Jonathan Raheem Hosseini, the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) who was tipped to be the next chief executive, has been fired Botswana Guardian can reveal. Hosseini was dismissed controversially on 28th August 2018. However, it appears there is more than meets the eye in the way Hosseini has been fired as he was originally cleared from all the six charges he faced by an independent Disciplinary Panel composed of professionals and constituted by the BPC Board.

Indications are that the matter may be settled in a court of law to determine whether the way the Board wants to separate with Hosseini is legal. The matter between the two has been dragging since early 2018. At some stage BPC suspended Hosseini pending investigation and hired Deloitte to do a forensic audit. Deloitte completed its assignment and handed over its findings to the Board.

Second investigation
Based on the Deloitte findings, the Board allegedly started another procedure under which sources and HR experts say the board allegedly colluded with the CEO Dr. Stefan Schwarzfischer and acted outside the bounds of BPC Policy, Procedure and Botswana law to unlawfully and unfairly dismiss Hosseini.

It all started on 4th July 2018 when a disciplinary hearing under Section G of the BPC Human Resource Policy and Procedure commenced against Hosseini. It is said the complainant was CEO Schwarzfischer. It is alleged that based on the seniority of the persons involved, BPC empanelled a body independent of its structures to preside over the disciplinary proceedings, and this resulted in the formation of a disciplinary hearing panel of highly respected legal, human resource, and business professionals.

The disciplinary hearing panel was chaired by a highly respected attorney (name withheld) selected by BPC. It is said that the Panel conducted the hearing explicitly in terms of BPC Disciplinary Policy and Procedure at every step of the proceedings, with the disciplinary hearing taking place  between 4th - 20th July 2018. Close sources say the final written submissions from both Schwarzfischer as the complainant and Hosseini as the defendant were submitted on 30th July 2018.

Not guilty
Botswana Guardian investigation shows that on 2nd August 2018, the disciplinary hearing was concluded and closed, in terms of BPC Disciplinary Policy and Procedure Section G Clause 4, specifically Clause 4.6.15 and Clause 4.6.16.  The disciplinary hearing panel found Hosseini not guilty on all sic (6) charges levelled against him.

The panel stated that no mitigation was required since Hosseini was not guilty. Sources say the  BPC Management and, or Board misdirected themselves or deliberately failed to adhere to BPC Policy and Procedure and Botswana law during the period between 2nd August – 29th August 2018.Sources say in so doing the CEO completely failed to comply with his obligations under clause 4.6.19 of the Disciplinary Procedure and failed to respect clause 7.1.1 of the Disciplinary Policy.

The final blow
BG News has it in good authority that on 28th August 2018 Hosseini was asked to appear before the BPC main Board within a two hour notice. The Board allegedly informed him that they disagreed with the decision of the disciplinary hearing panel and without any further hearing, the Board told him that they choose to find him guilty, and now having been found guilty he was being asked to present mitigation.

It is alleged in that meeting Hosseini and his representative told the Board that they were operating outside of BPC Policy, Procedure and the laws of Botswana and that accepting to present a mitigation to their unlawful pronouncement of guilt would begin to validate their unlawful action, and further that in law mitigation is not presented to those who have not heard a matter themselves. It is said that Board went ahead allowing Schwarzfischer to present before it.

Subsequently the Board ruled contrary to BPC Disciplinary Policy, Procedure and the Laws of Botswana that having been found guilty by them of four charges Hosseini was dismissed with immediate effect. Botswana Guardian investigation found that the letter of “Termination of Contract of Employment” dated 29th August 2018 makes reference to termination “following the disciplinary panel’s findings”.

This according to the sources is dishonest and disingenuous as the disciplinary hearing panel appointed by the Board, after a month long hearing process, explicitly in a signed written judgement found Hosseini not guilty of all six charges and “fully exonerated” him.

 Hosseini confirmed that he has been fired and reluctantly said, “as the process takes its course, I will be vindicated and, remain loyal and dedicated to BPC and the government and its objectives and most importantly to the nation that I dedicated my life to serving and look forward to get back to work at BPC soon in order to complete the work that I started.” At the time of going to press, both BPC spokesperson, Dineo Seleke and CEO, Schwarzfischer were not available for comment as their mobile lines rang unattended.

Government is currently looking into alternative use of land for the controversial Palapye glass project that cost the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) over P500 million.This was revealed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Peggy Serame. 

The project was in 2016 expected to be auctioned but interested bidders pulled out. Provisional liquidator for the Fengyue Palapye Glass project, Nijel Dixon-Warren, reportedly confirmed that his meeting with two potential buyers back then did not bring any desired outcome. 

Serame told Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that following the liquidation of the project there were potential investors who wanted to take over the project. According to the PS after inspecting the plant the investors decided that they are no longer interested in the project.“Their reasons have been that the project would no longer be viable.

So currently we do not have any interested party in the project. We met recently to explore other options. We want to alternatively see what we can use the land for,” she explained. The 100-hectare property is located adjacent to the Serowe-Palapye junction.
The property was reportedly expected to fetch between P25 million and P180 million through auction in 2016. Among the goods on site are float glass plant and equipment, coal gasification plant, construction plant, and oxygen plant. 

The project stirred controversy after it emerged that the Chinese company that was in partnership with BDC was a shelf company with no experience whatsoever in glass manufacturing. There was also confusion as to which company was in the project between Fengyue China and Fengyue of Cayman Islands.

In 2013 Parliamentary Special Select Committee of inquiry into the BDC found that the Palapye glass manufacturing project was bound to fail as it was premised on poor diligence, doubtful partner selection and a litany of project implementation violations.The report revealed that BDC opted to go into a joint venture with Chinese Shanghai Fengyue Glass Company, ignoring their function of encouraging citizen partnership in national business ventures.

It emerged that the company was appointed although it did not have the required technical expertise. BDC board members were also said to have been kept in the dark with regard to the partner selection process. Findings further revealed that the project was originally estimated to cost P309 million but ran additional costs which increased to over P500 million.

The appointment of an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor agreement between Fengyue Glass Manufacturing (Botswana) and Shanghai Fengyue Glass Corporation also raised eyebrows.

All Kweneng schools except for two, failed to reach the region’s set pass target, Botswana Guardian has established. The Kweneng region, which starts from Mogoditshane to Tsetseng, has set 65 percent as its pass mark. Each of the four sub-regions has a Chief Education Officer.

The region has identified poor relationship between the school heads and teachers, lack of supervision, guidance and preparation, as well as failure by schools to act on reports submitted by supervisors as the main causes of poor performance.Teachers refuse to be posted to settlements like Kaudwane, Sorilatholo and Loologane or in some cases, delay their arrival by up to two months.

Benson Rauwe, the Regional Education Director shared his experience regarding teaching and learning in Kweneng region with Botswana Guardian. He said the region has set 65 percent as its pass rate for primary schools and that only Sebele and Dutlwe surpassed this with 95 and 93 percent pass rate, which he attributed to the supervision offered by particular school heads in those schools. 

However, junior schools results are poor, hovering at 31 percent with the highest schools being Letlole Mosielele and Sedumedi at 39 percent, while the lowest is Limpu in Salajwe at 16 percent. Rauwe suspects that the transition from primary to secondary is not well structured. He reckons that learners need support and guidance on what to learn and how to learn it. For example, if one use lecture methods at primary level where pupils are used to group work it becomes difficult.

Kweneng has three senior schools. In 2017 Mogoditshane pass rate was 26 percent; Kgari Sechele 17 percent and Mahupu 13 percent. Rauwe says these results are indicative of a big problem in Kweneng and in his analysis he has concluded that schools must return to the basics where the teacher teaches; the learner learns, while the school head, Deputy and Heads of Departments supervise. Sadly, from the inspection reports he has been receiving, it turns out that teachers do not prepare and some are not given support.

