Efforts to alleviate problems to do with slow adoption of renewal energy in Botswana are underway owing to the latest collaboration between Botswana Institute for Technology, Research and Innovation (BITRI) and Council for Scientific and Industrial research (CSIR).

The duo recently, on July 5th, hosted a joint stakeholder workshop on research project under the title, ‘Quantifying the financial costs and benefits of renewal energy Resources in Botswana’s Electricity system’. This project was initiated in 2015 on the background that Botswana has abundant solar energy resources, receiving over 3,200 hours of sunshine per year, with an average insolation on a horizontal surface of 21MJ/m2/day. It is found that the contribution of solar energy in Botswana’s electricity mix is very minimal, even though there are efforts to increase its application, especially in power generation as captured in the past and current National Development Plan (NDP 11). In addition, slow formulation of policies that would facilitate and promote the integration of renewable power into the national power grid has presented a challenge to the adoption of renewable energy, solar included.

Furthermore, electricity prices in Botswana are subsidized and amongst the lowest in Southern Africa, a factor that might present a challenge for solar electricity prices, as there is no deliberate strategic intent to extend the same intervention to  solar energy. The project has been divided into two phases: being Phase 1, Hindsight Costs and Benefits Analysis, which provided analysis of the actual financial costs and benefits of existing renewable energy sources in the Botswana electrical system from actual production data. Phase 2, Forward Looking Costs and Benefits, will look at the potential financial costs and benefits of renewable energy for the future.  

Accordingly, the project has already been through initiation stage, engagement of partners and vital stakeholders, data collection as well as the checking of accuracy and consistency, as well as data analysis, using calculation tools that were used in a study done by the CSIR in South Africa. During the period of study, Botswana saved between P3 to 3.5 million per year in fuel and import energy costs. In the same period, assuming an ideal scenario, the use of solar energy, could have eliminated unserved energy due to power cuts and led to an average cost saving of between 114 and 146 million pula per year on energy imports.

The study also revealed that the presence of renewables can bring some immediate benefits on Botswana power system, specifically saving on coal and diesel fuel, and subsequently on imports as well as arresting electricity interruptions, and the concomitant economic costs to electricity customers and the economy as a whole.  Phase 2 of the project, which is forward-looking, includes the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for Botswana and will look to optimize the electricity mix for the long term, applying least cost planning principles to reliably meet future demand Due to its wide-ranging implications for a broad range of stakeholders, the Phase is typically a consultative process where inputs are sought from various stakeholders. It is noted that the forward-looking study will also capture both the fuel saving and long-term investment benefits of renewables.

This is because the value to the power system of a particular electricity generator is dependent on the timing of energy provided by the generator, which in turn affects the dispatch of other power generators to meet residual load. The general scope of phase 2 of the project is to examine the electricity sector in Botswana (status quo), including the generation type, installed capacity, running costs, data collection in terms of long-term electricity demand forecast, economic parameters as well as new demand and supply-side technologies (cost and technical performance characteristics). 

The other stage is Data Collection, which will look at long term electricity demand forecast, economic parameters, including cost of Unserved Energy and discount rate, new demand and supply-side technologies, as well as their costs and technical performance characteristics, and the development of scenarios and boundary conditions. The BITRI Energy division team for the project is represented by Senior Researcher, Energy, Dr Edward Rakgati, Keoagile Mogorosi and Thuso Booth Mogorosi. Joanne Calitz and Crescent Mushwana from CSIR complete the core of the team. The project is guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations.

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) could find itself in court over the Constitution that has been filed at Registrar of Societies.The new Constitution was filed last week Friday. According to information gathered by this publication one of the contracting partners, Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) is contesting the submitted Constitution. The new Constitution has incorporated amendments tabled during the February Congress that was held at Boipuso Hall.

The congress wanted the constitution to be amended by removing the provision that catered for two vice presidents and replace it with one vice president to align it to the republican constitution. The new constitution now caters for one vice president and has given powers to the National Congress instead of the National Executive Committee (NEC). It also gives UDC powers to suspend and or expel a contracting member. The constitution recognises Botswana Congress Party (BCP) as a member of the UDC. Members of the NEC are President, Vice President, National Chairperson, Treasurer General, Secretary for Communication and Publicity, Secretary for Legal Affairs, Secretary for Labour Affairs, Secretary for Gender Affairs, Secretary for International Affairs, Secretary for Youth Affairs and one member from each of the contracting parties. The NEC shall hold office for a period of four (4) years until the next election.

During its conference in Rakops this past weekend, one of the contracting members, Botswana National Front (BNF) resolved that having noted that the new UDC Constitution has been filed with the Registrar of Societies, the BNF should ensure that the process is concluded within twenty one (21) days. It has emerged that once the constitution has been adopted the NEC might call a special congress for adoption of the constitution.

“The BMD is contemplating contesting the Constitution in court because that is the wrong constitution. It is unfair to have registered a constitution which we do not know. The correct constitution has provision for two vice presidents and not one,” said a source. BCP President told journalists in Bobonong after the party’s conference that the submitted constitution provides for one vice president. Sources have however indicated that the BMD would humiliate itself if they try to challenge the constitution. It is alleged that the BCP and BNF believe that the incorporated amendments from the February Congress are the voice of the people and the constitution should reflect as such. “That was a political solution and it would be wrong to go against the will of the people.

The February congress was a decisive congress and nothing would change that. The argument by BMD that the congress was not decisive cannot be entertained. We cannot be taking our members for granted and expect them to gather around and not take decisions,” said another source. The BMD has for long maintained that the February congress was not decisive and nothing that came out of that conference was binding. BMD Spokesperson Winfred Rasina said as the BMD they know nothing about the submitted Constitution. He said as far as they know the Constitution that was agreed by the UDC structure being NEC, caters for two vice presidents. He said the one which has been submitted at Registrar of Societies is not a UDC Constitution.

“We have decided that we should give our colleagues who submitted the constitution to go and recall it. We take it that what they did was just a mistake and we are hopeful that the mistake would be corrected. The constitution accommodating two vice presidents was agreed by all the four parties and the one with one vice president is not for UDC,” said Rasina in an interview after BMD National Working Committee held a meeting on Wednesday. According to Rasina, the submitted Constitution would be the one where BCP is not a member. He said BCP is the one that suggested two vice presidents. He said the BCP had also suggested for UDC+ which was rejected. “That Constitution which you say was submitted according to us does not exist,” he said. Rasina could not be drawn into discussing their next move should the constitution be recalled.

The constitution is said to have been filed by UDC leader Advocate Duma Boko and Saleshando who is also one of the UDC vice presidents. Interestingly the constitution under suspension or expulsion states, at Article 21.1.1 that the National Congress and/or the National Executive Committee may by resolution suspend or expel a group member for acting against the interests of the Umbrella; failing to attend more than two (2) consecutive meetings of the National Executive Committee without an apology acceptable to the National Executive Committee; or failing to pay its group membership fees.

BMD might also face expulsion should it not agree to one of the resolutions taken by both BCP and BNF that there should be primary elections in all the BMD constituencies and wards except where the BMD is incumbent. “The UDC has not notified us of any new constitution. Naturally so we are not a part of any new constitution. We thus cannot be talking about something we are not a part of. We are only aware and a part of a constitution that accommodated the BCP into the UDC. And that is the constitution that exists.

“Any new instrument, or suggestion may be taken up with the UDC NEC and such a structure, comprising of four contracting parties may agree on way forward. It is not for any individual party to decide or resolve anything on behalf of the UDC. Such will be an anomaly that in politics, the view being national governance, will communicate something against the view,” pointed out Rasina.

Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs owes its officers overtime amounting to P26 million.This was revealed by Minister Dorcas Makgato when addressing the media in Gaborone recently. Makgato said the workers are owed overtime of as far back as 2013. She revealed that her ministry is one of those whose budget has been low over the years.

She said it is time they go back to the drawing boards when drafting their budget. According to Makgato most of the employees owed are those deployed at border posts around the country. The minister revealed that in the current financial year her ministry got P375 million.“Out of that P200 million goes to salaries and I am only left with P175 million to cover for operations. This is a worrying concern for me as the minister. It is always difficult to avoid overtime for employees at border post because we want to give service to our customers,” said Makgato.

She explained that when they do budgeting in November this year she will ensure that everything is started from zero. The minister revealed that the workers have pleaded with her that as she asks for money to improve service delivery at the ministry she should not forget that they are being owed overtime. Makgato indicated that her wish is for the overtime to be paid to those that are owed.

She would not want service to be compromised because people are owed overtime that they have worked for. “I need my officers to be motivated in the work. This is a very crucial ministry in our country. So the work force should not be demolarised to give service.

As our tagline speaks for itself, we do not want to be the ones frustrating their customers but rather be facilitators. That is what I would love to see happen and we can achieve that if our officers are motivated. I am happy that so far even though they are owed they have not failed to give service to our customers”, she said.

