Trades Say No Levy Will 'Throttle Throats'

But just when tipplers were beginning to enjoy themselves, the government is at it again. This time, the announcement about 'throttling throats' was made by none other than President Ian Khama himself, Botswana's most celebrated teetotaller, at a no less venerable place than the kgotla of a small village.

Addressing BaKwena of Metsimotlhabe near Gaborone last week, Khama disclosed that the government was going to slap a 70-percent levy on all alcoholic beverages with effect from next month, adding that if people continued to bend the elbow, he would raise the penal levy to 100 percent or by another 70 percent!