Price hikes choke staple food sector
In the past nine months, sorghum meal (bopi jwa mabele) - the national staple - has disappeared from the ordinary Motswana's diet because of a dramatic price increase of about 97 percent. Currently, a 10kg packet is selling for a whopping P40-P45 up from P24 in January. In contrast, maize meal (phaleche) still costs about P27 per 12kg bag.

Stakeholders not aware of eavesdropping equipment
Botswana Police Service is in the process of acquiring surveillance technology to enable the police to listen in on electronic communications. The covert system will enable the law enforcement institution to intercept cellphone communication as well as Internet services. However, it has been revealed that many of the stakeholders have not been informed of the initiative.

Panel discussion on NIA convened
Presidential Affairs Minister, Phandu Skelemani, says while he appreciates the concerns raised by some civic leaders and politicians that the bill that seeks to establish a National Intelligence Agency (NIA) lacks oversight, he would proceed and present the bill in its current format to Parliament.

New varsity to enrol 2,500 students by 2009
PALAPYE: The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) will enrol 2500 students by August 2009, the Minister of Education, Jacob Nkate said yesterday.

Parliament passes financial, meat Bill
Parliament has unanimously agreed to pass a Non-Bank Financial Institution Regulatory Authority Bill and a Livestock and Meat Industries Bill.

Police nab food vendors in G-West blitz
Gaborone West Police have started to ambush street vendors who sell food at night at the busy Phase One shopping centre. The police have also declared war on Zimbabwean commercial sex workers who operate at the mall.

Night watchman shoots robber to death
FRANCISTOWN: A night watchman at Corporative Filling Stations in Tonota Village near Francistown shot and killed one of two armed-robbers who attacked and attempted to rob the station at gunpoint.

Moghul retrenches workers
Gaborone's Moghul Restaurant and Catering Services has retrenched workers because it has been negatively affected by the new University of Botswana (UB) meal plan.

Missing forms delay secondary school placement
Students from Meadows English Medium Primary School in Molepolole have been left in the lurch after they were not admitted to junior secondary schools despite the fact that they had passed.

BCL gives P200, 000 for Mmadinare Hospital extension
MMADINARE: As part of its initiative to extend its social responsibility to the surrounding villages, BCL Mine pledged P200, 000 this week for the extension of the Infectious Disease Control Centre at Mmadinare hospital.

Oprah Winfrey, 'Blood Diamond' movie cast endorse Kimberley Process
The Oprah Winfrey Show today featured a segment promoting the soon-to-be- released Hollywood action film Blood Diamond. The movie's stars, Leonardo DiCaprio and Djimon Hounsou appeared as guests, along with the director, David Zwick.

Tlou irks women Living with HIV/AIDS
TWO HIV/AIDS organisations in Botswana are concerned about some of the comments made by Honourable Minister Sheila Tlou in her World AIDS Day speech in Tsabong.

Legae leads with 2006 HIGCSE results
This week the University of Cambridge released its Higher International General Certificate of Education (HIGCSE) results for 2006 around the world. For the ninth year in a row, the HIGCSE students at Legae Academy, Botswana's pioneer HIGCSE centre, have led the nation with a high credit pass rate of 87.5 percent and a high pass rate of 98.9 percent in all the subjects.