He said this year they were fortunate to be introduced to a clinical supervision which involves participating with the teacher in pre-observation conference to decide which topic to teach and how it is taught.“We emphasised that the Director, Chief Education Officers, Principal Education Officers and school heads should go out and support the teacher using the pre-observation tool”.

Sedumedi
Sedumedi junior receives learners from Sebele I, which had about 50 students who passed with Grade A in 2017 and 2016. Rauwe had hoped that this school would be getting good results. However, when he visited the school and asked the principal how many lessons has he observed from August to September 2018, he was shocked to find there were only five. “I did not complain”.

But instead met the HoD where he realised that there were no teaching plans and schedules.Rauwe also attributes poor academic results to the relationship between the school heads and their deputies. At Sedumedi school he says the school head claims to be active but when he brought the school head and the deputy together, he found that the school head often sneaks out during working hours.“Team work is lacking in our schools, the school head, deputy and HoDs do not come together to strategise.

Every term we meet with the school heads we realised that their reports are cosmetic,” hence they have decided that every month the school heads must give monthly reports on the learners, ensure monthly tests are written and the results are registered, “so that we can track the performance”.

Mahupu
Learners at Mahupu integrated school are suffering because teachers claim that they are specialists and cannot teach integrated science.  “Equally disturbing is that administrators in junior schools such as Motswasele and Moruakgomo are not fully playing their part,” he said. Other causes of poor performance are due to teachers that go into a class to teach without a lesson plan.

Because students learn differently they equally need to be planned for so that the teacher has a strategy on how to help them individually and collectively, observes Rauwe. In Kaudwane and Mmanoko, Rauwe found teachers teaching without a lesson plan. “What shocked me at Kaudwane is that the learners in Standard Three can read neither Setswana nor English.

“It must be noted that learners do not just automatically read or write, it is the teacher who has to teach them phonetics, and use other teaching methods, but if we do not do that, it means we will continue getting poor results.

The bubble for President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s circle of friends at Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) could burst anytime soon, Botswana Guardian has learnt.It has since emerged that the once mighty Masisi camp is at war with itself as there is no longer trust between men and women who walked side by side when they ensured that Masisi retains his seat as party chairman in Tonota last year.

Masisi who at the time was Vice President defending his seat against Minister Nonofo Molefhi. This is the camp, which was said to be united, and would do anything to protect the then chairman who would later this year become party leader and president of the country.Fresh information has emerged that it is no longer all merry within the President’s circle as fellow democrats are no longer in good books with some going in pairs while others are lone rangers.

The tension is said to have been caused by the need for close association to the president to secure future influential positions in the party. At some point the team was accused of orchestrating a plan to ensure that parliamentary and council candidates who did not support Masisi ahead of the Tonota congress should be punished during the two batches of the party’s Bulelwa-Ditswe held in January and August this year.

Information gathered shows that the fight to be close to the president started just a few months after Masisi ascended to the presidency. The key figure in the blame game is alleged to be party Secretary General Mpho Balopi who is said to be pushing away his colleagues far away from the President with the aim of allegedly positioning himself to be the only close associate.

This development according to information gathered has not sat well with Balopi who is also BDP’s parliamentary candidate for Gaborone North Constituency. A motion of no confidence against Balopi was allegedly recently planned on grounds that as head of the secretariat, he is failing the party. 

The BDP meeting in Palapye on the 11th August 2018 where Bulela-Ditswe candidates for the final batch were being addressed is said to have been one of the platforms where Balopi’s failure was shared with fellow democrats who were also equally disappointed with the postponement of the primaries on the 25th of August 2018. This was one of the platforms where his downfall was to take effect.

In one of an intercepted conversation Balopi expresses disappointment about people who go around badmouthing him that he is de-campaigning some of the BDP candidates. He is also worried that some of his trusted rank and file members have changed allegiance to people who will never assist them in their lives while he had taken care and appreciated such people.

Botswana Guardian is in possession of a conversation between Balopi and a certain ‘D4D’ whom Balopi is not happy that he has distanced himself from the secretary general and is participating in meetings that are meant to discredit him (Balopi) where D4D has allegedly claimed that the SG was giving him sinister assignments.

He is also not happy that D4D did not alert him about an alleged motion of no confidence that was being planned against him. “I have never betrayed anyone even all the three presidents I served under- Festus Mogae, Ian Khama and Masisi I have remained loyal to them. They are my elders I respect them. You think I am a fool and I am not.

People come to me with recording of what you said others just come and make representations of what you said in conversations you had with them. You will be speaking to people you think you are in the same journey together. “You have moved away from me and are promoting whatever you are promoting. And the problem is that you know too much.

I have never assigned you anything sinister to undertake within the party. You also knew about a motion of no confidence on me but you did not say anything to me,” said Balopi in the audio conversation. In the conversation D4D denied being part of the plan but indicated that he heard about it during the Palapye meeting.

He also denied sharing with Vice President and party Chairman Slumber Tsogwane about being made to undertake sinister assignments by Balopi. According to reports Balopi is expected to defend his seat next year during a BDP Congress against former party chairman and MP for Tati East Samson Moyo Guma.  Guma is reported in local media to have revealed that fellow democrats have lobbied him to contest.

Guma was also part of Masisi’s campaign team for chairmanship last year. Balopi said he could not comment as he was out of the country. He said he would be back in the country on Thursday. The secretary general also said he would not be able to respond via WhatsApp when requested if the questions could be channeled through such form of communication.

Government through Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development is failing to collect over P400 million owed by young people funded through Youth Development Fund (YDF).The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Kago Ramokate said they have set themselves a target of collecting P6 million annually but only managed to collect P2.8 million as payment for the grants given to the youth through YDF.

He told Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee this week that the ministry annually disburses on average P114 million for funding of youth projects. He explained that the collection of funds is faced with two challenges. “There are those young people who are unable to repay the loan and there are those who are reluctant to pay.

Those who are unable to pay is (sic) because their businesses are struggling or have failed.  There are those who are reluctant in the sense that their busineses are doing well but they are reluctant to come forth to pay the 50 percent loan.  “So the recovery of the loan will always depend on the performance of the project funded,” he said.

YDF is an empowerment programme aimed at promoting active participation of youth in the socio-economic development of the country. It aims to encourage the out-of-school, marginalised and unemployed youth to venture into sustainable and viable income generating projects. It also aims to promote the development of competitive sustainable and growth oriented citizen owned youth enterprises.

Ramokate revealed that they do not have guidelines for YDF and that they are currently working on them and will be ready by January 2019. He said they are working with beneficiaries to resuscitate collapsed projects that are viable. For projects that have no hope, the ministry salvages equipment that was bought and sell it by public auction in respective districts while others are donated to various government departments.

Trouble could be brewing once again at Mowana Copper Mine as the mining company is struggling to pay salaries for employees for the month of September 2018, Botswana Guardian has learnt.The mine, now owned by Leboam Holdings, a subsidiary of Cradle Arc has been closed before and there are fears that failure by the mine to pay salaries could herald the start of problems at the mine where Cradle Arc is expected to produce at least 5 700 tonnes of contained copper during the second half of this year.

A memo dated October 5, 2018 from General Manager Dominic Doherty says salaries would be paid in tranches with the final one being done at the end of this month. He explains that due to unforeseen breakdowns during the month of September, production from the Mowana Copper Mine was severely reduced, and expenditure on repairing broken equipment was at unexpectedly high levels.

