Features :: Mmegi Online

Friday, May 20, 2022

Russia question lingers as KP debates Kasane agenda

The question of whether the upcoming Kasane meeting of global diamond producers, lobby groups, and NGOs will expand the definition of conflict diamonds to include acts of aggression by Russia in Ukraine will be decided in the next four weeks. Mmegi Staff Writer MBONGENI MGUNI explains

Mbongeni Mguni | 20 May 2022

On and on: Analysts believe Russia’s war in Ukraine may last through the year PIC: MARCA

Empowering The People of Botswana Through Tourism Book cover

Empowering Batswana through tourism

Desert & Delta Safaris recently celebrated their 40 years in the tourism industry by releasing a book titled ‘Empowering the People of Botswana through Tourism – Our Journey Together’.

Thalefang Charles | 20 May 2022

DWNP officials showing the media new tourism sites in the Chobe National Park PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

‘Tourism is the best conservation’

If more Batswana are unable to enter the tourism business, this will soon be a threat to the successful conservation achievements Botswana has made over the years because the locals will not appreciate the industry if it does not make direct economic sense to them, writes Staffer THALEFANG CHARLES

Thalefang Charles | 20 May 2022

Soaring: The country’s two collieries are seeing rising demand for their products PIC: MINERGY.COM

From Russia with love: Coal miners thrive

Coal prices have surged more than 300% in the past two years, driven most recently by the war in Eastern Europe, and the country’s two collieries are riding the renewed popularity of a mineral the world had hoped would die out.

Mbongeni Mguni,Pauline Dikuelo | 20 May 2022

Part of the Tsodilo Male Hill PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

Desert & Delta Safaris awakens legend of Tsodilo Hills

Twenty years since the Tsodilo Hills were declared Botswana’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, local tourism outfit Desert & Delta Safaris aims to awaken the legend of The Mountains of the Gods through their newly acquired Nxamaseri Island Lodge on the Okavango Panhandle, reports Mmegi Staff Writer THALEFANG CHARLES

Thalefang Charles | 13 May 2022

Nowhere to hide: GBV spiked during lockdowns

GBV: Solution remains a challenge

Ending violence against women and girls remains a hurdle as the duo continues to experience physical or sexual violence, mostly perpetrated by intimate partners. Effective responses to eliminate Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Botswana remain a challenge as most prevalent human rights violation taking place more often and dozens of women continue to lose their lives at the hands of their lovers, Mmegi Staff Writer PINI BOTHOKO reports

Pini Bothoko | 13 May 2022

Guns unsilenced: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has set off turmoil in the global diamond industry due to sanctions against the former’s diamonds PIC: THEPRINT.IN

De Beers separates ‘wheat from chaff’ as Russian diamonds sanctioned

The world’s second-largest producer of diamonds is tapping blockchain to distinguish its stones in the market, as the world increasingly shuns output from Russia, the world’s top producer. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Mbongeni Mguni | 13 May 2022

Power to the people: Debswana plans to procure at least 50% of its supplies and services from citizen contractors by 2024 PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Debswana places multi-billion pula bet on local

The country’s most important economic actor, Debswana, is confident it will deliver its target of shifting P20 billion of its procurement budget to citizen-owned businesses by 2024, while at the same time ironing out the familiar troubles that have dogged similar broad-based empowerment programmes. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Mbongeni Mguni | 13 May 2022

Contested: The country’s sole gold mine is undergoing a takeover again, but this time workers want their voices heard PIC: MINING.COM

Mineworkers draw line in the sand over Mupane

The gold-rich soils at Mupane Mine have changed hands three times since 2005, always in Toronto, Canada and always with local workers carried along wordlessly each time. As the mine prepares to change hands a fourth time, mineworkers are determined to have their concerns heard. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Mbongeni Mguni | 29 April 2022

On the table: The long awaited Leather Park is one of the projects Botswana has put forward in the SACU investment initiative. The Botswana Meat Commission is expected to play a major role in the project PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Historical imbalances haunt SACU’s combined industrialisation bid

The five member states of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) recently launched a joint investment bid aimed at boosting industrialisation in the region. While hardly mentioned in the official discussions, leaders will be hoping the new initiative eases historic imbalances in the region. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Mbongeni Mguni | 22 April 2022

Unregulated cryptocurrency threatens global anti-corruption efforts

Mbongeni Mguni | 22 April 2022

Gaborone meeting unlikely to blacklist Russian diamonds

Mbongeni Mguni | 19 April 2022

'The gods will be mad at us'

Thalefang Charles | 14 April 2022

HATAB wades into Chobe River front uproar

Mbongeni Mguni | 01 April 2022

The real victory hidden in Masisi’s vaccine lab deal

Mbongeni Mguni | 01 April 2022

‘Living a normal life with epilepsy is possible’

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | 01 April 2022

Khama family: Tshekedi, Anthony, Ruth Jacquline and Ian

Khama family mourns eldest kin

Following the news that Jaqueline Tebogo Khama, the firstborn to the late Sir Seretse Khama and Lady Ruth Khama, died at age 72, some of her family will mourn her death while in exile.

Air Botswana ERJ170 PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

CAAB grounds Air Botswana aircraft

The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), the body charged with the Regulation and Service Provision of Aviation in Botswana, today grounded the Air Botswana ERJ170 Aircraft, registration A2-ABM by suspending its Certificate of Airworthiness for Safety reasons.

IN HAPPIER TIMES: Former president Ian Khama and successor Mokgweetsi Masisi

Khama shifts reputational damage blame to Masisi

Following the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ revelation that former president Ian Khama has tarnished the image of Botswana through negative comments about the country, the latter has rubbished the claims in what is now becoming a game of buck-passing.

UDC NEC meeting highly-charged

PALAPYE: Botswana National Front (BNF) vice president Prince Dibeela over the weekend reportedly played a central role in ensuring that the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is not expelled from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) "for bringing the name of the coalition into disrepute".

How will the Masisi-Khama conflict end?

The night that former president of Botswana, Ian Khama, escaped under the cover of darkness into neighboring South Africa, marked a loss of innocence in Botswana’s usually stable, harmless politics. Tensions between Khama and his handpicked successor, current President Mokgweetsi Masisi, has spilled out into the open. It threatens to inflame tribal malaise and destabilise a country once known for its sparkling diamonds and thriving economy.

Lobatse mayor toppled

Over the weekend, the BDP councillors at Lobatse held a caucus to topple the mayor Essop Pandora and his deputy Tinny Dinoko. Both the mayor and deputy are alleged to be anti-Masisi since they support the area Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Thapelo Matsheka.

Ex-diplomat commits 250 years toward debt-clearance

A former diplomat who owes government of Botswana around P600,000 has committed to service the debt by paying P200 every month.

What about employees in private sector?

How can this be achieved when there already is little care about the working conditions of those within the private sector employ?For a long time, private sector employees have been neglected by their employers, not because they cannot do better to care for them, but because they take advantage of government's laxity when it comes to protecting and advocating for public sector employees, giving the cue to employers within the private sector...

The Monitor Editor | 23 May 2022

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