Like many other industries, print media is being empowered by technology. But also the industry is quickly being replaced by technological innovations that are affecting newspaper sales.Print media houses are currently faced with the conundrum of trying to go digital without necessarily having to ditch their print editions. Latest figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa for the period January—March 2018 (ABC Q1 2018) indicate serious decline in newspaper sales.

 According to the audit, total newspaper circulation increased by 0.8 percent on the previous quarter, but declined by 4.4 percent year on year. Daily newspapers sales declined by 15.7 percent year on year, weekly newspapers by 12.5 percent, weekend newspapers by 9.2 percent, local by 6.0 percent and free newspapers by 1.1 percent year on year.

At a WAN-IFRA, Women in News summit held in Nairobi, Kenya last week, newspaper Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors and Editors were advised to craft strategies to use digital media as a source of competitive advantage. 

The summit attracted participants from Southern, East and Central Africa to explore among others the latest media trends, practical approaches to harness revenue from digital, and, how the industry can deal with gender inequality in the media in all its various forms. 

With circulation figures from print continuing to decrease and pushing businesses into the digital age, some newspapers try to do both (print and digital), others - are forced to lower costs and  go only digital. But one thing is unavoidable – newspapers should invest in digital.

“If you want to change, decide what you want to change,” recommended Michael Golden to traditional media houses that are still stuck in protecting their culture. Golden is the president of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and former chairman of the New York Times Company, who implemented and witnessed the newspaper’s digital migration and its growth. 

According to Golden for media to successfully migrate to digital there is a need for a change of culture of the company. For instance at the New York Times, “every executive was talking about the transition to digital media.” This, according to him was a change in thought by executives who for years their business strategies were only designed for print. 

Digital media offers more engagement with a larger audience and according to Golden this is what most media houses are looking for. “We need to develop a larger audience as we move from traditional media to digital media.”

Lisa MacLeod, Head of Digital at Blackstar Media in South Africa said digital has changed for the better because with print you don’t know what your readers want but with digital you know. She revealed that it was painful for them to close the print edition of The Times newspaper, but she acknowledged that their digital audience is bigger than “our print edition.” 

Macleod advised that media houses that are pursuing both print and digital editions should come up with different strategies. “A blind allegiance to print will have catastrophic results,” she warned. 

Migrating to digital however does not mean its all doom and gloom for the print media.  According media houses doing both digital and print such as The Standard Group in Kenya have most of their revenue for the group generated from the print edition.  

Chris Bishop, founding Editor of the Forbes Africa magazine opined that print media should produce quality stories to survive. 

“If it is good stuff people will still pay for it,” said Bishop this week in Gaborone where he was speaking at an event organised by Progressive Institute. 

Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) President Advocate Sidney Pilane says his party existed within Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) prior to its public announcement in 2010.

He has pointed out that people are now vilifying the BMD which has contributed much in the coalition project. The BMD President said people are attacking them because they want them to run away from the coalition because “they fear us but we are here to stay”. According to Advocate Pilane the BMD was conceptualised when former BDP leader Ian Khama tried to bar Daniel Kwelagobe from contesting the chairmanship of the BDP during the 2009 elective congress in Kanye. 

At the time President Khama issued a directive that members who were in cabinet should choose between being minister and holding a position in the central committee. Holding both positions was out of bounds, Khama said. Kwelagobe let go of his ministerial position and pursued the party chairmanship.

“When Khama said he is doing that for effectiveness of the central committee, he was lying he just wanted to consolidate power. He knew most of the BDP members would dump central committee positions for ministerial posts. He wanted to divide them so that he takes control of the BDP support base. 

“That is why Kwelagobe remained and then Secretary General Jacob Nkate dumped the position to remain in the cabinet. Nkate lost grip because he wanted to be in cabinet, now he is nowhere,” said the former BDP member and advisor to President Festus Mogae during his office tenure. Advocate Pilane who was addressing BMD members at Big Five Lodge in Mogoditshane where the party was officially formed in March 2010, said Khama tried to lobby Kwelagobe into leaving the chairmanship of the BDP. He said he joined Barata-Phathi in their fight against having Kwelagobe leaving the central committee.

“We ensured that people he wanted to be in control of the central committee lose elections at the Kanye elective congress. That is why he disappeared from the congress before it even ended,” he stated. The Advocate told the gathering that he has never been an enemy of the opposition as people perceive him. This is why in 2009 together with Botsalo Ntuane and Kabo Morwaeng they were suspended from the BDP for calling for opposition to be given some of Specially Elected MPs seat.

He revealed that the trio met then Botswana National Front President Otsweletse Moupo and his deputy Olebile Gaborone, Dumelang Saleshando and Taolo Lucas from Botswana Congress Party to discuss the matter. He explained that Barata-Phathi at that time wanted the BDP to have two seats for Specially Elected MP, one for BNF and one for BCP. “We were holding such meetings at my house in Phakalane and we had Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services agents following us there for surveillance,” said Advocate Pilane adding that BDP Treasurer Satar Dada was sent to them to ask them to confess to this plan which they denied. 

“Unfortunately Gaborone got confused and spilt the beans. That is how we ended up being suspended. Now having fought that much for the opposition why would I now want to destroy it? I am one of the people who worked behind the scenes to ensure that BCP is convinced into coming to the party and join Umbrella for Democratic Change. I spoke to BCP President Saleshando and Chairperson Motsei Rapelana for them to consider joining the coalition and today I am the bad guy. 

“Our colleagues have now joined the enemy to vilify us. People hate us so much. What they are doing to us is nothing because Jesus experienced worst. We are not moved; they hate us because they fear us.

 They want us to run but that would not happen. Batswana have asked for opposition unity and that is what we are here to give them as opposition parties. People should leave hatred and witchcraft out of the people’s project,” said Advocate Pilane.

Botswana Federation of Public Parastatal and Private Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) have engaged attorney Nelson Ramaotwana to represent about 65 dismissed Choppies employees in their case against the giant retail store.

Choppies workers at Westgate Mall embarked on a strike over salary increment on the 26th of March this year. The Choppies Management did not heed the workers’ plea, but instead dismissed workers after giving them an ultimatum to return to work within 24 hours. Their employment was terminated last month.

BOFEPUSU Deputy Secretary General Ketlhalefile Motshegwa confirmed to this publication that part of the assistance they have accorded the workers include legal representation by Ramaotwana. He revealed that the federation will also be mobilising Choppies workers across the country against acts of unfair labour practices, sheer arrogance and exploitation of workers by Choppies.

“Choppies is making lots of millions through the hard work of Batswana workers and consumers and yet it pays slave wages to the workers. Choppies also appears to be racially discriminatory as most of its Management is lined with Indians, and Batswana not trusted to be part of Management, yet the Company make huge profits in Botswana more than anywhere in countries of their stores,” stated Motshegwa. 

He said Ramaotwana would be helping the dismissed workers with their appeal and if they are not reinstated they would proceed with a legal suit against Choppies Westgate. In one of the appeal letters seen by this publication written to Chief Operation Officer, the employees acknowledge participating in the strike. The appellant has indicated that following an ultimatum to return to work within 24 hours they did so on the 27th of March 2018. 

“On the 27th of March when I arrived at work it was later announced that management had requested to meet four (4) representatives to discuss modus operandi of resuming work. I am advised that in law once an employee appears at work within the stipulated timeframe of 24 hours, the threat to expel cease forthwith. I was shocked to receive a letter summoning me for disciplinary hearing held on the 25th April 2018,” said the employee in the appeal letter.

On the grounds of appeal, the workers argue that the employer did not act fairly as some of the employees who participated in the strike were not fired. It is also argued that courts of law have held that an employer must apply the ‘parity principle’ when disciplining unprotected strikers; if the employer decides to dismiss one striker, it must dismiss them all; conversely, if one striker’s action is condoned, the action of all the other strikers should likewise be condoned.

