toronto to bolster a defence that has leaked goals like a sieve. Township Rollers have signed former Gaborone United striker Thandwa Moreki, a player in the twilight of his career. Rollers' problems at the back have been their Achilles heel and they are chasing the signature of Pius Kolagano. In what should go down as the biggest transfer coup, national team left back Mosimanegape ‘Twizer' Ramohibidu has been signed by BDF XI from BMC to fortify the army defence. ECCO City Greens are hot on the heels of Boteti Young Fighters' marksman Patrick Lenyeletse and Uniao Flamengo Santos' Boitshoko Zikhale though the latter's team deny it. Chiefs has been trying to lure two of their stars, Mandla ‘Sukunyetsa' Sibanda and Bonolo Frazer to their camp and the attempt to sign the duo is seen as preparation for such an eventuality. V-P launches Botswana Games GABORONE – Vice President Mompati Merafhe launched the second Botswana Games here on Wednesday. He said the committee is up for a mammoth task of raising funds to assist the Botswana National Sports Council and that the adverse impact of the global financial crisis has contributed to the downfall of the private sector but was hopeful that given support the committee would stage successful Games. He commended the BNSC for initiating what he termed “a humble concept that would enhance Botswana 's chances of success in future international competitions.” The University of Botswana is hosting the Games which feature over 4 000 athletes while 16 administrative districts are participating in a total of 13 sporting codes. The first Botswana Games were staged in 2007 with over 2 500 athletes. Thousands apply for World Cup jobs As the World Cup will be staged in Africa for the first time, nearly 68 000 people have applied to become volunteers for the 2010 tournament in South Africa . The number is said to be more than four times that needed by the organisers. “The programme has certainly proved to be hugely popular, and we are honoured by the incredible response we have received from around the world,” Danny Jordaan, head of the local organising committee, said in a statement. Fans from 170 countries applied, mostly from South Africa but also with Nigeria , the United States , Brazil and Zimbabwe posting the largest number of hopefuls. The applications will now be interviewed to decide on who receives the 15 000 posts Keabetswe off to the US Nhabe BOPSSA regional organiser Selebatso Keabetswe will be jetting off to New Jersey , United States , soon to attend a one month football coaching course. Keabetswe, a teacher at Andrew Wellio School in Maun, has been seconded to Botswana Predator Conversation Trust (BPCT), which is managed under the Coaching for Conservation programme for a year. He started working with the programme in May 2009, and has been part of their programmes which are mainly based in primary schools. As part of their commitment to work with the Department of Primary and Education, Coaching for Conservation director Lesley Boggs and Ashley Hammond, of Ashley's Soccer Camp, have decide to send Keabetswe to the US. The training Keabetswe will attend is very important in upgrading his coaching skills and sharing his experience with the children and other school teachers. Speaking before he left for Gaborone on Thursday, Keabetswe told Times Sports that “it is really a break-through in my coaching career. It is something that I never dreamt of, but with the passion I have for sports, I take it to be a reward. I therefore to thank Lesley Boggs, Ashley Hammond and Education officials for offering me this opportunity.”

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 31 Aug 2009 18:27

  Edition 474 28 August - 4 September, 2009 The long-delayed Maun bus and taxi rank in Mabudutsa ward is finally getting completed. The facility was to have been opened months ago but the Chinese contractors involved failed to meet deadlines. The North West District Council then warned that the company would have to pay a multi-million pula penalty unless the job was completed to the Council's satisfaction. This picture shows the progress so far. ( Photo: Joe Myburgh ) FAMILY MURDERED IN DESERT The bodies of a family of three – father, mother and child - have been found in the Kalahari Desert . They had all been shot. The killings, in one of the most remote areas of northern Botswana , have shocked the people of the region lying to the west of the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site. The bodies were found between the remote villages of Xabachaa and Chukumuchu, in the Okavango sub-district. The family, were reported missing in April by villagers of Nxaunxau and Chukumuchu. It is understood that the father was a cattle dealer and may have been carrying a large sum of money received from sales he had made. The 4 th person is now the chief suspect as it is believed he may have shot all three with a shotgun and then rode off on his horse. He has also not been seen since April. The Officer Commanding for Police District No 5, Senior Superintendent Robert Masibi, confirmed to The Ngami Times that the remains had been found. Masibi also said the bodies of the victims were decomposed. But pathologists had positively identified them as those of people who were reported missing in April this year. Mosibi declined to confirm that the three were murdered but said police are investigating - “at the moment, this is all I can say and once our investigations are complete we will be in a position to say exactly what happened.” Sources say it is believed the three “may have been murdered by someone using a gun” and that that person is at large. The possibility also exists that the family may have been abducted, murdered and the bodies taken into the desert. The North West District councillor for Nxaunxau/Gani, Samson Mauano, described the incident as “a very sad one (and) which has left the entire community shocked”. Mauano recalled of how the man, his wife and a child who was in Standard 7 left for their cattle post at Xabachaa. The child was supposed to return to Nxaunxau Primary School but never did so. He said when people started worrying about the family's whereabouts the matter was reported to the police. After some time, people appeared to have forgotten about the three and some said they were still alive even though they had not been seen at their cattle post. “Now this situation is very sad, and has left the entire community scared. People are even scared of going about doing their things,” he said. Mauano appealed for anybody with information that can help the police to come forward. Nxaunxau is the centre of diamond prospecting operations carried out by the Tsodilo Resources company which has found kimberlite deposits of diamonds and garnet at 40 sites 8km north-east of the village, which is about 40km from the Botswana-Namibia border. Hotel armed robbers let out on bail Two members of a gang of six who allegedly robbed the Sedia Riverside Hotel at gunpoint last week have been given bail by the Maun magistrate's court. The gang used explosives to open a safe. The two alleged robbers were released while the police were still continuing with their investigations into the robbery as well as others that have taken place in and around Maun in recent weeks. The two - Kagisano Manyema and Goganamang Sango - were given bail the same day. They had claimed before senior magistrate Clifford Foroma that they had been tortured.The magistrate said the police should investigate without brutalising suspects, saying also that any evidence led of alleged torture is likely to favour the accused. There was also insufficient evidence so far from the police linking Manyema and Sanga to the alleged crime. He ruled that keeping the two in custody could be misconstrued to mean that the courts condone police brutality on suspects. Foroma said the prosecution had not claimed Manyema and Sanga would interfere with investigations or witnesses or commit similar offences or abscond. He gave them free bail. Four other accused, two named as Tumelo Mopalo and Mpolokang Samo and two unnamed, were said to have robbed the hotel on August 17. Mopalo and Samo were denied bail as there was “strong evidence they committed the crime”. Alan Bimson, of the hotel, said this week they were “delighted with the manner in which the CID and 911 Neighbourhood Watch handled the incident but we are very sad to have been let down so badly by the Judiciary. “We understood that if a person commits such a serious offence, then the courts have a duty to keep such perpetrators in custody pending their further appearance in a court of law.” The hotel was robbed of an undisclosed amount of P40 000, US$3 000 and 0R1 000, multimedia equipment valued at P15 000, a digital camera and a cellphone. The camera and cellphone have been recovered. Tsimako concerned about violent crimes Commissioner of Police Thebeyame Tsimako has expressed his concern about the increase in serious incidents of violent and intrusive crimes. Tsimako said this when officially launching the Sedie Crime Prevention Cluster Office under the theme “ Working together with the community to fight crime .” He said violent robberies and burglaries are increasing every day and innocent citizens and residents are attacked and robbed of their belongings. He urged the community to work with police to fight violent crime. Tsimako also thanked the police team which led to the arrest of robbers who used to terrorise residents of Maun. He added that even though the suspects were released on bail, as they claimed to have been assaulted by police, it was hoped the arrest will be a breakthrough into investigating other unresolved related cases in Maun. He said they only managed to arrest the suspects as police were committed to the work that they were doing. Tsimako urged people to stop the financial success of criminals by not buying stolen goods. He also advised people to be involved in neighbourhood watch schemes