Spooks haunt BDF

July 20, 2016, 3:11 am

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Tension is brewing between intelligence security agents especially Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and the Ministry of Environment Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT) Anti-Poaching Unit, The Patriot on Sunday has learnt. Sources within the intelligence community allege that the tension is compounded by the ongoing recruitment of army officers to join the newly formed intelligence division in the Anti-Poaching Unit of MEWT, which is headed by former BDF deputy Commander Major General Otisitswe Tiroyamodimo and Brigadier Peter Magosi as Director and deputy Director of Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) respectively. There is growing talk within the security intelligence community that since the recruitment of two to set up the unit they have been poaching members of the specialised forces from the army. The Anti-Poaching unit led by Major General Tiroyamodimo is said to be planning to break away from using BDF’s Force Training Establishment to establish their own training unit. Tiroyamodimo and Magosi were both fired from the army by President Ian Khama under controversial circumstances, which sparked wide speculation of a fallout in the intelligence community with pockets of influence from the political leadership. Soon after their expulsion from the army Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism Tshekedi Khama…

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China, Botswana diplomatic fallout

July 20, 2016, 3:18 am

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The fragile Sino-Botswana diplomatic relations suffered a major blow on Wednesday when the Chinese Embassy openly showed its displeasure by disregarding a request by Botswana to postpone a media briefing on the outcome of the arbitration on the South China Sea to a later date. The media had to wait for hours at the Chinese Embassy on Wednesday for the scheduled press briefing to take place as the officials had been summoned to the Office of the President by President Ian Khama. Sources at the Chinese Embassy have revealed that upon learning about the press briefing, Khama summoned Chinese Ambassador Zhuqiang to his office to persuade him to postpone it until the two countries have discussed the issue. “President Khama informed our Ambassador that he cannot hold a press briefing before he briefs him about developments on the South China Sea dispute,” revealed a source. The Chinese officials defied Khama and disregarded his instruction by going ahead with the press briefing. The strained relations between the two states has been deteriorating over Botswana’s recent veiled criticism of China over the South China Sea dispute accusing Beijing of imposing “its power over others to make claims because of its economy or…

Kokorwe hijacked by BDP?

July 20, 2016, 3:34 am

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Violence erupted on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday afternoon when Mogoditshane MP Sedirwa Kgoroba, in a fit of anger and frustration, threw a water bottle at Deputy Speaker Kagiso Molatlhegi for failing to reprimand BDP MPs who took turns joking about the late UDC leader Gomolemo Motswaledi's death. The ruling party MPs accuse opposition members for what they term growing incidents of unruly behaviour in the House. Leader of the House Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi said in a statement on Wednesday that the Tuesday incident was totally unacceptable behaviour. Security has since been intensified in Parliament. Questions are being raised over the capability of Speaker of the National Assembly-Gladys Kokorwe and her Deputy to control and facilitate debates fairly in the august house, following violent clashes and exchange of unsavoury utterance midweek. When Kokorwe defeated Margaret Nasha for the position of Speaker in November 2014, some critics dismissed her as just a pawn, who was roped in to serve the ruling party’s interest in Parliament. She, on the other hand, maintained that as a non-partisan position, she had no intention of politicising the Speakership. Kokorwe declared that she is prepared to exercise and take a non-partisan stance in her…

Venson-Moitoi's AU bid fails

July 20, 2016, 3:54 am

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Team Venson-Moitoi remains confident of winning the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship in January 2017, following failure by all three candidates to secure enough votes for a clear win in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday. Botswana's Minister of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Pelonomi Venson- Moitoi only managed 23 of the required 36 votes for a clear win, with 28 countries abstaining. Failure to secure a clear win by all candidates, coupled with a majority of countries choosing to abstain from casting their vote has sparked wild speculation from different quarters. Once again, as was the case ahead of the elections, questions have been raised about the calibre of the three candidates from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea and Uganda. Three candidates were in the contest to replace Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the AUC chairperson, but all failed to win a required two-third majority for a clear win. There are suggestions that they are below the calibre desired for the AU Chairmanship, which was demonstrated by the lack of confidence from a large number of countries. Botswana's foreign policy, especially rooftop diplomacy where the country has gained a reputation of openly criticising others, has been cited as Moitoi's major undoing. While analysts and commentators…

