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Edition 320 June 23 - 30, 2006

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PRESIDENT IN FIGHTING MOODBy Bright Kholi and Basadi Morokotso

President Festus Mogae came off the ropes this week to tell the North West District he supported shorter bar hours and that democracy rules.

An uncompromising Mogae told kgotlas in Shakawe, Gumare and Maun he was not here to hear complaints and opinions from villagers but to tell them the opinions being formulated within government about alcohol abuse and amendments to the Constitution. He however said he needed support on the proposed Trade and Liquor Act.

His straight-from-the-shoulder comments did little to lighten the mood at all three kgotlas, particularly at Gumare where the Bayei made it plain they were not pleased to see him.

Mogae told one questioner: “I didn’t come here to hear your word of advice and opinions. That time has already passed. I came here to report back at what parliamentarians in their wisdom have resolved. Now I’m here just to formally let you know”. The president said he felt he would be making a fool of himself if he kept on repeating what has been said before.

He said in Maun that plans were being made to “reallocate” people living in close proximity to bars so that normal family life can be continued without “the curse of alcohol” interfering with their lives. Mogae also said lodges and hotels would have to abide by new opening hours for bars and restaurants. There would be no exceptions. He said Parliament had resolved that bars should be open from 5pm until 11pm so that after these stipulated times, people will be able to go home and be with their families. The measure was withdrawn by the responsible Minister after complaints of insufficient consultation  He felt sorry for people who would lose their jobs “but we are not going to let multitudes of people die.”

The proposed amendment to the Liquor Act was deferred earlier this year after parliament adopted a motion that the Act be deffered pending further consultation.  Land Boards are also being told to review their policies so that they do not allocate plots for bars near schools, churches and hospitals “because innocent people are being disturbed for no good reasons . . .plans are underway to relocate those who are already near such places.”  In Gumare, his response to questions and comments showed that Mogae did not take lightly some of the comments and finger pointing directed at him. According Mogae the elections for the extended House of Chiefs will be for representatives and not paramount chiefs and they will be expected to represent the regions they come from and not any particular tribe.

“Representation is democracy,” he said, and although he also believed the public at large should be involved in the elections, the majority in his government thought otherwise, “ so I lost out because in a democracy the majority rules.” Mogae said as a Republican he believes even the Chiefs should be elected but he has gone along with the majority.

An agitated Mogae said at the end of the day, “we are all Batswana” when brushing aside allegations that some tribes were being marginalized, saying there is no such thing in Botswana. Swearing by the words “Ka rre le rrago”, won the support of many in his response as it was clear he did not condone any form of tribalism. Mogae told Bayei that they should not hold grudges on things that happened a long time ago as they are now water under the bridge.

Mogae dodges residents’ ‘ambush’ over Bayei

By Bright Kholi

GUMARE – It was obvious from the start of this week’s kgotla addressed by President Festus Mogae at Gumare that residents had waited patently to “ambush” him over the vexed question of the Bayei chieftainship.

After a long day speaking at an earlier kgotla at Shakawe and at the Gumare rural administration Centre, Mogae was patently agitated as questions were asked.

Mogae arrived at the kgotla shortly before 4 pm – about two hours later than the advertised starting time – to address the people on the proposed amendment of Section 77, 78 and 79 of the Constitution and the amended Trade and Liquor Act. Before his arrival, some of the crowd was saying they “were ready” for him as they needed answers regarding the chieftainship issue. “I am going to tell Mogae to take us seriously,” said an elderly man.

After delivering his speech, the packed kgotla was given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. A resident condemned the amendments to the Constitution, saying there was no way Chiefs, sub chiefs,  headmen of record and arbitration could elect regional representatives to the House of Chiefs, but rather the entire electorate should do so.

Under the proposed law, the House of Chiefs will be increased from 15 members to 35, paramount chiefs included. The others will be elected from various regions to represent those regions but not as paramount chiefs.

The resident told Mogae this was bound to cause conflicts between Dikgosi and their subordinates and the principles of democracy would be totally ignored if the representatives were to be elected only by a certain group of people. The resident reminded him that the Balopi Commission that looked at the three sections of the Constitution, was a result of the Bayei chieftainship case.

