News :: Mmegi Online

Friday, March 31, 2023

BDP to celebrate Masisi's 5 years in office

The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) will tomorrow celebrate President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s fifth anniversary in office.

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | 31 March 2023

President Mokgweetsi Masisi dancing at BDP event PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Mokgweetsi Masisi SONA PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

BDP popular vote high under Masisi

Hate or Like him, President Mokgweetsi Masisi is one president who never had it all during his tenure as he faced the toughest challenge ever. Unlike other Presidents who enjoyed the support of their predecessors after assuming office, Masisis never did, Mmegi Staffer TSAONE BASIMANEBOTLHE reports

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | 31 March 2023

Carter and Pinny Morupisi at Court PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

The President’s five years of high profile arrests

As President Mokgweetsi Masisi turns five years in office tomorrow, there are so many takeaways from his presidency so far but no one can ignore how security organs under his government staged the arrests of high profile suspects “movie style’ in the glare of the cameras. State agency, the Directorate of Intelligence Services (DIS), which has been behind almost all high profile arrests under Masisi, has been accused of publicising arrests in most instances. Mmegi Staffer MOMPATI TLHANKANE compiles high profile arrests under Masisi’s administration.

Mompati Tlhankane | 31 March 2023

Dead man Nchindo ‘finances’ Kgosi

l Kgosi refuses to take plea l PSP, Rose Seretse amongst those to testify against KgosiSHARON MATHALA Staff WriterA corruption docket dating as far back as 2009 by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) finally reached the High Court this week, with the former director general of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), Isaac Kgosi being slapped with a charge for receiving a bribe from electronic company Vlatacom D.O.O. According to prosecutors, Vlatacom D.O.O paid about P687,281.29 to Kgosi as a reward for having influenced the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) to award tenders to the company worth millions. According to the charge sheet, Kgosi, “indirectly accepted for himself the sum of P687,281.29 from Vlatacom D.O.O as valuable consideration for having used his influence in recommending that PPADB sanction direct appointment of Vlatacom D.O.O to provide countrywide communication infrastructure, supply of electronic ID card production system and supply and installation of AFIS system to the Directorate of Intelligence and Security.” Vlatacom D.O.O was engaged by the DIS and the Office of the President (OP) between 2008 and 2015 and then received tenders worth about half a billion pula. In 2015, Mmegi reported that Kgosi allegedly received close to P1 million from Vlatacom D.O.O to purchase Sentlhane Farm. The money was paid through a leading local law firm, Collins Newman trust account on August 3, 2009. Kgosi bought Sentlhane farm from an auction and allegedly made a payment of P100,000 in February 2009. Exactly a year after the auction purchase, Vladacom paid for the outstanding amount allegedly through a trust account of Collins and Newman. In a DCEC interrogation recording done on February 27, 2012, Kgosi said the funds were from the late Debswana managing director, Louis Nchindo. Kgosi said Nchindo just presented him with a P900,000 gift in hard cash because ‘he was very close to him’. Kgosi attempted to explain to the investigator Don Mackenzie and former DCEC boss Rose Seretse on how exactly Nchindo gave him the money. He said Nchido was helping him out as he usually did. “No he was close to me, he was very close to me and then he was like a father figure to me and then I told him about it and that I wanted to buy it and so forth and then he said go and buy it and I said I don’t want to apply for any loan because I still have a loan and then he said I will help you out. Because usually he does, he used to help out when I was in the thing, during the Serowe North Development Trust, he would maybe give in a cheque and so forth so he assisted in that and gave me money to pay for it,” (SIC) reads the transcript from the interview in verbatim. In the same interview, Kgosi was asked to explain if he had any witnesses to this gift by Nchindo to which he responded, “Well, I don’t know because Nchindo used to do his things covertly, he never wanted people to know what he did.” In court this week, after the charge sheet was read out to him for the first time, the once feared spy chief refused to take a plea. Asked how he pleads, Kgosi responded: “I can’t take any plea now because I have just been served with these papers. I will have to study them first and with the advice of my lawyers decide what to do.” Kgosi, who cut a lonely figure in court and still massaging his back from the usual back pains, consistently complained and looked like a worried man. His facial expression completely contrast the time the media first reported about the corruption docket. A further look at Kgosi’s trial documents shows that the Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP), Emmah Peloetletse is listed as the first witness in the 14-list witnesses the State intends to call to prove its case. Another prominent name on the list is Seretse (Rose) who is listed as the 18th witness. The case continues on August 24 before Justice Mokwadi Chris Gabanagae of the Gaborone High Court.

SHARON MATHALA Staff Writer | 31 March 2023

Guma accuses Khama of bullying, tribalism

Following his resignation from the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), Samson Moyo Guma paints a picture of bullying, tribalism attributable a BPF patron Ian Khama whom he claims refuses to accept he is no longer in power.

