Quantcast
Channel: News - The Patriot on Sunday - The Patriot on Sunday
Viewing all 2246 articles
Browse latest View live
↧

Consumer fair: ‘It’s more than a shopping’

August 15, 2016, 4:05 am
$
0
0
Mogomotsi
Botswana Consumer Fair returns next week with 11th edition to be held under the new slogan ‘it’s more than just shopping’. The fair takes place form the 22nd to the 28th of August, 2016. According to Thabo Mogomotsi, Fairgrounds Holdings Marketing Manager the fair is fully booked with a total of 500 stalls and 564 exhibitors. She said the organisers have been able to attract 30 local manufactures and 14 foreign countries, among them Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Japan and China. The organisers belive the fair is by far the largest in Botswana and in 2015, over 62 000 visiting over the seven day period. Additions to this year’s fair include Miss Botswana Consumer Fair, partnership with Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) for local artists to showcase their talent and the organisers say Wi-Fi connectivity will be free for all to access in the precincts of the venue. For child safety, Fairgrounds has partnered with Botswana Red Cross Society to trace kids who might get lost during the show. The fair will conclude with a prize giving awards ceremony which will be held on the 25th of August and chairperson of Fairgrounds Holdings board of directors, Shadrack Tamari will deliver a key…
↧
Search

Tapela’s leadership questioned

August 15, 2016, 4:15 am
$
0
0
Dr Tapela
The leadership of Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) acting Vice Chancellor Dr Mataba Tapela has once again come under the hammer. Disgruntled BUAN staff is threatening to boycott the university’s envisaged launch if Dr Tapela is not relieved of his position as he has failed to implement the university’s transformation process. Even though a clear date for the launch of BUAN is not yet been set, the general staff is of a view that launch would be premature and should be aborted as BUAN does not have credible and identifiable structures that could constitute a university that could be launched at the moment. They contend that the launch of the university should be spearheaded by a fully-fledged and qualified individual whose credibility as a leader has been proven internationally and regionally. To show their seriousness, the staff members have since petitioned the Minister of Agriculture Patrick Ralotsia about what they term his inexperience to lead the university to a successful transformation. Currently low morale, frustration and loss of confidence on the acting vice chancellor are reported among staff members at the university. Sources say staff is dissatisfied and have since developed doubtfulness about the entire transformation process.…
↧
↧

Operation #Drugsmustfall

August 15, 2016, 5:16 am
$
0
0
Drugs
Gaborone, Metsimotlhabe and Mochudi have proven to be leading illicit drug hotspots after narcotics detectives arrested 192 dealers in relation to 134 cases including suspected crack cocaine in May-July drug bust. Last week Deputy Officer Commanding Narcotics, Fauna and Flora Investigations Detective Superintendent, Albert Morapedi, said they are awaiting results from their Forensic laboratory on a suspected case of crack cocaine detected in Gaborone recently. He said, except for two, all the suspects in the other cases have already been arraigned before court and are out on bail. "Of the 192 arrested, 180 are Batswana, five (5) Swazis, four (4) Zimbabweans, two (2) Zambians and one South African. For marijuana weighing 1-102.1 kg we arrested 16 Batswana and five (5) Swaziland nationals. The dealers are aged between 18 and 52," he said. The Patriot on Sunday is reliably informed that detectives are on a trail of a crack concaine dealer in Gaborone following a lead, but Morapedi declined to comment on the matter saying it is still fresh, and investigations are continuing. He expressed concern that drugs continue to find their way into the country, but said they are doing their best to detect them and arrest dealers by following…
↧

Khama Directive stalls SB salary talks

August 15, 2016, 5:27 am
$
0
0
Akoonyatse
Salary negotiations between Statistics Botswana (SB) and their unionised employees have collapsed due to a Presidential directive of December 2015 ordering parastatals to "only offer increases to their staff within the limit agreed by government". The Khama directive at the centre of the dispute demands "that all ministries with parastatals should take the necessary steps to ensure that parastatal organisations under them only offer salary increases to their staff within the limit agreed by government and following the necessary consultation with the parent ministry". Flowing from the Directive, SB management offered a 3 % salary increment at the beginning of the negotiations through a position paper dated 07 April 2016. Part of the SB position paper reads: "(SB) Management moves to adopt the shareholder's resolution on inflationary adjustment for 2016/17 and in all future adjustments, as per government directive. Management therefore offers adjustment that government will offer as inflationary adjustment across the board effective 1st April 2016." Negotiating in bad faith After trying unsuccessfully to convince SB management to approach the salary negotiations differently, and opening up to other proposals the employees engaged attorney Joseph Akoonyatse. seeking legal advise. In July, following the last meeting in June where management repeated…
↧