as well as being ready and willing to give evidence in court against perpetrators without fear. Tsimako said the work that has been done by Sedie cluster should serve as a challenge to other clusters and do more. Kgosi Otshwanetse Sedumedi, of Sedie ward, said Sedie is much better when it comes to crime statistics. She said they are working with police to ensure that they fight crime but asked for support from the commissioner as she said they have limited resources. The chairperson of Sedie Clusters, Gaboiphiwe Sebati stressed out that the police needed “love and respect from the community as they cannot alone fight crime.” The Sedie Crime Prevention Cluster was given a Toyota Land Cruiser 4.2 vehicle to assist in fighting crime and other duties. They were however advised to share it with other clusters. Charity fund-raiser for cancer awareness Keep the date of Sunday, September 6 open! The Journey of Hope charity is holding a fund raiser - billed as “Blisters for Sisters” – in Maun to raise funds for breast cancer and caner awareness. The charity has been formed to help raise funds for treatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer and who not have access to medical aid or other funds. At present, the organisation is raising money for a 32-year-old mother of twins who is now in her last stage of treatment – radiation which costs P52 000. The fun day includes a half marathon fun run sponsored by Choppies, with a Matlapaneng “cat walk” over about 3km in high heels for men, women and children. Entrance to the event at Audi Camp is P50 per person and pre-school children P25. The cost includes a breakfast/brunch, donated by Anne of Audi Camp. Raffle tickets are already on sale from Nicky and Robyn at Travel Centre opposite Maun airport Candidates urged to stop using abusive language The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Secretary Gabriel Seeletso has cautioned prospective political candidates against the use of abusive or any other language that might incite any person at party rallies and during campaigns now that election time is nearing. He said his office had received complaints that some people had taken advantage of political rallies to use insulting language. Such incidents are said to end in chaos because of some people's inability to take such remarks lightly. Seeletso said also that the election code of conduct restricts party members and supporters to disrupt other parties' rallies, meetings, motorcades and marches as well as carrying weapons of any kind. The code also states that rallies and other demonstrations should be held at least 500 metres from each other and those parties should refrain from utilising public address systems, either fixed or mobile between 9pm and 5am as this constitutes a public nuisance. Meanwhile, candidates have been blamed for misleading the electorates and at times deliberately forcing them into “voter trafficking”. This was said by Thabo Komane of the Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) who also complained about registration officers whom he suggested be recruited from outside their places of residence because they are familiar with the people and places. They therefore had a tendency of misleading members of the public with many irrelevant questions that they ask as a way of trying to convince them to turn against their parties of choice. He also called for the establishment of a complaints committee which will enable them to raise and discuss their grievances. Deputy council chairman and councillor for Thamalakane North, Tebogo Bethia, complained about people who destroy posters mounted on street poles and which are meant to advertise candidates. He said the fact that such posters were put there is a clear indication that they want to be seen and that they also act as campaign tools. Council candidate for Boyei, Obonya Morapedi, called on the IEC to step in and come to the aid of people working at different camps in the delta. She said these people have registered as voters but have raised complaints that their employers never give them days off and as such this restricts them from travelling to places where they have registered so that they could vote. In response, Seeletso said it is the duty of party members to form and have effective party liaison committees which will tackle their problems in-house. He said the issue of recruiting registration officers from outside is a complicated one because they had thought by taking people from their places of origin, it would favour residents because it would enable them to speak freely because they understand each other better. This according to Seeletso would also help because the officers would be familiar with the people, the spellings of names and so forth. He said it is a criminal offence for people to remove, de-face or tear other people's campaign posters and that whoever caught doing that should be reported to the nearest police station. On the issue of people at the delta who are allegedly not allowed to vote, Seeletso said it is the duty of the District Commissioner, Members of Parliament, Chiefs and other community leaders to see to it that those people are all allowed to cast their votes as it is their right to do so. He said his office is also worried about voter trafficking which he said people seem not to understand where and when it should be applied. “This is a very corrupt practice. These transfers are meant for people who are forced to move from their principal residence on work-related issues. I call upon all to be accountable and act responsibly in all that you do so that by 2014 you would have put things right,” he said. Feasibility of railway to be studied The pre-feasibility study for the proposed Trans Kalahari Railway (TKR) is to start next month. The multi-billion pula project is expected to link Palapye or Mahalapye with Namibia 's Atlantic coast and be an important route for inland development in Botswana . It is not yet known whether the original idea of a railway to a natural harbour at Shearwater Bay , near Luderitz, is to be pursued or whether the Namibian port of Walvis Bay would be preferred. The Pre-feasibility Study to be funded by the World Bank and will enable both Botswana and Namibia to investigate the project prior to soliciting the participation of the private sector. It is known that there has already been interest in it from the private sector to finance, implement and operate the project. Botswana wants the alignment of the railway to not only serve business interests but also assist in alleviating transport problems currently experienced in the remote areas of the western part of Botswana and the eastern part of Namibia Labour issues must not delay projects August 28 Sepetember 4, 2009 Editor: Norman Chandler Editorial Comment: Bright Kholi It is amazing that contractors of major projects say a shortage of skilled labour is an impediment in the progress of their work. One would have thought that when a contractor tendered for a project, he should have clearly indicated how he would deal with the issue of acquiring skilled labour and that the client also uses the information in awarding tenders. It should then be entirely upon the contractor to get the labour he needs and at no time should that delay projects. We strongly believe that projects should always be completed on time and failure to do so for whatever reason is a disservice to the public. The country has been having problems with project implementation for a very long time. These include a failure to deliver projects on time and contractors who abandon projects. Initially the blame was placed on local contractors, who were said to lack the capacity to do certain work At some point during Festus Mogae's presidency, President Ian Khama, then Vice President, was in charge of project implementation. The problem has however persisted and is still a serious concern. When he took over as president, Khama, among the many changes he made, came up with the Government Implementation Coordinating Agency (GICO). This was a sign that the problem of implementation was of concern to government. However, journalists on a tour of projects in Francistown region last week were told at every project visited that lack of skilled labour was the reason why projects were behind schedule. Ministries are apparently going out of their way to help contractors get the labour they need so that projects could be finished on time. This leads to more public funds being spent unnecessarily. We urge the authorities to take a closer look at these issues and to make sure the contractors' concern over skilled labour is genuine and not just an excuse to either sideline Batswana, or a simple cover up for the delay. This may be a loophole that needs attention. Last week's Shuffle told how a British newspaper and a company called Expatriate Healthcare had canvassed many people to find out where the top 10 destinations for retirement could be – Botswana was one of the 10. A British couple seeking to retire to Botswana has told Shuffle of the brick wall they have come up against over the past few weeks as they try to obtain residence without a work permit in this country. The Department of Immigration and every consultant they have spoken to all say they have to buy a shelf company or establish a company in order to live in Botswana . The couple has filled in all official forms, received police clearance, had their fingerprints taken and generally followed all the rules until the moment of truth arrives – no work permit, no residence permit. “There seems to be no way that people are encouraged to retire to Botswana as they would be to countries such as Spain,” the couple said (for obvious reasons they do not wish their names to be divulged as they keep on trying to make progress with their application). Now, in the absence of success and fighting a bureaucratic society, they are looking at Namibia as a retirement destination. Shuffle was misinformed last