“The result of the reduction in income from copper production and the additional expenses has impacted on the company’s cash flows and consequently we regret that payment of September salaries was delayed. We understand the serious impact that delays in receiving salaries has on individuals and the difficulties that you and your families face as a results,” the general manager said.

Doherty said management team is committed to ensuring that the salaries are paid in full and promised that the welbeing of all staff is their priority. “This includes planning to ensure that we all have a future here at Mowana Copper and that you can continue to derive benefit from the mine for years,” he said, adding that continued production is key to this effort. 

He explained that “payment of September payroll has begun with first tranches, equating to “30 percent of your total September earnings, having been made yesterday, Thursday October 4, and funds should be reflecting in your accounts from today (October 5). The company will be making a further payment at the beginning of next week with the intention of making whole outstanding payment by the end of October.” Doherty promised that they will work hard to get through these short-term challenges.

He promised to meet the employees on a one by one basis to hear their queries. Interestingly in another memo sent on October 3, 2018 and copied to Heads of Departments (Leboam Holdings and Penmin), Doherty explains that the salaries, which were due on September 30, 2018 have been delayed “due to the recent extended public holiday which has affected the clearance of our funds into our Botswana account.”

The general manager explained in the memo that they are doing all they can to ensure that salaries are paid within the shortest possible time. Efforts also continue to be made to minimise postponements and frequent delays in payment of your salaries, he said.Doherty could not be reached for comment at press time.

Production was first halted at the mine in 2015, when copper prices fell. Fresh market data however shows that copper has risen by at least more than 50 percent.Following the suspension of its operations at Mowana Mine mid October 2015, the mining contractor, Diesel Power Limited then approached the High Court to have Messina Copper (Botswana), a subsidiary of African Copper liquidated.

The previous owner, Messina Copper (Botswana) then suspended operations at the Mine, where close to 400 workers lost their jobs. In March 2017, new owners, Leboam Holdings resumed operations ramping up to an initial 12,000 tonnes a year of copper concentrate.

Then Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Advocate Sadique Kebonang told Parliament in April this year that the liquidator has entered a Liquidator Term Loan Agreement, the terms of which the liquidation sale proceeds will be paid by the purchaser over a period of 24 months from January 2018. 

He explained that full repayment of this loan is expected to be completed in January 2020 unless early settlement is effected. In the interim parent company Cradle Arc has commissioned Tamesis Partners in London to initiate a refinance enquiry whereby the full liquidation and development capital is being raised.

The minister stated that there are six major funds and other capital providers who are currently performing their due diligence processes. The Advocate said if successfully refinanced, it will settle the liquidation balances and finalisation of all outstanding balances should be expected by end of July 2018.

Botswana Congress Party (BCP) President Dumelang Saleshando has rubbished reports that his party is the main instigator of problems within Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).BCP, a contracting partner in the UDC, has been accused by colleagues - Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) - for being the root cause of the problems that the current UDC find itself faced with.

BMD was last month suspended from the UDC to give it an opportunity to introspect as its leader Advocate Sidney Pilane is being resented by the public as well as UDC rank and file. BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole revealed during a political rally in Mochudi that troubles started when BCP came into the picture.

According to Mangole before the arrival of BCP there was peace and respect among contracting partners being BMD, Botswana National Front (BNF) and Botswana Peoples Party. He said they decided to welcome BCP into the UDC fold after the former felt the wrath of electorates during the 2014 general elections. “In the build up to the 2014 general elections all the three parties that made up UDC were like a family.

We negotiated peacefully and with understanding. We respected each other and there was no big brother mentality. But since the coming of the BCP things changed and that is why we find ourselves where we are today. “It is because of people who just came yesterday and have not contributed or invested in the UDC,” Mangole said. However, according to Saleshando the BCP should not take the blame for the UDC mess.

He is of the view that BMD is the problem. He pointed out during an interview with this publication that the highest level political turmoil can only be traced to the time when the BMD went for its congress in Bobonong in July last year. There was bloodbath during the clash of the party’s two factions - one led by Ndaba Gaolathe and the other by Advocate Pilane.

Two parallel congresses were held and produced two National Executive Committees. According to Saleshando this is what should be a clear example of political turmoil, which occurred in the absence of the BCP.  But Mangole differs. He maintains that the BCP played a part in the split of the BMD, which saw the formation of Alliance for Progressives (AP) when Gaolathe and team dumped the BMD to form AP late last year.

Mangole who is also Member of Parliament for Mochudi West explained that Advocate Pilane was at the forefront of recruiting the BCP into the UDC. He posited that BCP encouraged them to go to Bobonong and ensure that Gaolathe and team do not take the leadership of the BMD. “They pleaded with us to ensure that we take the BMD leadership. They supported us because they knew that Gaolathe and team do not need them in the UDC. They used us to fight their battles.

“Because we wanted them in the UDC which is a project of Batswana we ensured that we fight with our colleagues. It is not nice that we have lost the likes of Gaolathe because of the BCP especially its leadership,” Mangole hit out. Saleshando dismissed as unfounded and shallow these claims by the BMD. “We have heard of such claims from them. I mean the funding which they say we extended to them to fight their colleagues clearly shows that they are not fit to be in politics,” Saleshando told this publication.

The UDC has for a long time not found peace especially within its leadership. The tension has now pitted the BMD against the BCP. Speculation is rife that come next week or before end of the month BMD - which is to make representation before UDC NEC - might be expelled from the coalition movement. BMD has however indicated that it would fight to the bitter end because it has invested a lot into the UDC project.

Indian companies have collectively invested several billion pulas into the Botswana economy and employ up to 10,000 citizens, says Manhar Mooney, the executive chairman of Trans Africa Group.   The majority of these companies belong to the Gujaratis, such as the motor magnate, Satar Dada; Trans Africa’s Manhar Mooney; Motovac’s Harshad Patel and many others.

Speaking Monday this week during the celebration of Gujarat Day at the Maharaj Conference Centre, Mooney said the advent of Gujeratis into Botswana is almost a century old. Mooney arrived in Botswana around 1979/80 from Zimbabwe, where he was involved in the freedom struggle against Ian Smith’s white-minority rule with “my political leader, Joshua Nkomo” of the Zimbabwe African Peoples Union (ZAPU).

His father came to Beira Port (Mozambique) in 1917 (exactly 101 years ago), after a two-month journey on a small vessel from Bombay (now Mombai). He was 22 years old -just like Mahatma Ghandi who arrived in South Africa at the age of 23 as a qualified barrister to represent a Pretoria-based Gujerati Memon trader, in a court case. The first few Gujerati families arrived into Botswana, due to oppressive apartheid laws in South Africa.

They crossed into border villages like Ramotswa, Sikwane, Lobatse and others and moved on into other villages and towns as opportunities arose. “They assimilated into local communities and spoke the local languages fluently, providing services to these communities,” said Mooney.  Mooney said that some Indian Gujerati businessmen then saw opportunities from neighbouring countries, as did some professionals from the accounting and medical fields from India, who descended upon Botswana.

Many were recruited into government service and senior positions.   Today, the largest Indian population outside of India, Mooney said, is in the USA, then UK and then South Africa with Gujerati’s featuring prominently, mainly as traders. He said that in the USA, Gujeratis carry the label “Hotel – Motel – Patel” and that this is not by accident” but because they own 60 percent or more of the hospitality industry.

“They started buying up cheap low quality motels all over America. Their offspring have by now acquired some of the largest franchise hotels in the USA,” he said. Speaking at the same occasion on Monday, India’s High Commissioner to Botswana Dr. Rajesh Ranjan (incidentally also a Gujarati) called on Batswana businesspeople and Gujaratis resident in the country to participate in the VIBRANT GUJARAT GLOBAL SUMMIT 2019, which will be held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in India from 18 to 20 January 2019.