“The employer failed to observe this time tested parity principle in that more than seventy-three strikers were not cited or summoned for disciplinary hearing; yet they partook in the said strike. They also resumed work with others on the 27th March 2018. Once an employer has issued an ultimatum, it is normally assumed to have waived the right to dismiss the strikers until the ultimatum expires. Common law dictates that once the employer allows the employees to resume, it is assumed that the employer has forgiven them and waives the right to discipline them for the strike,” reads the letter.

Botswana Editors Forum (BEF) says it has observed the continued hostility by political parties towards the media.

BEF has indicated following its call on political parties to declare their stance on laws deemed to be oppressive to the media industry that none has done so. The statement by BEF comes following reports that Botswana Police forwarded the controversial ‘Tholwana Borethe’ docket to Directorate of Public Prosecution for action. 

The DPP has revealed that it is currently studying the docket and would decide whether to prosecute or not after assessing the case. BEF had wanted political parties to make their stance known on laws such as Sedition, Media Practitioners Act, National Security and the failure to enact a Freedom of Information law.

“Our position remains the same as BEF. We have observed that while parties do not want to say out their positions on these laws, increasingly all political parties are growing hostile to the media and getting closer and closer to the ruling BDP and its government,” said BEF Chairman Spencer Mogapi in an interview with this publication. 

Mogapi stated that in the meantime their international campaign continues. He indicated that they continue to appraise their international partners about the state of media in Botswana, the risk faced by journalists as a result of unfriendly laws. “We have urged the editors being investigated to continue to cooperate with authorities,” Mogapi stated.

Botswana Congress Party (BCP) in August last year filed a complaint with the police for investigations and possible prosecution of journalist who knowingly published articles that are false regarding ‘Tholwana Borethe’ Report.

Botswana Police in November invaded media houses and rounded up Editors to question them on alleged false reporting made in their publications. According to the police they were investigating the alleged false reports following a complaint by opposition parties. 

The meetings were held at Police Headquarters in Gaborone and chaired by Assistant Commissioner Mokuedi Mphathi. Five media houses - Botswana Guardian; Sunday Standard, Business Weekly and Review, Botswana Gazette and Mmegi Newspaper had their editors summoned to Police Headquarters at the government enclave. 

Attorney Dick Bayford represented the other three media houses while Kgosietsile Ngakaage represented Business Weekly and Review. BCP had complained that reports circulating in the media suggesting that Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS) was eavesdropping on their phone conversations was instilling fear. According to information gathered the complainants are not happy that the DISS is interfering in politics. 

BCP made a report to the police following an alleged conversation recording by DISS between the then BCP Youth League President Tumiso Rakgare and former BCP Secretary General Kentse Rammidi. 

Dikgosi have raised concern that there is a friction between Customary Law and Common Law which renders them (Dikgosi) inferior.

They say because they have not studied law, their powers are always questioned by their stakeholders more especially lawyers. Dikgosi believe they are not allowed to work in their own space as the law prescribes. One major issue is that once a case has been decided by a customary court, instead of following the laid down procedure of being taken to Customary Court of Appeal, some lawyers decide to jump the queue and take it to the High Court.

Manyana Senior Chief Representative, Kgosi Kebinatshwene Mosielele stated that Dikgosi preside over 80 percent of cases in the country. He said if Dikgosi were not taking up such cases, magistrate courts could be overwhelmed by cases. Kgosi Mosielele said Batswana prefer customary courts because they are cheap, faster and accessible.

“People say we cannot try cases because we have not trained in law. But before colonial days Dikgosi were there and dealing with such cases. We are not here as Dikgosi to punish people we are here to reconcile. Of course we are not trained lawyers and there are a few of us who have Diploma in law but we believe with facts being there, deciding a case should not be such a problem.

“That is why we do not need lawyers at a Kgotla,” he said when speaking at Legal Aid Botswana stakeholders’ forum in Gaborone. Kgosi Mosielele said it is important as stakeholders to work together to ensure justice is served to everyone.

Senior Legal Aid Counsel, Mojaki Seope stated that there should not be any friction between the two. She pointed out that if anything the two have to complement each other. Seope explained that 90 percent of cases from customary courts are confirmed by the High Court. 

The tourism sector can contribute more to Botswana’s economy provided there are structural changes and a conducive environment for the industry to thrive on, Chairman of Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB), Dr. Thapelo Matsheka has told Botswana Guardian. Tourism is among the biggest contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) although it is grouped under trade, hotels and restaurant by Statistics Botswana. Figures from government shows the tourism sector continues to grow, in the process picking the economy while other sectors such as mining are faltering.  

The country’s GDP expanded by 6, 5 percent in the last fourth quarter of 2017, lifted by an 18, 1 percent expansion in trade, hotels and restaurants which tourism is part of. For 2017, the sector expanded by 7, 3 percent despite tough economic conditions in the year under discussion. 

According to World Travel Tourism Council 2017 report, the travel and tourism industry’s total contribution to GDP was P17, 7 billion in 2016 and was forecast to rise by 6,5 percent in the past year. 

However, Matsheka who has been the Chairperson of the advocacy body since 2013, noted with concerns that, while it has grown exponentially over the years, uncoordinated strategies and lack of consultations can only derail the sector. Department of Tourism, Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and private sector-led HATAB are the key institutions that should work in sync in all matters that affect the industry. 

Matsheka, an economist by training who is respected by his peers, stopped short of saying the relationship between government and the industry is not one of the best and this will work against growth of the sector.  “The industry is growing on its own,” said Matsheka.  

He added that, all concerned stakeholders, government and the industry should have coordinated activities that are geared towards the same goal-of making Botswana the destination of choice for tourists.  Botswana still needs to be part of regional bodies that have been established to drive tourism. 

His reasons are that, tourism by nature is inter-linked between countries, hence the need to work as a collective in wooing tourists, especially within the SADC region. HATAB is fuming that government through the ministry of environment, natural resources and conservation has withdrawn Botswana’s membership at Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) without any consultation. 

Minister Tshekedi Khama has said it was prudent to cut ties with the body since its benefit is not noticeable apart from the P2 million subscription fee paid by government. The industry’s prosperity is also hindered by legislative frameworks which could have been long revised. The Tourism Policy of 1990, Tourism Master Plan of 2000, Wildlife and National Parks, Environmental and Impact Assessment Act are just some of the frameworks that should be revised since they are now an impediment to growth.  

Botswana, a landlocked country, has been advised to diversify within the sector itself, a move which could cement sustainability in the sector. Urban tourism has also been touted, but as things stand, the country still has to go a long way in diversifying within the multi-million sector.  “Without a progressive (tourism) master plan we cannot diversify within the sector,” said Matsheka. At the recent HATAB conference, tourism ministry’s deputy Permanent Secretary, Felix Mongae said the industry will soon have a new policy.  The industry should also utilise the tourism training levy to improved skills which is a critical component of growth. “The Levy is currently under-utilised,” noted Matsheka. HATAB, which was formed in 1982, represents over 300 players in the sector. The advocacy body is also encouraging its members to invest back in the community in which they operate, so as to have an inclusive growth. 

It is only a matter of time before Eric Molale- Minister of Minerals, Energy Resources and Green Technology leads the Botswana team to negotiate a new sales agreement with government’s long-time partner, De Beers’ group of companies. 

Molale is not new to the negotiating table of the sales agreement. He, together with the then minister of Minerals and Water Affairs Dr. Ponatshego Kedikilwe led a strong Botswana team as Permanent Secretary to the President (PSP) and Chairman of Debswana in negotiating the current ten year agreement signed in 1st January 2011. 

Debswana is a 50-50 joint venture between government and De Beers. Anglo American owns 85 percent of De Beers and the remaining is held by Botswana’s government.

 Molale assembled a strong team comprising the then Attorney General Athalia Molokomme, Bank of Botswana Governor Linah Mohohlo, then Permanent Secretary in the ministry of minerals, Boikobo Paya and his deputy Terrence Siamisang.  He also roped in Dr. Akolang Tombale and Gabaake Gabaake. The presence of Tombale caused a furore as incumbent De Beers’ CEO, Nicky Oppenheimer and the then De Beers’s legal advisor allegedly opposed his presence, but these attempts were met with equal contempt. The two were reminded that they have no right to determine who has to constitute the Botswana team.  