week when reporting that the NG20 concession area had been sold for about US$8-million. It appears that the figure was below half of that. Shuffle always tries to ensure the information published is correct but on this occasion obviously it was not. It seems that the world has passed by the Matlapaneng kgotla – and for that matter probably most other kgotla as well. Stuck as it is in the bush, the Matlapaneng kgotla not only frowns on modern trends but bans outright the wearing of trousers by females. And the elderly and disabled who have the misfortune to walk with a stick (and there are many) have to leave their means of support outside the door. There's a notice at the kgotla offices to this effect, but it escaped people who went there this week to register a death. They were told in no uncertain terms to leave as they were both wearing slacks. An argument ensured and the wearers won the day as they, correctly, refused to leave. We are of course aware of many customs and traditions in this area but to frown on women wearing trousers is laughable, particularly as many young ladies do so whenever they can – even air hostesses on the national airline do so. Perhaps there needs to be a rethink on dress code. Shuffle remembers all too vividly the days of Dr Kamuzu Banda who ruled Malawi with an iron fist. He also forbade the wearing of trousers by women and demanded every business close its doors as his motorcade sped by. Curtains on upstairs windows had also to be closed. ** Our friendly neighbourhood reckless drivers are at it again. BX 16983, a white Land cruiser with a Department of Agriculture sticker on the door was noticed driving well over the speed limit on the road from Sedie ward to Maun and overtook vehicles in the face of oncoming traffic near the new BDP offices, forcing the oncoming taxi and a car behind it to swerve off the road, and then did the same a little further on, finally disappearing towards Maun at high speed. Then there's the driver of BX034243, belonging to the CAAB, who shot straight through the stop street, without pausing, outside Bon Arivee restaurant at 12.10pm on Monday. Perhaps someone could explain the dangers of this to him especially with all the Air Botswana passengers around. ** Here's something to make people like Bronwyn and Boipuso laugh out loud. * I had someone ask for an aisle seat so that their hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. * I got a call from a man who asked, “Is it possible to see England from Canada ?” I said, “No.” He said: “But they look so close on the map.” * I just got off the phone with a man who asked, “How do I know which plane to get on?” I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, “I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them. * A businessman called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China . I reminded him he needed a visa. “Oh no I don't, I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those.” I double-checked and sure enough, he required a visa. When I told him this, he said, “Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express.” Historic link-up of the Selinda and Okavango For the first time in 30 years the Selinda Spillway and the Okavango River have linked up. The historic event was witnessed by The Ngami Times and other guests of Linyanti Explorations. Environmentalist Map Ives, of Wilderness Safaris, said at the site, pictured above (the actual spot where the historic event took place is marked by a log ) said during the last 30 years the Selinda has been a small, dry riverbed running through mophane and Kalahari apple leaf scrub for about 100kms from near to Gudigwa on the Okavango River to the Kwando River just above Lake Zibadianja. Water from the Okavango seldom flowed further than Gudigwa until about 2005 when floodwaters started to become larger in the Okavango delta and a thin trickle of water moved down the dry channel. Each year from then on, the water travelled a little further towards the Linyanti until the large flood this year eventually pushed through and the two joined up. Although little known, scientists have included the Selinda in geological and geomorphology studies and found that it may occur along a fault line which is associated with other well-known faults which contain the Okavango River and have diverted the waters of the Kwando . The Selinda fault is assumed to be a possible route via which the Okavango River may eventually drain towards the Linyanti and onwards to the Chobe and Zambezi rivers and then into the Indian Ocean . Another interesting fact about the Selinda is that it is the likely route by which the introduction of the mokoro to the Okavango delta was made. The Bayei people who today reside all around the Okavango, and are certainly the specialist mokoro people, moved to Botswana from the Linyanti wetland area in what is the Caprivi Strip today. They had travelled down the Selinda over a period of time taking their mekoro technology with them. ( Picture: Bright Kholi). L etters to the Editor Mail: Private Bag BO30, Boseja, Maun Tel: 6864807 Fax: 6860257 e-mail: tnt@info.bw Sir, - I refer to your report on the forthcoming trial on corruption charges of one Benjamin Leselwa, a DCA official who allegedly accepted a bribe from Susan Janetta Smart in 2007. What your report does not clarify is the role played by Sue Smart in his arrest. Was she instrumental in the apprehension of Mr Leselwa? If so, and were I her, I would want this to be clarified, and she should be congratulated. If, on the other hand, she did attempt to bribe Mr Leselwa, surely the public should know about it? Ms Smart is after all the head of a tourism company that has become a major player hereabouts, and indeed it was reported in the same edition of your organ that its concession area NG20 has not been put up for tender along with others that have coterminous leases, which one must suppose to be a matter of public interest. The ambiguity in your report on Mr Leselwa's case is doing either Ms Smart (and by implication her employer), or the public, a disservice. PETER SANDENBERGH Editor's Note: Benjamin Leselwa is charged with Corruption in Respect of Official Transaction, punishable under section 36 of the Corruption and Economic Crimes Act. The charge sheet states that “having inspected the Kwando/Lagoon airstrip belonging to Kwando Safaris, (Leselwa) offered to accept and did in fact accept an amount of P2 000 from Smart as an inducement or reward for inspecting the airstrip and making recommendations for its licensing.” Our understanding therefore is that Smart was instrumental in the apprehension of the person charged with corruption. We regret that the report published last week did not clarify this and we take this first opportunity to do so. Links benefit African nations Most African countries, including Botswana , are benefiting more from relationships with China and India than with Western donors and multilateral financial institutions, the findings of a research conducted under the title “Impact of Globalization on Foreign Policy and National Sovereignty” has pointed out. According to the research, published in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , this week, African countries are content with the unconditional assistance and trade relationship with the two countries.The principle of non-interference in domestic policies, and mutual respect which characterizes the policies of China and India has given confidence in the relationships. They provide loans and assistance with no strings attached in contrast to Western bilateral donors and multilateral financial institutions which stringently go into specific country profiles in areas of governance, human rights records and policy reforms.Similarly, as China's and India's economic growth continue and their demand for natural resources rose, Africa is well suited to fulfill that demand. China and India see Africa as a potentially big market for their products, the research indicates. ‘General satisfaction with service to public' - According to the latest Botswana Public Service Customer Satisfaction Survey, 83% of the public have expressed general satisfaction with overall service delivery by civil servants. This was revealed by the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Margret Nasha, when officially opening the 2009 Public Service convention here at the weekend. Nasha, however, emphasised that while the result showed significant improvement over the previous survey, there was still a need for further improvement. A total of 56% of the public were reported to have described the service delivery they received as “good” and only 27% rated it as either “very good” or “excellent”, adding that “in today's world, the category worth talking about is one of excellence.” Nasha said: “It is now widely accepted that whatever the nature of the business - private enterprise, non-profit undertakings, political, religious and sports formations; and the public service; leadership is absolutely pivotal.” Reform initiatives undertaken by government to improve customer satisfaction were in response to public calls for quality service. She stressed the need for transformational leaders who live by, and aspire others to achieve, the core values of the public service charter which called for due regard for the public interest, neutrality, accountability, transparency, freedom from corruption and due diligence. Government projects hit by shortage of skilled workers In a move that has been appreciated by the media, especially the private media, the Office of the President last week took a group of journalists on a tour of government projects in the Francistown region. Although President Ian Khama was not there, as journalists had hoped, the President's deputy s enior private secretary and press liaison officer, Sipho Madisa, conducted the tour. Madisa said the move was to further government commitment to positively engage and involve the