Currently there are 19 operational Diamond Manufacturing Companies, out of which eight are of Indian origin, and together these companies employ 1000 young Batswana who have been trained in diamond cutting and polishing. Four of these companies – Dharmanandan, Mohit, Yaelstar and Karp Impex – were licensed in 2018. 

Indeed, acceded minister Eric Molale, Botswana’s diamond sector is largely dominated by the Gujarati community whose 500 families resident in the country and have invested largely in the diamond and hospitality industries, infrastructure development, trading and various Small and Medium Enterprises.  Among the world’s renowned Gujaratis are Mahatma Ghandi and the current Indian Prime Minister, Nahendra Modi.

In his keynote address, minister of mineral resources, green technology and energy security Molale, observed that Gujaratis are renowned for their mercantile ethos and business acumen, a trait accentuated by the executive chairman of Trans Africa Gorup, Manhar Mooney in his presentation on ‘the Journey from Gujarat to Botswana’ as innate to this enterprising group of people that originate in Gujarat, a state located on the west coast of India.  

Dr. Ranjan extolled the significance of Vibrant Gujarat citing the 2017 event, which he said had more than 100 countries with more than 2700 international delegates participating including two Presidents from Africa – Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame as well as Prime Ministers from Portugal and Serbia. The 2017 Summit was also attended by nine Nobel Laureates and also organised 355 business-to-business meetings and 260 business to government meetings. 

“I would like to invite you all to participate in Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019 to enhance the relationship between India and Botswana,” Dr. Ranjan appealed. Also in attendance on Monday at the Gujarat Day were Chairman of Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Victor Senye.

He told Botswana Guardian that he would take up the High Commissioner’s invitation with his management, in light of the fact that Gujarat is classified as one of the leading industrialised states in India.  Buttressing Gujarat’s commercial attributes, Dr. Ranjan emphasised that the state is one of the best places in India for the manufacturing of textiles, pharmaceuticals, and agro-based and petrochemical products. He cited among the major investors in the state, Adani, Clarins Paris, Ford, Honda, IBM and Kellogg’s.

In terms of economic performance he said that Gujarat recorded $66.8 bn worth of exports in 2017-18, contributing over 22 percent to India’s net exports and recorded $18, 7bn worth of foreign direct investment inflow from 2000 to 2018. Dr. Ranjan mentioned other attributes of Gujarat as the host to the world’s largest petroleum refining hub at Jamnagar and the world’s third largest producer of denim as well as a global leader in processed diamonds.

All these make for fine selling points to induce BITC. Other speakers at Monday’s Gujarat Day included Arjav Mehta of Arjav Diamonds who shared his experience of diamond trading with Botswana; Shailendra Singh, the new Managing Director of Bank of Baroda (which originates in Gujarat) as well as the chairman of the India Botswana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shyam Sreekaram.

The auspicious occasion was graced by hundreds of Gujarat families, minister Molale’s wife and minister Dikgang Makgalemele as well as captains of industries. It was spiced up by cultural dance performance.

Embattled Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) has vowed to take the war to its coalition partners in Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) following its suspension from the coalition in a bid to protect its constituencies.

BMD which is expected to make representation before the UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) on Thursday next week has come up with a strategy to counter their colleagues in the UDC being Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Botswana National Front (BNF) who are allegedly getting themselves ready to pounce on BMD’s 13 constituencies should the party be expelled from the UDC.

Currently there is a stalemate between BMD and UDC NEC regarding the suspension. BMD has rejected the suspension and made demands to the UDC President Advocate Duma Boko and according to information gathered, Advocate Boko has not responded to the demands put forward by the BMD. Following this development BMD NEC called a meeting with all prospective candidates to discuss the issue this past Sunday.

Botswana Guardian gathered that at the meeting, which took the whole day and was addressed by party leader Advocate Sidney Pilane, candidates expressed disappointment in the way the leadership of the UDC is treating the BMD. Some members of the party have called on the party leadership to unleash an attack on the BCP and BNF.

The intention is that should the UDC NEC go ahead and expel the BMD then the BMD should also target constituencies of their colleagues even if it means the trio losing in the 2019 general elections. The contention at the meeting was that there are a few greedy individuals within the UDC especially at leadership level who are preying on BMD constituencies. These leaders both from BCP and BNF are currently without constituencies and are only banking on the constituencies held by the BMD.

The BMD according to insiders would not allow itself to be a scapegoat and is prepared to fight tooth and nail for its legitimate rights.Sources who attended the highly charged Sunday meeting revealed that the BMD is prepared to go all the way to prove its point. If push comes to shove, the party will get candidates to challenge most of the UDC leadership at their constituencies including the leader of the coalition movement.

Failure to secure candidates the BMD is said to be prepared to support other political parties with other members at the meeting calling for the support of candidates of their splinter Alliance for Progressives (AP). Another meeting is scheduled to be held tomorrow (Saturday) where other issues would be finalised. The BMD has also come up with a series of in-house meetings and public rallies to counter what has been done by Advocate Boko and one of his deputies Dumelang Saleshando who is also President of the BCP.

BMD kickstarted this process with a rally in Mochudi last week. The party has also indicated that it would not make representation before the UDC NEC next week if it has not been furnished with the documents that they requested from Advocate Boko being, minutes and attendance register of the meeting that took the decision to suspend the BMD.

Advocate Boko has stated that the suspension is meant for the BMD to introspect following feedback from UDC members and the public that showed that the BMD leader was resented. He stated that the BMD constituencies remain under the care of the party but all UDC activities would continue in those constituencies.

In an interview BMD Chairman Nehemiah Modubule said he has not heard of any news regarding the scramble for their constituencies. As for the Sunday meeting he said, “As the BMD we hold meetings from time to time.” He confirmed that another meeting would be held tomorrow (Saturday) with candidates. After that they will decide a way forward about other meetings and public rallies.

In a bid to restore confidence and bring about good results the Ministry of Basic Education is holding workshops around the country in regions to ensure uniformity in applying teaching skills.

Speaking to Botswana Guardian, Coordinator of School Turn Around, Tshwarelo Hosia revealed that they have been running workshops for the regions and  so far they have covered five regions being Gantsi, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, North West and Chobe.
The strategy wants schools to worry less about external factors because there has been a culture of shifting the blame, diverting attention from the school to outside forces.

“We are saying even in the worst case scenario, if families were to become dysfunctional, schools must become functional. We are saying it is the duty of a principal to establish a unique and distinct culture which is different from the village culture. A student must realise that they are on holy ground which is different from where he comes from,” said Hosia.

According to him the school head should establish a culture of hard work, a culture of reading by the manner in which he manages his own school. That is why no turn around strategy in the world has ever taken place without a strong principal. In fact, research says that there is a direct and intimate link between leadership and results.  “That is why as we move about, the response is overwhelming; our principals- you can ask them all over the region that we have covered- are saying that this workshop is one of a kind.

Unique because for the first time it is taking us to what we know we should be doing and we have not been doing. “For in instance, we are taking the principals back to tried and tested methods which somewhat fell by the wayside. We are saying what is wrong with common planning, with common scheming, collaborative teaching, with peer teaching”?

Teachers in the same department are working in silos and not necessarily as a team to support one another. The strategy says it is the duty of the principal to ensure that first of all there is harmony in the department; the school should become a professional learning community where there is exchange of notes and ideas on the best instructional practices. “We are saying every day is an opportunity for the school to be better than yesterday.