The Botswana team worked as a united force and used to meet on their own to determine the way forward as well as decide who amongst them would present a particular issue and that nominated person would enjoy the support from colleagues. 

The result of the negotiations brought along the best ever terms for Botswana in an agreement that comes to an end in 2010. The practice is that negotiations start in advance in order to avoid any gaps. 

The contract covered sorting, valuing and sales of Debswana’s diamond production. 

It was also agreed that De Beers will transfer its London-based rough diamond sales activity to Gaborone, underpinning the long-term future of the partnership and transforming Botswana into one of the world’s leading diamond trading and manufacturing hubs.

 Over and above that, it will see the Diamond Trading Company (DTC) relocate its sights and sales operations - including professionals, skills, equipment and technology - from London to Gaborone by the end of 2013, all of which have come to pass. 

DTC has since constructed a landmark in Gaborone along the Airport Road. DTC does not only aggregate production from all De Beers’ mines and its joint venture operations worldwide, and sell to international Sight holders, but houses one of the best and latest diamonds sorting equipment in the whole world. To date DTCB continue to sort and value Debswana’s production before selling, it also supports the domestic cutting and polishing industry.

Okavango

The current agreement led to Botswana Government having its own independent sales outlet which takes 15 percent of the total Debswana diamond and sells them to whoever it deems fit. The deal started with 10 percent of Debswana production and was to increase over a five year period.

Negotiations

Although a date for the negotiations has not been announced, there is no doubt that they will take place as President Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi has already indicated that he wants a new long-term diamond-sales pact with De Beers when the current 10-year deal expires in 2020 and for more gems to be processed locally. Speaking to Bloomberg, Masisi said the conclusion of an accord is crucial for both Botswana, which relies on diamonds for almost a fifth of its gross domestic product, and for the Anglo American Plc unit that gets about two-thirds of its gems from the southern African nation. Masisi, who is due to contest elections next year, is pushing for the industry to create more jobs and is “dead determined” that more diamonds be cut and polished in the country.  

“We have had a wonderful relationship with De Beers and we expect that relationship to be even more cemented,” Masisi said in an interview Monday in his office in Gaborone. 

“There is a way of actually achieving a win-win for both, and that’s what we desire.” It remains to be seen whom Molale will pick in his negotiating team this time around besides the obvious picks like the Attorney General Abraham Keetshabe, BoB Governor Moses Dinekere Pelaelo and Permanent Secretary at Minerals, Energy Resources and Green Technology Cornelius Diekop.

Umm Omar was eight years old when Irgun and Stern Gang terrorists violently expelled her family from their farm in the village of Jusayr in May 1948 during the creation of Israel. This week, she, along with millions of Palestinians, are marking 70 years since 750 000 indigenous Palestinians were driven from their land to make way for the creation of Israel.  For Palestinians, this is the Nakba (catastrophe); for Israelis, it is 70 years of independence. 

“We used to grow wheat. I remember going out with my parents in the wheat fields when I was a little girl. We never saw another happy day after we left,” says the 78-year old great-grandmother.

The family then fled to al-Majdal, a Palestinian town that is now the Israeli city of Ashkelon. As Zionist terrorists continued to ethnically cleanse Palestinians, the family was forced to move to the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Her father returned to Jusayr to check on their land. “He saw that everything was OK. It was just like we left it.” But on the way back, Umm Omar’s father was killed when he stepped on a landmine planted by Zionist militias.  Denied the right to return to their original villages, the refugee camp in Gaza became permanent for Umm Omar and thousands of others. Today, seventy percent of Gaza’s population are refugees, meaning they or their parents or grandparents fled or were expelled from areas that became Israel - without their permission. They have never been allowed to return, despite United Nations Security Council Resolution 194 guaranteeing them the right to return to their homes.

Not surprisingly, the movement to return home has started in the besieged Gaza Strip. Known as the Great Return March (GRM), thousands of Palestinians have engaged in protests at the Israel-Gaza border fence since March 30. Makeshift tents, symbolising the right of return for Palestinian refugees, have been erected 700 metres away from the unilaterally-imposed Israeli military buffer zone. Protesters are also calling for an end to the decade-long Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip that has strangled the economy and life of Palestinians. Since the protests began, 50 Palestinians have been killed and over 5000 injured from Israeli live ammunition and tear gas. There have been no Israeli casualties.

“With the Great Return March, Palestinians are demanding a life of dignity,” explains GRM spokesperson, Ahmad Abu Rtemah. “Nothing about life in Gaza is normal. The Nakba is not a just a memory, it is an ongoing reality. We accept that we all must eventually die. But in Gaza, the tragedy is that we don’t even get to live,” says Abu Rtemah. 

It’s not just Palestinians in Gaza that long to return to their land. 

Abu Arab was thirteen years old when Zionist forces bombed his family’s home in Saffuriya in July 1948. He is now an Israeli citizen, but cannot return to his village located less than two kilometres from Nazareth where he currently lives.  As Israeli troops occupied the village, the family was forced northwards towards Lebanon, eventually ending up in a refugee camp there. 

His father made the dangerous journey back and found the village gone. Saffuriya had been fenced off and declared a closed military zone. Anyone entering risked being shot by Zionist terror groups.

“We had nothing. Everything had been taken from us,” he says. The family hid in a friend’s house in the nearby town of Nazareth, and eventually settled there. 

Israel has built an exclusively Jewish community over the village of Saffuriya, and given it the Hebrew name of Tzipori. Where the houses once stood is a pine forest planted by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) – an environmentally-friendly way of erasing the Palestinian presence there. The Israeli government refuses to allow Palestinian refugees to return home simply because they are not Jewish. Palestinians are viewed as a “demographic threat” to the existence of Israel as a Jewish state. This is why Israel has not allowed Palestinians to return to their own homes, and they continue to be forgotten in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

While Palestinians are a threat, Jewish identity is celebrated and welcomed in Israel. 

For instance, a South African Jew, who has never lived in Israel, can automatically gain citizenship under Israel’s Law of Return, while a Palestinian refugee whose family lived in Palestine for generations – and who still hold the key to their home - is unlikely to obtain even a visitors’ visa, let alone the right to return there to live. “We’re not calling for removing anybody from existence or displacing anybody from their place, we’re simply calling for justice. Our weapons are our rights and UN resolution 194, and we’re hoping that the international community will recognise our just cause,” explains Abu Rtemah. “I still hope that I’ll die in my home town. I may be using a walker to move around today. But if they told me I can go back to Jusayr, I’d run all the way,” Umm Omar says animatedly. Abu Arab is equally determined. “I am sure one day I will return. If not me, then my son - and if not my son, then my grandson,” he says.  Like Umm Omar and Abu Arab, the makeshift tents of the Great Return March are standing firm against an Israeli regime that has tried to break the spirit and erase the presence of Palestinians.  Seven decades after the Nakba, Palestinians want nothing more than to return to their land and live in dignity.

Suraya Dadoo is a researcher with Media Review Network in Johannesburg. Find her on Twitter: @Suraya_Dadoo

The Board of Directors of Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has allegedly refused to grant their CEO, Dr. Stefan Schwarzfischer a performance bonus amounting to millions of Pula until his contract terms are enforced with its deliverables clearly stated.

The latest revelation at headquarters of the monopoly electricity company beats logic as to how the board, or any of its six sub committees failed to realise the abnormally that Schwarzfischer has not signed a performance contract for more than a year since he took over as CEO.

It was only in February this year when one of the committees charged with amongst other responsibilities, recommending that the chief executive be paid his performance bonus, noticed that Schwarzfischer has not signed his performance contract. This made difficult for the committee to determine whether or not he has met or surpassed his performance objectives.