media in its daily business to ensure greater interaction and sustain cordial relations. Apart from journalists, the group included Dr Mothibe, the deputy director general of the Government Implementation Coordinating Agency. The tour was meant to familiarise journalists with government projects and started with an excursion to the Dikgathong Dam project near Robelela where the construction of the biggest dam in the country is expected to supply south eastern parts of the country and other villages. It will carry 400-million cubic metres capacity and costs of P1.1-billion to a Chinese company, Sino Hydro Corporation. Construction started in March last year and suffered a major setback in June this year because of unexpected floods. Part of the dam includes a pipeline that will join the North South Water Carrier pipeline. The Francistown/Ramokgwebana road reconstruction to upgrade the existing A1 which connects Botswana to South Africa and Zimbabwe . Access roads totaling 51km will be built as part of the project, which started in September last year and is due for completion by September 2010. The main project – at a cost of P386-million - was also awarded to Sino hydro Corporation while the five access roads, costing P220-million, will be done simultaneously by five local contractors. The contractor has said work is being delayed by a lack of skilled labour. The tour then led the journalists to yet another prestigious project in Francistown - the airport reconstruction. This project is part of a government plan to upgrade all major airports and to “suitably position them well” for the coming 2010 World Cup football tournament in south Africa - and also to increase easy accessibility by air in Botswana. The project involves the re-orientation of the runway as the existing one has restricted the growth of the Central Business District. The project is divided into three packages - construction of the runway, taxiway and the apron, awarded at the contract sum of P224 million and which commenced on August 1 last year and is expected to completed by July 2010. The physical progress of this project by June was 34% against 38% and is behind schedule by 46 %. The second part consists of the airfield ground lighting and its cost is not yet known as it at the tendering stage. The third package is the construction of a terminal building, tower and other buildings within the airport. It has been awarded to Zhongan Engineering at a cost of P160.3 million and when complete, the airport is expected to accommodate Boeing 737 jets. At Nata journalists visited site of the construction of Nata Senior Secondary School which started in March and is anticipated to be complete in September next year. It is being built at an estimated cost of P665-million, of which the construction tender is P555-million, consultancy fee P24-million and P84-million for furniture and equipment. The project is 11 % complete with some of the setbacks said to be a shortage of skilled labour, especially bricklayers and the unexpected rains that hit the country in June. The school will be able to absorb about 1 440 students. The new 28 000-seater Francistown stadium is being built by Tuwana Construction Company at a cost of P174-million and is 50% complete. The project started in March 2008 and is expected to be completed in January 2010. There are Also setbacks caused by a shortage of skilled manpower which might see them missing the deadline. Journalist also toured the construction site of Tonota library which is being built at a cost of about P25 million. The project commenced in November last and is 57 % complete and 8 weeks behind schedule. The tour ended at 52 unts being built for the Institute of Health Services in Donga. Maun Select outclass Ecco City Nhabe region is rated as one of the most competitive leagues in the country. The performance by the teams has attracted the likes of Premier League teams as well as the national team and have taken advantage of using the Maun Select for pre-season preparation games because of the quality. On the Ecco City and Maun Select games, the region has raw talent which needs to be nurtured to complete their talents. The discipline showed here has attracted more than 13 scouts from different Premier League teams who attended the friendly game at Maun Sports Complex at the weekend when the Maun Select outclassed Ecco City . When the team to play Ecco was announced, there were mixed feelings about the election but the performance they displayed was outstanding. Two games were played on Saturday - the first was between Ecco City Greens reserves against Maun Select which had also brought two teams. The game ended in 1-1 draw. The second proved that Maun is ready to have a Premier League team. The players combined well to down Greens 2-0, despite the Premier League side bringing a full strength squad. Ecco City was shown no respect. They were outplayed in all departments. Maun Select took the lead and won the match in the first half through goals by Maun Tigers inspirational midfielder Welcome Patrick Mazibuko and Delta Winds striker GC Lemphorwana. Maun Select team coach Jabulani Ncube applauded his charges for the outstanding performance. “There was so much talk about the players we had assembled, but I am happy that the players did not disappoint. They all played very well and we are looking forward to maintain the team for future games,” said Ncube. Ncube also added that he was impressed by the spectator turn-out at the Stadium. “That was massive and we urge fans to keep on coming in large numbers.” Ecco City Greens say they will visit the region often as they said that they got tough competition. FIFA Goal II project underway The expansion of accommodation facilities at Lekidi Centre in Gaborone has commenced. The ground breaking ceremony of the US$400 000 (about P3.2-million) Goal Project was attended by Sports and Culture minister Gladys Kokorwe, BNSC chairperson Daniel Tau, FIFA Development Officer Ashford Mamelodi and many other representatives from various sporting departments. Through the Goal Project, FIFA through its president Sepp Blatter has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to the development of football worldwide. The Botswana government enabled the Botswana Football Association to put up a bigger facility that would address the technical and administrative needs. The money is to be used for a double-storey hostel facility for use primarily by national teams. BFA President David Fani said: “Lekidi Football Centre has become an important facility for the BFA in its efforts to develop football. Its expansion will further enhance the capacity of BFA to adequately provide for national teams and take the development of football to another level”. Tamlac (Pty) Ltd will undertake the construction works, and it is expected the hostel block will be completed by the beginning of February next year. Zebras-Kenya game called off Kenya called off their proposed friendly international football match against the Botswana Zebras due to have been played this weekend. It is believed that the Kenya is instead going to Bahrain to play in a three-nation event. Kenya claimed they could not have use of their foreign-based players for the game, which was to be part of preparations for their 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifier against Mozambique on September 5. Kenya wanted also to have a feel of an artificial turf before their tie against Mozambique . Molepolole Stadium had been earmarked for the game.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

• 24 Aug 2009 02:15

  Edition 473 21 - 28 August, 2009 First sun powered boat on Okavango River It is the first to be seen on the Okavango River – a solar powered sloop built in Maun. As it progresses from Shakawe to Maun, the sun is heating nine photovoltaic 200W panels (1800W) to provide the engine with power, and to recharge the four batteries as needed. A Flexmax power point system is also used to determine how best to use the power obtained while two additional 80W panels power an Engel fridge/freezer, an emergency radio, and two LED spotlights. The Ray Marine electric motor, which is 4hp, pushes the boat which, combined with the current, gives the craft an elegant 12 k/ph cruising speed. Those on board - who have been well-stocked up with food, and have been resupplied by Jacques Conradie, from River Safaris - say the engine is remarkably quiet, and the boat “handles like a dream.” They have been averaging about 60-70 km per day from Shakawe to Maun, and are on schedule. The solar sloop, celebrating the launch of the Alternative Power Systems Africa company, of Maun, and highlighting the use of solar power and its different applications, should be arriving in Maun today or tomorrow (Friday or Saturday) if all goes well. On board are Mark Nordin, Mark Rodwell, Grant Nordin and Grant Huskisson. POLICE, SOLDIERS DIG UP RIFLES By Keagisitswe Dioka and Gaolebogwe Moipei Three men said to be Zimbabweans are being questioned by police after a large sum of money and a number of rifles were found buried on Wednesday afternoon at a rented two-roomed house in Boseja. The three are suspected of being linked to armed robbery cases which have taken place in Maun, the Okavango Panhandle and in the central Kalahari in recent weeks. Police and soldiers dug up the money which was buried in a rubbish pit and the guns were also found buried in shallow holes against the walls of the house. The dramatic breakthrough comes after armed robbers raided the Sedia Riverside Hotel and the Okavango River Lodge on Tuesday. A man was also attacked at his home in Tsanakona while another who had loaded his rifle was overpowered in his home and also robbed of the weapon. According to the information revealed by Maun CID Officer-In -Charge, Assistant Superintendent Alakanani Raymond David, intruders cut the perimeter fence and raided the Sedia Riverside Hotel offices at about 1.45am on Tuesday. The