BMD is obstacle to opposition cooperation
Opposition cooperation against the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) is itself a noble idea only when all the opposition forces can be trusted enough to remain loyal to the course and agenda of the opposition as a whole.
Any cooperation, Umbrella or Pact that includes the untrustworthy Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) that is now destabilising the entire opposition is unwelcome.
Some people believe that the Umbrella talks collapsed mainly because of failure to agree on allocation of seats. The Umbrella talks collapsed mainly because of the BMD’s character. The BMD and BDP share the same character, which is different from those of other opposition parties which have constantly opposed the BDP governing style.
EU agrees to slap oil embargo on Iran: diplomats
BRUSSELS (AFP) - European Union nations agreed Monday to slap an oil embargo against Iran’s oil exports in a bid to halt funding of the country’s disputed nuclear programme, EU diplomats said.
“There is a political agreement on an oil embargo,” said a diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity after early morning talks between ambassadors of the 27 EU nations held before the opening of a foreign ministers’ meeting.
The deal is to be formally approved by the EU ministers during their one-day talks.
The compromise agreement, which follows weeks of difficult talks, provides for an immediate ban on importing Iranian crude and a gradual phase-out of existing contracts between now and July 1.
P300 million to address water shortage
Only five out of 16 boreholes operational
Water Utilities Corporation has since acquired some emergency funds to the tune of P307 million which it will use to address the supply challenges in its most affected operational areas.The WUC Chief Executive Officer Godfrey Mudanga in his response to the Business Gazette inquiry has stated that, “The corporation is experiencing water shortages due to inadequate supply and the decreased yields of some boreholes prevalent in the country. Moshupa and Kanye are some of the worst affected areas.”
Cluster policing question the selection of best performers
FRANCISTOWN: The selection of the best performing clusters, undertaken under the crime prevention initiation cluster policing strategy, which came to effect in 2009, is marred in controversy.
Expressing his displeasure during the workshop of District No1 and 15, the district’s executive secretary Adam Phiri complained to Botswana Police Commissioner Thebeyame Tsimako, saying while the clustering policy has benefited the country by promoting unity, the criteria used to select the best performing clusters is questionable and raises eyebrows.
He charged that there is no uniformity and transparency.
Judge Defends the cartoonist’s right
Judge President Ian Kirby’s action in declaring that there is no law that prevents an artist from drawing a scene in court during court proceedings hopefully has had a salutary effect on court officials.
While officious officials will continue to deny the public information or misinterpret the law to suit their own purposes, denying people the chance to exercise their rights, Judge Kirby’s declaration has come as a breath of fresh air that hopefully has put a damper on officials tendency to be authoritarian and to go beyond the powers.
An article in this issue of The Gazette relates the ordeal of cartoonist and illustrator Albert Lekgaba, who was harassed by overzealous security officers at the Court of Appeal in Lobatse when he was making an illustration to accompany a story that a colleague was writing. Eight security officers manhandled him and demanded that he step outside the court room, where they told him that he was breaking the law by drawing inside the court and confiscated the drawing.
Zebras’ big moment!
Tshosane’s charges take on title contenders today
The moment has arrived. Botswana will today play in the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in history. With other debutants Equatorial Guinea and Niger having played their first matches, Botswana remains the only team at AFCON, which has not yet kicked a ball in the tournament but this will just serve for less than 12 hours from now.
The Zebras play the Black Stars of Ghana today (Tuesday) in Franceville, Gabon. The match kicks off at 1800hours local time. Stanley Tshosane’s team arrived in Franceville on Saturday short of Joel Mogorosi who was injured last Wednesday.
Public servants to give three months notice on resigning
The acting Director of the Directorate of Public Service Management, (DPSM) Keletso Kebakile has issued a directive informing public servants that they should give three months notice when resigning from the public service.
“Addressees are informed that where employees resign from the public service, they should serve 3 months notice in accordance with Section 28 (5) of the Public Service Act, as read together with General Orders 18.2; or pay to government one month’s salary in lieu of notice. Non-compliance with the above will result in withholding of benefits to recover the salary in lieu of notice,” the directive reads.
Botswana DJs nominated for DJ Magazine Awards
Botswana’s house DJs are proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Two of the country’s talented disc spinners, DJ Ricky Lamar and female DJ Jam-n-I have been nominated for the Southern African Dj Magazine Award.
The awards are held every year and according to Sizwe (full name please), a representative of SA DJ MAG, the magazine is “committed to delivering an exciting platform that ultimately rewards artists and those directly involved in the production of music.”
Giving insight on the criteria that was used to select the nominees, Sizwe revealed that a total of 17 categories were opened for selection. Once selections were closed at the end of November 2011, “we moved directly to the judging process where the nominated artists were considered in this initial evaluation process.”
The “poisonous” kid
You see, there are those children you never want to see your child near them. I guess you know the type of children I am talking about. Pardon me, but the way I see it; I was born with a rare but severe personality disorder. When I was young, none of the parents in the neighbourhood wanted to see their children anywhere near me. If by any chance the children stole an opportunity to interact with me, parents would go as far as seeking pharmaceutical precautions to pre-empt any “disease” the children might have acquired. No child was supposed to interact with me; that was the rule. Rumour has it that they even told them bedtime stories where I featured prominently as villain; contrary to reality. For whatever reason; they hated me to pathological proportions, only surpassed by the President’s hate for alcohol and Kgosikgolo’s love for weed.
Today's forecast
Gabs - min 18°c/max 30°c (chance of T-storms)
F-Town - min 17°c/max 29°c (overcast)
Maun - min 20°c/max 29°c (chance of T-storms)
Orapa - min 20°c/max 30°c (chance of rain)
Lobatse - min 15°c/max 30°c (chance of T-storms)
Ghana bank on Gyan against upstarts Botswana
FRANCEVILLE, Gabon (AFP) - Ghana will again be counting on goals by star striker Asamoah Gyan to get them past debutants Botswana in an Africa Cup of Nations Group D match Tuesday.
UAE-based striker Gyan has recovered fully from a hamstring injury he suffered in club action to score in the team’s final warm-up game against South African club Platinum Stars.
Two years ago, the striker the fans know as 'Baby Jet' scored against both hosts Angola and perennial arch-rivals Nigeria to propel a youthful Black Stars to the final, where they lost by a lone goal to Egypt.
Goal scoring has been Ghana's achilles' heel since the days of the likes of Opoku Afriyie, George Alhassan, Abedi Pele and Anthony Yeboah and for this tournament they are again looking very thin in this department.
The other strikers in the squad are the unreliable Prince Tagoe, who must be short in confidence after getting knocks for his lack of goals for the country, and Marseille youngster Jordan Ayew.
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