Message to the Zebras
First and foremost let me congratulate you again for qualifying for the first time in our history for the Africa Cup of Nations.
This is an achievement we must now continue to strive for in the future.
Your first ever game in this competition was always going to be very tough, as you were drawn against the highest ranked team in the competition.
The result and the way you played proved once again that you deserved to be there amongst Africa’s best. That first game was a good learning experience for you all for the rest of the competition.
You did us proud. Even Ghanaian supporters and their team commended your performance.
With the toughest challenge now behind you, we look forward to the next games with much excitement and anticipation. Be assured that the whole nation is behind you.
Europe to legislate on deficits
BRUSSELS (AFP) - European leaders bid to close a chapter in the debt crisis Monday with a pact on balanced budgets, but the eurozone Achilles heel that is Greece threatens to distract them once again.
Heads of state and government from the 27 European Union states gather from 3:00 pm (1400 GMT) in Brussels, with Belgium on strike against further spending cuts envisaged after yet another credit rating downgrade.
For once, there is no need for “crisis” adjectives -- the rhetoric on Europe has changed much in the two years since the scale of the problems in Athens threw the eurozone into political chaos.
Botswana Ash seeks new markets
Production for the country’s third largest mineral export rising
In the past year, production of the country’s third largest mineral export saw a significant rise, though not matched by sales. In 2011, Botswana Ash (Botash), producers of soda ash mined 244, 655 tonnes as compared to 240, 898 the previous year.
Responding to Business Gazette inquiry, Botash’s Public Relations Officer Carol Mabua said the improved production was attributed to a drastic reduction in plant downtime as maintenance was improved. “We started the year slowly with a lot of plant downtime and improved production in the last quarter,” she said.
Domboshaba calls for official use of Kalanga
FRANCISTOWN: Domboshaba Cultural Trust (DCT) has called on Members of Parliament and councillors to fully assist Bakalanga tribe to use their language in all areas where they are the majority.
In the proposal the Trust put to the Francistown councillors, the DCT publicity secretary Kangagwani Phatshwane lamented that the splitting of Bakalanga lands denied the tribe collective recognition and was subsequently followed by the removal of Kalanga language from use as medium of instruction in 1972. “This has resulted in many Bakalanga losing their self esteem to the point where some now even deny their very identity as Bakalanga in 2000,” Phatshwane said.
He added that many people are ashamed of speaking it and are now forced to abandon it because they interpret government policy of not teaching Kalanga as a tantamount to prohibiting its use.
Zebras: lessons to be learnt
Botswana’s maiden appearance at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations was a huge achievement which was widely celebrated by the nation, including their first mentor, President Ian Khama. The national team’s appearance at the competition since the establishment of the Botswana Football Association in 1978 was a mission accomplished; this was Botswana’s first step into football’s international stage and all who contributed to this milestone event have a reason to be proud.
However expectations from the supporters were may be too high; more so because the Zebras were the first team to qualify for the 2012 AFCON. They were placed top of a tough group that included Tunisia, Togo and Malawi, all having a reputation of being much stronger than our lads.
BMC spends P50 000 for Moyo
• The Lobatse outfit dates Gumbo’s FC Platinum
• Gunners make P80 000 within a week
Hendrick Moyo yesterday officially became a BMC player after three parties; the player, Extension Gunners and BMC mutually agreed that the player join the beMobile Premier League second-placed team. The player signed a three-year contract.
BMC bought him out of contract as he had a running contract with Gunners. Sonny Phiri, BMC chairperson as well as Gunners spokesperson, Abdul Kgengwenyane and Moyo confirmed the deal.
More lecturers to quit UB School of Medicine
Just when the University Of Botswana’s School of Medicine (SoM) is struggling to fill half its vacant posts, five more lecturers are set to leave.
While the UB’s Director of Public Affairs, Mhitshane Reetsang, would not confirm the pending departures, a report placed before the UB senate reveals that the school will probably lose more staff.
The report by the Heath Sciences Faculty to the UB Senate says the School was supposed to be run with 87 members of staff, but currently only 45 posts have been filled. Some of the courses that do not have even a single lecturer include psychiatry, surgery, medical education and gynaecology.
The little black dress, who wore it best?
The little black dress is considered every girl’s must have.
It is that one piece of clothing that is versatile, elegant and can be dressed up or down. It is meant to be a confidence booster, revealing all the right features and bringing out that feminine side- even for those who are not very fashion conscious.
The recently opened Fusion Entertainment, which prides itself on promoting lifestyle, recently hosted the LBD party at the new spot and TimeOut was impressed by the number of LBDs that filled the dance floor. They came in different cuts, designs, materials and while some were adorned with accessories, others were simply little black dresses that looked stunning.
Matambo’s budget: ‘Capitalism with the gloves off’
Fascism was once referred to as “capitalism with the gloves off” because it was capitalism without liberal democracy. However, neoliberalism, defined as the acceptance of triumphant capitalism the American way, conversely, is indeed “capitalism with the gloves off.”
Botswana’s budget proposals in the past few years have been anchored on the orthodox economic precepts promulgated by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank as well as the World Trade Organisation.
The budget proposal for the year 2012-13 to be presented by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo, is likely to disappoint like all proposals before.
Today's forecast
Gabs - min 21°c/max 33°c (partly cloudy)
F-Town - min 21°c/max 35°c (chance of T-storms)
Maun - min 22°c/max 34°c (partly cloudy)
Orapa - min 21°c/max 37°c (chance of T-storms)
Lobatse - min 19°c/max 32°c (chance of T-storms)
Sudan into Africa Cup of Nations last eight
LIBREVILLE (AFP) - Former African powerhouse Sudan, after decades in the international wilderness, are back in the big time after progressing to the Africa Cup of Nations last eight on Monday.
Sudan, one of the four founding members of the Confederation of African Football, last made it into the knockout stages way back in 1970 - going on to claim the title.
A first appearance in 32 years in 2008 ended in a first round knockout, and that appeared on the cards again as they went into their closing Group B game in third place behind Angola and Ivory Coast.
But a 2-1 defeat of already eliminated Burkina Faso combined with the Ivorians' 2-0 win over Angola in simultaneous matches lifted them above the 2010 hosts into the Group B runner-up spot.
The reward for coach Mohammed 'Mazda' Abdullah's gallant heroes was a quarter-final against Zambia in Bata on Saturday.