safe was opened by using explosives and the robbers – some of who were armed with rifles, it is understood – got away with an undisclosed amount of money and other property. The day before, robbers tied up two security guards at the Okavango River Lodge. An amount of P6 000 was taken from the safe. David said a Tsanakona man was on August 17 robbed of a Nokia N70 cellphone valued at P2 700. The man was attacked by robbers who hit him on the face and head with something suspected to be a metal object. He sustained minor injuries. A few days earlier, a Thitoyamokodi man was awakened at about 2am by his dogs barking. Three masked robbers attacked him before he could fire a warning shot. He was robbed of his loaded rifle, valued at P6 000.00. The intruders ran off with the rifle and the victim was taken to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Maun police are also investigating a case of shop breaking and theft at a branch of Pep Stores in the New Mall. Thieves got onto the roof at the back of the building, cut through the roofing materials and tried to rob the safe. When they were unable to do so, they stole blankets and escaped. Scene of the crime. On the left is pictured the location of the rifles, and (right) where the money was found. Sudden death of Brian Wentink Well-known Maun resident Brian Wentink died suddenly this week after complaining of feeling ill. The death occurred during the lunch hour on Tuesday when Wentink, 61, was taken to a local doctor's surgery for an examination. He died at the scene after suffering what was described as “a massive heart attack.” Wentink was the son-in-law of world famous big game hunter Harry Selby and Miki Selby. He is survived by his wife Gail. Wentink, a Botswana citizen, was born in South Africa . A printer by trade, he came to Botswana 16 years ago, established a small printing business – Mowana Printers - and then entered the retail trade supplying safari camps with their necessities. At the time of his death he was working from offices at Lepopo Food and Liquor Services. He met his wife in Johannesburg , South Africa , and they married in Maun in 1991. Brian was an enthusiastic nature and wildlife enthusiast and also did some hunting. A memorial service is to take place on August 29 (Saturday) at Thamalakane Lodge at 2pm. The Wentink family has requested colourful flowers and no white lilies at the memorial. Many affected by diarrhea outbreak - Kasane Primary Hospital has been hit by a diarrhea pandemic. According to information from Chobe District Council secretary Drastus Mathumo the first case of diarrhea was confirmed on August 14 and so far about 200 people had been admitted. “A child aged 4 months has died after showing signs of diarrhea and pneumonia but we cannot blame diarrhea for the death as the child might have died from pneumonia,” Mathumo said He said investigations were underway to find the cause of the outbreak. It is suspected that Chobe River water which residents drink might have been contaminated and he pleaded with residents to boil all water. The Chobe district commissioner Tlale Setumo said the district is capable of controlling the disease as “only 8 patients are infected and are hospitalised while others have been discharged from the hospital'. Soldier fights ex-girlfriend for child custody By Delphin Koma Dikoma Mandefu, a 39 year old soldier in Mogoditshane, has appeared at the Maun Customary Court with his ex-girlfriend Lorato Kgosietsile 33, of Thitoyamokodi, Maun, about the custody of their child. The couple separated in 2006 and according to Mandefue he asked Kgosietsile to take the child to his parents for support but she refused, saying he should pay her P3 500 “for pregnancy damages as it is customary.” “I did that and later I paid P4 000 for custody of the child,” he said. Mandefu told the court that he later changed the child's birth certificate to his surname, which was strenuous as Kgosietsile was against the idea. Kgosietsile's family refused to give up the child to him. ‘Her mother refused for the child to study in Etsha13 saying the educational level was not up to standard and Mandefu's mother was too old to take care of the child,” he said. Kgosietsile said she agreed that all required payments were made - “my worries are that the child is too young to be taken from me to Etsha 13, his mother is too old to raise a child as she is already raising her other grandchildren and I disagreed with Mandefu that paying for the child's custody gives him any liberty to the child's living conditions even if they are not good ones,” she said. Oabile Kgosietsile, her 59 year old mother, said it was true all the payments were paid and they also released the child to Mandefu's family. “We gave out the child by dawn and by dusk she was returned to us,” she said. She said that Mandefu's family told them that there was no one to take care of the child as they all work. Kgosi Oleyo Ledimo said he understood the disagreement of the child's mother especially that the child is too young to be studying far from her and that Mandefu “s mother is too old to be taking care of her as there are other children involved. “I wish you could have settled down and talk about the child's living conditions,” Ledimo said, ruling that the child would be in full custody of his father. “So the father has all the rights to be involved in her life even to take her to a school he prefers and anybody interfering would be questioned in a court of law,” he said. Nkate faces up to his political opponents By Boniface Keakabetse ETSHA 6 – Minister of Education and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) parliamentary contender in the Ngami constituency, Jacob Nkate, has welcomed 105 new members to his party from Etsha 13 and Etsha 10 with open arms - declaring “this is positive for us ahead of (the) elections” Nkate was here at the weekend in support of assistant Education minister Kavis Kario who, like Nkate, was born in the area. Kario faces an uphill battle against the Botswana Congress Party's Gilson Saleshando in the Selebi Phikwe parliamentary elections. Addressing political rallies here, Nkate refuted political sentiments that his leadership of the ministry has led to chaos and blunders, saying the ministry have experienced some improvements such as the establishment of Botswana examination and tertiary councils, saying these have brought fruitful benefits for education. “The Botswana tertiary council evaluates whether private colleges have the capacity to offer courses and though its establishment we have seen private colleges established in this country, something that has helped us save money from sending a lot of students outside the country”, he said. Nkate said his party has better policies to improve agriculture. “We are still in consultations with our neighbours for the right to channel water from the Zambezi River to start irrigation farming in the Chobe and already the government has given P60-million for the refurbishment of the Maun BMC which will open next January,” he added. Nkate said the refurbishment of the abattoir included the construction of the meat processing plant for canning beef, saying this shows the government commitment to farmers in the district. Concerning, the Ministry of Education, Nkate said the main decision he took at the ministry was the upping of the cut-off point to 40 points for students applying for government sponsorship and was triggered by the limited budget his ministry had been given. The ministry received more than P317-m which was also not enough, forcing him to reduce student allowances. Kario told the audience that the opposition BAM/BCP has fielded 8 parliamentary contenders in the 57 constituencies in the country and this proved the pact cannot win the elections. “To rule the country a party has to win at least 29 constituencies. Now tell me how they can rule even if they win all the 8 constituencies,” he asked. He likened the BCP/BAM Pact to that which Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki's political cooperation for 2004 elections but later went separate ways due to differences in political ideologies. Keeping a close eye on criminals While there has been an apparent upsurge in the number of armed robberies in Ngamiland and in the Central Kalahari area, it is encouraging to note that the Botswana Police Service has been getting on top of the situation – to the extent that this week in Maun they found a cache of guns and money hidden in the ground. The weapons are undergoing forensic tests while the sources of the money will be determined as well. The breakthrough comes at a time when businesses and private citizens are once again under threat from criminals who have been lying low for many months after a spate of activity in the Maun area earlier in the year and last year. The worrying thing about the latest situation is that pistols and rifles are being used to intimidate people. In addition, the ruthlessness of the criminals is evident in that they are using explosives to blow up safes. The police have again urged people to be on the look-out for suspicious characters and to also lock all doors and windows whenever they are in or out of their homes. Business people are also urged not to stash large amounts of money in their homes or their offices, rather deposit the cash in the banks. The Maun 911 Neighbourhood Watch continually implores its members to report anything suspicious, and we and the police support that public spiritedness. Safari operators and would-be tenderers have every right, Shuffle believes, to ask questions about the concessions method advertised by the Botswana Tourism Board in respect of prime wildlife areas in northern Botswana . Angry potential tenderers have contacted this newspaper pointing out that some areas, such as NG 20 for instance, have not been advertised along with the others. It turns out that the NG 20 concession apparently changed hands two years ago when a major