“We have our paramount chief whom we elected and we won’t vote again,” he said. Residents did not mince their words, telling Mogae he should have known that the territory he was in was for the Bayei and called on him to listen to what people say and not what his government thinks. “You should know that we can easily take the presidency from you and give it to somebody else,” said one resident.

They also commented that they have been subjects of the Batawana, adding that they do not want to be under any tribe as they have they their own Kgosi, and insisted that their area should be treated differently.

President Festus Mogae

Currently there are eight paramount chiefs in the country from the eight major tribes - Bangwato, Batawana, Batlokwa, Bakgatla, Bangwaketse, Balete, Bakwena and Barolong.

On issues of the new Trade and Liquor Act, which calls for the operating hours of bars to be from 5pm to 11pm during the week, Mogae received a lot of support. The bars will also be getting closed at midnight on weekends and remain closed on Sundays.

They agreed that alcohol abuse was a result of many social ills in society, and called for the alcohol content in beer to be reduced while others suggested raising the prices of alcohol as a potential deterrent to alcohol abuse. They also called for shebeens to licensed. Responding to the questions and comments, it was clear that Mogae did not take lightly to some of the comments and finger pointing directed at him.

According to him, the House of Chiefs elections will be for representatives and not paramount chiefs and they will be expected to represent the regions they come and from not any particular tribe - “Representation is democracy,” he said, adding he had also believe that the public at large should be involved in the elections, but the majority thought otherwise, “so I lost out because in a democracy the majority rules.”

Mogae said as a Republican he believes even Chiefs should be elected but he has to go with the majority. An agitated Mogae said at the end of the day “we are all Batswana.” He brushed aside allegations that some tribes were being marginalised, saying there is no such thing in Botswana.

Swearing by the words “Ka rre le rrago” Mogae won the support of many in his response as it was clear he did not condone any form of tribalism, telling the Bayei that they should not hold grudges on that happened a long time ago as that was now water under the bridge.

In the middle of his response, he was advised that his aircraft would not be able to take off unless he and his official party left the kgotla within 15 minutes. To this, Mogae replied it was already late and he had to respond to questions. “We will rather drive to Maun after this meeting,” he said. The meeting ended at 7pm.

Mogae spells out new bar hours for all

By Basadi Morokotso

The much talked about  proposed amendments to the  Liquor Act  were received with mixed feelings when President Festus Mogae told a Maun kgotla this week the purpose of the meeting was  to ask for support on  what  cabinet has agreed on.

He however said he and some members of parliament needed back up from the public and assured them that they are not stopping the use of alcohol but rather looking at ways that may help fight alcohol abuse. Mogae said the nation was losing educated people who have become victims of the abuse and as such they have lost lives and most families have suffered.

He said conflicts within families, house break-ins, rape and so forth are all the results of mismanagement of oneself after taking alcoholic drinks, lamenting that even those on antiretroviral treatment took alcoholic drinks soon after they feel they are “in a good state”

This was a drawback because the government is fighting tooth and nail to help those affected and infected.

Mogae said they are not succeeding as a government because the same alcoholics seek the assistance of lawyers soon after been penalised for wrongdoing and being a nuisance and that lawyers always claim their clients “were made to do wrong because they were under the influence of alcohol.”

Parliament resolved that bars should be open from 5pm until 11pm so that after these stipulated times, people will be able to go home and be with their families.

He urged Land Boards to review policies and not allocate plots for bars near schools, churches and hospitals “because innocent people are being disturbed for no good reasons.” Plans are underway to relocate those who are already near such places.

On other issues, the president talked about the election of members of the House of Chiefs and said the public is not going to be allowed to randomly elect whoever they feel fit to join the House. He said only chiefs, sub-chiefs, headmen of records and arbitration will be allowed to vote and said they should be in a position to elect people who are familiar with African law and custom. The North West District will be divided into four regions for the purpose.

At question time, businessman John Wellio said the inflation of the pula will do a lot of help because in the near future not everyone will afford high prices. Wellio said records from the Kgalagadi Breweries indicated their trade had fallen off by 17%, which is an indication that slowly but surely the message of the reduction of alcohol is becoming very clear to a good number of people.

Kgosi Rabosigo said  he felt no more permits should be issued for the establishment of  bar because order cannot be maintained and that many had fallen victims to youth who terrorise people at night and steal valuables and hard earned cash.

