Mmegi

Botswana needs a terrorism threat alert advisory system

Terrosism is ever expanding in Africa and sadly it has consistently shown resilience despite many years of counterterrorism and prevention efforts by governments and international actors. It is important to note that the theatre of terrorism activities has now shifted from traditional hotspots of Asia and Middle East to Africa.

African regions such as the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa are not the only ones considered new theatres of terror activity but the phenomenon has expanded to West Africa’s coastal states, Central Africa and Southern Africa.

The 2020 Global Terrorism Index shows that seven out of 10 countries badly affected by terrorism in the world are from Africa with the Sub-Saharan Africa being the second region in the world affected by deadly terrorism superseding the Middle East. The lethality of terrorism is increasing in Africa in contrast to other parts of the world and estimates show that close to $97 billion of informal economic activity is lost each year due to terrorism.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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