Everything rests with the principal, knowing your teachers well means you know their strengths and weaknesses.  It is the duty of the principal to ensure that gaps are identified and closed”.Further teachers must be assisted on issues of lesson preparation, is this lesson planned, examining the quality of the lesson plan and how well the lesson plan will help the learners to learn better. 

“What is happening now is that people are lesson planning for the purpose of compliance because the school says that they should plan and they prepare lesson plans which are not necessarily scrutinised to check issues of quality. People are assessed occasionally for purposes of filling the performance forms but not necessarily to improve the instructions every day. This is where the problem is because performance improvement is seen as an external imposition,” he said.

Strategy
The strategy came following the appointment of Dr. Collie Monkge as Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Basic Education. It is a component of the Education Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) coupled with a research that was done by the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry had engaged Professor Kipper as consultant to look into why academic achievement levels are very low in the ministry of basic education. Some of Professor Kipper’s observations were that the ministry must strengthen governance and accountability in schools since Principals had taken their feet off the pedal regarding supervision of the classroom. The strategy is about ensuring that the principal gets involved in classroom issues.

“The teachers are coming from the same colleges and University of Botswana; they are the same as they have the same qualifications. Therefore what will differ is management, how the principal is managing the resources. Issues of deployment are the responsibility of the principal to ensure that he knows his teachers very well, who can teach a standard seven class, a low class, who can teach pure sciences and for what reason”.

Hosea said they have been advising the teachers that the allocation of classes for results is the prerogative of the school head but that teachers say they want the classes to be allocated on a rotational basis.  The Turn Around on the other hand demands that the principal use data as a basis for allocating classes. It is about getting the principal back into the classroom.

The principal must assume his rightful place as an instructional leader in the school set up. The principal cannot confine himself in office when the school is not really doing well. “We are saying the quality of a school cannot exceed the quality of the principal or teachers”.

Observation
The principals are being asked if they know what they are looking for when they go to observe a lesson. This is so, because sometimes people observe the teacher and care little about the learner. “We remind the principals to look at the learners what are they doing and saying –a teacher can dramatise the lesson, teach to impress the one who is observing”.

Hosea says that during the observation one must ensure that all different cognitive skills are covered. This is because at times teachers complain that learners are unable to comply. The teacher determines the attitude of the learners. “There is the issue of professional development, some people think it means the ministry must send you for further studies abroad, others say the in service department has died, well there is an element of truthiness in it, but where does professional development begin?

It begins at school level, when receiving new teachers, how does the principal immerse the new arrivals into the professional culture? Teachers can go as high as the principal wants them to go”.Hosea said at the moment the culture of teaching is not about resources, it has collapsed because students are not given enough practice and feedback on time.  “Much as we appreciate there are challenges in resources, but the biggest resource at the disposal of the principal is the teacher”.

The establishment of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Botswana has contributed immensely to increasing access to tertiary education and diversifying learning programmes, Minister Ngaka Ngaka said last week during the University’s 11th graduation ceremony.

Celebrated under the theme, ‘Change the World’, the Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology minister, encouraged graduands to be bold and use the skills they have aqcuired during their studies to change the employment landscape.

“A more important dimension of this theme is that by being industry-ready, you will create, lead, and even grow your firms,” said the minister citing Limkokwing graduates who have led the revolution in transforming media and other industries and even set up media houses, as an inspiration to the new graduants.

Botswana Gazette reporter, Sonny Serite, who was also one of the graduands, said he has always had the experience in the field but without a qualification until he got a scholarship in 2014. Speaking on behalf of the Botswana Media Fraternity Scholarship beneficiaries, Serite expressed gratitude to the founder and president of the global university, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dato Sri Paduka Dr Limkokwing for their achievements.

The face of the University, Mercy Thebe urged all the graduates to go and utilise their qualifications and change the country and the world than depend on being employed. “You are the future innovators, motivators, leaders and caretakers. You have big responsibilities on your shoulders to move the world forward in a positive way,” she advised.

Limkokwing High Flyer/ Industry Advisor, Atone Zwinani also encouraged the class of 2018 to go out there and be visionaries that transform industries and economies. “It is not going to be easy, but keep on and have faith in your work, embrace every challenge and be a high flyer and a gem of Africa,” said Zwinani.

Ngaka told the graduates to take an active part in the affairs of their university, adding that the Limkokwing Alumni Association is to be launched in the near future, therefore graduates should support it. So far, over 14 000 graduates from all over Africa have graduated from Limkokwing Botswanaand thousands more have travelled to the campuses in Malaysia and London.

Residents of Makwate Village in Mahalapye East constituency are bitterly split over the decision to quarry Makwate Hill for the construction of Dibete-Mookane-Machaneng road.Makwate Village is situated 55 kilometres from Mahalapye. Arriving in the village, one is greeted by the hill, as it stands guard over the village.

Besides the hill, there is really nothing much to the village. That would perhaps explain the uproar that has since developed in Makwate.  Information reaching this publication is that there is ongoing quarrying of the hill to produce concrete for construction of the road that passes through Makwate. However some residents feel that the Hill is a national heritage site, so unique, diverse and deserving of conservation.

They object to creating a burrow pit at Makwate Hill because they feel the hill has significant attributes of cultural and historical significance, spiritual and archaeological importance and is also home to many species such as birds, animals and plant life.The quarrying action, they say, will amount to irreversible destruction and kill their dreams of turning the hill into an eco-tourism development project that could benefit the Makwate community in future.

When the Botswana Guardian team visited Makwate Village recently, the area to be quarried was already fenced. Although there was no one at the site, it was evident that land clearing had already begun; the area had been debushed all the way to the hill. Jacob Coetzee, a resident of Makwate and a man who has been very vocal about the goings-on at Makwate said he was still in shock at the government’s conduct.

He said it beats him why government would want to destroy a hill that they believe is worth treasuring.  As if that was not enough, it seems government is not willing to listen to residents’ complaints and fears that the beautiful hill will soon be destroyed. “My ploughing field is just 200m away from the area to be quarried, my home is 400m away and my business is only 750m away.

This whole thing will obviously affect my business because tourists passing by Makwate will no longer enjoy the beautiful view of the Hill when they fuel their cars at my filling station,” he said.  One elderly man, Elliot Tlhankane (69) said big machines have been moving up and down on the west side of the hill. He said contractors had been given surface rights to quarry and were now busy at work.

With despair and disappointment, so bitter it seemed to burn his tongue; Tlhankane said in all his life he perceived the hill special. Actually his entire life revolved around it. He had heard beautiful stories surrounding the hill and how their great grandparents once lived up there. Tlhankane reared his small livestock there when growing up.

“That hill has many treasures that need to be preserved; we are shocked that the government is willing to destroy such a beautiful feature that boasts of a rich history. There are also graves up there because my parents shared with me the history behind this hill,” Tlhankane said.

Quizzed on how a decision was reached to quarry the hill, Tlhankane explained that there had been meetings at the Kgotla with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), land board and roads department present. He had always been against the idea of the burrow pit however he was shocked to learn at a later time that the process was going ahead and surprisingly, the village had agreed to the quarry.

The owner of Bodibeng Bar and General Dealer situated not far from the hill, Sarah Batsalelwang said she was also against the government’s decision to destroy the hill. Batsalelwang argued that proper consultation was not done adding that she wishes the government should reconsider quarrying the hill.“We have nothing against the road being constructed but we cannot celebrate development at the expense of destroying the hill.

Firstly we have not been presented with the Kgotla minutes that prove that indeed the people of Makwate agreed to the burrow pit and also we have not been given the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIA) by the DEA,” Batsalelwang said.