Opposition cries foul as Parley creates laws at midnight

August 15, 2016, 5:32 am
$
0
0
keorapetse
The third meeting of the second session of the 11th Parliament made history by going on until the following day, adjourning only at 0440 hours after passing five bills. When Parliament business began on Thursday afternoon, the Speaker Gladys Kokorwe informed MPs that they must pass all the bills and it was moved that Parliament be adjourned at 12 midnight. The quorum collapsed when opposition MPs and some from the ruling party stayed out but were later called back. Increase of ministersOne of the bills that were fast tracked was an amendment the Ministerial Act (maximum number) by increasing the number of ministries from 16 to 18. The bill was opposed by opposition MPs who felt that it was totally unnecessary to increase the number of ministries when government has said there was no money. However, it was passed paving the way for President Ian Khama to appoint two more cabinet ministers and increase the number of assistant ministers from eight to ten. Electronic Voting Bill Another controversial bill which has tongues wagging especially among the opposition is the electronic bill which was brought to parliament through certificate of urgency. The passing of the bill has paved way for the…
↧
↧

Who shall Khama fire?

August 15, 2016, 5:41 am
$
0
0
Who shall Khama fire?
Presidential advisers have been working overtime to offer the best advice to the President on who to pick into his cabinet as he prepares for a major overhaul. Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi, who is responsible for reviewing performance of the ministers, has also offered his own counsel from a full and detailed performance review report. Staff writer PHILLIMON MMESO has been watching developments closely, has talked to various sources close to the presidency and listened in between arguments and leaders conversations to piece together what could be up in Khama’s sleeves. He warns that the coming reshuffle will leave most in utter shock and surprise. Make no mistake – Khama wants to cement his legacy and anyone found wanting or compromising that will be dished. The passing of the Ministerial Offices (Maximum Number) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (Bill No. 2 of 2016) on Thursday night has given President Ian Khama the green light to create increase ministries and his ministers. The Ministry of Education and Skills Development and that of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources are expected to be divided into two. Presidential Affairs and Public Administration - Nonofho MolefhiPresident Khama will most likely use this opportunity to take Eric Molale…
↧

Close bogus universities

August 22, 2016, 1:54 am
$
0
0
Dr Chiepe
The debate on the deteriorating quality of education in Botswana took a new turn last week when academics condemned the proliferation of many private "universities", which currently stand at seven serving a population of approximately two million people, and called for their closure. Different speakers at a BOT50 Public Lecture Series under the topic “Capturing Botswana’s Major Milestones” at the University of Botswana (UB) Centre for Continuing Education last week said the new "universities" are duplicating programmes offered at already existing government tertiary institutions while the quality of some courses they offer is suspect. The public lecture was organised to capture the country’s major milestones since independence such as the introduction of the local currency, national railways and airline, the discovery of diamonds and its first university. A discussant on the subject, Professor Part Mgadla from the University of Botswana Confucius Institute said if he had the powers he would close those universities that provide already existing programmes. He said having seven universities, all in Gaborone is too much, and leads to duplication of programmes which in some institutions are accredited by universities outside the country. This creates a problem of monitoring the quality of the programmes, he said. Former…
↧

‘SADC leaders have failed us’

August 22, 2016, 1:57 am
$
0
0
OUTGOING; President Khama and INCOMING; King Mswati III
Just days before handing over the Chairmanship of the regional bloc - Southern African Development Community (SADC) - to Swaziland, President Ian Khama has come under heavy criticism from the church for failing to resolve the leadership crisis unraveling in Lesotho, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Catholic Church Bishops, led by Vice President of Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Bishop Valentine Seane, accuse SADC leaders of failing to compel Lesotho government to implement the recommendations of the Phumaphi report. Addressing the media in Gaborone on Thursday, Seane said initially they had hoped that SADC will put pressure on Lesotho government to implement the recommendations but were surprised when the regional body somersaulted. "Now they started giving Phakalithi Mosilili simpler recommendations to implement leaving out the most critical ones,” said Seane, who led the delegation of Catholic Bishops to Lesotho during the political turmoil. Seane, who is also the Bishop of Gaborone Diocese, said they have engaged all the opposition leaders in Lesotho and even helped families of soldiers who are currently imprisoned. He said as the church they can only help on social causes but not interfere with the political developments, adding that in Lesotho they…
↧
Search

