Ten things to watch for in 2017
Mbongeni Mguni | Friday January 13, 2017 15:33
Will BCL Mine pull a ‘Lazarus?’
All eyes will be on the Lobatse High Court on February 7 where KPMG senior partner, Nigel Dixon-Warren will deliver a report on the fate of BCL Ltd, the group controlling BCL Mine, Tati Nickel Mine and associated properties. As provisional liquidator, Dixon-Warren has spent the last four months assessing BCL’s assets, liabilities, prospects and threats, as well as receiving enquiries from potential buyers. On February 7, he could recommend a scaling down of the mines or a complete/partial asset sale.
#Mma V for AU
On January 31, International Affairs and Cooperation minister, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi gets a second opportunity to bid for the chairmanship of the African Union. Venson-Moitoi emerged ahead of the field in the elections July, she fell far short of the majority required after at least 28 countries abstained from voting, citing various concerns. Venson-Moitoi, who is still on an African charm offensive, will face off against four other hopefuls from Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and Senegal.
Debswana production targets
The country’s most important economic player, Debswana, is expected to soon unveil production targets for 2017, a key indication of the diamond giant’s reading of the year’s economic climate. Last year, Debswana maintained its 2015 target of 20 million carats, citing the need to rebalance weak market fundamentals. However, 2016’s health in rough diamond sales suggests the diamond producer could revise its targets upwards, boosting economic activity directly and indirectly in the broader economy.
Goodbye Morupule B!
Eight years after the first spade hit the ground and four years after the first repayments began, the fault-ridden Morupule B power station is finally consistently producing above 50% of its generation capacity. In fact, since the New Year, generation peaked at 415MW yesterday, while the low was 340MW last week. This is the same station which has totally shut down twice in its brief but troubled history. This year, we could say goodbye to Morupule B as a public asset, as government moves to dispose of the station via a sale to its Chinese contractor. Taxpayers will, from that point, move from directly funding the power station, to supporting it through funding power purchases by the BPC.
And the new AG is?
By all accounts, director of Public Prosecutions, Abraham Keetshabe, is leading the race to succeed former Attorney General, Athaliah Molokomme. Keetshabe was Molokomme’s deputy six years ago before being appointed general counsel in the Office of the President in May 2011. He previously served as chief legal advisor and resident attorney for the Office of the President. Another name in the hat is deputy AG, Morulaganye Chamme who is currently the acting AG.
Constitutional clashes at CoA
The Court of Appeal is set for more scrutiny and a nearly-unprecedented weight of high profile cases this year. As the Judge President, Ian Kirby noted recently, the opening session of 2017 alone has 54 appeals enrolled, “of which only 10 are criminal appeals”, and “many of the civil matters are complex with weighty records of proceedings”. For 2017, matters such as Omphemetse Motumise’s challenge against President Ian Khama, the case of the four suspended Judges and the stand-off between the Judiciary and the Law Society of Botswana, stemming from speeches made at the 2016 opening of the Legal Year.
Ma-Domi square off
The Botswana Democratic Party heads for its elective congresses later this year, at central committee, youth wing and women’s league level, where bruising battles are expected in the lead up to 2019. The party’s chairmanship is among positions up for grabs. The ruling party is also due to begin holding its primaries for 2019 by June, with contests in opposition held areas. Already, high profile names are circulating in various constituencies, with reports of subtle and not-so subtle campaigns and ‘feelers’.
#Tlatsa letamo
Having enjoyed a very wet start to 2017, in line with famous weatherman, Radithupa Radithupa’s forecasts, all eyes will be on whether levels at Gaborone Dam will rise to once more support the capital. By yesterday, the Dam was at 21.6%, having received approximately 8.1 percent or 11.5 billion litres of water in a period of six days, a deluge despite the popular views that the dam failed to secure inflows. At its current levels, Gaborone Dam can support the capital for nine months, a far healthier level than previous dry years.
Amantle Montsho bounces back!
The golden girl of athletics, Amantle Montsho is expected to bounce back to international action this August, after serving a two-year ban for testing positive for a banned substance. Her return will be in the same continent where she fell from grace at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. Montsho, out of international action since the ban, will be expecting to easily triumph in the local qualifiers and represent the country at the World Championships to be held in London.
World netball comes to GC
The Botswana Netball Association will host the World Netball Youth World Cup mid-year 2017, featuring players from 16 countries, in one of the largest sporting events to grace local shores. Botswana, a regional powerhouse, will be hoping the form it has shown at senior national team level will cascade down to the youths. Here’s wishing all the young players the best of luck!