player in the industry sold it for, it is rumoured, US$8-million (about P80-million) to a concern with interests in safari camps, lodges, property and retailing. The question being asked by those who contacted us is how could NG20 have been left out of the system even if it had been sold when the same lease, same conditions and same terms of reference cover all other seven concession areas? It's a valid point. Maybe someone in authority can supply the answers? Many years ago Shuffle worked for a newspaper in Durban , South Africa . Also there was a man named Brian Wentink. Some 35 years later we met again in Maun. He had come here with his wife, Gail (nee Selby). It took us just a short while to start remembering friends of yesteryear – and of how we used to knock off work in the early hours of the morning and join other workmates for a late meal or other sustenance. It is sad to report that Brian passed away suddenly in Maun on Tuesday at the young age of 61. Shuffle and Mrs Shuffle were privileged to attend his birthday last year at The Sports Bar. We are going to miss him very much. How many readers have seen the disgraceful rubbish dump at the old wooden bridge in Matlapaneng – this national monument is home to discarded beer and cool drink cans, old papers, used condoms and the like. Tourists must be appalled by the sight of so much rubbish around a place which should be given pride of place in Maun. And while on the subject of rubbish, a reader travelling in the Makgadikgadi Pans recently came across mounds of rubbish at a camping site. The tourist sent Shuffle an e-mail: “We had booked Njuca Hills campsite, and on arrival we found the trash cans overflowing and rubbish lying all over both sites. We collected what we could.” One has to ask where are the much-vaunted Wildlife department scouts whose job it is to ensure things are spic and span in our national parks. Readers will recall we had a front page picture recently of a mound o rotting rubbish at the old North Gate in the Moremi Game Reserve. Within 24 hours of publication, the rubbish was being collected. Hopefully someone was given a rocket for shoddy management – just as someone should get the same treatment in the pans.** With more people in Britain looking to work or retire outside of the euro zone, in order to take advantage of the exchange rate, the Sun (UK) newspaper and the Expatriate Healthcare website have published a Top 10 list of preferred locations outside European Union countries. It is nice to report that Botswana is in the preferred destinations – listed 9th on the basis of nature and conservation schemes which are described as ideal for an environmentally aware expatriate, as well as overall quality of life. It was the only country in Sub-Saharan Africa to make the list. Other preferred locations, in the order of their appearance on the list, are: Turkey , United States , Canada , Bahrain , Venezuela 's Isla Margarita (described as a Caribbean haven “set outside the hurricane zone”), Egypt , Malaysia , Brazil and Thailand . Botswana government spokesmen have been complaining about lack of foreign investment, so here's an opportunity to cash in on potential investors. Letters to the Editor Restaurant's thanks for council decision Sir, - Thank you all for reading The Ngami Times. There was a great response from Maun , Britain , other parts of Europe and Botswana generally about the situation that arose at the Bon Arrivee restaurant recently when we were fined for displaying and selling T-shirts carrying our restaurant's logo and supporting business in Botswana . Many of those who contacted us asked what the North West District Council was doing and what has Botswana become, as well as asking whether the authorities did not have more serious issues to attend to. Many gestures of support came from readers of your newspaper's website edition. With regard to the NWDC, I can happily say it reacted to the recent article (The Ngami Times, augu7sut 7). Mr Lawrence Mazinyane, Senior Assistant Council Secretary of the Maun Administrative Authority, offered the apologies of the bye-law officers who incorrectly fined Bon Arrivee on that July public holiday.An apology was offered by telephone and in writing and I was asked to ignore the fine. However, I ha already paid the fine within the stipulated seven days. There are no hard feelings about this. We are just happy that the problem has been solved and that we can carry on doing business. Hurrah! to all the readers of The Ngami Times. KLAAS BOLL Bon Arrive Restaurant Maun Students in danger as they walk to school Sir, - May I, through your most trusted and reliable newspaper, write on an issue that I seem to have been pensive about for quite some time. It has everything to do with the students of the secondary schools in our vicinity. If anybody out there with the authority to act on the matter is listening, the time to act is now. On my morning walks every day, around 6am, I get to witness these poor students walking to their respective schools, hands in their pockets, shivering to the last bit. I even got a chance to chat with one of them who told me that he wakes up at 4am to make sure that by 5.30 he leaves his parents' house in Shashe to walk to Maun Senior Secondary School . The students walk all the way but imagine the darkness encountered around those times during this season of the year.  With the escalating rapes and killings, this is not at all something to write home about. It is not only about girls, even the boys may fall victims. With the river flooding the way it does, everyone is forced to walk on the main road. How does one walk a distance of about five kilometres and at the end of it, is expected to sit and listen attentively in class? Would not our schools yield more than they do if there could be a better arrangement? What really happened to the old system where the school bus used to collect them and drop them in the evening? Some students walk from as far as the newly built Disaneng houses in the morning and walk back in the evening. Again, they reach their homes late and have to prepare for the next day with no time to study. It looks like there have been a number of hazardous social issues that were overlooked during the introduction of the double shift educational system. If not, then somebody is just not doing their job. Anybody, any student, it could be your daughter or son, can fall victim to criminals. Not all students have the privilege of being taken to school by their parents or have the means take a taxi. Let's not forget the monster that used to wait for girl students by the river, right here in our tourist neighbourhood. ONNEILE J MOLAPISI Maun Radiation storage are will be safe GABORONE - The Department of Radiation Protection says it wants to allay any possible public concerns that may have been raised as a result of reports about a proposed radiation source storage facility in Pilikwe area. The facility has been specifically designed to ensure that disused or spent radiation sources are kept in a safe and secure manner to prevent spent radiation sources from entering the public domain or being used in illicit activities. In accordance with Radiation Protection Act 2006, the mandate of the department is to provide for the safe use of nuclear technology. Radioactive sources, equipment and material are currently being used in a number of industries in Botswana , such as at mines, hospitals, research institutions, construction sites, and breweries. “Used sources from such facilities need to be kept in a secure and safe environment before they can be can be disposed of, which will be the purpose of the proposed facility,” says the department. In identifying Pilikwe as the site of the proposed facility the following factors were taken into consideration: Its location close to the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, and its access to the Martin's Drift road, which will make it easier to transport sources outside of the country for disposal or reconditioning. It is anticipated that Pilikwe and surrounding villages will benefit during both the construction and operational phases of the proposed project through employment creation and infrastructure development. ‘Here is the news, read from the air' Radio messages between aircraft flying over the Okavango delta and the Maun airport control tower are being picked up on an FM radio – and on the frequency used by Radio Botswana 2 (RB 2). The messages are mostly heard in the vicinity of the airport and at the New Mall. The messages give among other things, pilots' departure from airstrips in the delta and the altitude at which they will fly. This would be followed by the tower informing the pilots to advise their descent into Maun airport. It is feared by some listeners this type of situation is a threat to the safety and security of aircraft. “Anyone can easily know where each aircraft is and this is very dangerous. Imagine an aircraft carrying some large amounts of cash, and robbers are monitoring its movements. This is not supposed to happen,” said a former pilot with the Botswana Defence Force. He noted that the Botswana Telecommunication Authority (BTA) was duty-bound to rectify this problem by correctly setting their band widths to avoid encroachment. Another pilot interviewed said such situations do occur but pointed out that it is not happening all the time. He said sometimes this would be due to interference in frequencies and also agreed that persistent interference could be a threat to security. “These aircraft fly everything and everyone in and out of Maun and we cannot have people listening to their movements,” he said, adding that the authorities responsible should work around the clock to urgently rectify the problem. Meanwhile the Botswana Telecommunications Authority – which controls frequency allocations - had by the time of going to press not responded to a questionnaire sent to BTA last week. Aviation security officer in