BMD boils over

August 22, 2016, 2:00 am
$
0
0
TROUBLED; Ndaba
Political manoeuvering inside the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) could best be defined like the sophistry of a chess game. Just when one faction was moving for a checkmate supposedly armed with endorsement to go for a special congress, the other faction pulled the rug from under their feet – out-rightly rejecting what they perceived to be an ‘unconstitutional move’. The letters from party regions presented before the Central Committee meeting, seeking a special congress, were rejected and thrown out the window as unconstitutional, as warring factions employ tactics akin to a chess game. The game of chess is a complicated game employing zero sum, competitive Machiavellian strategies to protect key political positions. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king, and to protect the queen, the most powerful piece in the game, as long as possible. Armed with letters from regions across the country, the Mmolotsi/Ndaba faction - led by MP for Gaborone Central Dr Phenyo Butale - thought they had checkmated the Mangole/Modubule faction. But little did they know their political rivals had an ace up their sleeve, counter strategy to draw Mmolotsi/Ndaba’s attention in one direction while their target was the constitution, a killer…
↧
↧

Row over Somizi's half-a-million Pula deal

August 22, 2016, 6:46 am
$
0
0
Row over Somizi's half-a-million Pula deal
Somizi Mhlongo is entangled in a bitter row over his choreography services in Botswana. The celebrity dancer, choreographer and Idols SA judge was allegedly awarded a half-a-million pula deal to direct the country's golden jubilee celebrations to be held next month in the capital, Gaborone. The country had budgeted 100million pula (about R130-million) for the celebrations, appointing a committee with the name Botswana50 (Bot50). The committee has recently been accused of corruption and favouritism in the award of tenders for events linked to the celebrations. The country's anti-corruption unit, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), has now been roped in to investigate the tenders. But the latest scandal to rock the country would be Somgaga's P500000 gig for the two-day event. This is not the first time Mhlongo has been booked to choreograph a major event in Botswana. He was also brought in to facilitate the opening ceremony of the Africa Youth Games in May 2014. Sowetan can confirm that Mhlongo was not contracted by Bot50 but rather by Red Pepper PR and Consultancy agency, which won the P14-million tender to procure the dance and theatre productions for the celebrations. Batswana dancers and choreographers complained they were being…
↧

2nd Job Summit set for October

August 23, 2016, 12:50 am
$
0
0
Dr Pheko
Following last year’s inaugural job summit, organisers of the event have slated this year’s installment for October under the theme, ‘Maximising job creation through effective policy and strategy implementation’. Conference Director, Dr Mpho Pheko of OneSource Consulting said on Monday at press briefing that 2nd edition of the Annual Botswana Job Summit is influenced by the 2015 summit deliberations which emphasized the existence of sound policies, strategies and programmes in Botswana, but highlighted the challenges relating to implementation of the same. She said the previous summit did a very good job of situating the jobs challenge and coming up with ideas as to how jobs can be created both in the short-term, medium-term and long-term. The summit is said to have highlighted the fact that for the stakeholders, including government, to successfully drive the job creation agenda, adjustments will have to be made between policy level and implementation levels to ensure that the link between policy and outputs is a positive link – in terms of jobs created. Pheko said the questions for the 2016 Summit will be guided by how implementation and delivery can be enhanced and facilitated in Botswana. The objectives of the 2nd job summit will include…
↧

Germany’s Minister of State visits Botswana

August 23, 2016, 1:03 am
$
0
0
Germany’s Minister of State visits Botswana
Professor Maria Böhmer, Germany’s Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, will visit Botswana from August 23 (today) to August 26 to mark the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the country’s independence in September. She will hold talks with Foreign Minister Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Education Minister Dr Unity Dow, Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Kokorwe and other senior figures from the spheres of business, culture and politics. The focus of the talks will be on paying tribute to the positive developments in Botswana, professional education and strengthening women’s role in civil society. Before leaving Germany, Minister of State Böhmer said: “In many different ways, Botswana is one of Africa’s success stories. It is also of great importance to me personally to support the endeavours to empower women in politics, business, academia and culture. Professional education gives young people opportunities in their own country. Enhancing young people’s professional education is an important task throughout Africa, also as regards preventing the reasons why people flee”. Botswana is the seat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other organisations. Women hold some positions in politics and society, including at the highest levels.
↧

