Mmegi Online - News

Selefu 03 February 2012

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Matambo projects lukewarm growth rate of 4.4%

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

A possible recession in Europe and declining mining activity will see economic growth slow down from 5.1 percent in 2011 to 4.4 percent this year, the Minister of Finance, Kenneth Matambo, has warned.

Diamond slump widens trade deficit

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

A 65 percent drop in rough diamond sales in the fourth quarter of last year widened the trade deficit to an average of P1.4 billion between September and November, data from Statistics Botswana indicates.

Mozambique withdraws Maputo Port offer

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Botswana will have to wait for the completion of the Ponto Techobanine rail and port project to export its coal to Asia after Mozambique withdrew its offer to use the Port of Maputo.

Sefalana credits consumer division for profit growth

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Profits at diversified company, Sefalana Holdings, rose by 21 percent to P21,69 million for the six months ended October 2011 largely on the back of contributions from its consumer goods division.

Matambo forecasts risk-laden surplus

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Finance minister Kenneth Matambo on Wednesday projected a P1.15 billion surplus for the 2012/13 financial year, his first since taking over the portfolio in July 2009.

'Traditional murderers'

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

I'm not a big believer in regulation. Generally speaking I believe that the vast majority of people and businesses do best for themselves, their families, neighbors and customers when they are left alone as much as possible.

Cresta buys Zambian hotel

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Leading Botswana hospitality company, Cresta Marakanelo, has entered into a sales agreement with Golf View Hotels in which it has purchased the business of the latter comprising of a hotel in Lusaka, Zambia known as the Golf View Hotel.

Afrimond to fill diamond skills gap

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Newly established Afrimond Diamond and Jewellery Institute will focus on diamond training and consulting, covering the entire diamond pipeline and its global structure governance, in the process saving time and costs incurred by diamond factories.

Son of ex-Zambian president wanted for corruption

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

LUSAKA: The son of former Zambian president, Rupiah Banda is on the run from police after he was accused of corruption in the sale of state fixed-line operator Zamtel to a Libyan company, the police chief said yesterday.

AU 'has let Zim down'

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

HARARE: With fresh disagreements over the time frame for elections and implementation of security, media and electoral reforms threatening to plunge Zimbabwe into further crisis, president Robert Mugabe and prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai feel hard done by thanks to the AU's silence on their country's affairs at its recent summit in Addis Ababa, Ethopia.

Activists call for Senegal president to quit

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

DAKAR: Rights activists and opposition supporters in Senegal, urged president, Abdoulaye Wade to pull out of upcoming elections on Wednesday, following protests that have so far left at least four dead. Protesters and police clashed in Dakar on Tuesday, when thousands took part in demonstrations against Wade�s candidacy in the February 26 vote.

Lesbian killers in South Africa get 18-year jail terms

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

CAPE TOWN: Four South African men have been sentenced to 18 years in jail for stabbing and stoning to death 19-year-old lesbian Zoliswa Nkonyana in 2006.

Afghanistan: Leon Panetta signals end to US combat role

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

BRUSSELS: The United States will seek to wind down combat operations in Afghanistan during 2013, more than a year before a deadline for withdrawal, the defence secretary says.

Kabila's party loses 45% of its seats in the Congo

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

KINSHASA: President Joseph Kabila's party has lost 45 percent of the legislative seats it held before November elections that were denounced as fraudulent and chaotic, according to belated results announced yesterday by Congo's electoral commission.

Electricity, railways and economic decline

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Botswana needs a modern heavy gauge railway to transport 70 - 90 million tonnes of coal to the sea and on to India and China.Whether the route it takes goes to Mozambique or Namibia is less important than having the independent national rail capacity because Cecil Rhodes' narrow gauge from Cape to Bulawayo is no longer fit for the purpose and cannot provide competition to South Africa's planned railroad to Swaziland and Mozambique, writes *ROMAN GRYNBERG

How to save the Euro

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

My new book, Financial Turmoil in Europe and the United States tries to explain and, to the extent possible, predict the outcome of the Euro crisis.

Will the US be saved by its military?