A bar owner said he does not agree with the new law and that their businesses are going to suffer a great deal because they are going to have to retrench people. Wright said they got loans from CEDA which need to be paid back and wondered how they are going to do so.

When answering, the president said he felt pity for those who are going to lose when the law comes into effect, but added lodges and hotels will also have to abide by the new law and that they are not going to be allowed to operate after the stipulated bar opening hours.

Row stops destroying of Disaneng trees

Chinese contractors working on the Disaneng gravel road in Maun have been told by the Road department to stop uprooting trees as the area is part of the Okavango delta Ramsar site.

Conservationists and residents have been protesting to the Roads department and to the Assistant Minister of Works and Transport, Frank Ramsden, that wilful damage was being caused, and suspected that no permits - as required by law - had been issued for the removal of trees in the path of the road, which is to be tarred at a cost of millions of pula. Dozens of trees have already been uprooted by bulldozers and other heavy equipment.

There was also concern that the road being constructed by China Jiangsung Construction was too close to the Maun Wildlife Sanctuary/Letswee Centre for Environmental Education, and that the ecology of the area was being seriously disturbed as well as causing distress to animals there.

An inspector of works on site, Ephriam Maoto, told The Ngami Times complaints had been registered with him, and these had been referred by Ramsden to the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), D Kegaisamang, who said he saw “nothing wrong with the road.”

The delta was declared an international Ramsar site several years ago in order to preserve the wetlands, the world’s largest inland delta which covers 15 000 sq.km and contains 955 of Botswana’s surface water.. A request for an interview with Roads department consultant M Teberezi was turned down.

* The Ngami Times was not able to obtain comment from the North West District Council as the Council Secretary, Paulos Nkoni, has banned NWDC employees from being interviewed by this newspaper.

Good inflow of water

Flood waters entering the Okavango River and delta are at their highest for almost four years – but nowhere near levels reached before 2003. According to the latest Department of Water Affairs figures for the inflow at Mohembo from Angola and Namibia, water is pumping through at just under 400 cusecs. The highest recorded so far this year is about 430 cusecs.

An indication of the amount of water flowing into the Boro and Thamalakane rivers is the extent to which it has already started to spread across both rivers.

There has been permanent water in both rivers due to heavy rains earlier this year, which meant that for the first time in two years the rivers did not dry up prior to the wet season. It appears that the flood will begin to tail off during July.

Good complains to human rights commission

GABORONE - Professor Kenneth good, who was deported from Botswana for criticising, it is believed, the presidential succession, has lodged a complaint with the African Human Rights and People’s Commission.

A report in a Gaborone newspaper this week said that the government had been advised and that the case had already started in Banjul, in The Gambia.

Quoting the deputy attorney-general, Abraham Keetshabe, the newspaper said that Good “is basically challenging the presidential decision to declare him a prohibited immigrant. Our position is that he has no legitimate complaint.” A ruling on Botswana’s submission that Good does not have a case is being awaited.

Editorial

Shot in the foot

A government Assistant Minister speaking in Maun has said that Batswana should make foreigners “feel out of place” and that foreigners should be told this is not their country.

Oops. That could boomerang on the politician as the government is right now dramatically wooing foreigners to invest in Botswana. The President himself has just been to Japan to plead with the Japanese to use Botswana for manufacturing, and he has led trade delegations to European countries and to South Africa.

The message has always been the same – Botswana is open for business.

It takes a junior minister, whose views would appear to be steeped in xenophobia, to unfortunately knock down that perception as foreign investors, and particularly the really big ones are not going to stand for being made to “feel out of place.”

After all, their money is the United States dollar, and whatever one may say, Botswana needs those dollars for improved self-sufficiency.

A whipping boy?

Stern warnings were issued last week by Tourism minister Kitso Mokaila when he gave a few blunt warnings to the industry’s safari operators and other stakeholders about employment practices, discrimination against Batswana, and dodging of payments of taxes and levies.

The latter point is a hardy annual, brought up by Vice-President Ian Khama and complained about fairly often by the Finance ministry .There can be no doubt that there is now concern in the industry as for years little has been done to change the status quo.