It was then that the authorities expressed the need to ensure that the CEO’s contract terms are enforced. At the time of going to press, it was not clear whether the request by one of the committees to have their CEO’s performance contract presented to the relevant committee (named withheld) for approval was successful or not.  But, what Botswana Guardian can reveal is that for now the board has agreed that there shall be no performance bonus paid until after they have satisfied themselves on what the deliverables were and whether targets have been met and are worth being rewarded. It is alleged that in one of its sittings, one of the committees noted that the reasons why Schwarzfischer’s contract was to be considered is because of a clause which provides for both succession planning and bonus payment.

Forensic investigation

Currently there is an ongoing forensic investigation by Deloitte, which started two months ago and is expected to be completed at the end of May 2018. The probe followed a series of allegations made by a whistle blower and culminated in the placing of Chief Operations Officer, Jonathan Raheem Hosseini on administrative leave. Documents seen by this publication indicate countless allegations against the COO. 

Although the publication was unable to get the Deloitte terms of reference, it is alleged that the forensic investigation is likely to expose many employees if not open a can of worms. Some sympathetic people have come to the defence of Hosseini saying that allegations made against him are frivolous as BPC took the solar power direction long before he was offered the job, and that BPC offered him the position because they all wanted to draw from his expertise. 

They wonder if it is still necessary for him to be still on suspension because he has declared his interest.

Solar project

 International experts who spoke to Botswana Guardian  News on condition of anonymity say the many solar power projects that BPC is engaging in will soon award the tender for, have the potential to be as messy just like many projects around the African continent in particularly the Arms deal in South Africa. In 2016, over 166 companies expressed interest for the multibillion Pula joint ventures with BPC for both a 100 MW industrial scale solar plant and the setting up of hybrid networks in 20 rural areas.  The short listing is currently underway for 100 companies, some of which are alleged to not have met the set criteria.

The Embassy of France in Botswana hosted a reception on Thursday this week to celebrate the media community in Botswana and reaffirm its constant and unwavering commitment to the freedom of expression and protection of journalists.

According to Benoit Catusse, the Economic, SADC and Press Attaché at the Embassy, the initial idea was to organise the reception on May 3 to coincide with the World Press Freedom Day but this could not be.   Catusse said the French Government believes that Media pluralism and the freedom to share critical analysis are key to a democratic, free and fruitful debate hence the reception to “improve journalism in Botswana” by providing a physical platform that allows journalists to network, get to know each other, exchange contacts, or even discuss further collaborations. The reception comes at a time when the local Editors Forum is slamming political parties for their indifference towards the media on account of a controversial report codenamed ‘Tholwane Borethe’ which enjoyed wide publicity last year in the local press but was dismissed as ‘fake’ by some quarters. Botswana Congress Party has since asked the Police Service to investigate whether editors published contents of the report in the full knowledge that it was false or not.

Diplomatic, Political and economic relations

France developed a warm and cordial relationship with Botswana, since 1966 within the framework of a balanced and sustainable partnership. The relationship was strengthened by the opening of an Embassy in Gaborone in 2001. The two countries according to Ambassador of France to Botswana, His Excellency Pierre Voillery, share similar positions on most issues on the international agenda such as support of the International Criminal Court (ICC), but also hold the same attachment to democratic values.

This friendship has been cemented over the recent past years by official bilateral visits between the two countries. Ian Khama, then President of Botswana visited France in June 2015 while two months later, Ségolène Royal, then French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, visited Botswana to prepare the COP21 UN climate change conference. There have also been high level visits by ministers Tshekedi Khama and Thapelo Olopeng last year to France while a delegation from the French Senate came to Botswana in May 2017 and in March 2018, the French senator Olivier Cadicalso came to Botswana for meetings with the authorities.

France has also recently welcomed the decision by the government of Botswana to open a diplomatic mission in Paris within the coming months. France and Botswana also share economic ties. This was evidenced by the establishment of the France-Botswana Business Club in 2013. This club gathers French companies working in Botswana as well as local companies that are willing to network and exchange with the French business community.

In May 2017, the Embassy of France to Botswana, together with BITC and De Beers, successfully organised the first France-Botswana Business Forum. This event allowed French and Botswana business communities to debate around economic and commercial links and explore further collaborations. At government level, the Ambassador of France to Botswana signed in July 2017 with the Botswana Minister of Finance and Economic Development the amendment of the France-Botswana Tax Agreement, which will take Botswana out of the list of non-cooperative states. This will ease investments between France and Botswana. In education, France and Botswana are committed to promote the French teaching in Botswana. French remains the only foreign language that is taught in Botswana public schools: almost 100 instructors teach French in more than 40 schools. Besides, other private institutions also propose French classes for their pupils.  In 2008, France and Botswana signed a Memorandum of Understanding containing a section for education and promotion of the French language. The MoU was revised in 2015 in order to identify the potential ideas to improve French teaching in Botswana schools.  The Alliance Française de Gaborone is the main institution in terms of French teaching in Botswana. It was created in 1980 and has promoted the French language and culture in Botswana for more than 35 years. Every year, several hundred people from all nationalities attend French classes at Alliance Française. It also hosts cultural activities which the aim of promoting exchanges between France and Botswana on a mutually beneficial basis. In collaboration with the Embassy, Alliance Française de Gaborone organised several cultural events during the Francophonie Week in Gaborone (18th – 25th March 2018). Amongst them was a reception at the Residence of France during which the prize-giving ceremony of a writing competition proposed by Alliance Française to some public schools took place.  The Alliance Française will soon have a new site, thanks to the government of Botswana which gave a plot to the association. The construction works have already began and by next year there should be a modern and beautiful French cultural center in the heart of Gaborone. Catusse says the new site will allow Alliance Française to grow and to work more effectively for the benefit of Batswana. The Embassy of France to Botswana develops contacts and exchanges with all spaces of the civil society in Botswana. For instance an annual reception takes place at the Residence of France on the 8th of March on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. This event gathers all the actors working to eliminate gender-based violence and to promote women empowerment. 

Monkge explains that the purpose of ETSSP is borne of a desire to improve the MoE results that have been deteriorating since 2008 and ensure that students learning outcomes are improved.

One of the key issues that were raised within the ETSSP is to look at the concept of leadership within schools in a broader professional development perspective. This includes strengthening teachers in order for them to deliver quality education. “So this approach of looking at how we can strengthen learning and teaching is very critical”.

Globally, the best international models in innovation are in the field of education. There are about five key elements, or commonalities across the best performing countries which are globally competitive and Botswana is aspiring to be part of this family of nations which are working hard to improve students’ learning outcomes.

These countries set robust and consistent learning standards for the children. They work on them and make sure that students do fewer subjects and in greater details at various levels as opposed to doing seven or eight subjects, “which we are just rushing across”. Key to this notion across all standards is emphasising what students need to know and be able to do it.

The learning standards are set in such a way that they are assessed on the three critical areas of knowing, understanding and application in the subject areas of maths, literacy, science and the arts subjects across all excelling countries.Recruiting the best teachers, retaining, compensating, supporting and evaluating them in terms of what they are doing are yet other common factors for global competition. “Who do you recruit to become a leader of the school? So you start identifying them mentoring, supporting and making sure that you evaluate their performance and ultimately appoint them to the position of being a principal”.

Done wrongly
“ETSSP has come on board to articulate clearly that we need professional development, we have to work on it but unfortunately that has not been done in terms of implementation although this is the fourth or fifth year since it was conceptualised, so we are simply behind in terms of putting across this notion of professional development,” said the PS.

Therefore, the whole process of identifying a leader and training them is in response to the fact that there has never been any effort at any organisation without focusing on leadership. “Process and strategies on their own cannot change organisations. What changes organisations are individuals, so the training that we are embarking on as part of the component of ETSSP is to build this leadership that is going to drive students when they complete or come”.

Dr Monkge said they are focussing on three aspects of leadership - that is focused on learning and teaching in the classroom. “Do we have a principal who can tell good teaching when they see it, do they know how it looks like, do they know how it smells like, can they identify it when they see it? So, those are the key tenets of having a very good leader in the school”.