Government has decided to cut its overtime bill by ensuring that not every public servant benefit from overtime. Ministries have been given the responsibilities of managing the overtime bill to ensure that the overtime bill does not become a burden to government. Botswana Federation of Public Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) has expressed concern at the rate at which government deals with the matter of overtime for public servants. The federation has argued that some public servants are cheated for hours that they have worked and others are being given off days instead of being paid.

Botswana National Front President Advocate Duma Boko says this week he is expecting a team of experts who will do a survey for his party regarding next year’s general election. Advocate Boko stated that this is part of his strategy as leader of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) to topple ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from government. He revealed that he recently engaged experts to do a study for UDC on what should be done to win the 2019 general election.

“They have given me a report. According to their report 34 percent of electorates are aligned with the UDC. Most of these people are the youth. Next year is for regime change and if we cannot change government then we are wasting our time. The report has recommended that we should target this group of people and ensure that the message we are going to craft for general election speaks to them. They would be here to do thorough analysis,” said Advocate Boko who accepted that there are problems in the UDC.

He said the UDC contracting partners need each other desperately. He said the UDC would engage in precision marketing in order to win the general election. He said challenges at UDC are unique and resolving them needs to be approached with care. The UDC leader told BNF conference in Rakops during President Holidays that as a collective they have to identify problems at UDC. He explained that after identifying the problems then they have to come up with diagnostic treatment.

“I have been under attack for refusing the kicking out of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) from the UDC. I was not refusing just because I wanted to. I told you that to do such we would be creating more problems in the UDC. I told you that it would be unlawful to do that. I said we should find another way of dealing with the matter. I accept all the insults that were hurled at me by you,” he said.

He said as the party the BNF needs to have vibrant constituencies, wards and regions. Advocate Boko revealed that the ten regions would be coordinating the 2019 general election. The UDC leader pointed out that the BNF has to decide if they want to be considered the backbone of the UDC or the belly of the movement. “If you want to be regarded as the backbone of the UDC, then you would have to act like one,” he said. Advocate Boko stated that they have to face the challenges bedeviling the UDC.

BNF is currently at loggerheads with BMD over constituencies. The BNF conference sent a strong message to the BMD when it resolved that there should be primary elections in all BMD constituencies and wards except constituencies where BMD is incumbent. Out of the 13 constituencies, BMD is only incumbent in two constituencies being Molepolole South and Mochudi West.

The BMD however has already chosen candidates for most of its constituencies and wards. BNF conference resolved that ‘noting that after several and consistent requests BNF made to have a bilateral with BMD to address the representation issues, BMD has consistently not been responsive. We therefore resolve that there should be joint primary elections under the UDC in all the parliamentary and council seats allocated to the BMD in 2014, except where it holds incumbency. If this fails, then the BNF should assume the leadership of these constituencies and wards. The UDC Congress would be the final arbiter if the above two do not succeed.’ BMD has in the past indicated that it would only have bilateral talks with their colleagues if any party interested in some of its constituencies should be prepared to swap.

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition between four Botswana opposition parties, is on the brink of collapse following key resolutions made by two of the main contracting parties over the weekend.UDC president, Duma Boko is now facing mounting pressure to either let the coalition collapse and let his party, the Botswana National Front initiate talks with Botswana Congress Party (BCP) or unite the warring parties within the umbrella parties—a union dubbed the ‘Peoples Project’.

UDC is an alliance between the Botswana National Front (BNF), BCP, Botswana Peoples Party (BCP) and the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD). However it has not been a smooth ride for the contracting parties as they constantly fought about the adoption of an amended constitution and allocation of constituencies.BCP president, Dumelang Saleshando said at the weekend in Bobobong that, “there is no denying that the UDC is broken and needs to be fixed.” He was addressing his party’s 10th National Conference.
The BCP president, who is also the vice president of UDC, told his party members that a new UDC constitution was submitted last Friday to the Department of Civil and National Registration, claims which the BMD and BPP said they were not aware of.

Saleshando said the new constitution was signed by him and Boko. “The question that this conference has to address is how the UDC can be fixed?” said the BCP leader on Saturday. By Monday the conference had given Saleshando all the answers to his questions. The conference resolved that the BCP should remain in the UDC, but directed that due to limited time before registration for the general election, all outstanding matters within the UDC should be resolved by mid-August 2018.The conference also resolved that all constituencies and wards allocated to the BMD except those currently held by their Members of Parliament and councillors should be returned to the UDC for redistribution, a matter which also does not bode well with the BMD.

The party’s spokesperson Winfred Rasina told the Botswana Guardian this week that the BMD has already given away constituencies and they are not willing to give anymore. The BCP argues that UDC has to accept that there has been a split within the BMD following the formation of the Alliance for Progressives (AP) and thus the BMD is now weak hence the issue of constituency allocation should be re-looked at and re-allocated to the BNF or BCP.Even though he was of the view that resolutions made by the BCP and the BNF over the weekend need to be tabled before the UDC for further discussion, Rasina said the BCP should also be willing to forfeit some of its constituencies otherwise they will be defeating the purpose of unity and working together.

The BNF has resolved that primary elections should be held in some of the constituencies allocated to the BMD. Regarding the constitution submitted on Friday last week Rasina said the BMD was not party to it. “Our hope is that they have submitted the right constitution,” said Rasina. According to him the right constitution has a provision for two vice presidents within the UDC. However, Saleshando told journalists in Bobonong that the amended constitution has a provision for only one vice president.
“Then they submitted the wrong constitution, maybe it was a mistake from their part,” said Rasina in response to the developments. The BMD spokesperson said the party’s National Working Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the matter and make appropriate decisions.

According to sources, the UDC constitutional congress which was held in February this year resolved that there be only one vice president instead of two. “They excluded themselves (BMD). They walked out of a meeting that was reviewing the final document because they said they don’t recognise the congress (February UDC congress) resolutions,” said a UDC insider. The source confided to this publication that during the period between 17th May and 20th June UDC made four attempts to meet, but in all these it was only the BCP and BNF representatives who attended.

“Although BPP expressed willingness to attend for some unknown reasons they did not pitch up.The one and only meeting attended by the BMD was on the 25th June 2018 at the offices of the BNF. However the BMD representatives had three objections to the meeting proceeding,” he said. Apparently the BMD argued that the meeting ought to have been convened by the UDC president with clear terms of reference. As a result they will not participate; that the constitution that was discussed at the February congress is not the proper constitution, as the proper constitution is the one produced by the constitutional stream and that they do not recognise the congress as it was meant to humiliate the BMD and it could not lawfully take the resolutions it took.

Said an insider, “We then advised the BMD that we will proceed in terms of the mandate and as we understand it. The BMD team then left the meeting.”  Reached for comment BPP President, Motlatsi Molapisi claimed to be in the dark regarding the constitution submitted last week. Molapisi, who maintained that his party has never missed a UDC meeting, said the issue of the constitution was supposed to be finalised at a retreat which was supposed to be held on the 1st to the 3rd of June, but the retreat was never held.
Molapisi could not be drawn into discussing resolutions by the BCP and BNF—the two parties with the largest following within the contracting partners in the UDC.

What is clear now is that there are major differences between the political parties forming the UDC. Saleshando said this week that even though they will try to fix the UDC problems within a month, his party will start direct talks with the BNF forthwith to try to “reconfigure and rethink opposition cooperation.”“We are first going to focus on fixing the UDC, if we can’t fix the UDC, conference has resolved that we must engage the BNF on finding a new formula for 2019,” he said. The BCP is of the view that the opposition votes that the UDC hopes to attract in 2019 are concentrated around the BNF and BCP and thus the two parties have more to lose by not going into 2019 election as a single unit.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Vincent Seretse has directed BHC to work on fresh rental fees, a move that, once approved by cabinet will see the corporation hiking rental fees for their apartments and houses in a long time.

“BHC has not increased rental for the last 15 years. It’s a total unacceptable anomaly. Something must happen, an increase of sort must happen,” said Seretse. The minister told media last week that he has instructed BHC to start the process on hiking the rentals, as he intends to take the numbers to cabinet before year-end for approval.Seretse further bemoaned the current rental fees charged for BHC houses, saying they cannot meet the maintenance cost the parastatal incurs.

“Properties are like human beings, they need good health,” said Seretse, adding that tear and wear costs are high.The minister further said BHC’s inability to adjust rentals has killed the Corporation’s rent to buy scheme.
He said most individuals shy away from paying a mortgage at current market rate and opt to continue renting houses from BHC. He said the trend is also pushing Batswana away from an opportunity to invest in property and BHC to replicate the different housing scheme it offers, as the level of house purchasing is low.

Meanwhile minister Seretse plans to engage the Ministry of Lands and Sanitation, so that they can be an alignment between where serviced land for BHC is found and the demand. Currently BHC knows where demand for housing is but cannot find serviced land within the said areas. BHC recently launched 72 housing units in the mining town of Jwaneng where accommodation is a headache for the miners. Indications are that rentals are high in Jwaneng, due to shortage of houses and a snap survey indicates that rental charges are between P10 000.00 to 11 000.00 for a three bed-roomed house while a small house (two and half rooms) rental cost is pegged at P3000.00.