Helpless frustration balled in her chest, Batsalelwang explained that they do not believe that the EIA was ever carried out. She said that they have been regular customers at Sefhare Land board offices trying to reason with them, hoping they will have a change of heart but to no avail. “Land board has granted contractors surface rights to quarry,” she said.

Batsalelwang added that the noise from the quarry would affect her business, “My customers come here to relax, now imagine that with all the noise pollution from this side disturbing them? My flowers that beautify this place are most likely to die because of the dust but I was never consulted,” she argued.

Meanwhile headman of Mmuabui Ward, Motswaudi Diau accused all those who are against the quarry as power hungry and want to stop developments in the village. He said he was present when residents of Makwate agreed that the hill be used to extract the needed concrete for the road and it was disturbing that some now want to interfere.

Diau labelled those who were against the quarry as “outsiders” who could not fully explain the culture of the Hill. “What graves are they talking about; they cannot even prove what they claim. They will not quarry the entire hill but only a part of it that is even unnoticeable at the back,” he said.Village Development Committee (VDC) Vice Chairperson Joel Koobeetswe said they have taken into consideration the people’s cries and wish for the quarry to stop while they assess the matter.

He acknowledged that the Hill had deeprooted culture that they need to take into consideration. “We should be careful not to destroy what could be beneficial to us in future,” he said.Another resident Sedie Rankhudu born and bred in Makwate claimed she has a plot not far from the hill however she also was not told of the developments. She had wished to turn the hill into a tourism site especially that the village was not very far from Parr’s Halt border.

“About 100 cars pass here daily now imagine if we were to beautify this place, make it look attractive, the dream was there but we had not shared it because we were still trying to brainstorm how best to present it,” she said.Nevertheless it remains to be seen if their pleas will be listened to. According to the minutes of Sefhare Land Board Special board meeting held on the 13th -14th March 2018, the complaints of Makwate concerned citizens   were dismissed and the application for the quarry approved.

However they have since appealed the Sefhare land board’s decision to Ngwato land board in Serowe. Ngwato landboard acknowledged receiving the appeal on the 4th May 2018. The concerned residents are hoping for a positive response from Serowe however they are worried that the land board is taking long to respond despite the fact that the contractors are busy clearing the land.

When reached, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mahalapye East also Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Botlogile Tshireletso said she knew nothing about the matter. Tshireletso distanced herself from the matter saying the residents never told her of what was happening in Makwate.

The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism could not respond to the questionnaire sent to them three weeks ago despite repeated efforts to reach the ministry. Alice Mmolawa, the chief public relations officer was always said to be held up in meetings or not available.  

Botswana People’s Party (BPP) Central Committee is said to have made a U-turn on the suspension of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) from the Umbrella for Democratic Change.When Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) National Executive Committee announced the suspension of BMD last month, BPP associated itself with the decision.

BPP and BMD have been close allies in the coalition following the split of the BMD last year. Although BPP President Motlatsi Molapisi confirmed that the suspension was a collective decision of the NEC, during its series of political rallies, the BMD on the other hand maintained that BPP was not part of the decision. The party argues that the decision was made by Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and the Botswana National Front (BNF).

According to information reaching this publication BPP has since proposed a meeting with BNF tomorrow (Saturday) to discuss the matter. The meeting follows another that was held between BPP and BMD recently regarding the suspension. The BPP central committee is said to have decided to disassociate itself with the decision taken to suspend BMD.

BMD has for long been fighting in the same corner with BPP and many were taken by surprise when Molapisi revealed that they have endorsed the suspension. During the Saturday meeting BPP is expected to inform the BNF that it does not support the suspension of the BMD. According to sources, BPP will also question the participation of BCP in the NEC proceedings while its membership has not been confirmed.

BMD Secretary General Gilbert Mangole confirmed that they recently had a meeting with BPP. Mangole however stated that the meeting was a bilateral one that they can have with any of the UDC contracting partners. He said he is not in a position to share with the media what was discussed because the meeting was internal.

BPP Secretary General Venter Galetshabiwe confirmed the proposed meeting with BNF. At press time Galetshabiwe revealed that they had not yet received reply from BNF. “We are not in a position to share with you what we would be discussing with our colleagues. Matters of bilateral are sensitive. There are issues that have to remain internal until such a time we believe have to be shared with the public.

So even after our meeting with BNF we might not be able to share with you what we discussed. “Some of the matters of course might border on UDC but we always want to treat UDC matters with the sensitivity they deserve,” he said.

BNF Information and Publicity Secretary Justin Hunyepa said he has not yet received information to that effect. He said all he knows is that they are busy with preparations for the Saturday rally in Gaborone. The rally will be addressed by Advocate Boko, Molapisi who is also UDC Chairman and UDC Vice President BCP leader Dumelang Saleshando.

Former President Festus Mogae who is the Choppies chairman was recently forced to cut short his planned official trip abroad in order to come home and attend board meetings to resolve the financial losses the company suffered in Zimbabwe due to fraud by one of its directors.
Although it is public knowledge that Choppies Zimbabwe lost its money through fraud by one of their own, both Mogae and the group CEO for Choppies Distribution Centre Private Limited and Choppies Enterprises, Ottapathi Ramachandran have adopted a stance not to talk to the media but instead allow the court to decide.
Choppies allegedly incurred financial losses when one of its Zimbabwean directors and son to former Zimbabwe Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, Siqokoqela, looted an excess of USD51,000 (about P5.1m) worth of cash and goods from the outlets countrywide. Siqokoqela is facing 170 counts of fraud or theft.
Mphoko is a director of Nanavac Investments Private Limited, a local partner to the Choppies Distribution Centre (Proprietary) Limited.  However, he is a shareholder in the retail business and a non-executive director. Choppies Enterprises Limited manages, controls, operates, and owns 93 percent of economic interest in Nanavac Investments Pty Ltd. This business is a separate entity from the listed Botswana entity Choppies Enterprises Limited.
 Reliable reports coming from Zimbabwe indicate that Mphoko’s wife, Nomagugu, is also facing fraud charges for allegedly entering different Choppies outlets in Bulawayo and demanding cash. It is said she ordered 15 Choppies Supermarket managers in Bulawayo to unlawfully give her more than USD30 000 cash from their POS machines after threatening them with either deportation or dismissal. Nomagugu is facing 49 counts of extortion.

Trial dates
Siqokoqela appeared in court on Wednesday but the new trial dates had to be set at the request of his legal representatives who told the court that they need time to prepare. However, time has run out for his wife Nomagugu who has to face the court today (Friday).
Speaking to Botswana Guardian on behalf of Mogae, Private Secretary Rhee Hetanang said the former president prefers not to comment at least for now.

He says “the matter is sub-judice and therefore he is constrained to address either the media and, or any third parties on the subject matter”.The group CEO for Choppies Distribution Centre Private Limited and Choppies Enterprises, Ottapathi Ramachandran also declined to comment saying, “I do know much about the case, I am not allowed to talk to the media” before he referred this publication to the Choppies attorneys.

 Speaking to Botswana Guardian in a telephone interview on Wednesday, Choppies Attorney Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga of Dube, Banda, Nzayapenga and Partners confirmed the particulars of the case. He said it is true that Siqokoqela Mphoko is facing charges.
“He appeared today in court but the trial date had to be postponed and has been set to commence from 26 to 30 November 2018.

The matter was postponed following the request by his lawyers who told the court that they were not ready to start their defence and applied for a later date”.Subsequent to their application both the applicants and defence attorneys agreed to block their entire week in order to accommodate the trial date.Nzarayapenga further confirmed that the trial of Mphoko’s wife will start today (Friday) 19 October 2018.