BLLAHWU intact – leadership

August 24, 2016, 1:19 am
$
0
0
BLLAHWU intact – leadership
Botswana Land-board Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU) has rubbished allegations that they are on the brink of collapse. Addressing members of the press, the union Secretary General Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said the recently formed splinter union Botswana Progressive Workers Union was formed by power monger unionists. “Most of the people who formed the union tried on several occasions to stand for elections at BLLAHWU and lost dismally,” said the outspoken BLLAHWU Secretary General. He, however, thanked them for helping the union whilst still members. On allegations that the union has never being audited for the past five years, Motshegwa said that if it was true the Registrar of union could have long deregistered them. Recently there have been allegations that BLLAHWU was broke and that some of its properties have been attached but Motshegwa dismissed that as propaganda peddled by their detractors, noting that every organisation has its share of financial problems. “The 2011 Industrial action affected us as we had to pay huge legal fees to help our members who were dismissed from work,” he said. BLLAHWU has been in a fight with their burial society as the latter argued that they are autonomous from the mother union.…
↧
↧

STOP PRESS: Patriot Woman magazine!

August 24, 2016, 4:37 am
$
0
0
STOP PRESS: Patriot Woman magazine!
Inskip Investments (Pty) Ltd, the publisher of The Patriot on Sunday newspaper, has produced a special commemorative magazine to celebrate women as part of the country’s 50th anniversary. The Patriot Woman though previously published as a tabloid insert of the main newspaper has been splashed into 40-page magazine covering leading women figures who have contributed to the country’s development to date. Managing Editor, Mpho Dibeela, says: “We have seen this as the best way of celebrating the heroines that are continuing to build this country. We see this as a niche that has not been served in the market. We shall be investing more in developing this product to be a stand-alone.” Keitebe Kgosikebatho is the magazine editor. “Women regardless of their social standing have had something to contribute to the building of this nation for the past 50 years. It is, however, sad to note that recognition whenever given seems to be concentrated and focused on men than on women,” she writes in her foreword.
↧

Expedite India-Africa Diamond Institute – Minister

August 24, 2016, 4:51 am
$
0
0
Expedite India-Africa Diamond Institute – Minister
Visiting Indian Minister of Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram has called on Botswana and Indian government to work together to implement the project for establishment of India-Africa Diamond Institute. Speaking at the reception hosted by the Indian Commission Oram said that the early establishment of the IADI will be mutually beneficial to Botswana and India with Botswana now being the Diamond Hub. Indian Diamond Institute (IDI) is all set to support the government of Botswana in setting up a state-of-the-art diamond institute in the country According to the IDI, the courses to be taught at the institute in Botswana would include diamond cutting, polishing and grading along with jewellery manufacturing. A team from India will be in Botswana for three months to provide training to the professionals. Another area which Botswana can benefit from India, according to Minister Oram, is in the area of solar energy. “There is great potential for bilateral cooperation in the solar energy sector, with International Solar Alliance in place,” he said, adding that India has skills and resources which can be beneficial to Botswana.
↧
Search

BNF bans 'illegal' facebook groups

August 25, 2016, 2:15 am
$
0
0
BNF bans 'illegal' facebook groups
The newly elected Botswana National Front (BNF) Central Committee has hit the ground running, immediately banning proliferation of uncoordinated social media platforms bearing the party name and threatening to punish offenders. The Committee said the social media platforms used in the build-up to the congress for purposes of campaigning for positions should be immediately disbanded. Incoming Secretary General, Moeti Mohwasa, made the announcement on Monday following the Central Committee's first-ever meeting on Saturday. "Failure to do so will be in breach of the Code of Conduct and Constitution of the party as it will be an act of factionalism, which is a punishable offence. All social medium platforms operating under the name of the party should be supervised and administered by the publicity secretary," reads part of the resolutions. Mohwasa said the party will take stern action against administrators of unauthorised accounts if they do not close them, adding further that all communication will be done through the publicity secretary. He revealed that the CC has already adopted names proposed for sub-committees and the members will soon take office. Meanwhile BNF President Duma Boko will soon decide on names proposed by members recently elected in Francistown for consideration as additional…
↧