Botswana urges accountability as African leaders rebel against ICC

July 20, 2016, 4:09 am

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Botswana has defended the International Criminal Court, even as some of its continental peers threaten to revoke their membership of the tribunal they accuse of being biased against Africans. “The best defense is not to abuse, stick to the law,” Botswana’s Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi said in an interview at an African Union summit in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. “We would never allow our president to get away with murder. We are not being prescriptive, we are just asking that we up the game.” All 23 cases brought before the Hague-based court have been against Africans—a record that has angered a number of the continent’s leaders who are reconsidering their membership. Although the 60 nations that have ratified the Rome Statute which established the ICC are obligated to honour its warrants, at least six African members have declined to arrest visiting Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir, who’s been indicted by the court on genocide and other charges. Botswana, which has been led by President Ian Khama’s Botswana Democratic Party since independence from the U.K. in 1966, was ranked the third-best governed country in Africa by a foundation started by Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim. Unlike several of its African peers that have squandered…

BNF preaches unity

July 25, 2016, 2:02 am

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Bouyed by a peaceful congress in Francistown over the President's holidays, Botswana National Front (BNF) paraded the newly elected central committee before the media on Friday with Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa waxing lyrical about their new found peace. Mohwasa said Botswana is a place of antagonism and contradiction, as demonstrated in many different forms; the current standoff between government and trade unions; the ideological clarity within the trade unions; the UDC vs BNF issue; the UDC vs BCP issue; the women issue; the national question; the dropping education standard; poverty and unemployment; slavery wages; the gap increasing between the rich and the poor. Dr Kenneth Koma adequately addresses practical and theoretical points in his position paper titled, "The dialectics of the multi-organisational united front and the need for the application of multi-form pressures in the democratic revolution”. He posits that the concept of a united front is complicated and complex; it demands action from all sectors; for all to be key players and understand the dynamics of this approach. Mohwasa said the congress did not discuss challenges at Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) –their umbrella partner, where two factions have been tearing at each other. He said the BNF, which…

Venson-Moitoi prepares for AU rerun

July 25, 2016, 2:12 am

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Team Venson-Moitoi remains confident of winning the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship in January 2017, following failure by all three candidates to secure enough votes for a clear win in Kigali, Rwanda on Monday. Botswana's Minister of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation Pelonomi Venson- Moitoi only managed 23 of the required 36 votes for a clear win, with 28 countries abstaining. Failure to secure a clear win by all candidates, coupled with a majority of countries choosing to abstain from casting their vote has sparked wild speculation from different quarters. Once again, as was the case ahead of the elections, questions have been raised about the calibre of the three candidates from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea and Uganda. Three candidates were in the contest to replace Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as the AUC chairperson, but all failed to win a required two-third majority for a clear win. There are suggestions that they are below the calibre desired for the AU Chairmanship, which was demonstrated by the lack of confidence from a large number of countries. Botswana's foreign policy, especially rooftop diplomacy where the country has gained a reputation of openly criticising others, has been cited as Moitoi's major undoing. While analysts and commentators…

BDP scales up 2019 preparations

July 25, 2016, 2:37 am

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Preparations for the 2019 general elections took centre stage at the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) special congress on Friday in Mogoditshane where all the party regions convened to present and make contributions to the party’s road to 2019 strategy. It would seem Domkrag is not taking any chances after recording a dismal performance in the 2014 general elections, where they registered 47% popular vote. Vetting guidelines for prospective candidates in the up-coming 2019 general elections, primary elections and registration deadlines was, according to BDP insiders, at the core of the extra special congress which was held under the theme ‘Our Structures, Our Strength – another 50 years in government #GOYAGOILENG’. Matters surrounding primary elections are being relooked at after the party’s electoral system commonly known as Bulela Ditswe was reviewed following party resolution in April last year. The party appointed former cabinet minister Peter Siele to head a commission of 12 members from the 12 regions to review the system. Bulela Ditswe results saw most candidates petitioning them while others opted to contest as independent candidates, a development which the ruling party agrees might have contributed to its poor performance. The party, it is said, intends to speed up…