There is also the organisational aspect of leadership which involves mobilising the resources, infrastructure, teachers across, providing them with the resources including the teachers and the parents so that they support the whole notion of teaching and learning at the school. The third point is administrative role which is about the daily running of the school as an institution and making sure that the necessary tools are in place to ensure that indeed there is effective running of the organisation. 

Harvard
The ministry saw it fit that there is a turnaround training targeting school principals which is going to bring principals from different sectors to USA and other countries to share experiences of what they are doing to make their schools the best. “So it offers our team that opportunity that they will be able to learn from the best performing countries how they do it, how they become successful and how they deal with the challenges that they have”.

The leader who is exposed to this training should be able to turn around his or her school if given the necessary tools. “It is going to be an experience for them because it is not theory based. The hope is that because we are starting the implementation plan next January, we are preparing the ground for making sure that we have people who can engage others locally and train them to become trainers of trainers at our level in the system.

“Secondly, the fact that they are coming back and they are going to be working  with our people based on the training that they have acquired and own experience, this will help them to enhance their capacity to engage others and work with them. The intention is to continuously build the capacity. We will have a lot of these workshops and ensure that this becomes part of our culture.”

Priority
The priority is that student welfare must be in the forefront, they are a determining factor of “our progress going forward”. The next focus will be on teacher development, they are going to be running parallel. “The intention is you cannot boil the ocean, with primary schools we will be very selective and start with schools which are struggling. We really want to bring all schools aboard so that when we start in January, the school improvement plans that we are going to monitor and get results are in place.”
When the teachers return from Harvard they are going to be working in schools and we are going to build a system that is going to monitor on daily basis teaching and learning and providing feedback so that those who are going to be taken through this training will be thoroughly monitored and know what is expected from them,  Monkge said.

Some estimated 15000 democrats in Bobirwa will decide who their 2019 parliamentary candidate is between former schoolteacher, cabinet member-cum-businessman Shaw Kgathi and entrepreneur, chemical and mineral processing engineer, Francisco Kgoboko during BDP’s primaries in August.

In their preparations for Bulela Ditswe primary elections, the BDP targeted to register at least 15000 voters in the constituency that has 10 wards and stretches for about 200 kilometres in the eastern corner area of the country.
The constituency borders Selibe Phikwe on the eastern side near Botshabelo location and Mmadinare on the western side all the way to the Zimbabwean border, then to Tswapong near Moletemane village to Shalimpo, the confluence of Shashe and Limpopo rivers.

Among challenges facing the constituency is the conflict between humans and wildlife especially elephants which roam between Botswana and Zimbabwe destroying crops on their trail.
Since the construction of Thune dam which waters the villages of Tsetsebjwe, Mathathane and Moletemane, provision of portable water is no longer a problem. Other villages will be serviced once the construction of the pipeline is completed. All the villages in the constituency except Lentswe-le-Moriti are electrified.

The candidates
Kgathi trained as a secondary school teacher specialising in history and environmental sciences. He joined active politics in 2003 and won three successive general elections as MP for Bobirwa since 2004.
Soon after winning the 2014 general election, he was appointed Minister of Defence, Justice and Security to date. Kgathi holds an MA Degree in Sport, Culture and Development from the University of Surrey in London, United Kingdom and obtained another MA Degree in Development Studies and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Botswana.

Kgoboko joined BDP in 2011. He founded FMK Global Holdings to offer turnkey engineering solutions for companies in the mining, Tech Innovation and construction sectors. The company also offers an accelerator programme that scales up existing start-ups in Botswana and Africa.

Kgoboko runs an innovation factory to bring the best technologies to solve local needs in Botswana and set up the Botswana Business Angels Investment Network.
He has a successful commercial integrated farming business in cattle production amongst other disciplines. He remains a global consultant and mentor in the engineering field where he mentors budding engineers and entrepreneurs.
Kgoboko has a passion for economic development of his home country and the African continent.

He holds a Chemical Engineering degree from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada. He has also undergone executive education training  in Management Development with the University Of Cape Town, South Africa. Kgoboko is the Founding Chairperson of Botswana Alumni Association and Patron of Botswana Primary Schools Sport Association (BOPSSA).

Bobirwa has a population of about 70000 afflicted by unemployment, especially the youth and low liquidity, whose solution is the creation of a sustainable Bobirwa economy through tapping into alternative industries such as financial, manufacturing, logistics and technology.

The pro-Kgoboko group believe they have found their man to deal once and for all with this stubborn problem. But the conservatives will not be swayed arguing Kgathi still has a lot to offer and in any case must serve another term to complete what he started.
Among his achievements they cite the construction of Thune dam now watering many villages, ensuring 21kilometres of internal roads are tarred in Bobonong village and the highway between Tsetsebjwe and Bobonong villages. There is also the commencement of the construction of the Platjan bridge and border post which will link that corridor with South Africa.

Kgathi is also credited with the opening of Mabolwe border post which links Botswana and Zimbabwe, the upgrading of Bobonong Rural administration centre, resealing of the Bobonong Lekkerport road, construction of tribal administration offices in all Bobirwa villages servicing of 1711 plots in Bobonong all which have been allocated amongst others.

The practice of earthenware pottery making in Kgatleng District is at the risk of extinction because there are very few master potters in the whole district, an evaluation workshop convened Tuesday at Phuthadikobo Museum in Mochudi heard.

The workshop evaluated the one-year project on ‘Promoting Earthenware Pottery Making Skills in Kgatleng District’ which was funded at the total cost of US$68. 261. 10 by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Only two Master Potters - Mmapula Rapekenene and Mmasekgwa Makgatlhe – both of advanced ages, were actively practising the element in 2010, during the implementation of the Pilot Project on Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventorying at Grassroots Level. Thankfully these two have already transmitted their knowledge to their children and grandchildren.

Promoting Earthenware Pottery Making Skills in Kgatleng District project started on March 10th last year and was completed on the 9th of March 2018. A total 17 youths comprised of 16 females and one male participated in the yearlong project, during which they were imparted skills on production of these pots and the taboos associated with their making.

Under the BaKgata ba Kgafela tradition, there are typically six different pots which are used for sorghum fermentation, beer storage, water storage, cooking, fetching water and ritual pots, according to a report by Director of Phathadikobo Museum, Phemelo Rapoo, who was not present at the workshop. Mastery in earthenware pottery making skills involve the ability to make pots of different patterns, designs and styles that relate to the traditional practices and beliefs of the community.
Two of the Master Potters involved in training the 17 youth –Sarah Otukile and Tumediso Motene – shared with the evaluation workshop their experiences during the course of the training. 

Otukile’s involvement started from a curious interest as she observed her mother making pots at home but she eventually fell in love with the craft. Today she uses the craft to generate money to send her children to school and to feed her family. When the ICH project began, she was skeptical, thinking the researchers were merely “wasting our time”, but with the different training sessions she underwent, she finally realised it was meant to preserve this dying form of cultural art and indigenous knowledge that is intangible by passing it on to others

Her observation on training the 17 young people is that they had thought it was a simple and easy task, but found that to the contrary, the practical part required total commitment. To make earthenware pots, the practitioners use weathered sand stone (Moshalakane) and clay soil (letsopa) both of which are found at the foot of Phuthadikobo Hill and Tsope Hill respectively. Otukile said it is difficult to access Moshalekane because residential plots have encroached into the areas where the resources are found. The places are far and in some cases inaccessible or at worst is second-grade weathered sand stone. She recommended that places where these resources are found be protected.

Other challenges they faced included trainees’ not complying with instructions regarding taboos surrounding earthenware pottery-making. This led in some instances to failure to collect adequate raw materials because the ancestral spirits felt dishonoured. The same points were reiterated by Tumediso Motene, who also learnt the skill from her grandmother.Motene said they are experiencing difficulties sourcing letsopa, because people have since realised its value and are now beginning to sell it to them. She said at Tsope, where she had travelled with Moruti Phale of Dutch Reformed Church, she was offered a 50kg bag of Letsopa for P200. Some of the workshop participants expressed dismay at this development warning also, that commercialisation of the raw materials would lead to a gradual loss of cultural identity associated with pottery-making.