The case
Zimbabwean Newspapers recently went aboard with the story after Mphoko and his wife were arrested and charged for fraud at different dates. The Bulawayo based Chronicle wrote that Prosecutor Nkathazo Dlodlo told  the court that  between July last year and June this year, Mphoko proceeded to various Choppies supermarkets where he allegedly demanded varying amounts of cash, goods and services for various purposes from the employees without approval from the board.

“The accused person deceived the employees into believing that he was the one at the helm of Choppies Zimbabwe and had authority to demand or collect anything he wanted from the business. He also told the employees that he had the authority to collect goods on a credit facility, which was a misrepresentation,” said Dlodlo.

The court heard that on different occasions, Mphoko collected cash, groceries and an assortment of building materials and ordered personnel from the finance department to deduct the money from his salary.“The accused person would then confront personnel from the finance department and order them not to deduct any amount from his salary.

There were occasions when he also misrepresented that he intended to replace the money through swiping from Point of Sale (POS) machines,” said Dlodlo.The Chronicle further states that court papers show that, Mphoko by virtue of being a non-executive director, was entitled to a monthly gross salary of $10 000, company vehicle, fuel, telephone allowance and 3,53 percent of profit after tax as dividend at the end of each year.

Although he was not supposed to be directly involved in the day to day operations of the company, Mphoko allegedly masqueraded as the owner of the company in Zimbabwe and even threatened to either dismiss or deport employees of Indian origin for defying his orders.

The matter came to light in May 2018 when the Botswana-based Choppies group chief executive officer, Ottapathi Ramachandran, discovered that there were a series of financial imbalances while going through the company management accounting books.It was discovered that the company was prejudiced of $51 945, 53. The matter was reported to the police and investigations were conducted leading to Mphoko’s arrest and nothing was recovered.

Statement
Recently Choppies issued a statement saying that Mphoko routinely approached various ‘Choppies’ supermarkets in Zimbabwe to demand and take cash from the cash Till points. He misrepresented to Choppies employees that, as a director, he is entitled to take money from the company via the tills.

When Choppies management became aware of this conduct, Mphoko was informed that he must desist from his actions. He was made aware that his actions do not constitute good practice and, in any event, conflict with Choppies internal policies.Despite being this, Mphoko persisted with his conduct. He was further warned that, should he continue, the matter would be reported to the police.

As his unacceptable conduct continued, charges were brought against Mphoko. This resulted in his arrest and arraignment before a Zimbabwean magistrate on 170 counts of fraud and theft. Mphoko has since been remanded out of custody on bail.

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) might lose out on a USD 3million (P30 million) windfall for the 2019 general election campaign should it fail to resolve its internal fights and forge ahead to expel Botswana Movement for Democracy.

Democratic Alliance (DA) and African Liberal Network (ALN) are said to have offered to mediate in Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) impasse which has polarised the coalition movement beyond reproach. UDC National Executive Committee (NEC) has since suspended BMD and speculation has been rife that the party might be expelled. 

DA has bilateral relations with BMD and both are members of ALN. According to information reaching this publication DA President Mmusi Maimane and ALN leader Stevens Mokgalapa met with BMD leader Advocate Sidney Pilane in South Africa this past Sunday where they shared their desire to break the impasse.This publication has it on good authority that both the DA and ALN are prepared to commit about USD 3 million (P30 million) to the UDC 2019 election campaign but that can only happen if BMD is part of UDC.

The relationship between UDC and ALN-DA is consequent to BMD being part of the coalition.BMD has been accusing their partners in the UDC- Botswana Congress Party (BCP) and Botswana National Front (BNF) of using Advocate Pilane as a scapegoat for the UDC problems. BMD has been suspended on claims that its president has not received warm welcome from the public and members of the UDC.

Insiders within the BMD have revealed to this publication that a faction within the BMD NEC has initiated the talks with DA and ALN to intervene. This is said to have happened a fortnight ago. Information gathered suggest that Advocate Pilane seemed at the Sunday meeting to be willing to concede as Mokgalapa and Maimane persuaded him to consider letting go of some of the constituencies and wards for the sake of progress in the UDC.

Since the split of BMD which saw the formation of Alliance for Progressives (AP), there has been calls within the UDC for BMD to release some of its constituencies since the split has affected its capability to deliver on the 13 constituencies allocated it. BMD was yesterday (Thursday 18th) scheduled to make representation regarding the suspension. The party has since indicated that the suspension is a nullity and the grounds raised for the suspension are of no basis.

Following the Sunday meeting Maimane and Mokgalapa are said to have proposed to meet UDC President Advocate Duma Boko upon his return from Geneva where he traveled on Parliament official business. The meeting is expected to discuss the outcome of the meeting with the BMD leader and what can be done going forward to resolve the UDC problems.

BMD National Spokesperson Rasina Rasina said he is constrained to discuss the matter and referred all enquiries to Advocate Pilane, who could not be reached as his mobile phone rang unanswered. However, ALN leader Mokgalapa confirmed to this publication in a telephonic interview that they did meet Advocate Pilane on the UDC matter.

“We met the BMD President and Secretary General Gilbert Mangole in Pretoria on Sunday. We are worried about the current situation in the UDC. We are going to be meeting UDC President on Friday when he returns because he has travelled abroad. We will meet him at the airport before he connects a flight to Botswana,” said Mokgalapa.

He revealed that they could not meet Advocate Boko when he left for Geneva because of time constraints when he was connecting flights at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The ALN leader meanwhile refuted claims that they have committed funding to the UDC 2019 election campaign. “That is not true we have not committed any funding to UDC.

Remember only BMD in the coalition is a member of ALN. Other members of the UDC are not. We only have a relationship with them because we strongly believe in opposition coalition. We are only assisting in capacity building and strategies,” Mokgalapa pointed out.

During the February 2018 UDC Congress at Boipuso Hall Maimane told members of the media that UDC is a viable project and the DA would do all it can to help the UDC win the 2019 general elections. He stated that with a united opposition possibility of taking over power from Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is very likely. He explained that they would assist with strategies for campaigns and other resources including funding.

DA and ALN are said to have started work on campaign strategies for the UDC and an analysis has been made on how the election should be approached. Advocate Boko also last month revealed that a team of experts is working on the campaign strategy for the UDC which will ensure the coalition wins the 2019 general election.

Poverty is a global challenge that requires a global response in order to ensure that every citizen of Botswana lives a dignified life, First lady, Neo Masisi has said.

Masisi was speaking this past weekend at Travel Lodge during the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) gala dinner. She said HRDC is doing well in their social responsibility, particularly on including the less privileged. “I am delighted that they have adopted social responsibility as an integral part of their ecosystem,” she said.

"This is the kind of visionary leadership that the country needs", she said and urged all other entities to also emulate HRDC and engage in CSR.HRDC has adopted Malatswai primary school in Central District and East Hanahai Primary School in Ghanzi District to improve the learning systems in these schools.

Malatswai Primary School is the only learning facility in the village and when HRDC found out that the school had challenges of poor academic performance and lacked some resources they adopted it. HRDC staff members have since bought stationery for the school, for the benefit of the learners, which contributed positively towards the PSLE results last year.

CEO of HRDC, Dr. Raphael Dingalo said the donations that they brought for Malatswai came at an opportune time when the Standard 7 pupils sat for their exams. “The mandate of HRDC is ultimately to improve human life and that includes celebrating good academic and social performance as exulted at the prize giving ceremony,” he said.