The Corporation recently developed a six -year strategy from 2018 to 2023, under which the social housing aspect is expected to deliver an average of 1500 social housing projects and 1800 commercial housing projects per annum.

Fintech has changed and will continue to alter the way financial services operate in the process tilting scales in favour of consumers as far as service fees for banking are concerned.

Nonetheless, there has to be tight regulations and collaborations between central banks and traditional financial service providers which in the end will be important to protect the ultimate beneficiary-- the consumer. This was the general message expressed by various speakers at a two-day conference on fintech, payments and financial inclusion organised by Bank of Botswana (BoB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Bank of Canada (Boc) in Gaborone recently.

Fintech: The new normal of banking services
Fintech is generally defined as new technology and new innovations that are aimed at competing with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services. “Fintech brings cheaper and more efficient financial services,” opined Scott Hendry who is a special director-fintech at BoC.
In Botswana, some commercial banks have joined hands with mobile telecommunications service providers in the provision of e-money services such as Orange Money and Myzaka. The two services do not need a bank account to use, and they are critical in financial inclusion. “Fintech is critical especially to the unbanked people,” said Henry. In Botswana, nearly 40 percent of the adult population remains unbanked. With fintech comes reduced banking fees, which in Botswana have been a concern. The concern has also been in the form of those engaged in business regionally and internationally.

More and more locals are engaged in cross-border payments for various services. Cross border payments come with charges which vary due to a number of factors such as value and destinations.
According to Dong He, Deputy Director at IMF’s monetary and capital markets division, cross border payments are probably high because of traditional forms of service delivery which are often slow because they involve too many players who are also paid. The Hong Kong born stated that fintech companies provide reasonably affordable services which also deliver services on real time, a plus for customers and suppliers.

‘Disruptors of old financial delivery model’
Even the transport and communications minister Kitso Mokaila concurs with the two experts that, fintech, although they have been labeled as ‘disruptors’ in the financial services  by traditionalists, are an important tool especially as far as financial inclusion and inclusive growth are concerned.

“Financial technology, commonly referred to as fintech, continues to transform the conduct and delivery of financial services, while embodying great potential to broaden the scope for financial inclusion and ultimately inclusive growth. There is no escaping the fact that financial technology is pervasive in all areas of economic and social activity; as well as modern day global interaction,” stressed Mokaila whose ministry also regulates mobile telecommunications companies through BOCRA.

The Canadian-born Hendry told the gathering which included top officials from private and public space that, fintech will go a long way in revolutionising the financial services sector, especially at a time when consumer demands are changing on daily basis. “Fintech is a global phenomenon right now. Look at M-Pesa,” he said. M-Pesa (M for mobile, pesa is Mobile banking"mobile phone-based money transfer, financing and micro financing service, launched in 2007 by Vodacom, the largest mobile network operators inTanzania"Tanzania.

It has over 40 million accounts in Africa. He added that through fintech, banks can be in a position to be able to get the full credit worthiness at their fingertips, enabling consumers to be helped in a record time. Henry added that, there has been a lot of development in the fintech space in Africa in the past decade, but a lot can still be done. Fintech space also allows for more startups in the field which can create the much needed jobs and opportunities especially for Africa’s young population. 

Some of Africa’s top fintech companies include Rainfin, 22 seven, Bankymoon, Lendico and Paga. In Botswana, government-owned Botswana Innovation Hub has launched a P12 million innovation fund for those fields such as mining technologies, information technologies, business services among others. According to forecasts, Africa’s fintech space will be in the value of around $3 billion by 2020. 

Fintech companies cut monopoly, increase competition
Various presenters at the conference stated that, fintech can help reduce monopolistic tendencies by existing players in the financial services space. In cutting monopolies, more and more players especially in the remittance space can be formed and this will be a plus to customers as far as fees are concerned.  “We need to make our payments system more efficient and this explains why fintechs are important,” said He who was presenting on the topic Fintech and cross border payments. 

Even BoB, who regulates banks, appears to be warming up to fintechs as another channel of financial services delivery. In a recent report, Botswana’s central bank which is headed by Moses Pelaelo noted that, “Fintech is undoubtedly accelerating the evolution of the financial sector, resulting in increased access to financial services and promoting financial inclusion”.

A few months ago, ABSA’s Managing Executive: Alternative Business Model and group innovation, Oupa Monyatsi told a conference in Gaborone that, Fintechs can help deliver innovative solutions which can result in more accessible product, improved products efficiency among others. He said that every year, ABSA, which rebranded from Barclays Africa, last week, invites applications from all over Africa, looking for those with innovative fintech solutions which are either sponsored or bought by the group. Monyatsi is former acting MD for Barclays Botswana.

‘Regulations need to be tight for fintechs’
As much as fintechs are important and will continue to revolutioniise the way banking is done, there is call for tight regulations which can help protect consumers against risks, as fintech will be acting as third party service providers. Since fintechs will be having access to consumer’s personal data, cyber crime occurrences cannot be ruled out, said Kenya Central Bank Chairman, Mohammed Nyaonga. 

The professional lawyer stated that central banks need to play an even bigger role in regulation of fintechs. “Regulatory perimeters must change in tandem with innovation,” said Nyaonga. In Botswana, the central bank has not come up with any regulatory guidlines for fintech, but they have admitted fintechs are important. Mokaila disclosed that government is in the process of enacting Electronic Payments Services Providers Regulations. 

“The aim is to facilitate orderly application of Fintech in financial services and payments. As we harness opportunities, we should recognise and mitigate the risks such as disruption and losses arising from system failure, cybercrime, misconduct and criminality, generally,” he told the meeting.

Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) could face a backlash from employees through court action if the union forges ahead with salary cuts.

 A fortnight ago the union employees were informed that the union of choice as BOPEU is affectionately known, is going through financial difficulties. It was announced at the meeting that this therefore forces the union to reverse its decision of last year of implementing a new pay structure. In 2017, BOPEU restructured the organisational chart and introduced a new one in which a new pay structure was introduced effective beginning of November. The new structure followed the engagement of a consultant to carry out an audit.

Now employees are up in arms and have dared the employer to go back on the decision eight (8) months later. The reversal is expected to be effective this month but letters which were to be given to the employees have not been availed. BOPEU has branches in Palapye, Francistown, Maun, Kang, Head office and BOPEU College. Information gathered by Botswana Guardian suggests that the employees have already identified a lawyer who will take up the matter.

“While we engage the lawyer we would at the same time engage in a go-slow. We do not understand why the employer would want to change now after eight months. What is interesting is that prior to implementing the new structure, they had engaged a consultant who looked at all the factors to be considered. Our expectation is that financial statements were looked into and projections taken into consideration and how BOPEU has been performing financially,” said a source at head office.

The union leadership is said to have implemented the pay structure in November last year before implementing the organisational structure which was only done early this year. It has since emerged that the National Executive Committee had given a go ahead for the implementation of the organisational structure and not the pay structure.

Information gathered is that some branches have made their presentation to the management querying the pending reversal. Only the head office is yet to make its case heard after they met last week Friday.
“It would be suicidal for the employer to do that. Legally it is unheard of to cut salaries. What we have noticed is that the management is trying to employ a divide and rule tactic among us as they say this is consultation but we understand they want to implement this month (July). We are currently waiting for letters of notification for the implementation. Initially we were to be given the letters before going for the long holidays.

“As to what is delaying them to usher the letters has not been communicated to us. We understand a letter has been written to General Secretary Topias Marenga by President Masego Mogwera and First Deputy President, Martin Gabobake to have the salary changes reversed. But this is despite the fact that they are also the ones that authorised for the implementation of the new structure,” said a source.

It is alleged that increments are ridiculous under the new structure. As people were being moved to other

An estimated 250 million people are on the move around the world, including 28.2 million young migrants between the age of 2 and 15, says Head of Office at International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Botswana, Sikhulile Dlamini.

 Dlamini stated that even though migration dates to history the difference is that today more people are on the move than ever before. She was speaking at a National Social Workers Workshop on Case Management and Best Interest Determination for the Protection of Unaccompanied and Separated Migrant Children in Gaborone this week.

Migration has become not only the mega-trend of our time but also a contentions segment of the political discourse in countries of origin, transit and destination, she said. The two-day workshop held in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) is expected to address challenges of mixed and irregular migration through policy advice, consultations and stakeholder workshops.

The IOM has been providing technical support to various stakeholders in Botswana since 2014, in efforts to enhance migration governance. It was during these trainings that stakeholders expressed the need to strengthen the capacity of Social Workers on Case Management and Best Interest Determination in relation to unaccompanied and separated migrant children.

“Today the focus will be on population that often encounters suffering during the migration process and or after arrival in countries of destination-unaccompanied and migrant children. As IOM we engage on migration-related matters with stakeholders. There has been a consistent message that Social Workers need a platform to reach consensus on a case management system that will enhance protection of this population.