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Citizen-owned businesses can’t cater for Hollywood stars

July 25, 2016, 2:41 am

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As businesses that cater for Hollywood A-listers and royalty from all over the world, hospitality establishments in the Okavango Delta have exceptionally high international standards. However, as a Private Sector Development Programme report notes, all too often these establishments are misaligned with their immediate locale. “One challenge for the tourism value chain is the mismatch between product quality and customer expectations. In the Okavango Delta and Kasane destinations, the qual¬ity of the accommodation product and experiences (i.e. particularly safaris) is high. However once one leaves the hotel or lodge, the quality of product and services drops significantly,” says a tourism value chain analysis plan that was developed for PSDP by European consultants. That is indeed the case and using Shakawe as an example, there is a yawning gap between accommodation product and experiences of Drotsky Cabins and the quality of services and products in the village. Customer service standards at Drotsky, which is a little way off the Shakawe-Maun road, are First World-high enough to make one delude himself into thinking he is a king. On the other hand, if that person goes into the village and through local shops, he is immediately dethroned and (literally) gets a rude awakening…

Gaolathe calls for water, power regulator

July 25, 2016, 2:46 am

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The MP for Gaborone Bonnington South Ndaba Gaolathe’s private member motion in which he requested government to establish water and power regulator has received support from the minister responsible. Presenting his motion on Friday, Gaolathe called for the establishment of regulatory authorities for both water and power. He said that if structured and implemented properly, benefits of having a power and water regulator far exceed the costs in the intermediate and long term. Gaolathe cautioned that any delays in pursuing this approach will result in the bleeding of government through the loss of billions of Pula incurred by subsiding the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) and Water Utilities Corporation (WUC). “Delays will further result in structurally high cost of production of both water and power (electricity and other forms of energy) which will adversely compromise access for low income families,” he reasoned. Lack of the regulatory body for both power and water, according to Gaolathe, will also result in high costs which he said will tend to dissuade investment in other sectors of the economy, especially those that are energy and water intensive. Gaolathe, who showed confidence on the performance of the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Kitso Mokaila,…

Indians and Chinese denied tourist visas – tourist operators

July 25, 2016, 3:04 am

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Not only are Indians and Chinese being kicked out of Botswana, they are also being denied visas to enter the country as tourists. This revelation is contained in a Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) report that analyses Botswana’s tourism value chain. As part of the leg work, the consultants interviewed tourist operators in both Gaborone and Kasane and they write in the report: “Over half the Kasane sample, and a third of the Gaborone sample, indicated that they were difficulties with tourist visas, including that they were hard and time consuming to obtain, expensive, that they could not be obtained at the point of entry, and that sometimes they were denied to people who had booked trips. Specifically it was noted that Indian and Chinese visitors had been denied visas.” The respondents don’t go as far as to state reasons for which such visas are denied. The revelation about the denial of visas will be dumbfounding for at least three reasons. Firstly, with diamonds being mined out, Botswana wants to diversify its economic base to other sectors, tourism being one of them. Secondly, while tourism has shown great potential, the country doesn’t make as much money from it. In one…

Arone not a threat to me – Kambimba

July 25, 2016, 3:12 am

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The 2014 Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Parliamentary candidate in Okavango constituency Mbahahauka Kambimba who lost to Bagalatia Arone has shaken off any threat from Arone with expectations that the two will jostle it out for the BDP ticket in 2019. Arone’s recent defection from Botswana Congress Party (BCP) to the BDP will reignite rivalry between him and Kambimba in the race for Okavango constituency in the run-up to the 2019 General Elections. Arone’s arrival at the BDP has changed political dynamics and landscape in the Okavango constituency. However, Kambimba confirmed that his dream of winning the constituency remains intact in 2019. Kambimba is a nominated councillor and was appointed chairman of Okavango sub district after losing to Arone in the 2014. Arone, who was standing under BCP ticket won by 6864 votes, while Kambimba got 5473 votes and Vistor Moruti of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) got 215 votes. Kambimba insisted that Arone‘s move to the BDP will not stop him from representing the people of Okavango. He said every member in the BDP has equal right to stand for elections in the party. “I am open to be challenged by anyone and my chances of standing are no better…