The Project Coordinator Bathusi Lesolobe spoke on the challenges and lessons learnt from the training project. He extolled the value of Master Potters and stakeholder collaboration in earthenware pottery making, saying it was highly imperative to achieve success. “There is no way we can make any recommendation without the input of practitioners,” he said.The Intangible Cultural Heritage Committees in every district are deliberately structured such that the Kgosi, who is the custodian of Morafe’s culture, is the Chairperson assisted by the District Commissioner. The district then elects who the Secretary of the Committee is. Lesolobe said they learnt valuable lessons from the project management team, which boasted requisite technical expertise from among others, Department of Mines, who taught them that sand mining becomes illegal only if it is done for commercial purposes.

As for sources of raw materials Lesolobe said they are only certain about Rratsweetswee and called for protection of areas endowed with these soil types by the Land Board. The earthenware pottery-making skill has been practiced among Bakgatla ba Kgafela community since 1871 and with the successful Pilot Project on Community Based Intangible Cultural Heritage Inventorying at Grassroots Level in 2010, the element was inscribed in 2012 on the Urgent Safeguarding List.

According to a report from the Kgatleng District Intangible Heritage Committee chaired by Kgosi Segale Linchwe, earthenware pottery making involves indigenous methods of making different earthenware pots that are classified according to their size and use.
Another challenge to the viability of the element was the unprotected cultural spaces where the soil resources used in making the pots is collected. Infrastructural developments had encroached on these resources leaving the practitioners frustrated especially in Mochudi. This is because the cultural spaces were not easily identifiable and not protected. The cultural spaces outside Mochudi were also not documented and this could lead to illegal commercial mining which would pose a threat to the element.

Uniformed police officers accompanied by an Immigration officer stormed and arrested 12 Caprivian refugees in Gaborone’s Central Business District (CBD) this week Tuesday after they presented a petition to SADC Secretariat.

Twelve (12) Namibian refugees were arrested on Tuesday at Gaborone’s Central Business District (CBD) and detained for a night at Molepolole Centre for Illegal Immigrants before being whisked to Francistown Centre for Illegal Immigrants (FCII) the next day.
The refugees had gathered at the offices of the 15-member regional body, SADC Secretariat to hand a petition demanding that the regional body find a lasting solution to what they term the “Caprivi political situation”. The group, led by Felix Kakula, petitioned SADC over the Botswana deadline of July 11 2018 to have voluntarily repatriated risk being deported forcibly.

Botswana has taken a decision to finally enforce a cessation clause with respect to the status of Namibian refugees living at Dukwi, which was invoked in 2015. The decision came after President Mokgweetsi Masisi visited Windhoek in April this year where he was reported by the Namibian media to have said that Namibian refugees at Dukwi, Botswana are no longer regarded as refugees by his government but as illegal immigrants.

Speaking to Botswana Guardian on Wednesday while in Molepolole, Kakula said: “We are currently on the queue to board the trucks that will ferry us to Francistown. They arrested us on Tuesday around 3PM at Central Business District (CBD) in Gaborone after we were chased from SADC Headquarters premises. We spent the night here at least we are all adults who were arrested,” said Kakula. Information reaching this publication is that the 12 were arrested on grounds that they left Dukwi Refugee Camp without permission. Kakula does not dispute this. “Yes we left without permission.

If authorities at the camp cannot give you permission to gather around and pray or hold meeting what of telling them that you are petitioning a regional body?” asked Kakula.  He revealed that they were arrested on Tuesday afternoon by uniformed police officers in the company of one official from Department of Immigration by the names of Sedumedi Phillip Solomon who told them that they would be taken to FCII. Following the handing of the petition, the refugees had indicated that they would not leave the SADC premises until their matter is attended.

After the petition Kakula said they are not against the decision of Botswana Government to have them return home. The worry is about the political situation in their country. In a public notice posted on the Botswana government website a week ago, the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security announced that a decision has been taken to enforce the cessation clause with respect to the group’s refugee status, invoked in 2015. 

“All refugees are required to register in person for voluntary repatriation to Namibia from 11th May 2018 to 11th July 2018,” the notice read. The defence ministry said those who register will be facilitated for their return to Namibia as per the provisions of the Tripartite Agreement between the governments of Botswana and Namibia, and the UNHCR.

This directive did not go down well with the remaining 880 Namibian refugees who took their issue to SADC to intervene, saying they will only return home if the Namibian government accepts them as members of the outlawed United Democratic Party (UDP) led by exiled politician Mishake Muyongo.Kakula explained that it cannot be said to be safe to return to Namibia while the Namibian Government has not reconciled with them. The refugees want to return only if they and their leader Mishake Muyongo who is in Denmark are welcomed as UDP members.

Kalula indicated that they would not be silenced to speak about the Caprivi political problem adding that the same problem is the one that made them flee Namibia. UDP is a political party in Namibia representing mainly people from eastern Caprivi and advocating for the secession of what was known as the ‘Caprivi Strip’.

UNHCR Chief of Mission, Arvind Gupta told Botswana Guardian that if the 12 Namibians were refugees Botswana would have contravened the Convention and Protocol relating to Refugee Status. Gupta explained that those who were arrested and detained should not have left the Dukwi Camp in the first place.“If you call them refugees then government of Botswana would be wrong. But the fact of the matter is that they are no longer refugees. Their stay in the Dukwi Camp was for us to assist with facilitation for their repatriation back to their country following the declaration of the cessation clause.

“Botswana has enforced a cessation clause with respect to the status of Namibian refugees living in Dukwi, which was invoked in 2015. So if they leave the camp Botswana Government has the right to enforce any law that is applicable before their refugee status does not exist anymore,” Gupta explained in a telephone interview while in Dukwi.Minister of Defence Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi referred all enquiries to his Permanent Secretary Segakweng Tsiane. Tsiane could not be drawn into discussing the matter as she said she had back to back meetings and requested that she be sent a questionnaire in order to source information for this publication.

Efforts to get comment from SADC were futile at press time. Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) called on President Mokgweetsi Masisi to reconsider the 11 July 2018 deadline to ensure that the refugees’ repatriation is within the spirit of safety and peaceful settlement of all returnees, with particular reference to the issue of security clearance of the 16 political leaders.

Reverend Metlhayotlhe Beleme said BCC has received concerns from the representatives of refugees regarding security challenges at the Caprivi and related to that, lack of security clearance of the 16 leaders who are also expected to repatriate. Beleme stated that the council has been working with the refugees for years and continues to do so even after the closure of Botswana Council for Refugees (BCR) in 2004.He said they have been working with refugees from Namibia, the Caprivi Region. Beleme stated that this relationship is the one that compels the Council to plead with government on behalf of the refugees.

Botswana National Front (BNF) President Advocate Duma Boko has finally briefed his National Executive Committee about his intentions to fund the party’s upcoming conference in Rakops Village next month.

BNF Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa revealed on Wednesday this week. He said the president briefed them during a central committee meeting on Tuesday. The BNF leader had written a letter to regions revealing that he intends to fund the conference by transporting and feeding delegates while at the conference. The BNF conference is hosted by North Central Region and will be held in Rakops village from 14th to 17th of July 2018. Advocate Boko has declined to reveal the source of the funds.

He explained that as opposition they have to protect their funders because ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) might come for them and harass them. He said he always gets funds from his personal friends and has never used the BNF or Umbrella for Democratic Change names to source funding from his friends locally and internationally. He said all BNF Central Committee members should be fundraisers.

BNF Treasurer Noah Salakae would not be drawn into discussing the matter with the media. He said the issue of the conference is handled by party Secretary General Moeti Mohwasa. “Mohwasa is the one dealing with the matter. Myself would be just waiting for him to give me a report to tell me how much they would need for the conference then I can release such funds,” said Salakae. Salakae who is also Member of Parliament for Ghanzi North said preparations are however progressing well for the conference.
Mohwasa told the media on Wednesday that Advocate Boko briefed the central committee about his intentions.