“These efforts are aimed at promoting and upholding human dignity and protecting human rights, including the rights of migrant children, as enshrined in the Convention of the Rights of the Child and the Children’s Act of 2009,” she pointed out
Dlamini revealed that Africa is projected to have the largest population growth of any geographical region by 2050, which will have important consequences for international migration, and major implications for the continent’s economic development.

She said the people will move as they always have done. Dlamini said the philosophy of the IOM is that migration is not a problem to be solved but an issue to be managed. She indicated that in Southern Africa, contemporary economic migration has been influenced by multiple factors.

Dlamini said labour demand remains an important driver of economic migration in SADC. Madoda Nasha, Deputy Manager under Trafficking in Persons Unit in the Ministry of Defence Justice and Security said victims of human trafficking have to be treated as a special case.

He explained that ministry responsible for social welfare shall from money appropriated by Parliament for purposes of establishing and operating centres for victims of trafficking and accredit non-governmental organisations as centers for victims.

Nasha revealed that there is a Committee on Human Trafficking Prohibition which includes key stakeholders including most of the ministries. He stated that the committee is coming up with National Action Plan which would include the social workers who work closely with the victims.

Chinese companies that were in Botswana on Monday courtesy of Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) have been made aware of the 16 identified projects that present investment opportunities.

 PPP Coordinator, Orono Otweyo told the business delegation comprising of representatives from a range of industries that there is more drive to do PPPs in development projects and therefore Chinese companies looking for investment opportunities need to take note.

He pointed them to projects that include; Zambezi Integrated Agro-Commercial Development Project that entails the provision of irrigation infrastructure, water supply to 45 000 Ha, commercial farming, agro-processing and related infrastructure in the Pandamatenga area. He said so far, seven crops and fruit trees have been identified as suitable, and water for irrigation is to be abstracted from Chobe/Zambezi River.

Another opportunity is the reclamation and treatment of the Gaborone wastewater. According to Otweyo, the project entails wastewater recycling for portable use with a target of providing Gaborone city with up to 20 percent of its water supply needs. “The project involves design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance of a wastewater reclamation plant as well as an upgrade of the current WasteWater Treatment plant,” Otweyo said.

Chinese investors were also briefed about land servicing opportunities, which entail the provision of integrated infrastructure services to land in Kasane, Francistown, Ramotswa and Mochudi to facilitate the development of plots. According to Otweyo, the services will include; roads, storm water drainage, water sewerage, telecommunications, power reticulations and street lighting.  The other investment opportunity is the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in Lobatse.

This project needs investment in design, finance, construction and maintenance of the Offender Rehabilitation Centre with capacity of between 600 and 800 inmates offering physiological, educational and vocational programmes.

Another is the secondary schools staff housing. The project entails design, finance, construction and maintenance of 4 000 high-density staff houses for secondary school teachers throughout the country. Other projects that Otweyo elaborated on include; Sepopa Prison Farm, Prison Headquarters Building, Three Dikgosi Monument, Gaborone Tourism Precinct and Serowe Magistrate Court. Although the conclusion of agreements will depend entirely on negotiations between individual companies from China and Botswana, CCPIT Chairman, Jiang Zengwei said the proof of good China-Africa relations have been the documented major projects that have been fully implemented in Africa.

“China and Botswana economies are highly complementary and we are impressed by Botswana’s open market and capital management,” Zengwei said.  Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Dr Unity Dow is also hopeful that as a result of the visit of the Chinese investors, new Chinese businesses and sectors will set up in Botswana. “We should be able to see positive results 12 months down the line, as to whether this meeting was meaningful,” Dr Dow said.

Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development and Botswana Power Corporation also briefed the Chinese business community about investment opportunities in their specific areas of expertise.

SADC Parliamentary Forum President, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos and his team are lobbying member states to support the transformation of the SADCPF into a SADC regional Parliament.

 The intense lobbying happens as the region braces for the 38th SADC Summit of heads of state and government slated for 1 - 18th August in Windhoek, Namibia, which is expected to endorse the request. Immediately after the 43rd Plenary Assembly Session of the SADCPF in Luanda, Angola late June, Dias dos Santos jetted into Zambia’s capital, Lusaka to lobby President Edgar Lungu to support the transformation of SADCPF into a fully-fledged SADC regional Parliament.

Dos Santos, who doubles as Speaker of the National Assembly of Angola, was accompanied by SADC PF Acting Secretary General, Boemo Sekgoma. When opening the 43rd Plenary Assembly of the SADCPF, Angola’s President, Joao Manuel Gonçalves Lourenco reaffirmed his country’s commitment to integration agenda and in supporting the role of Parliament.

According to press reports, Lourenco assured delegates gathered in the Palace of the National Assembly of Angola that the issue of SADC PF’s transformation into a SADC Regional Parliament was being considered at the highest level in Angola and would be discussed at the next summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in Namibia.

SADC Parliamentary Forum, which currently boasts 14 national Parliaments and some 2500 MPs, was established under Article 9(2) of the SADC Treaty by the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held on 8th September 1997, in Blantyre, Malawi. The Forum was set up to “constitute a Parliamentary Consultative Assembly, the ultimate goal being the establishment of a Regional Parliamentary Framework for dialogue on issues of regional interest and concern”. Twenty-one (21) years later, it will appear this is finally coming to pass.

But it has not been a walk in the park for SADCPF.SADC PF first presented its request for transformation into a Regional Parliament to the SADC Summit in August 2004 in Grand Baie, Mauritius, but the request and subsequent others at the February 2008 SADC Council of Ministers’ Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia; the August 2011 SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Angola, and the August 2015 SADC Summit in Gaborone, Botswana – were all rejected.

The reasons advanced by SADC Summit for rejecting the transformation of SADCPF into a regional integration were that “Member States should firstly aim for the consolidation of the Pan African Parliament (PAP); that Member States should, first of all, finalise the process of rationalisation of the African Union Regional Economic Communities (AU RECs); Member States should endeavour to define the relationship between the RECs and the African Union (AU) more broadly as this may help to better understand both the role and the scope of the Regional Parliament, and lastly, that the idea of establishing a SADC Regional Parliament may be considered in the distant future.”

According to documents seen by this publication, the second time the Forum presented its request for transformation was during the February 2008 SADC Council of Ministers’ Meeting held in Lusaka, Zambia. The third time was in August 2011 in Luanda, Angola during the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government; and the fourth time was during the August 2015 SADC Summit held in Gaborone, Botswana.

On all these occasions, the Summit repeatedly adopted the pre-conditions laid down in 2004, when SADC PF presented its request for transformation for the first time. As a result, an ad-hoc Committee of the Executive Committee of the SADCPF was established to scrutinise the issue of transformation of SADCPF into a regional Parliament and report back, which it did on June 3, 2016 in Ezulwini, Kingdom of Swaziland (now Eswatini).

The Ad-hoc Committee was made up of Adv. Jacob Francis Mudenda, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zimbabwe, as Chairperson and members, Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini, SC, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia; and Prof. Peter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia.

When reporting back its findings, the Ad-hoc Committee made it unambiguously clear that the pre-conditions cited for not transforming the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a Regional Parliament, were not “ample justification”. On the excuse that member states should first aim for Consolidation of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), the considered view of the Ad-hoc Committee was that, except for the Southern African Development Community (SADC), all other Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of Africa have Regional Parliaments, hence the pre-condition to first aim to consolidate the PAP is, therefore, “untenable and not justifiable”.

The Ad-hoc Committee said it was interesting to note that all the other Regional Parliaments were in fact established regardless of the establishment/consolidation of the PAP. It said that in any case, PAP in its constitutive Protocol, acknowledges that the Regional Parliaments are the building blocks of the Continental Parliament, which was established by Article 14 of the Abuja Treaty of 1991, which established the African Economic Community.

The Ad-hoc Committee reported that the consolidation could therefore be better achieved through the establishment of Regional Parliaments, including the SADC Regional Parliament as one of the building blocks of PAP.

In addition, it was the Ad-hoc Committee’s humble view that SADC cannot arrogate itself the responsibility of consolidating PAP before establishing its own Regional Parliament, “as this is a matter or mandate for the African Union (AU) Commission”.  It found that there was therefore, no nexus or corollary between the consolidation of the Continental Parliament and the establishment of the Regional Parliament.

As for the second precondition regarding the need to finalise the process of rationalisation of the African Union Regional Economic Communities (AU-RECs), the SADC PF felt that If SADC is one of the defined Regional Economic Communities of Africa, “it is not clear how as a community or any of the other Regional Economic Communities would need to be rationalised” as a condition precedent to the establishment of the SADC Regional Parliament.  

The Ad-ho Committee said the process of rationalisation of the RECs has “already been consummated” by way of the signing of the African Free Trade Zone (AFTZ) in June 2015, in South Africa.  Furthermore, the Committee reported that the African Union (AU) Member States in June 2014, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea signed the amended Protocol to the PAP’s Constitutive Act which paved the way for the Continental Parliament to assume legislative powers.