Another Goodhope/Mabule by-election looms

July 25, 2016, 3:17 am

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Opposition Members of Parliament are reading malice on the hurried request by the Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Eric Molale to have the Electoral Amendment Bill granted an urgency certificate. At the centre of their misgivings on the urgency of the bill, opposition MPs argue that enough consultation has not been done on the bill. “This is a very important bill but there has not been enough consultation with the public about it. I am afraid that passing it now will cause confusion to the electorates as they are not aware of it,” said MP for Maun West Tawana Moremi. He was supported by the MP for Selibe Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse who wondered why the bill has to be treated with urgency when the 2019 General Elections are still far. “What the minister is proposing is a fundamental change in the electoral process. There is a need for extensive and meaningful consultation in line with the principle of participatory democracy,” said Keorapetse, adding that bringing the bill to introduce electronic voting machines through a certificate of urgency is irrational, unreasonable and akin to ambush of Parliament and the nation it represents. Molale caught Parliament by surprise when…

'Venson-Moitoi team never consulted us' - opposition

July 25, 2016, 7:06 am

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As the debate over the failed attempt by Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi to win the African Union Chairperson seat rages on, the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and its member the Botswana National Front (BNF) have dismissed accusations that they failed to support the local candidate. BNF Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa – who doubles as the UDC spokesperson – said on Friday that they were never consulted about Venson-Moitoi's candidacy at the African Union (AU). "We just heard about that in the media. We were never consulted by anyone about such development. Therefore we could not support a course which we knew nothing about," said Mohwasa. Mohwasa expressed concern that the Venson-Moitoi campaign team, just like the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), failed to appreciate the value and contribution of opposition parties as important stakeholders on national issues. "It is surprising that some BDP activists are accusing us of being unpatriotic, as they always do, yet they never engage us for our input. After their candidate was rejected they are now looking for scapegoats to apportion blame to," said Mohwasa, adding that even the Speaker of the National Assembly recently demonstrated the same attitude when she deliberately left out the Leader…

Botho, UNIVEN hail Exchange programme

July 27, 2016, 5:52 am

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In a bid to position its graduates for the global market Botho University (BU) has entered an exchange programme agreement with the University of Venda (UNIVEN) from Thohoyandou, South Africa. The exchange programme will see BU students going to study at in South Africa for a semester and those from UNIVEN also coming into Botswana. Botho University received five students from UNIVEN on Tuesday. They will be studying at the university this coming semester. In return five of Botswana students left the country on Wednesday to start their studies at University of Venda. This is the second batch of students the two schools exchanged since the programme started. BU Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Lucky Moagi said Botho University values partnerships hence the exchange programme. Moagi said the school has seen growth over the years because of such international partnerships. He said the main aim of the exchange programme is to give students the opportunity to have a global experience while preparing them for the global market. “Students are not only trained for local markets; through the exchange programme they get the chance to have a feel of international experience,” explained Moagi. He said the programme promotes cultural exchange among the…

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USAID puts up US$127m to fight SADC drought

July 29, 2016, 2:14 am

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated US$127 million to fund the procurement of humanitarian aid and social safety nets to save nearly 17 million people affected by a regional drought in six Southern African nations.SADC chairman and Botswana President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama declared the El-Nino-induced drought a state of disaster and launched a US$2.4 billion appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance to save people and livestock. Drought assistanceUSAID said the new funding would help people affected by the 2015/2016 drought in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Lesotho and Swaziland. In the past few months, USAID has provided nearly US$123 million to mitigate the drought impacts and build resilience in Southern Africa. “This new humanitarian funding will be provided through UN and NGO partners to help address the needs of those affected by the drought, consistent with the Southern Africa Development Community’s (SADC) regional appeal for $2.4 billion in assistance that President Khama is officially launching in Botswana on July 26. In Southern Africa emergency needs due to the drought continue to increase. “Triggered by El Niño and consecutive poor rainy seasons, the drought is eroding people’s ability to cope and threatening important development gains. Over…

