Stations fear airwave opening up
Botswana’s two private radio stations have expressed fears that plans to liberalise the airwaves next year might be detrimental. Though they welcome the news, the managers of Ya Rona FM and Gabz FM say that issuing three more licences might lead to overcrowding in the radio broadcast sector. They cite the fact that there is a shortage of radio advertising.

Botswana’s neighbours are saboteurs - MP
An MP has accused Botswana’s neighbours of sabotage especially on trade issues. Tswapong South legislator, Oreeditse Molebatsi told Parliament yesterday that Botswana has difficulties trading with its neighbours despite the close cultural ties. He was debating the Draft Mid-Term Review of the Ninth National Development Plan (NDP 9) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The day of divorce
LOBATSE: “For poorer or richer, in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, till death do us part.” Sweet vows like these, exchanged during happy moments when people tie the matrimonial knots, are broken every Monday at the High Court in Lobatse. Monday is the day set aside for divorce cases. This week, 19 couples were allowed to end their marriages. Thirty or more cases are yet to come before the High Court.

Road accidents go down in Phikwe
SELEBI PHIKWE: The number of road accidents have declined drastically in Selebi Phikwe this year. From January to November, the town recorded 330 accidents as compared to the 486 in the same period last year, BCL General Manager Montwedi Mphathi said during the commemoration of Road Safety Day in Selebi-Phikwe yesterday. Mphathi said this is a clear indication that there is a need for collective and concerted effort to fight the carnage in order to decrease the number of accidents.

An unmatched show of forgiveness
It is very difficult to forgive a murderer but Ntesang Metlaleng, the mother of the 10-year-old-girl killed by her stepfather has no such problem. She said she has forgiven her late husband, Kabelo Metlaleng, 31, who murdered his stepdaughter Lame Seolwane, last week. He is said to have sexually abused the girl before the murder. He committed suicide afterwards.

Police seek experts to enter mineshafts
FRANCISTOWN: Police have said they will consult experts to get to the bottom of abandoned mineshafts suspected to have swallowed two men in Phase Six location. Central police station commander, Superintendent Chajane Baleseng said attempts to get to the bottom of the shafts, even by soldiers from the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) have failed. This is because the shafts get narrow and dangerous as they deepen.