It said that when the Regional Parliaments of other RECs were established, the question of rationalisation of the AU and the RECs as a pre-condition for their establishment of their respective Regional Parliaments did not arise. “The SADC Parliamentary Forum is also of the view that the rationalisation of the AU-RECs is primarily the responsibility/mandate of the AU Commission.

To that extent, the issue of the establishment of the SADC Regional Parliament does not arise in the said rationalisation process,” the Ad-hoc Committee said in its report. 

As for the third precondition on the need to define the relationship between the RECs and the AU, the SADC Parliamentary Forum said it acknowledges and appreciates this need more broadly for the reason that such a clear definition of relationships would assist to better understand the role and scope of the Regional Parliaments being, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), ECOWAS Parliament for West Africa, CEMAC for Central Africa, and the Maghreb for North Africa, which should “in any event include the proposed SADC Regional Parliament”.

The Ad-hoc Committee said there was no reason, therefore, why after Member States have defined the relationship between the RECs and the AU, the establishment of the SADC Regional Parliament should pose as an impediment, obstacle or challenge to its establishment. “In any event, the need to first define the relationship between the RECs and the AU appears not to have been an impediment, obstacle or challenge to the establishment of the other four (4) Regional Parliaments,” it said.

And regarding the last precondition that SADC Summit cited for declining the request for transforming the SADC PF into a regional Parliament, saying that the SADC Regional Parliament may be established in the distant future, the Ad-hoc Committee said that this reason should not arse at all. “Consequently, the establishment of the SADC Regional Parliament should not be forestalled as it is the only Regional Parliament that is yet to be established on the continent”.

The Ad-hoc Committee said while it appreciates that the headquarters of Pan African Parliament has been located in Midrand, South Africa within SADC, “that mere location of PAP should not deprive the SADC Region in establishing its Regional Parliament which the PAP requires as one of the five Parliamentary Regional building blocks”. 

Once these preconditions had been dealt with, the Ad-hoc Committee of the Executive Committee of the SADCPF suggested some strategies to facilitate the reconsideration of the matter. It was suggested that Speakers and Members of SADC Parliaments should engage their respective Heads of State and Government and ensure that Cabinets deliberate and agree to the transformation of the SADC PF into a SADC Regional Parliament.

It was further suggested that “a willing SADC Member State” be Identified and requested to move a motion on the Agenda of the Summit slated for August 2016 in the Kingdom of the then Swaziland (now Eswatini) for the establishment of a SADC Regional Parliament and to make a formal representation to SADC Senior Officials who are responsible for drafting the Summit Agenda. 

It is a trite observation that ever since the August 2016 SADC Summit, vigorous and intense lobbying for the transformation of SADCPF into a Regional Parliament has taken place, culminating with the courtesy call on Angola’s President Cde João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, on Tuesday 26th June 2018 by selected Speakers of SADC National Parliaments and leaders of the delegation at the 43rd Plenary Assembly to engage President Gonçalves Lourenço, as one of the champions for the transformation agenda to use his influence to convince other Heads of State to include the quest for transformation on the Agenda of the SADC Summit to be held in August 2018, in Windhoek, Namibia.  

The delegation also requested President Lourenco to lobby for the President of the SADC PF and selected Hon. Speakers to address the Council of Ministers/ Attorneys General at the August Summit. This would enable them to address first-hand any concerns that may be raised at the Summit instead of communicating through a lobbying document.

The courtesy call was in accord with the resolution of the Executive Committee which has been endorsed by the 43rd Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF. During their meeting President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço “affirmed his support as well as the support of the Government of Angola” to the SADC PF transformation agenda. The President advised the delegation to put in place the “necessary strategic preparatory processes” towards an effective lobbying effort which should lead to the ultimate goal of transforming SADC PF into a Regional Parliament at the next SADC Summit in Namibia this August.

The Speakers assured the Angolan President that the transformation of SADC PF will be cost-effective to Member States Parliaments because the headquarters of the proposed Regional Parliament will be housed at the current National Assembly in Namibia and that the proposed transformation of SADC PF into a Regional Parliament will not create an “autonomous organ” outside the SADC structures, but will be a “subservient organ” of SADC answerable to the SADC Summit’s authority.

It was finally agreed that every National Parliament must continue to galvanize support for the transformation by working closely with the relevant Government Ministries in their respective countries, in preparation for the SADC Summit to be held in Namibia in August 2018, when the Namibian President, Dr. Hage G. Geingob, is expected to take over the Chairmanship of SADC.

Among the Speakers that met President Gonçalves Lourenço were Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos of Angola also President of the SADC PF; Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe Senator & Vice-President of the SADC PF; Sephiri Enoch Motanyane, Speaker of the National Assembly, Lesotho; Professor Peter H. Katjavivi (Namibia); Nicholas Prea, Speaker of Seychelles); Baleka Mbethe (South Africa); Verónica Nataniel Macano Dlhovo of Mozambique and others.

The SADCPF has made considerable milestones such as the developing model laws on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already In Marriage, which provide benchmarks against which Member States can gauge the effectiveness of their national legislation; the Norms and Standards for Elections in the SADC Region which have been used both in the region and beyond as part of the orientation package for election observation missions.

Retired Botswana Defence Force (BDF) officers have been promised feedback next month regarding a report from Defence Council about their pensions.

 The retired officers have been up in arms with their former employer regarding the report which has been gathering dust after it was commissioned. Members of BDF Retired Members Association (RMA) gathered at Madiba Senior School in Mahalapye for their Annual General Meeting this past Saturday.

At the meeting the attendants were briefed on the issue of pensions and forfeited leave days. The meeting came at the time when some of the retired senior officers are putting together a case against BDF over the Report which is held by the Defence Council. It was revealed at the meeting that the report has been given to cabinet and is expected to be returned to the council.

Colonel Mountain from BDF Headquarters- Sir Seretse Khama Barracks told the meeting that they are waiting for the report from government. He revealed that there was a scheduled meeting of June 30th 2018 where the Report was to be discussed but the meeting did not materialise.

Colonel Mountain indicated that another meeting has been scheduled for the 13th of August 2018.  Attendants made it clear that following such meeting they have to be briefed again on progress. It was argued that such important issues should not only be dealt with during the AGM which comes only once in a year. In early July Minister of Defence Justice and Security Shaw Kgathi told Parliament that the report is yet to be forwarded to cabinet.

Kgathi stated that in 2001, the Government moved from a Defined Benefit Scheme to Defined Contribution Scheme. “Unfortunately, the Defined Benefit Scheme was modelled on a civil servant who retires at 60 years and not on soldiers; some of whom retire at the age of 45 years considerably disadvantaging members of the BDF,” he said.

Regarding forfeited leave days Colonel Molomo told the weekend meeting that the BDF has managed to pay those who are owed from 2012 to 2016. He said the next batch would be paid next month. “We would pay those owed from 2011 backwards. In August about 800 former officers would receive the dues and the other 800 would be paid in September,” said Colonel Molomo who explained that due to financial constraints they have to pay in batches.

In 2016 some retired BDF officers dismissed government’s claims that they have been paid their forfeited leave days. This was after the then Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration Eric Molale on behalf of Minister Kgathi said retired and serving members of the BDF have been paid their forfeited leave days. The forfeited days were said to have not been included when the officers were paid their retirement packages.

Minister Molale told Parliament that the percentage base charged was the equivalence applicable to all public officers’ monthly income taxes. “The exercise targeted in-service members because retirees and those who were terminated were paid all outstanding leave days.

The exercise to repay forfeited leave days had no link to the sale of Botswana Telecommunications Corporation shares, but it was rather a correction of an omission and payment to those entitled,” the minister told Parliament. He said neither Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security nor the BDF went out to entice officers adding that information on BTC shares was in public domain.

Furthermore, he said the decision whether to purchase shares or not was a personal choice of individual officers. Ramotswa Member of Parliament Samuel Rantuana, had wanted the minister to state whether members of the Botswana Defence Force who were still in service had been paid their leave days that were forfeited, if so what percentage tax charge have they been charged. The MP further asked if retirees and those whose service had been terminated for various reasons including medical had been paid as well.

MP Rantuana further wanted to know if the payments were motivated by the sale of shares at Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited; and whether the officers were enticed into purchasing such shares.

Chairman of Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Peoples Party President Motlatsi Molapisi has rubbished claims that he has been captured by President of Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) to derail and collapse the UDC.

 UDC contracting partners BPP, BMD, Botswana Congress Party and Botswana National Front are at loggerheads over a Constitution that has been submitted to Registrar of Societies for approval. The Constitution was submitted by UDC President Advocate Duma Boko and Vice President Dumelang Saleshando.

Now BPP and BMD have both written letters to Registrar of Societies objecting to the approval of the Constitution. In an interview with Botswana Guardian this week Molapisi is unapologetic about the stance his party has taken. He is even taking offence to suggestions that he and his party have been captured to sing the same song with troubled BMD.