82 Peace Corps to arrive in Botswana

July 29, 2016, 2:17 am

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Some 82 United States Peace Corps trainees will arrive in Botswana on August 1st. This will be the 17th group of Volunteers to serve in Botswana since Peace Corps returned to assist in the HIV response 13 years ago. After a brief orientation in Gaborone, the group will travel to Molepolole for 11 weeks of intensive training at the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS). The trainees will live with host families in Molepolole during training to enhance their learning of Setswana and the local culture. They will be introduced to their host families during a “matching ceremony” on Thursday, 4 August 2016. Symbolically, these Peace Corps volunteers are coming in at the time of Botswana’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The welcoming event for them will take place at 10:00 am, August 4th, 2016, at Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences. Of the 82 trainees, 25 will be assigned to schools to teach Life Skills, 21 will work in clinics, health posts and District Health Management Team offices, 17 will be assigned to either Districts AIDS Coordination or Social and Community Development Offices, and 19 will work with non-governmental organizations. These trainees represent the diversity of America in terms of age, ethnicity and…

Barclays case thrown back to High Court

August 1, 2016, 2:19 am

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Junior Managers who were unfairly dismissed by Barclays Bank of Botswana in 2012 are waiting with baited breath and pinning hopes on the decision of high court Judge Lakhvinder Singh Walia after a full bench of five Court of Appeal (CoA) provided guidance on the calculation of damages on Thursday. The case had been referred to the CoA by Justice Walia because the computation of damages was beset by difficulty created by conflicting decisions of the court, after the quartet successfully sued Barclays for damages emanating from wrongful dismissal. Now the honours are on Justice Lakhvinder Singh Walia to determine the most suitable calculation of the damages due to the applicants in accordance with the guidelines provided by the CoA. The judges explained the four different contracts which could be entered into between the employer and an employee, discernible in the Trade Disputes Act under different scenarios in a case of unfair dismissal. These are; A contract for a specified period which contains no notice provision; a fixed term contract which does not contain a notice provision; a contract for an unspecified period which contains no notice period and A contract for an unspecified period which contains a notice period.…

Race on for 2017 Bulela Ditswe

August 1, 2016, 2:27 am

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A bruising battle is looming within the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in Molepolole South constituency following a decision by a Special Congress last week to conduct primary elections dubbed Bulela Ditswe in constituencies held by the opposition in November 2017. The decision has ignited the rivalry between perennial loser in Bulela Ditswe Shima Monageng, who has suffered several defeats at the hands of former party strongman Daniel Kwelagobe (DK to his followers), and party prodigal son Kabo Morwaeng. Morwaeng, who once contested the primaries against Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri in Molepolole North, has since decamped to the south where he is the immediate past branch chairman. Word in BDP circles is that he has since mended his tumultuous relationship with the Kwelagobe camp, with whom he once did not see eye to eye. But even in his new found allies support is not guaranteed as DK is said to be closer to his blue-eyed boy Motlhophi Leo, the former Kweneng District Council (KDC) chairman who was recently elected chairman of the newly demarcated BDP Kweneng West region. When asked if he will contest the 2017 primaries Kwelagobe, who has fallen out of favour with the current BDP leadership under President Ian Khama…

UB Medical school seeks donors

August 1, 2016, 2:37 am

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Officials of the University of Botswana’s Medical School took local media on a tour of their facility on Tuesday evening, providing an update in the process of their programmes. Head of the School of Allied Health Professions at the university, Modisa Motswaledi, said that even though they are doing very well and offering courses that are high on demand in the market both locally and internationally, they have a shortage of resources. He said they are growing tremendously well, having received a grant that enabled them to train more staff. Motswaledi said that they now offer doctorate degrees in research and first graduates are due next year. He said their students go to for training in hospitals and clinics around the country. “We have promising access to facilities that will enhance our teaching and we are looking forward to the opening of the teaching hospital and the public health laboratory that will be next to Marina,” he said. He said that will help them a lot because they have been using private laboratories at Diagnofirm, Gaborone Private Hospital Laboratory and Bokamoso Private Hospital Laboratory for their students’ attachments. “We expect 100% absorption of our students in the job market because…