Sharon Mathala | 31 March 2023

BIUST VC stayed-on during ‘investigations’

The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) Council Board chairperson Dr Seja Maphanyane has confirmed that the BIUST Council did not suspend the University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Otlogetswe Totolo, during the Council’s investigations. The VC was invesitgated for alleged rampant excessive wastage of the University’s financial resources, following a damning whistle-blowing report filed by the now indefinitely suspended Council board member and Union activist Dr Malatsi Galani

Correspondent | 31 March 2023

BIUST responds to corporate governance matters

According to investigators, there was no leakage of any whistleblowing report to the VC, the complaint was reported and investigated in November of 2022 and the Vice Chancellor cleared of any wrongdoing.

Correspondent | 31 March 2023

Police called to sniff Prof Totolo

BIUST University Board chairperson Dr Seja Maphanyane says they have forwarded Dr Galani Malatsi’s damning whistle-blowing report to the police for the law to take its course.

Correspondent | 31 March 2023

Trouble continues in the BPF family

Biggie Butale’s clear attitude is that he does not care whether the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) goes down or not. What is clear though is that if he leaves the party it will be at his own terms.

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | 31 March 2023

BIUST appeals whistleblower case

Following a High Court decision which directed that a BIUST whistle- blower did not act out of any malice, the university has since lodged an appeal against the order. The case emanates from a court battle between the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and its suspended employee , Dr Malatsi Galani, who is also a Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) shop steward.

staff writer | 30 March 2023

Man gets 15-year jail term for raping niece

Lebogang Mosikare | 29 March 2023

Measle cases, 10, detected in Chadibe

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | 29 March 2023

Lucara responds to BMWU allegations

Staff Writer | 28 March 2023

Mineworkers union wields knives at Lucara

Innocent Selatlhwa | 27 March 2023

Police numbers inadequate – Mmusi

Pini Bothoko | 27 March 2023

Gov’t phases out Graduate scheme

Mompati Tlhankane | 27 March 2023

Historic: This particular shaft extends about 100 metres horizontally into Kgwakgwe Hill. Miners who operated there before 1957 and 1971, eventually abandoned the site as prices for the metal declined, while the shaft grew riskier due to the rudimentary mining methods being used PICS: MBONGENI MGUNI

The P40bn miracle hidden in the hills above Kanye

Just south of Kanye stands Kgwakgwe Hill, a historically important landmark steeped in mystery, culture and – according to the latest geological studies - at least $3 billion manganese riches. The company developing the mine expects to hit full production by 2026, transforming Kanye and surrounding areas, reports Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI

Mineworkers union wields knives at Lucara

Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) has resolved to defend its 50 members under the security department of Lucara Botswana against what they term systematic targeting by its Managing Director (MD).

Gov’t phases out Graduate scheme

Following rejection from youth graduates, government has taken a decision to phase out the Graduate Volunteer Scheme (GVS) first introduced in 2015.

Veggie ban bears fruit – Gov't

Government has revealed that due to the vegetable ban, local production of horticulture has increased from 36,244 tonnes to 45,221 tonnes, which is an increase of 25% while food imports, which vegetables are a part of, reduced significantly by at least 23.3%.

Shining bright: Lucara Diamonds keeps digging up huge stones at Karowe PIC: lucaradiamond.com

Lucara responds to BMWU allegations

PRESS STATEMENT: Lucara Botswana has over the last few weeks been engaging the Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) on the organisational optimisation process currently undertaken by the company.

Guma finally leaves troubled BPF

Botswana Patriotic Front's (BPF) controversy-ridden Samson Moyo Guma has resigned from the party after a heated national executive (NEC) meeting. Mmegi Staffer SHARON MATHALA caught up with the political ‘nomad’ as he reveals deep intimate ‘secrets’ of the political space.

Man gets 15-year jail term for raping niece

FRANCISTOWN: A Serowe man convicted of raping his niece using violence was sentenced to 15 years in prison yesterday (Tuesday).

Doctor's orders can't be overemphasised

The walk serves to raise awareness of the prevalence and impact of using treatment to manage seizure attacks.While many are aware that epilepsy is a medical condition that requires specialised care by health practitioners, there are those who, unfortunately, have other ideas about the condition and often deny their children medical care.These individuals usually associate the medical condition with witchcraft and demonic attacks, and choose to...

The Monitor Editor | 27 March 2023

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BIUST appeals whistleblower case

Man gets 15-year jail term for raping niece

Measle cases, 10, detected in Chadibe

Lucara responds to BMWU allegations

Mineworkers union wields knives at Lucara

Police numbers inadequate – Mmusi

Gov’t phases out Graduate scheme

The P40bn miracle hidden in the hills above Kanye

Mineworkers union wields knives at Lucara

Gov’t phases out Graduate scheme

Veggie ban bears fruit – Gov't

Lucara responds to BMWU allegations

Guma finally leaves troubled BPF

Man gets 15-year jail term for raping niece

Doctor's orders can't be overemphasised