HRDC Board Chairperson, Moggie Mbaakanyi said that they do CSR out of a moral obligation and as a service to fellow countrymen to preserve the dignity and sense of worth for those that are economically marginalised and socially deprived. “The gratification of a life worth lived, is seeking to edify and add value to mankind; the ability to put a smile on one’s face, through acts of kindness and words of encouragement. This is the consolation that inspires us to carry on,” said Mbaakanyi.

First Lady, Masisi applauded HRDC for depending on botho as a principle, saying that teaching children the spirit of botho at schools is very important.HRDC Board Member Dr. Thapelo Matsheka appreciated everyone who took part in the event by sponsoring, pledging and buying tickets. He said the funds raised from the gala dinner would be used to build a house for a needy family that is yet to be identified.

Botswana has been ranked number one in the world for its macro-economic stability, inflation, debt dynamics, labour, tax rate and risk for terrorism.The rating is contained in the 2018 World Economic Competitiveness Index.
However, overall, Botswana has dropped 26 positions from last year to be ranked 90th out of 140 countries surveyed in the Index

In 2017 Botswana was ranked 64th out of 138 countries, which was an improvement of eight positions compared to 2016.Botswana was ranked fourth in sub-Saharan Africa, after Mauritius, South Africa and the Seychelles. The Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) uses research and sample surveys to establish countries’ rankings across institutions, policies and factors that gauge their levels of sustainable economic prosperity.

While the annual report and its rankings are highly prized by governments and policymakers, investors also use them as decision-making tools. Locally, the Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC) is the lead agency for the GCR’s implementation and dissemination.GCR is determined by numerous and diverse factors, which were divided into three sub indexes: basic requirements, efficiency enhancers, innovation and sophistication factors.

Botswana Movement for Democracy Chairman Nehemiah Modubule has defended the non-appearances of party leaser Sydney Pilane at the various rallies held by the party following their suspension from Umbrella for Democratic Change.Since the suspension Pilane has hardly been seen at any of the countrywide rallies designed to sell the party to the people. This has led people to doubt Pilane’s political intentions.

A furious Modubule rebutted the accusations during a political rally held in Francistown this past weekend as “mere rubbish” from naysayers. “Why not me rather than Pilane? As a party we have our own modus operandi and we are not going to be influenced by what critics say. Before any rally, we delegate members who are going to speak and as such no one can tell us what to decide at our political rallies”.

He said there is absolutely nothing wrong with their president not being seen at political rallies since they have capable individuals who can address rallies when he is attending to other engagements.Modubule told the rally that they have long responded to UDC demands and are currently continuing with their campaigns for the 2019 general elections since they know very well that they will be exonerated from the trumped charges by their coalition partners.

An inside source at BMD revealed that in the event UDC decides to part ways with BMD, trouble shall brew for the alliance as BMD is likely to challenge the decision in court thereby destabilising the UDC ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) has intervened to resolve the ongoing impasse between the Sowa Township Authority Councillors, Council and parent ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.BALA is the umbrella body for all councillors, whether elected or nominated. Under BALA all councillors are governed by a code to ensure that public service delivery by all councils is not interrupted.

A fortnight ago some of the councillors took government to court saying the Ministry was denying them the right to claim daily mileage for using their own transport when they attend council meetings.The decision came after Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi dissolved the Sowa Township Authority after the Councillors refused to give their Town Clerk, Ogaufi Molelo the power of attorney to appoint a lawyer to represent the council against them in the case.

The BALA delegation is made up of 8 people - four politicians and four council executives. It is led by BALA President Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo, who confirmed the developments to Botswana Guardian.  “The challenge is the council has to sit and accordingly give the Town clerk the power to appoint an attorney who will represent them in court, but the council is not able to make a quorum as some councillors say they are conflicted and cannot sit in a meeting which will give power of attorney to appoint an attorney who will represent the council against them”.

However, Moruakgomo said they were continuing with dialogue and seeking further consultations on what would be conflict and what is not.There is no time frame as to when the delegation will wrap up its mediation.“We met at the end of last week in Francistown.

The meeting was cordial and frank, we remain hopeful that we will find a middle ground,” he said. Meantime, Minister Moitoi felt compelled to withdraw the Investigation Committee that she had appointed and dispatched to Sowa when the Councillors filed the matter in court. Moitoi then appealed to the Attorney General for legal advice, which has since applied to represent government.

Attorney General Abraham Keetshabe confirmed that the Ministry has briefed them that Councillors have taken the council to court and that the council is not represented.  “We are going to make an application to represent the council,” he said The Sowa Town Council has a total of 9 councillors, 8 of which are nominated while the ninth is an ex- officio as he has been duly elected and a member of the Central District Council in Serowe

Many questions still remain unanswered regarding corporate governance at Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA).It was revealed during examination of books of accounts by the Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and State Enterprises that a waiver for a petrol filling station was controversially awarded by the regulator after the board rejected the request by the board chairman.

BERA is responsible for providing an efficient energy regulatory framework for Electricity, Gas, Coal, Petroleum products, Solar and all forms of renewable energy. It was established through the Botswana Energy Regulatory Act 2016 and started its operations on the 1st of September, 2017.

BERA has eight Board members of whom four are permanent. BERA Chairperson Bernard Ndove told the committee that indeed he once got a call from “someone in high authority” that there is a complaint from someone who has put up infrastructure for a petrol filling station but BERA was delaying to issue the licence. According to the chairman a waiver was issued because the complainant indicated that he is already losing financially while he is ready to operate.

 This was also confirmed by Chief Executive Officer Rose Seretse. Seretse however highlighted that the waiver was not issued to just that particular complainant. “We looked at all the applications that we had that we have delayed to act on. We then proceeded to issue a waiver for all those applicants whom we had delayed to give them licenses,” she told the committee.

In a twist of events Board Member Sidney Mogapi who is responsible for electricity revealed that no waiver was issued. Mogapi who is a full-time member of the board said, “The chairperson wrote to all of us board members regarding the request for the waiver.
“As board members we advised the chairperson that he could not do that. The waiver never occurred. We vehemently rejected the request as board members.

I think the CEO’s recollection is foggy.” This was denied by Seretse who posited that her recollection is not foggy and insisted that the waiver was issued and ratified by the board.She said the waiver was for several applicants whose applications were not attended to in time. She pointed out that the board delayed to meet and look at the licence applications.

Mogapi stood his ground that the issuance of the waiver was in contravention of the BERA Act. “The licenses were issued illegally. It was a miscarriage of duty because it was not supposed to happen,” said Mogapi.Another controversial issue that cropped up was the appointment of CEO, Chief Operations Officer, Finance Director and Human Resources Director.

Seretse, Ndove and Human Resources Director Nnosang Mhutsiwa could not state for a fact if the posts were advertised or Ndove headhunted and handpicked officers occupying those positions. This was after the committee Chairman Samson Guma sought clarity on whether the posts were advertised or not.

Guma would later put it to them that the posts were not advertised and if he is wrong they should provide proof to the contrary. He also asked the board chairman if he would resign if it is discovered that indeed he headhunted the officials and not advertised the posts. Mhutsiwa promised to go and look for such information and present it to the committee.

In June this year BERA Board suspended the chief operations officer (COO) Duncan Morotsi over the alleged improper appointment of a consultant from Tanzania to the Authority. According to the letter dated June 11, 2018, the suspension follows a preliminary report by a commission of inquiry team constituted by the BERA Board.

It discovered that there might have been impropriety in the engagement of Edwin Kiddiffu. Morotsi was suspended to allow for investigations. Guma also questioned why the investigations were being carried by BERA internally. He wondered how BERA could investigate itself. However, Seretse revealed that Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) is also engaged in the investigations.