Molapisi argues that the BPP would agree with any of the contracting partners who speak the same language with them. “There is no way we could be captured as BPP. We are independent and will remain so for years. We are available for any organisation that wants to engage us. BMD first approached us when they discovered that we were not attending UDC National Executive Committee meeting.

“At that time, we were disgruntled because some of the issues we had raised with NEC were not attended to including constituency allocations. The BMD encouraged us to attend the meetings while we were still pushing for our grievances to be addressed,” said Molapisi.

The veteran politician indicated that BMD and its leader Advocate Sidney Pilane have not assisted the BPP or him as the president financially or in kind. He said BPP continues to struggle as an organisation financially and no one including Advocate Pilane has assisted them.

“There is an agreement that when there are by-elections contracting partners contribute P10 000.00 for Parliament and P5 000.00. During Mochudi East by-election we contributed P5 000.00. Ralekgetho Ward and Moshupa-Manyana Constituency by-elections we still owe while in Moselewapula Ward we paid P2 500.00 instead of P5 000.00.

During the February congress parties were paying P25 000.00 and we have not paid we still owe. We told our colleagues to bear with us we would look for money and pay,” said Molapisi wondering how they could be captured and yet fail to fulfill some of their obligations as the party.

He said regarding Francistown West BMD discussed it with BCP and without BPP. He said as BPP they never asked for the constituency from BCP. Molapisi revealed that BMD only availed the constituency to BPP because “they heard our cry”. The UDC Chairman explained that sometimes in May this year ahead of an NEC meeting, BCP requested a meeting with BPP and was granted. Molapisi wonders if the meeting was a plan by BCP to ‘capture BPP’.

He said various issues affecting the UDC among them campaign for 2019 and improvements in the image of the coalition project were discussed. He revealed that the BNF has also requested for a bilateral meeting but unfortunately they have not been able to hold the meeting.

He revealed that the contested Constitution has been a pain to the UDC NEC. Molapisi indicated that the Constitution has on several occasions been brought before the NEC meetings. “It was presented to some meetings before the February congress. We have made it clear during those meetings that the Constitution is not the one that we know and we want the correct one. It was presented by Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang- BCP Vice President who was in the Main Stream.

“We rejected it and told them to bring the Constitution we all know. It later resurfaced at the February Congress. We are now surprised that the same constitution we are against found its way to Registrar of Societies' office. We were supposed to discuss the Constitution at an NEC retreat which was scheduled for early June this year. The Constitution and its contents are wrong.

We had to object to it because once approved we would not have any redress. UDC NEC has to go for retreat and close this chapter,” he posited.
Molapisi said they would have to go back to the table for the sake of the project and Batswana. He is of the opinion that the issue of Advocate Pilane being a problem has to be addressed at the appropriate forum being the UDC NEC.

He feels that also the matter of BMD constituencies should be discussed by the NEC where an amicable solution can be found. If the split of the BMD has affected it so badly that its constituencies have to be revisited, then that should be discussed at NEC meetings, he stated. This, Molapisi said, would make UDC members to have confidence in the leadership.

“I doubt BMD would refuse to have bilateral talks with other parties. If they do refuse, then the matter has to be brought to the NEC meeting to be dealt with. Now if we hear that there has been resolution taken by our colleagues at the conference about BMD it is very wrong. BMD cannot be discussed at another partner’s conference or congress- that should be left to the UDC,” he explained.

On suggestion that the BCP and BNF might pull out of the UDC, Molapisi said he had thought the two organisations joined UDC unconditionally. Now if they came into UDC with conditions then it means they do not love this country and Batswana, said Molapisi adding that what they want to hear at the moment is people calling for parties to dissolve and form one entity and not leaving the UDC.

The BPP President said BCP and BNF have strong men and women who would be able to resolve the matters and not cause for leaving UDC but fight hard to deliver a strong project that would liberate Batswana.

Armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism management from Durban University in South Africa and currently doing a Diploma in Business Management, the youthful Botswana Demcratic Party’s  Dukwi councillor, Thatayaone Kehitile has informed this puplication that he is seeking a fresh mandate in the coming primary elections, dubbed Bulela Ditswe.

 He easily won in 2014 but this time around, he will face  tight competition from two competitors who are Sekobaneng Mosweu and Amuchalini Draw Maja. “I started politics when I was still young and was inspired by my neighbour Julius Lenyatso Gobela, who was a councillor by then, back in the 90s.

Those BDP songs, and the vibrancy really cajoled me to fall in love with BDP politics. I took serious interest when I was at tertiary. I then started to read a lot of current affairs and politics in general”.

He says he resigned from Ngwato Land Board where he was the youngest deputy Chairperson and took a stern decision to represent his community at council level.  He says he has been sponsoring the village local school during its many activities including prize giving ceremonies which he has so far sponsored to the tune of over P10 000 as well as a number of various soccer tournaments to unify the villagers through sports.

Power struggle and hunger for power is what has landed Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) at loggerheads over the appropriate Constitution to be filed with Registrar of Societies, Botswana Guardian has learnt.

 Following the filing of the Constitution by President Advocate Duma Boko and one of the Vice Presidents, Dumelang Saleshando who is also President of Botswana Congress Party (BCP) two UDC contracting partners Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) and Botswana People’s Party (BPP) wrote objecting letters through their Secretary Generals.

The Constitution submitted by Advocate Boko and Saleshando provided for one Vice President and gave powers to the UDC congress and the President. The Vice President would be the running mate for the president during the general election.
The letters written to the Registrar of Societies indicate that since UDC is made up of four contracting partners the constitution must be signed by all in order to be registered.

On the other hand, the Constitution that the BMD and BPP approve of has provision for two vice presidents. According to the Constitution once UDC is in power 1st Vice President would be the country’s vice president. BMD has all along maintained that it occupies the seat of 1st Vice President within the UDC. The argument has been that BCP is a new comer in the UDC. However, UDC leader Advocate Duma Boko has on several occasions indicated that there is no 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents within the UDC.

He stated that they are all equal but perform different roles. If this Constitution is approved and UDC wins power, BMD leader Advocate Sidney Pilane would be Botswana’s Vice President according to Article 11.2 of the Constitution.
Article 11.4 the Chairperson of the UDC shall be the Senior Minister of the cabinet of Republic of Botswana when UDC is in power. BPP President Motlatsi Molapisi is UDC Chairman.

This means when UDC attains power, Molapisi would be minister for presidential affairs. It is yet to be seen what would be the way forward once the Registrar of Societies has acted on all the documents before his office.

In Rakops, Noah Salakae, the Botswana National Front’s (BNF) purse-keeper, had a foreboding demeanour whilst chatting with delegates from Gantsi North.The BNF National Treasurer has now vented his frustrations. This week he resigned as National Treasurer only to rescind the decision within 24 hours. In Rakops it was evident that his office was not in control of the Conference finances. BNF President Advocate Duma Boko had taken over.

The transportation, food and the huge tent erected at the conference venue were all bankrolled by Boko. Confronted on these developments in Rakops, Salakae would not discuss them with the media saying they were internal party matters.

But this week’s revelations in the leaked resignation letter gave insight into the way things were run in the build up to the conference. It was at this conference that Advocate Boko revealed that going forward he would not let delegates starve. He indicated that initially he had wanted all the buses that transported people to Rakops to be branded and promised that this should be expected in the coming BNF engagements.

This week Tuesday Salakae pulled a surprise and resigned through a letter that was leaked to the media. While the resignation was to safeguard his integrity, within the BNF Central Committee he had made a blunder. Those close to developments within the Central Committee say Salakae was one of the key players in the anti-Boko faction.

His departure is likely to weaken the faction which is in majority. In fact, those who associated with him felt betrayed. Information gathered by Botswana Guardian, reveals that on Tuesday night there was a meeting where fellow comrades pleaded with him not resign and he conceded. However the damage had already been done as the letter he shared with some of the colleagues in the central committee was in the public domain.

Salakae, who is also Member of Parliament for Gantsi North could not be drawn into discussing the letter but confirmed it and its contents which regrettably according to him, was leaked before it could officially reach the party office through secretary general.
“At the height of my resignation is the manner in which the BNF/UDC is run. The BNF CC remains only in name because the (sic) is run by Comrade Boko’s bodyguards.

The BNF Executive Committee never meets. Ever since the AP comrades left we are still to meet as the UDC Parliamentary caucus to mention but a few. We can’t open up on these truths as the CC because of the love and respect we have for the BNF and its members,” said Salakae in the letter.

He continued, “I leave behind a healthy party’s balance sheet. We managed to buy a vehicle for the party, cash on delivery. Cash balance stands at over P200 000 with no debts. With a depoliticized party administration, I am confident the party can make millions from membership cards”.