According to Mohwasa all those who would have been selected at ward level to attend the conference would have to register with office of the secretary general. He said this would make it easy to know how many people would be in need of transport to the conference. He said a party they would not rely entirely on the president’s gesture but would have to also contribute because the conference is “a party activity”.  “Anyone is free to assist anyway they can to fund any party activity. There is nothing wrong with what the president is doing as long as he has declared. At times it does not have to going through the Treasurer.

The aim is to have a successful conference where resolutions would be made. This is decisive conference because we are going for general election next year,” Mohwasa stated. He indicated that at this point they would not state their budget for the conference because preparations are still ongoing. He said this would only be know during the conference and after because of some of the matters that may arise.

In the letter seen by this publication, which Boko has copied to Mohwasa, he called on the regions to prepare well in time so that a proper account for logistics could be made. Boko wrote, “my intention is to provide transportation for all the delegates to the conference and to feed them while there without them having to spend anything. This will relieve the pressure on the delegates themselves as well as the local leadership. It will also ensure that we get maximum attendance at the conference as we position ourselves for the upcoming National Elections.”

Since the inception of the National Women’s Exposition in 1999, Gender Affairs Department in the Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs has financed 1 048 women businesses belonging to 3 725 individuals at the tune of P155 million.

Gender Affairs received a budget of P30 million from government and an additional P25 million from the alcohol levy to finance a mix of women businesses atleast for the past two years, Minister Dorcus Makgato told the media on Tuesday. In order to economically empower women, her ministry embarked on two key strategies; to finance poor women to start income generating activities and to facilitate them to access available markets.

“There is no reason whey we can’t have women running, medium, and even large enterprises, but the Department prioritises poor women,” she said. Makgato’s view is that the funded businesses should be able to grow and graduate from the programme to a point where they reach export level. The 2017 Expo graduated a total of 49 women entrepreneurs who were hand-held by the Department through the Expo for over four years. This year, the Department anticipates graduating about 20 women businesses.
“These women are able to independently and confidently battle on their own in the trade arena,” Makgato said. From Monday June 25 to Sunday July 1, some of the businesses will be exhibiting at the 19th National Women’s Exposition slated for Ditshupo Hall, under the theme, ‘Entrepreneurs Development: Key to Transforming Women’s Lives.’

For the first time this year, the Ministry has invited women entrepreneurs from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region including; South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. Minister Makgato says this will improve the quality of the Expo, as the countries were selected based on the various unique products produced by women from whom Batswana women could learn.

Though many of the businesses on exhibition will be those financed by Gender Affairs, Makgato says the Expo is open to all female entrepreneurs at all levels of business as well as those producing goods for subsistence or consumption. Women constitute 51 percent of Botswana’s population; with 55 percent heading households as compared to 45 percent of male-headed households.

“Women therefore remain the key drivers of our economy and it is critical that deliberate effort is made to economically empower them so that they contribute meaningfully to the economy,” Makgato said. The Expo is intended to; offer women entrepreneurs, organisations and individuals an opportunity to share experiences, exchange business ideas and skills; provide an opportunity to forge links for partnership with the formal sector, and networking among women entrepreneurs; and to expose women to new products from other regions and areas within the country and also through demonstrations, to learn how to produce them thereby diversifying their businesses using locally available materials and resources.

When it first started in 1999, the Expo had 70 exhibitors and has since grown to the current 350 including the Northern Women’s Expo. Botswana, as part of the United Nations, subscribes to the Sustainable Development Goals; of which Goal Five focuses on the Promotion of Gender Equality and Empowerment of all Women and Girls. Botswana also subscribes to the African Union Agenda 2063 on “The Africa we want” and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development.

Makgato says to actualise these Gender Instruments; government has infused gender in the National Vision 2036 aspiring for Botswana where women and men equally participate in the economic, political and cultural development of the nation. The National Development Plan 11 also provides for gender mainstreaming under government and the prevention and elimination of Gender Based violence under Safety and Security. Furthermore, the National Policy on Gender and Development priorities amongst others: Economic Development, Prosperity and Poverty Eradication, hence the Women’s Exposition.

Member of Parliament for Francistown South Wynter Mmolotsi has expressed concern regarding decisions by Minister of Defence Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi to present to Parliament most of his Bills on urgency.

This is after Kgathi requested Parliament that Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Bill, 2018 (No. 20 of 2018) be proceeded with as Matter of Urgency. This did not sit well with Mmolotsi who accused the minister of not taking Parliament seriously.

“Kgathi is not taking his role as a Minister seriously. We are talking about the 2016 East and Southern Africa Anti Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Report. Since 2016, Kgathi has been sitting on this report. He only comes here today to tell us that it is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed here and now. I wish to indicate that I am extremely unhappy about this because we need as MPs to be given ample time not only to read these Bills but also to consult our people.

“He talks about a Bill that was noticed when we were already here and therefore would not have the opportunity to even discuss with our constituents,” argued Mmolotsi. Most of the Bills tabled in the ongoing Parliament session come following assessment by ESAAMLG.

The report indicates that there are some deficiencies in some of Botswana’s laws.Mmolotsi, who is also Alliance for Progressives (AP) Vice President, stated that they have to come to Parliament and talk about something that they have not even consulted their constituents about. “In fact, this is what my people decry all the time, that we make laws here but we never get their views,” he said. Mmolotsi said he has noticed that minister Kgathi wants to enjoy this kind of trend where he just comes to Parliament and tells them that the Bills are urgent.

“I do not want to agree with Kgathi that this thing is urgent. I would rather say Kgathi has been very irresponsible. He sat on his job and now he wants us to assist him to get out of the mess. I do not agree that this Bill is urgent and therefore I would urge that Honourable Members of this House must teach Kgathi a lesson he will never forget because we cannot continue to condone this kind of irresponsibility,” Mmolotsi said.

Kgathi said the 2016 report of ESAAMLG was done and they felt Botswana was very compliant. He indicated that this is a completely new Bill, which following the report of a meeting which was held in South Africa last year, ESAAMLG then came up with an additional report.He said there is no way he could force the Bill on urgency if it was not urgent to deal with such amendment urgently so as to meet the set deadline for compliance which is next month.

A declaration of war on corruption by the CEO of CEDA, Thabo Thamane, has set him on a collision course with disgruntled employees challenging their dismissal after they were found guilty of contravening the Agency’s conditions of service.

Thamane recently vowed to rid CEDA of corrupt employees in a bid to restore its integrity and trust. Subsequent to introducing the declaration, Thamane was quoted extensively in the local media vowing to discipline corrupt employees who actively violate CEDA policies and procedures. “We have to restore Batswana’s trust in us because we are custodians of public funds,” said Thamane.

The ink had hardly dried on his statement before CEDA was called once again to defend its stance last week at the Francistown Industrial Court where one of its employees, Victor Chivasera who was dismissed after being allegedly found guilty of negligence and contravening the Agency’s rules and regulations, had challenged the decision.   Representing CEDA, attorney Doctor Pusoentsi of Modimo & Associates argued that   Thamane’s decision was procedurally and substantively fair and therefore Chivasera's application for reinstatement must be dismissed because his relationship with CEDA has broken down irretrievably and “he is not entitled to any compensation,”.

BG News has learnt that Chivasera was dismissed in the wake of a P900 000 corruption scandal that was allegedly exposed by a routine patrol by the law enforcement agencies which culminated in the arrest of illegal immigrants who were working at a construction site. It is said that upon being apprehended, the illegal immigrants allegedly revealed that they were employed by a certain Kabelo Moalosi who worked as Portfolio Executive - Services at CEDA Palapye Branch. Further investigations revealed that CEDA had recently awarded a P900 000 loan to a certain Modiro Moalosi to construct a guest house at the same plot at which the illegal immigrants were arrested.

