Teacher graduates take govt to court
THIRTY-THREE graduates of the colleges of education in Tonota and Molepolole, who graduated earlier this year and have not been employed by the ministry of education, have taken government to court. The applicants want the High Court to review and set aside as “unlawful” and “unconstitutional”, the decision taken by the director of teaching service management (TSM) not to employ them as teachers.

National languages can lead to ethnic dominance - experts
FORMER Professor of Nursing Education at University of Botswana, Serara Khupe-Mogwe has said that national languages can lead to dominance by one ethnic group in a country. Speaking at a seminar on the recently launched Human Development Report (HDR) 2004 last Monday, she said that the choice of a national language can limit the freedoms of many non-dominant groups.

High Court rules in favour of Kamanakao Association
FRANCISTOWN: The Francistown High Court declared on Monday, that the burial of Chief Calvin Kamanakao at the cultural centre in Gumare, was not a breach of the lease agreement between the Tawana Land Board and the Kamanakao Association, and did not amount to change of use. Giving the judgement, Justice Lakhvinder Singh Walia told the court that the burial of Kamanakao’s remains at the cultural centre was a cultural event for the Wayeyi.

BEDIA chief points way to sustainable development
FRANCISTOWN: The Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA), Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba has said that overcoming the challenge of sustainable development and economic diversification in the country is possible through measures such as foreign direct investment.

Botash reduces expatriate staff
Botswana Ash (Botash) has reduced the number of its expatriate workers by more than 54 percent. The expatriates now form six percent of the company’s 478 workforce. Botash Managing Director Derek Cochrane said that 29 of the expatriates are employed at the plant while another 15 are at the school. He was unable to disclose their range of expertise and qualifications adding that Botash follows its own internal policy of always advertising positions internally first and then in the press before an expatriate employee is appointed or re-appointed.

Masire joins AWF Board
FORMER president, Sir Ketumile Masire, has been nominated to serve in the Board of Trustees of the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). Masire agreed to serve in the Board after an invitation by chairperson of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the AWF, William E. James. “The Board has an outstanding mix of conservation and development enthusiasts who care for the well-being of the wild lands and wildlife and people of Africa,” said James.

Why smoking law had to be amended
THE Minister of Health Lesego Motsumi told Parliament yesterday that the Control of Smoking Act of 1992 must be amended because of the difficulties encountered in its enforcement and the burden it places on non-smokers.