court again Benjamin Leselwa (41), an aviation security officer, has again appeared before Maun principal magistrate Clifford Foroma for mention in which the purpose was to set trial date. However, the trial date was not set as the accused person's attorney, Charles Tlagae, was said to be attending a High Court hearing. Leselwa was charged with corruption in which the particulars stated that he corruptly accepted P2 000 from Susan Janetta Smart, of Kwando Safaris. The money was said to have been given to Leselwa as a reward for inspecting and recommending the offices of the company for its licence. The incident is said to have occurred on August 6, 2007, in Maun while he was employed by the Department of Civil Aviation as an Aviation Security Officer. The prosecutor was Nkaelang Lekgowa, of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. The accused person will appear for mention on August 27 to set trial date. Selinda Spillway links up with Linyanti Swamps By Bright Kholi The Selinda Spillway has linked up with the Linyanti swamps after it last connected more than 30 years. By last week, the Spillway was about 6km from the Kwando River . There has been confusion as to what direction the spillway actually flows. In an interview with The Ngami Times this week, Kurugundla Naidu, head of the aquatic division in the department of Water Affairs put the record straight. He said the Cuando River (the Kwando River in Botswana ) rises in the central plateau of Angola and then flows through a maze of channels in a swampy corridor 5-10km wide and continues across the neck of the Caprivi Strip to form the border between Namibia and Botswana as it continues south-east. “Presently the Kwando terminates into the Linyanti and has diverted east to connect to the seasonal Lake Liambezi and from this point the river is called the Chobe, which is connected to the Zambezi River near Kazungula,” he said. Naidu said in years when the Okavango experiences good floods, as is the case this year, some of the water escapes east along the normally dry channel of the Magwegqana River (Selinda Spillway) of the Okavango Delta into the Linyanti Swamp , thus connecting with the Zambezi Basin . He noted that the influence of the high flood in the Selinda Spillway can make the Linyanti as well as the Savuti get sufficient flows. Commenting on the Okavango Delta flow down stream, Olebeng Balapi, also of the Water Affairs department, noted that the head waters in the Boteti River are at Khumaga, while the Nhabe River has already joined the Kunyere River at Toteng. However, he said it was unlikely that the Shashe River , which last flowed in 1986, will join the Thamalakane River . Balapi said although the water is 2km from the Shashe Bridge , there were a lot of pits dug by people illegally mining sand for construction. He noted that the water might just end there since the pits are enormous, adding that they will pose a threat to human lives once filled with water. ‘Slight decrease' noted in armed robberies Police headquarters in Gaborone say there has been “a slight decrease” in the number of armed robberies taking place throughout the country. The latest crime report says 1 237 cases were recorded since the beginning of the year compared to 1 342 last year in the corresponding period. In the week ending August 16, there were 27 armed robberies compared to 48 in the previous week. Over P200 000 worth of property and more than P35 000 in cash was stolen. “Police operations being conducted countrywide targeting crime prone areas are attributed to the reduction in such cases. Investigations show most victims are attacked and robbed in the streets and in bush areas while returning from work or going out for entertainment. “Some are home invasions,” the police said. The police say people should not use secluded areas at night ad keep valuables well protected at all times. Houses should always be locked. In the week ending August 16, there were three murders. Two people were arrested for one of the cases while there were 29 rapes, for which 11 people have been arrested. The totals number of murders committed so far this year stands at 141. Fire fighting course builds capacity among locals By Bright Kholi and Gaolebogwe Moipei Australian fire management experts were this week conducting a three-day basic fire fighting training course in Maun aimed at different stakeholders in the region. The trainers were from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Australia and have been called in by the government to help prevent bush fires of the kind that devastated huge areas of the country last summer. Speaking at the event, J F Ramontsho, of the disaster management committee, said 2008 was the worst fire season as fires covered a wide geographical area. There was also a problem of limited resources and capacity to deal with the situation and Botswana had to contact neighbouring countries and the international community for assistance. He said the purpose of the training workshop is to build capacity in fire management, as well as start the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the governments of Botswana and Australia . He also said they had to identify a core group of people who will be trained as trainers. Officially opening the workshop on behalf of the chairperson of the Agricultural Resources Board, the deputy chairman of North West District Council (NWDC), Tebogo Bethia, said it is an opportune moment in the history of this country to be starting a series of courses that aims at building capacity in bush fire management. He said Botswana signed a MoU with Australia aimed at building partnership between the two countries “and will see my country benefiting from your fire expertise for the next five years.” He said the aim is to see Botswana becoming a centre of excellence regarding fire management in Africa . The participants were taken through both theory and practical fire management. Afternoon swim turns into tragedy as boy drowns By Boniface Keakabetse ETSHA 13 - A nasty incident shook this usually silent and peaceful village last Friday. An afternoon swimming lesson turned into a tragedy when a 6-year-old boy Isaiah Sendimba, of Etsha 13, drowned in the flooded Okavango River . Isaiah had been with a group of children, including a 7-year-olf brother, for an afternoon swim. Residents of villages on the fringes of the Okavango Delta regard swimming as a necessary part of their lives and which is centred on the fishing industry. While children in these villages often learn the craft at an early age, the recent floods pose the greatest danger. Gumare police station commander, Superintendent Nkwebi Chilisa, said in an interview that the incident was reported to them by the boy's family the following day. He said a group of children rushed to boy's family to tell of the incident but apparently there was nothing that could be done since it was already dark. Etsha 13 headman James Sevako has confirmed the incident and said the boy's mother had gone to Shakawe at the time of the accident. She had apparently left the child on the care its grandmother and an uncle, who was not home at the time. Chilisa said this is the second drowning incident recorded by his office. Last month, 62-year-old Nkonda Machacha drowned after attempting to cross the river at a deep point at Guda fields near Nokaneng. Chilisa has warned residents of villages on the flood plains to avoid crossing the river at deep points and for parents to restrain their children from swimming the rivers as this is extremely dangerous in the wake of the floods. “Water is everywhere even and people need to scrutinise the depth of the water before attempting to swim across the river,” he said Auditor's bail appeal dismissed Tebogo Mompati Bojong, an auditor who was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for stealing eight blank cheques from Maun Revenue Office, has had his appeal against the sentence dismissed. His bail; pending appeal application was dismissed by the prosecutors and by Maun principal magistrate, Clifford Foroma. Bojong was represented by 0tukile and Associates, Maun, while the state prosecutor was Universe Kabecha. In Bojong's submissions, the defence stated that the charge which was laid was not proper as it has been indicated that he stole eight blank cheques which had no value. It was stressed that there were some contradictions on Seokodi Makgobe's evidence as he was not sure about the exact dates when he saw Bojong at one Sunday Samunzala's place. The prosecutor in his submissions dismissed the accused's plea, saying it was clear that Bojong stole the eight blank cheques from Maun Revenue Office while he was auditing. Foroma dismissed Bojong's plea saying that the sentence was appropriate, adding that there are no exceptional circumstances that could assist the accused not to serve his jail term. He agreed with the prosecution saying that even though the cheques had no value, cheques were “things that can be easily stolen.” The court heard the evidence was overwhelming against Bojong, adding that no other court can find anything contrary to the judgment. The other accused, Sunday Samunzala, a public health inspector, pleaded guilty to the offence, Kazera Ngaruka was discharged and acquitted while Gonnamang Setlhodi was an accomplice witness. Hospital superintendent talks on complaints The superintendent of Maun's new Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital , Dr Maxwell Mungisi, has responded to the many complaints that are aimed at his hospital. In an interview with The Ngami Times, he set the record straight with the way the hospital and many others countrywide operated. He was responding to complaints brought by some North West District councillors who have expressed dissatisfaction with the manner at which patients' complaints are handled and what they termed “a growing habit” at the hospital whereby one would find nurses “dragging their feet and not paying