Contacted by this publication, Salakae confirmed the withdrawal of the resignation letter. He dismissed claims that he belongs to an anti-Boko faction in the central committee. “Following the leak of that letter I engaged in vigorous consultation with other comrades. They were calling me trying to find out what could have happened. We spoke for about ten (10) hours as they were pleading with me not to resign.

“By then I had already taken a stand but they convinced me that I could not leave the office I have served diligently. They are not against the contents of the letter but rather against my decision to resign,” he stated. The outspoken legislator explained that there are two schools of thought - one that believes in silence and the other that believes that one has to speak out.

“When you keep quiet those who believe in speaking out will point an accusing finger that you are failing them. And when you speak out against some things or disagreeing with the leaders those who believe in silence would start to call you a renegade and undermining the leadership so this is the difficulty we find ourselves in as leaders.

That is why people would start saying you are in a certain faction while in actual fact you will be expressing yourself democratically,” said Salakae. He indicated that he is a die-hard BNF member and would not join any other political movement.
There have been claims that the anti-Boko faction within the central committee has tried on numerous occasions to take him head-on but failed due to failure to convene meetings for central committee and or Executive Committee.

The faction believes he is making it difficult for the BNF to progress and that he is sabotaging the UDC. The faction which also has the backing of BNF Veterans Association, some MPs, some Councillors and some of the rank and file could soon be losing grip of the party to Advocate Boko and his team.

Information on the ground is that some party members feel the anti-Boko faction within the central committee is failing the party and its members by failing to use their numerical superiority against Boko’s minority support.

Botswana would not be left out in the euphoria gripping the region this week as neighbouring south Africa hosted the 10th BRICS Summit at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

The Summit brought together leaders of the world’s most developing countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to explore trade and investment opportunities and discuss the obtaining world trade environment, currently characterised by trade wars between global trading partners.

Here in Gaborone, India’s High Commissioner to Botswana, Dr Rajesh Ranjan used the opportunity on Wednesday to gather a select group of Botswana-based Indian captains of industry, amongst them - Chairman of IBCCI Shyam Srikaran and President of IAB Rajat Dhuria - at the Chancery to watch a live telecast of Prime Minister of the largest democracy in the world, Narendra Modi addressing the Ugandan Parliament.

The Indian Envoy Dr. Ranjan explained that all leaders of Southern African Development Community (SADC) had been invited to the BRICS Summit as ‘observers’, an assertion that Botswana Government Spokesperson, Jeff Ramsay would later confirm to Botswana Guardian.Mokgweetsi Masisi had received a personal invitation from South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa and that he would be travelling to Johannesburg on Friday (today) to participate in the “Outreach Dialogue Session” between BRICS leaders and leaders from the region.

Ahead of his trip to South Africa, Prime Minister Modi visited central and east African countries of Rwanda and Uganda where he pledged hundreds of millions-worth lines of credit to the two countries.
In Uganda, Modi announced a combined US$205million line of credit for electricity lines, agriculture and dairy production, whist in Rwanda he announced a line of credit of US$200 million following talks with President Paul Kagame.

Addressing the Ugandan Members of Parliament in the presence of President Yoweri Museveni, Prime Minister Modi extolled the bonds of relationship that subsist between India and Africa, whose roots he traced back to Mahatma Ghandi. He said Ghandi was one with Africa and Africans and that his methods of peaceful resistance had inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere amongst many in Africa.

Modi said India would build a Gandhi Heritage Centre at the sacred site in Jinja, where a statue of Gandhiji now stands to pay homage and “remind us of Africa’s role in shaping his mission that even inspired Africa to freedom and justice; and the universal and timeless values of his life and message.”

Modi said India is also opening 18 new embassies in Africa to cement the ties with a continent that India regards as a “partner.” Statistics attest to the truism of this assertion. At present, India-Africa development partnership includes implementation of 180 Lines of Credit worth about USD 11 billion in over 40 African countries. At the last India Africa Forum Summit, India had committed a concessional Line of Credit of 10 billion U.S. dollars and 600 million dollars in grant assistance.

Modi said that every year, over 8000 African youth are trained in a diverse set of programmes and confirmed that Indian companies have invested over US$54 billion in Africa.“Our trade with Africa is now over US$ 62 billion,”representing over 21 per cent more than in the previous year. Africa’s exports to India are growing, he said, and, both nations’economic ties are now increasingly driven by new partnerships of innovation in the digital economy. 

It will seem that Africa’s cooperation with Africa transcends all human endeavours and activities. Modi expressed pride at the work of Indian peacekeepers in over a dozen UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, since the first mission in Congo in 1960.
He said that in all the UN peacekeeping Missions in the world, 163 Indians have made the “supreme sacrifice”, adding that this is among the highest number for any country.

“Almost 70 per cent of these embraced martyrdom just in Africa. Today, over 6,000 Indians serve in five peacekeeping operations in Africa”, he said.  President Masisi’s participation in today’outreach dialogue session with BRICS leaders is hoped to salvage some morsels from BRICS for Botswana’s development agenda. BRICS has set up a bank to rival both the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), which are seen as pro-Western institutions. Government Spokesperson Dr. Jeff Ramsay is optimistic that Masisi’s participation in the BRICS outreach dialogue session is a harbinger of good things that will eventually come to Botswana, SADC and Africa.

He says the outreach dialogue – the first high-level initiative, expected to include other African heads of state – will activate the African angle in the BRICS mosaic.

“We also stand to enhance our relationships with other members of BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India and China,” he said, adding that in a multi-polar world, “we are happy to see” multilateral institutions that promote South-to-South and Pan African relationships.
Meanwhile, China, the world’s second largest economy has extended R190billion to South Africa. The gesture comes ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit scheduled for Beijing in early September 2018.

Masisi is poised to attend the Summit. Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) this week also hosted a 70-person strong delegation from the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in a business forum to explore investment opportunities within both countries. 

According to Li Hongbing, the First Secretary in the Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s Office at the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in Botswana, the trade value between China and Botswana was US$266 million whilst the outflow foreign direct investment from China to Botswana dropped by 77 percent year on year to US$18, 78 million for the period 2016/2017.In the same period, the amount of FDI from China to SADC was US$ 1.07 billion.
Ramsay said that indeed President

Stakes are high at Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Gaborone South constituency as Bulela-Ditswe date draws nearer with fears that the election will be compromised.

Botswana Guardian has established that all is not well in the constituency as the voters’ roll is being contested by some candidates on grounds that there has been voter trafficking. News of trafficking broke out this week when verification was being done.
The two camps of Monametsi Abel Kalayamotho and Dumizweni Meshack Mthimkhulu, who are both vying for the Parliamentary seat, have for some time been at crossroads.

This has now affected the council candidates aligned to them. Information gathered by this publication is that two letters complaining of voter trafficking have so far been written.

“The election might not happen because some of the candidates are disgruntled and want the election for Gaborone South to be postponed. There are also claims that some of the people who have been registered do not appear in the voters’ roll,” said a source close to the developments.

This publication has it on good authority that members of Political Education and Electoral Committee (PEEC) tried to intervene on Monday this week with the aim of putting the matter to rest. It has since emerged that some of the candidates and their teams would not compromise and get along to participate in the elections. PEEC is expected to make its decision on the matter this week.

Some members are said to have called for recovery of all the books that were used during registration so that names could be cross-checked. However, the unfortunate part is that the former Branch Secretary, with whom the books were kept, passed away recently. Thus it has proved hard to have the books recovered. The PEEC meeting in the constituency follows another one which was held by Central Committee member Tebogo Masire last week.

During the meeting which was a pre-counselling for candidates, Masire appealed for calm and peace during campaigns. He implored the candidates to work together during this internal process so that at the end the BDP would be able to defend the constituency as a united force. He encouraged the candidates to reconcile following their recent complaints against each other regarding campaigns.

Gaborone South Branch Chairman Alfred Moatlhaping confirmed the complaints but stated that there is no how elections would not continue. He said what was missing was the master registration book.

“I have gone to the party office to look for the copy of the master registration book. I have managed to locate registration books which we would annex and avail to the candidates. I have the situation under control and everything will fall into place. We are going to the polls like other constituencies next week,” Moatlhaping pointed out.

Between April and June this year the two camps were firing from all cylinders in a bid to have one of the candidates fall during vetting. At the centre of controversy were accusations from both camps of campaigning before time. Letters flew from one office to the other as the smear campaign by both teams intensified.

Mthimkhulu’s team has written letters to BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi complaining that Kalayamotho, who transferred his membership from Gaborone Bonnington North to Gaborone South, engaged in early campaign by hosting activities at Old Naledi and branding and distributing t-shirts to constituents with the aim of luring them to vote for him in August this year. Letters seen by this publication also questioned Kalayamotho’s membership transfer.

The complainants say the transfer was done under dubious circumstances. An Entrepreneurship Summit which Kalayamotho hosted at Old Naledi and Bontleng Halls on the 17 May 2018 to reach out to the unemployed has also been cited as one of his campaign tactics for votes. He is said to have resorted to use such a stunt because he arrived in the constituency late and is only using his financial muscle to buy popularity.