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

There were any number of anecdotes or stories with which President Barack Obama could have begun his talk to the nation. But he decided to begin with the most overused trick in any leader's rhetorical arsenal - to celebrate the military.

After the collapse: Can the BMD survive?

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

LAWRENCE OOKEDITSE examines the options of Botswana's opposition parties, especially the relatively newfangled Botswana Movement for Democracy, in the aftermath of the collapse of unity talks

Another one bites the Mantashian dust

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

In probably the biggest public split among the ANC's top leaders since Polokwane, the ANC's top officials (the top six if you like) have issued a statement coming as close as ANC language will allow, to a condemnation of treasurer Mathews Phosa.His crime: to publicly show over the weekend what appears to be his support for Julius Malema. It is a truly astonishing move - unexpected, dramatic and would appear to have implications for Mangaung. STEPHEN GROOTES reads the tea leaves.

Soccer is once again mourning

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Soccer is once again making news for the wrong reasons at a time when it is supposed to be celebrating another milestone in the on-going edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

You lazy (intellectual) African scum!

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

They call the Third World the lazy man's purview; the sluggishly slothful and languorous prefecture. In this realm people are sleepy, dreamy, torpid, lethargic, and therefore indigent, totally penniless, needy, destitute, poverty-stricken, disfavored, and impoverished.

our heritage

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

For the moment, I will continue to stick to bridges - poor things which get minimal publicity in this country partly because it's not really a bridge kind of country - has one ever been mentioned in any of the numerous guide books about this place?

We need a budget with a human face

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Once again this year, the Minister of Finance Kenneth Matambo shall walk to the parliamentary podium to perform the budget ritual before the eyes of the nation and an audience whose hopes are all pinned on his delivery.

Mogae unplugged- on family, university and Nchindo (Part 2)

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Former president, Festus Mogae reflects on his life, as a young Motswana, through his education to his period as a civil servant, and to that infamous episode in his Presidency when on a windy afternoon an old friend knocked on his door looking for favours over the Debswana fiasco. We hereby publish excerpts from the former president's memoirs written by Botswana-based, American political scientist WAYNE EDGE.

Ntuane falls in swift BNF, BCP coup

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) legislators toppled Botsalo Ntuane of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) as Leader of Opposition in a stealth operation.

It is too early for salary increment - Khama

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

PALAPYE: President Ian Khama says it is too early to consider a salary increment because the country has yet to recover from the economic recession of a few years ago.

New tertiary regulatory body starts work in July

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The new institution born out of the Tertiary Education Council (TEC) and Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) merger will be operational in July.

Botswana commits to war on terror

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The permanent secretary of Defence Justice and Security, Segakweng Tsiane says terrorism is one of the greatest threats to socio-economic programmes worldwide and its effects hinder the value of dialogue.

TEC addresses skills demand, graduate mismatch

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Council (TEC), Patrick Molutsi implored the private sector to play a critical role in educating the nation to create a pool of skilled workforce in non-traditional programmes.

Saleshando to 'grill' Venson -Moitoi on chaos at medical school

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Problems at the University of Botswana School of Medicine have attracted the attention of the MP for Gaborone Central, Dumelang Saleshando, who will 'interrogate' the Minister of Education, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, on the matter in Parliament this afternoon. Saleshando says it is his responsibility to amplify the issues and seek a solution to them because UB is located in his constituency.

Close to 1,000 Namibian refugees to be repatriated

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Close to 1,000 Namibian refugees who are still residing in Botswana are likely to be repatriated back to their country by mid-year. The two countries, together with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) are working on sending these refugees back home.

Wildlife decline in Okavango Delta ignites tourism fears

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

MAUN: Fears over the future of Botswana�s tourism industry are mounting following recent research findings that revealed a massive wildlife decline in the Okavango Delta. Even more worrying is the fact that cause for this decline is unknown.

Wetlands protection a major challenge in Botswana

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The budget allocated to the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, will not be enough to fullfil ministry goals to curb the environmental problems as usual.