attention to patients regardless of their ailments, no matter how serious.” The hospital was also accused of not providing transport to patients referred to Nyangabwe hospital in Francistown . Komana councillor Morolong Mosimanyana had earlier told council at its recent monthly meeting that during his many visits to the hospital, there were at times no doctors to be seen and in some instances, more especially at night, a nurse would be doing different chores such as consulting and dispensing drugs, and at times attending to emergencies on her own. Some hospital staff have also been blamed for being reluctant to attend to critically ill patients, some of whom fall from their beds while asleep. Councillors said members of the public are not happy with service delivery at clinics because in most instances clinics are never visited by doctors. Mungisi said it was true that like all other hospitals, Letsholathebe lacks health personnel to attend to the masses who frequent the hospital on daily basis. As a result, he requested that people should not take minor ailments to Letsholathebe but instead make use of the many clinics and health posts within their vicinity, and which could refer patients to the hospital if the problem is more than what they can handle. “We do not however turn away patients but if you chose to consult at the hospital for minor ailments then of course you will experience congestion and less staff who will be working to clear but not to cure, meaning we will also be compromising quality, something that we do not want to encourage,” he said. On the issue of referring patients and expecting them to travel on their own, Mungisi said they only transported patients with life threatening diseases and who cannot do anything for themselves, and that those with non-life threatening conditions are always advised to go on their own. He said the hospital boasts specialised care in obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, and physician and paediatric disciplines that they advise the public to make use of. For specialist diagnosis that does not exist at the hospital, the patients are referred to Nyangabgwe or Princess Marina hospital in Gaborone . The Ministry of Health has now introduced a heart disease clinic which is attended by a leading Gaborone heart specialist every two weeks. Mungisi said councillors are always welcome to bring forward any complaints but asked that “the habit of going around tarnishing the good name of the hospital” should end. Will Botswana benefit from 2010 World Cup? The days are counting down to the showdown of one of the most prestigious tournaments of all time - the FIFA World Cup. With just 10 months left before the tournament, it is still not clear whether Botswana would benefit from the world's most celebrated sports event when it kicks off in South Africa in June 2010. Hopes are high that Botswana , whose national team failed to qualify, could gain from the high volume of tourist traffic that will descend on the region when the world's favourite sports event comes to South Africa and Africa for the first time. Much progress is expected with concerted efforts by stakeholders in the tourism sector to lure to Botswana teams and visitors to the World Cup, and the industry has to be competitive to enable it to grab a fair share of the tourist traffic. Botswana Football Association President David Fani spoke Times Sports and said that they are making necessary preparations to improve the tourism sector. “We have engaged possible qualifiers to the World Cup to train here and visit our tourist attractions. We have a team led by Minister of Tourism Kitso Mokaila and Minister of Youth and Culture Gladys Kokorwe who are talking to possible stakeholders to have their countries adopt Botswana as their training base” said Fani. Despite the fact that teams participating in the tournament are most likely to fly into the region some days before the event, the sense of urgency for Botswana to get its act together needs urgent attention, looking at the stadiums that are readily available to meet international standards. Fani expressed dismay at the state of the country's football grounds adding that it would be difficult to sell them as training grounds to any foreign team, but he insisted that they are making all necessary efforts to make the stadiums ready including the National Sports Stadium in time of the kick off. He said: “We are talking to nations like England , Germany , Italy , Spain , Brazil and Denmark , and want to attract two big nations to base themselves in Botswana . Honestly, we would love to bring in more countries, but our stadia are limited.” Asked about how they are taking this opportunity to improve our own national squad, Fani said that they are looking at bringing in tough teams to play the Zebras. “If we manage to bring in strong nations into Botswana , our team will have the opportunity to rub shoulders will world football stars and they will motivate them. We also trying to acquire tough opponents to play against the Zebras, so that they will be ready for the 2012 games,” he added. Maun Select ready for Ecco City Greens big match Preparations are going on well for the friendly game between Maun Select and Ecco City Greens this weekend. The Maun Select technical team has called in 35 players, who are all under the age of 30 years - the oldest player in the team is 29. Maun Select head coach Jabulani Ncube said they are looking at giving other upcoming youngsters a chance and players from lower division have also been included. “For a very long time, Maun Select has been made up around senior players, but we have decided to blood new stars” said Ncube. The squad is Taboka Mosarwa, Olorato Phasogo, Masike Samurio, Omponye Kebaitse, Colin Sebako, Pelontle Dimbo (Maun Terrors), Bashin Kwadibama, Andrew Nkipa, Gomolemo Matlhomola, Welcome Patrick (Maun Tigers). Mbaiwa Tembwe, Ofentse Nakedi (Maun United) Dipolelo Moditswe. Keseisekae Molefhe (Fuji Rollers) Balopi Tshenyego, Sekgele Medupi (CTO) Gaoete Setulo (Cubs) Kebeilwe Mosweu, Motlhanke Lemogang (BMC) Kabo Bayei (Sankoyo Bush Bucks) Kebatogetse Mojo (Mapalastina) G C Lemphorwana, Ndililo Buzwani (Delta Winds) Tshamekang Simon (Brothers of Peace) Jonah Amos, Paul Mothathobi, Onalethata Masilo (Gunners of Khwai) Omphile Laya, Alfred Phorano (North West United) Emmanuel Mokengana (Moeti United) Tlhalefo Ndlovu (Maun Heroes) Tiroyaone Tsheko, Gopolang Fulata (Makgabisanaga) Thuto Molelo (Gaegolelwe). A glittering moment for the players - At a glittering ceremony held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre Gaborone United swept the boards in the Be Mobile Premiership awards last Friday night. It was a fitting tribute to the end of an eventful and exciting season and a fitting tribute to a Gaborone United side that performed with such distinction throughout the 30 match season. The most coveted prize, the Footballer of the Year, was a contest between defensive players. Centre Chiefs' Given Mpundu and Gaborone United's duo of midfielder Ofentse Nato and captain Joseph Phetogo were this year's finalists and Phetogo, underrated yet supremely gifted, finally got the recognition he deserved when he was announced the winner. Young Ofentse ‘Size 10' Nato crowned a dreamy rookie season when he was named Player's Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Year awards which are worth P25 000 and P10 000 respectively. It was an unbelievable evening for the youngster but not totally undeserved. The moment the lanky youngster hit the big league he fitted like a glove and played with a level of maturity that belied his age. Mike Sithole, the GU mentor, walked away with the coach of the season award but he must have been pushed all the way by the BDF XI coach, Stanley Mwaanga who lifted a team that had to go for play-offs to ensure their premiership status to a fourth place finish. Sithole's troops, short on talent but high on delivery lost only one game and disposed of a cocky Chiefs outfit in a do-or-die battle in the last game of the season to cap a memorable season Lekgotla Johannes won the referee of the season award while Elijah Masita won the best assistant referee. Mojaki Monnakgotla of The Voice newspaper won the Print Journalist award and his colleague Kabo Lemphorwana the Photographer of the Season award. RB2's Tiro Lepotokisi won the electronic media award while Leonard Sone was named as the best commentator. The only blot on these awards was perhaps because they had not been televised by BTV as was initially planned and many fans were denied the opportunity to watch them. Ticket fund brings World Cup dreams to reality A total number of 120 000 complimentary category 4 tickets will be allocated to South Africans involved directly with the 2010 World Cup and in worthy social and development initiatives linked to the tournament. The tickets will be issued as a reward for thousands of South Africans, particularly the country's youth, who are involved in existing programmes aimed at encouraging participation in football and community-oriented initiatives and will act as a catalyst for the establishment of sustainable social and human development programmes using football. The Ticket Fund goes beyond offering the chance to attend one of the 64 Cup matches. The programmes range from making children and young adults aware of health issues, and to equipping people with the necessary skills to better manage their lives and through inspiring financial literacy, to raising awareness of the need to protect the environment to score “green goals”. Each worker will receive two tickets for a group stage match at the venue that they helped to build. The Ticket Fund initiative will not end when the final whistle is blown on July 11 next year as it will mark the beginning of long-term partnerships that will continue to create opportunities for South Africans for years to come.

  Permalink  |  View Entire Page

Search the Site

Custom Search