Kalayamotho’s team has hit back and written to Branch Committee accusing Mthimkhuku’s team of applying underhand tactics to canvass for votes. Mthimkulu’s team is said to campaign by organising activities such as soccer tournaments and buying alcohol for constituents in exchange for them to register so as to vote for Mthimkhulu. It is also alleged that a WhatsApp Group page has been opened which is used for campaigning - a platform the BDP has indicated should not be used.

Property magnate Sayed Jamali says what he has for people of Tlokweng is just love and appreciation and nothing sinister as some people want to portray him.

Jamali is battling accusations from various quarters that he is illegally taking land from Batlokwa and undertaking developments in Tlokweng without following proper procedure. In an interview with Botswana Guardian this week Jamali said people are twisting issues with the intention of tarnishing his name.

“I am not the enemy here. All I want to do is to develop Tlokweng because people of Tlokweng have accepted me as one of their own for the past 40 years I have been here. This is why when I think of any development I think Tlokweng and no other area. Tlokweng is my home and I will continue to bring developments to the area to benefit this beautiful community,” said Jamali on Wednesday.

The soft-spoken businessman explained that the recent outburst by some people regarding the construction of a road and bridge that connects Gaborone with Tlokweng was stirred by people who do not know what is going on. He also dismissed recent media reports that due diligence was not done when undertaking the project.

“Everything was followed to the letter. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report has been submitted to Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conversation and Tourism. The delay for the construction of the road and the bridge was due to the fact that Kgosi Puso Gaborone had taken some time to call a public hearing regarding the construction.

“The public hearing finally took place after 9 months and was chaired by Kgosi Kgolo. There have also been adverts on newspapers and notice boards as a way of engaging stakeholders in the matter. Department of Roads, Gaborone City Council (GCC), South East District Council (SEDC) and Tlokweng Landboard are all aware of the project,” said Jamali pulling out a file of documents to back his story.

The project is expected to cost Jamali between P10 million and P20 million. He said he had earlier wanted to construct the road which is 2.4 km and the bridge under Public Private Partnership (PPP) but could not manage as the Department of Local Government and Technical Services referred him to SEDC. The ministry of local government expressed appreciation for Jamali’s initiative in a letter dated December 15th 2015 but indicated that such a proposal should be submitted to the SEDC.

“I had wanted to engage in a PPP initiative so that I could recover the money and build other developments, which is why when this failed I proposed for toll-gates so that revenue could be realised and be used for other projects. The toll-gates initiative also failed which is why I decided to go solo on the project and help Batlokwa.

“This road which connects Gaborone and Tlokweng via University of Botswana will reduce traffic congestion into and out of Tlokweng. People would have alternative routes rather than flock one road in the morning and in the evening,” he said. Although it had rejected the PPP model and opted for public tender, SEDC expressed gratitude for Jamali’s gesture.

During a meeting of July 20th, 2017 at Notwane Primary School in Gaborone, it was indicated that the proposal for the construction is done as corporate social responsibility initiative. It was to coincide with the company (Universal Builders Botswana)’s 35 years of existence in Botswana. According to Jamali he had wanted the construction completed and handed to government before Botswana celebrated 50th independence Anniversary.

According to the minutes of the meeting, the project included a bridge, connection of roads between the proposed bridge to the existing Tlokweng road network and existing road near UB Academic Hospital (from Maru-a-Pula). Gaborone City Development Plan 1997-2021 also states that, “a road link between Broadhurst and Tlokweng should be constructed. The proposed alignment should be from the ‘T’ intersection on Limpopo road opposite Motshaba close.

Its direction should be towards the Gaborone Game Reserve.
“Thereafter, the alignment should change in the direction between Game Reserve and Lot 61298. At the end of the Game Reserve boundary, that the alignment changes into the corridor between Village BDF and Game Reserve boundary. This is intended to improve the problematic east to west network observed during the report of the survey.”

Tlokweng Development Plan 2001-2025 also indicates that there is a poor link between the Northern part of Tlokweng and Gaborone as well as settlements to the North. It further states that also missing is a by-pass road for through road traffic which needs to necessarily pass through Tlokweng built- up area.

It is in this regard that Jamali thought he could assist. Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism has since given Jamali’s company Universal Builders Botswana a go-ahead to start site establishment, temporary access road and other preconstruction activities.
According to the letter dated June 13th 2018, the company is allowed to start such activities whilst awaiting the EIA authorisation. “You are therefore permitted to undertake

vegetation clearance, setting of offices and storage areas including electricity and water connection, preparation of temporary access and surveying and installation of pegs. Actual construction of the bridge shall commence after the approval of EIA.” Tlokweng Landboard also held a meeting on the 23th of July 2018 to discuss progress on the ongoing project according to a letter dated 18th July 2018.

Jamali revealed that this is one of the many projects he intends to bring to Tlokweng.
He said he wants to build a mini hospital as he did with the stadium. He explained that he is also engaging in an expensive agricultural project of green technology.
“I have started with Moringa and have told the neighbourhood at the farm to prepare their land for Moringa.

The Agricultural facility we are putting up will be used to teach Batlokwa about agricultural green technology which will benefit the community a lot and create jobs. That is what I want for Tlokweng to create jobs for the community,” he said.

Balete of Gabane-Mankgodi are planning to escalate their displeasure with Mogoditshane sub-landboard to President Mokgweetsi Masisi.

The residents complain that the sub-landboard together with Kweneng landboard are taking them for granted by refusing to allocate them plots for many years. The other contention is the compensation for repossession of land which is done as per the 2010 Land Compensation Policy which they say is outdated and they are being robbed.

Area Member of Parliament Maj. Gen Pius Mokgware said they have been engaging the landboards and ministry of Land Management and Water Sanitation on their grievances with no success. The MP explained that as per the 2012 population statistics Gabane-Mankgodi is the most populated constituency in the country standing at 48 287 people.

“With such a number there are no developments here but we have land. It is only that because of corruption in our landboards the land is not used properly.
We do not have a senior secondary school, a primary hospital, sewerage line but we are just next to the capital city. We do not have commercial and industrial plots because of the way our constituency has been demarcated.

It was made in such a way that it would be just for residential. But even with those residential plots people take over 23 years to be allocated,” stated Mokgware during a media briefing this week.
The legislator said the constituency has been neglected for years when it comes to land administration. He revealed that according to information from Mogoditshane Sub Landboard  the waiting list for people who have applied for residential plots in his constituency stands at 140 000.

“As we speak the landboard has stopped receiving applications for residential plots,” said Mokgware adding that currently people who applied in 1994 are the ones being allocated plots. The constituency consists of villages of Gabane, Metsimotlhabe, Tloaneng, Diagane (Mogoditshane Block 9), Tsolamosese, Lesirane and Mankgodi.

He said they have engaged former Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Prince Maele over the land issues but have not got satisfying answers. This is why they now want president Masisi to intervene. According to Mokgware they have set up a committee to work with the landboard and the ministry for better administration of land in their area but there is no progress.

The MP indicated that they also made suggestions to Maele when he addressed a Kgotla meeting. “Our concern is the current Land Policy. The policy states that government has to service the land before allocation but what we know is that there is no money to do such. Under the current National Development Plan 11 Gabane-Mankgodi has not been catered for in terms of land servicing.

“So people who have spent over 23 years waiting to be allocated plots would have to wait for another additional six (6) years for another plan to be crafted. Now we have these policies and pieces of legislations that are not speaking to each other. Youth projects are failing because there is no land allocation. What the landboards are doing is what is fueling the increase of land speculators in our area.

“We have the landboard refusing to compensate at market rate but would give you less than P25 000 for a ploughing field and would allocate plots to people who would in turn sell a plot at P230 000,” Mokgware said.
He revealed that Gabane-Mankgodi community no longer wants to be given monetary compensation.

He said all they want is for the owner of the land to get 30 percent of the land while government takes 70 percent of the repossessed land. The community wants government to review the current land policy as it disadvantages them. “The people of this constituency are very hurt,” Mokgware explained. He said compensation has to be reasonable so that land owners especially those whom landboard is taking their ploughing fields, would not feel robbed.

A member of the committee that was set-up to negotiate with government on behalf of the community Lucas Tshukudu explained that they have sought audience with land minister and Vice President Slumber Tsogwane to no avail. Tshukudu stated that the landboard has expressed interest in the ploughing fields in Gaphatshwa, Rabodibana and Diremogolo among others.

“We have set up this committee because we want the government to meet us half-way. People have to understand that we are not refusing with land but we are saying let the compensation be adequate. We once had a meeting with the landboard in 2016 where we put forward our demands of 30 percent to be reserved for landowner when repossession is being made. We are still waiting for their response to this day.

“If the landboard is considerate it would meet us half-way. I applied for land in 1996 when I was 21 years old and today I am still on the waiting list. My reference numbers have changed three (3) times. Our land management system has to be changed so that we are not disadvantaged,” pointed out Tshukudu.