Masisi threatens to seal plots without standpipes

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

FRANCISTOWN: The Member of Parliament for Francistown West, Tshelang Masisi, has threatened to seal all Monarch West yards that do not have garden taps because most of their owners are absentee landlords.

Sata raps 'extravagant' perm secs over knucles

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

LUSAKA: President Michael Sata has recently served strong notice that he will not stand for extravagance in government under his watch and has taken the unprecedented step of publicly censuring the secretary to the cabinet for it.

Another suspect dies in police custody?

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Police Service is grappling with fresh reports of another robbery suspect who is believed to have died in police custody in Molepolole last year.

Khama slams lethargic land boards

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

PALAPYE: President Ian Khama yesterday added his voice to widespread criticism that the land boards are frustrating government efforts to develop Batswana.

Summary of the Botswana Financial Budget 2012

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Balancing the top priorities amidst the uncertain future has been the focus of the 2012-2013 Budget presented by Kenneth Matambo on February 1, 2012. The priorities which are set to be achieved include service-delivery focus, maintenance of existing infrastructure, complete on-going projects, focus on high return new projects and balanced budget.

Vet seeks nod for FMD-free Zone 6

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The Department of Veterinary Services plans to make an application to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) for approval of the containment of Zone Six as a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free zone without vaccination.

Debswana workers fear radiation exposure

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Debswana and its employees might be headed for a showdown after it emerged that the diamond mining company is pressing ahead with plans to introduce Scannex X-ray body search machines at its diamond mines.

Tough contract talks for BFA, Tshosane

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

*Negotiations underway
* BFA dangles improved salary

No new faces at Buffaloes, Prisons XI

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Promotion-chasing Prisons XI and their trailers, Mochudi Buffaloes have not made many changes to their squads during the just-ended transfer window.

Ex-Fighters coach accepts fate

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The former Mogoditshane Fighters coach, Newman Gaobone will move on with his career after being relieved of his duties this week.

FC Satmos beef up squad to beat the drop

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

SELEBI-PHIKWE: FC Satmos are determined to avoid relegation after beefing up the squad and appointing a new coach.

First cut

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Brave decisions needed after AFCON

The 'Raging Bull' ready to rumble

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Herbert Nkabiti says he is ready to rumble when he goes into the ring for his first title fight. Although no date has been set for the bout, the boxer says he expects it to take place before June.

Ikgopoleng relishes Namibia, SA friendlies

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

National boxing coach, Khumiso Ikgopoleng is relishing the two international friendly matches lined up for his seven boxers who are presently in camp preparing for the Africa Olympic qualifiers set for Rabat, Morocco, in April.The tournament kicks off on April 25.

Japan instructor meets BOKA

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Visiting Japanese karate instructor, Shihan Shigeki Uemura started off his month-long visit with a closed meeting with the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) and local chief instructors. He is scheduled to conduct his first training session this afternoon.

Batswana artists develop knack for graffiti

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Imagine waking up in the morning to a fresh easterly breeze enjoying the scenery of your home with its high walls. Then while strolling around the yard to see how the neighbourhood looks you find a painting of some clawed animal with rhino-like horns.

Kgosi Seboko's old house a deserted monument

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

No one, including her surviving daughter, Madulo Gaborone, has provided the exact date when Kgosi Seboko I's old house located behind the Balete main ward in Ramotswa was built.

Remembering the Tigerkloof of Bukalanga

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

How many people know that the first post-primary school in Botswana, the Tati Training Institute was the brainchild of none other than Dr Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete of the Fatshe Leno La Rona fame?

Back stage

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Don't mess with the Mob; you might get killed

Book review

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Like no place I have ever been

Digging Tswana roots

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

The Big Three

Mabiletsa deserves to be Leader of Opposition

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

Reports that Isaac Mabiletsa of the Botswana National Front (BNF) faces revolt in his attempt to become the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament is incorrect.

Nigerian brinkmanship

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

In the BBC series of viewpoints from African journalists, writer SOLA ODUNFA considers whether President Goodluck Jonathan can keep Nigeria away from the brink.

Nitty Gritty

info@mmegi.bw (www.Mmegi.bw) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:37:57 GMT

A house in heaven