It is said Modiro Moalosi turned out to be Kabelo Moalosi’s mother. Kabelo Moalosi later confessed to a forensic investigations team that had been commissioned by CEDA that he prepared and submitted the loan application on behalf of his mother. He also allegedly informed his two colleagues - Victor Chivasera and Malebogo Moseki - about the project. Chivasera, who was employed as Team Leader, received the application and later allocated it to Moseki for processing.

The Investigations also revealed that Moalosi, Moseki and Chivasera are members of the same church. It is further alleged that Moalosi was actively involved in the appraisal of the loan application as he captured critical documents into the CEDA computer system. He also allegedly conducted site visits and filled out the Loan Appraisal Report. The loan application in question was allegedly later recommended for approval and endorsed by Chivasera.

Having satisfied themselves the forensic team later reported that Moalosi had violated principles of conflict of interest as defined by the Corruption and Economic Act and the CEDA Conditions of Service. Both Chivasera and Moseki were accused of negligence as they disbursed payments without verifying that indeed work had been done.

Subsequent to their investigation CEDA forensic team concluded that both Chivasera and Moseki were negligent in their duty because they both never met, saw the owner of the project  and, or engaged her in any way, but instead proceeded to pay the contractors without any building inspection certificates to confirm that work had been done. Based on the above, CEDA dismissed the trio of Chivasera, Moseki and Moalosi. Chivasera has since launched an application challenging his dismissal. The parties will file their submissions in July while judgment will be delivered in August 2018.

Botswana Government owes nine (9) regional and international financial institutions over P13 billion in loans. As of end of March 2018, the nine (9) institutions according to Minister of Finance and Economic Development Kenneth Matambo are African Development Bank (AfDB), African Development Fund (ADF), Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), European Investment Bank (EIB), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

According to the minister the financial institution which is owed a lot of money is AfDB. “There are three loans owed AfDB with original loan amounts totaling P16.67 billion. The three loans are subject to an interest of six (6) months London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 0.40 percent, five (5) years grace period and fifteen (15) years’ repayment period. “The payments are made semi-annually and the outstanding balance totals P11. 73billion. IBRD is owed three loans with original loan amounts totaling P3.550 billion. The loans are subject to an interest rate of 6 months LIBOR plus 0.40 percent. Grace period ranges from between five and ten years while repayment period ranges between 18 and 25 years. The debt outstanding amounts to P1.64 billion,” said the minister.

The AfDB loans were used for Morupule B, Pandamantenga Agricultural Infrastructure Development project (still ongoing) and Economic Diversification Budget support. Matambo said the ADF is owed twelve loans with original loan amounts of P978.49 million. All loans, Matambo said, are subject to a fee of 0.75 percent, ten years’ grace period, forty years’ repayment period and the outstanding balances are at P539.27 million. He pointed out that BADEA is owed three loans. The original loans contracted amount to P266.92 million and all loans are subject to an interest charge of three percent, five years grace period and fifteen years repayment period, said the minister adding that the outstanding balances amount to P169.86 million. “There are four loans with EIB and the original amounts contracted total P107.24 million. The loans are subject to a fee of 0.75 percent, ten years’ grace period and 30 years repayment period. The outstanding balances total P41.15 million.

IDA has five loans still owed. The original amounts totaled P115.82 million and are subject to a fee of 0.75 percent, ten years’ grace period and 40 years’ repayment period. The balance outstanding amounts to P13.88 million. NIB is owed five loans with original loan amounts totaling P910.66 million. The loans are subject to a fee of 0.75 percent and grace period ranges between five and ten years while repayment period ranges between ten and 30 years. The debt outstanding amounts to P423.12 million,” the minister told Parliament this week.

Matambo revealed that OPEC is owed four loans with the original loan amounts totaling P768.26 million. One loan Matambo stated, is subject to an interest of rate of six months LIBOR plus 0.40 percent. The other three loans are subject to interest rates ranging between 3.75 and 5.2 percent. All the loans according to the minister have five years grace period and fifteen years repayment period. The balance still outstanding amounts to P168.34 million.

He noted that IFAD is owed one loan with original loan amount of P24.79 million. The loan is subject to an interest of six months LIBOR plus 0.40 percent, five years grace period and fifteen years repayment period. Matambo indicated that balance outstanding amounts to P5.62 million. The minister was responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Selibe Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse who wanted to know the number of regional and international financial institutions owed by government and the amounts owed.

Bank of Botswana executives are optimistic the economy will expand at a much higher rate in 2018 after taking a knock last year, as a result of positive sentiments both locally and globally, Botswana Guardian has heard.

This came out clearly at a press conference which was meant to announce Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) decision on the benchmark rate, which has been maintained at 5 percent for the third time this year. But what is making central bank’s head honchos buoyant on the economic performance while rainfalls have been recorded above normal levels, made even worse by falling disposable income within the working as well as  muted consumer confidence in the country and an increasingly protectionist mentality by Donald Trump United States ?

Bank of Botswana Governor Moses Pelaelo and the bank’s director, research and financial stability, Dr Kganetsano Tshokologo are adamant that the economy will pick to levels higher than last year as a result of improved economic conditions here and elsewhere.
Responding to a Botswana Guardian question on why they are buoyant, Tshokologo stated that economic conditions suggest that the global economy will grow even better than predictions made by International Monetary Fund (IMF) early in the year. In January, the Washington based Fund uplifted its global economic projection by 0, 2 percent to 3, 9 percent, arguing that ‘momentum is building in global economic activity and Donald Trump’s tax cuts in the US are likely to stimulate activity further’.

Global growth is important for Botswana’s economy as the mineral rich country depends on consumer confidence in developed countries which have the ability to purchase luxury goods such as diamonds.  De Beers, a joint venture between Botswana and Anglo American sells most of its diamonds mined in Botswana to United States of America, China and India.  De Beers is also pinning its hope on synthetic diamonds for its revenue going forward. For the first time the company will start making synthetic diamonds for the retail business this September. Botswana supports the latest move by the world Number 1 rough diamonds producer.

The other reason why the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to expand further this year because as the economy improves in developed countries, the tourism industry in Botswana also benefits, said Kganetsano. Tourism is one of the biggest contributors to national GDP. There are other sectors which will pick Botswana’s economy this year, stated Pelaelo in a prepared speech this Tuesday. “GDP is projected to expand at a faster rate in the short-to-medium term, driven largely by growth in the services sectors and recovery in mining activity, in line with the positive global economic prospects,” said the Governor.

Furthermore, the projected accommodative monetary conditions in the domestic economy and expansion in government expenditure, as well as relative stability in water and electricity supply, are expected to support economic activity in the non-mining sectors. Overall, the economy is expected to operate close to but below full capacity in the medium term. Water and electricity sectors which have in the past dragged down the economy, have now stabilised and this will be critical to support other sectors of the economy such as manufacturing and construction. Finance and Economic Development minister, Kenneth Matambo has stated the economy will grow by 5, 3 percent this year on the backdrop of improved diamond industry.

Two weeks ago, IMF economists visited Botswana and also came to the conclusion that, the economy will bounce back. “In 2018, economic growth is expected to rebound supported by higher diamond sales, a stable macroeconomic environment, and higher government spending,” said the team.  Meanwhile, IMF has advised the MokgweetsI Masisi-led government to remove many tax exemptions, increase property taxation and consider making the personal income tax more progressive.

“On the expenditure side, it will be important to contain the growth of recurrent spending, improve the efficiency of social programs, and protect public investment while prioritising projects with the highest payoffs. In addition, the financial sector can be further developed to intermediate additional savings and lend to productive sectors by strengthening creditors’ rights, improving information on borrowers’ creditworthiness, increasing the issuance of government bonds to develop a reliable yield curve, and promoting mobile payments,” said IMF economists.

The diversification and job creation efforts requires focus on prompt and bold market friendly reforms that can reduce the costs of doing business, improve skills in the labor force, make the public sector more efficient, privatise key enterprises, and enable competition and entry of firms in sectors with latent comparative advantage.