Khama hands over SADC reigns

August 29, 2016, 5:34 am
$
0
0
Khama hands over SADC reigns
President Ian Khama is in Swaziland for the 36th SADC Summit which will end on August 31 with the highlight being the assumption of SADC chairperson seat by King Mswati III of Swaziland. The Summit is being held under the theme "Resource Mobilisation for Investment in Sustainable Energy Infrastructure for an Inclusive SADC Industrialisation for the Prosperity". The Summit was preceded by the Council of Ministers meeting from 26 to 28 August 2016. The regional leaders will discuss a wide range of issues affecting the Southern African region. These include among others, the political and security developments in the region; progress regarding economic integration agenda; the existing challenges related to poverty alleviation, drought, food insecurity, energy shortages, pandemics such as HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis as well as Malaria. During her one-year Chairmanship, Botswana has not only spearheaded regional efforts aimed at addressing the political and security challenges in Lesotho, but has among other things, convened three (3) Ministerial workshops aimed at seeking durable solutions to the current challenges related to food insecurity and poverty alleviation; inadequate energy supply and water scarcity as well as illegal trade in wildlife. President Khama is accompanied Dr. Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and…
↧
↧

Segokgo new BDF Commander

August 29, 2016, 5:53 am
$
0
0
Segokgo new BDF Commander
President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has promoted Major General Placid Segokgo to the rank of Lieutenant General and Commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) effective September 2. Major General Gotsileene Morake is appointed to the position of deputy commander, effective September 2, taking over from Segokgo. A press release from Permanent Secretary to the President, Carter Morupisi, states that Segokgo has been the deputy commander since 2012. He first joined the BDF in 1983 and rose through the ranks to his current rank and position during his 33 years of hard work and dedicated service to the BDF. Meanwhile, the release states that President Khama recognised and thanked, on his behalf and behalf of the nation Lt General Gaolathe Galebotswe for his hard work and dedicated service for the 33 years he has been in BDF. “We congratulate Lieutenant General Galebotswe and wish him a deserved retirement and success in his future endeavours,” the release states.
↧

Venson-Moitoi vows: ‘I want to make Africa a better place’

August 29, 2016, 5:56 am
$
0
0
Venson-Moitoi vows: ‘I want to make Africa a better place’
The Botswana and Southern African Development Community (SADC) candidate for the position of African Union Commission (AUC) chairwoman, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, is counting on the support of member countries which previously abstained from voting, to win the election, which is scheduled for early next year. The elections are to be held during the 28th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 30 and 31. Candidatures should be submitted to the AUC on September 30. The poll will be held six months after an elective summit in Kigali, Rwanda, where none of the three candidates vying to succeed South Africa’s Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma got a two-thirds majority. Venson-Moitoi led with 16 votes, ahead of Agapito Mba Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea (representing central Africa), who got 12 votes. Specioza Naigaga Wandira Kazibwe of Uganda (representing east Africa) secured 11 votes. The 15-member Economic Commission of West African States, which could not field a candidate, absconded from voting. Meanwhile, there were reservations about Kazibwe’s nomination as she was probed for abuse of state funds during her tenure as her country’s vice-president. Some also questioned the suitability of Mokuy because Equatorial Guinea…
↧

Mogae despairs about South Sudan

August 30, 2016, 7:50 am
$
0
0
Mogae despairs about South Sudan
Former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae, has expressed his despair over South Sudan ever seeing peace. Mogae is currently the chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC) for South Sudan. Quoting the Associated Press (AP), the Sudan Tribune reported on Monday that Mogae had accused both President Salva Kiir and former first vice president Dr Riek Machar of lacking the political will to work together for peace in the world’s newest country. “There is no political will to implement the peace agreement. They (Kiir and Machar) are bent on a military solution, not political solution,” said Mogae. “I am more disillusioned or less optimistic than before. I thought that common logic could persuade them to do the right thing,” said the ex-Botswana leader. Mogae’s comments followed JMEC’s declaration that it would work with the controversially-appointed first vice president Taban Deng Gai. Gai was appointed by Kiir to replace Machar, who is also the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), after the opposition leader first went into hiding and then fled the country claiming his life was in danger. Machar fled after clashes between government forces and his armed followers in July. He first crossed the…
↧
Viewing all 2246 articles
Browse latest View live
Search