Some may look upon his warnings as “we only want Batswana to run the industry” but we believe that is not the case. All he is doing is to draw attention to the problems and hopefully the industry will regulate itself, as he suggested.

THE MAUN SHUFFLE

It’s terribly sad that a top sports administrator in Botswana has been found out for selling his free World Cup tickets in order to improve his bank balance.

The actions of Ismail Bhamjee, former President of the Botswana football Association (BFA) and now Honorary President, as well as a former secretary-general of the Botswana Olympic Association and treasurer of Africa’s association of Olympic Committees, was kicked out of the World Cup by no less a person that FIFA president Sepp Blatter after he had admitted selling 12 tickets, pocketing lots of money in the process.

Blatter was reported as saying he was “furious” at the actions of Bhamjee, who is an executive committee member of FIFA, a member of its Finance committee, and a leading figure in the organisation’s Associations committee.

Bhamjee was stripped of his accreditation to the World Cup and relieved from his post as match commissioner in Frankfurt. In other words, he is (or was) a top official in world soccer. Bhamjee hasn’t denied the story – he admitted it to FIFA and said so in a statement to the media when he expressed his “regrets.”

The BFA is already appealing for calm as this sad situation impacts heavily on Botswana’s reputation for fair play. The scandal comes soon after similar events have been taking place in Italy, and according to the BBC’s Panorama TV programmer, also in Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean. It all goes to show, doesn’t it, that things are not quite right in world soccer.

**

Isn’t it amazing how small towns like Maun can do so well in various fields! Our athletes compete in the Olympic Games, great performances are recorded by chess players, karate exponents, boxers, and many others.

The cultural variety found here is breathtaking. The latest was at the weekend when The Sports Bar and Restaurant celebrated its 11th birthday – and the community turned out for a great night of fun at our home-grown version of the Grammys. As Shuffle’s friend Betty Toteng said: “Where else do you get this?” That is certainly true. Being a small town, we all have to pull together and make a success of things

People were asked to dress as a “musical personality”, and Shuffle found the majority of the crowd had done so – we had Dean Martin, the Abba Group, Little Sister, Elvis Presley and the like on the stage belting out some of the world’s best-known lyrics.  Watching them were impresarios, stage and screen personalities, Dolly Parton (doing the lighting) . . . mothers wouldn’t have recognised some of the best-known faces in town under the make-up and costumes they were wearing! An awesome night and may Shuffle add, some awesome sights, too!

**

A few more smiles for these days of rising fuel prices, the war on terror, odd views of government ministers, and just plain getting up and going to work on cold mornings!

Shuffle is indebted to “The Lion”, a magazine published by Lions Clubs International, for the following:

* Kid to teacher in classroom: “Sorry I’m late but my bike had a flat, so I borrowed my dad’s car. Then I couldn’t find a place to park when I got here.”

* There was once a very tall sangoma who complained that he was unable to cast any spells because he was short staffed.

* Fishermen don’t actually tell lie . . . they just get their lines tangled.

* A college student came home for the weekend and his mother commented on how tired he looked. “Let me fix you some papa,” she said. “Thanks, ma,” he said as he flopped down on the chair. “I’m really worn out. My PC broke and I had to do all my own thinking last week!”

Onks Times  Beat

How to start all over again

The person you love more than anything in the world has left .Your heart aches and you are having endless sleepless nights you’ve lost appetite for anything.You are completely caught in grief, you are angry at what they have done to you, you feel you don’t deserve such treatment. But you know that going back would be a mistake.You want to move on with your life but you are thinking to yourself “how can i do that?”

First of all,you may have suffered some degree of loss when your last relationship ended,which is normal. It’s important to let yourself experience the grief and all the feelings associated with it and this takes time. Do not force yourself to forget but rather let it flow.Make sure you have no unfinished business with your ex partner because  it is impossible to hold on and let go at the same time, like allowing your ex to call or stop un-announced to check on you. If you are sure about moving on, make sure the strings are cut for good.

Avoid finding yourself in a mess that other people find themselves in and that is dating for emotional revenge or to prove your eligibility. If you want to date for those  reasons,then you must know that you are not over your ex yet. Instead of fulfilment ,you may end up being hurt because the point that you wanted to prove may be proven otherwise.

This may also create an obstacle to your new relationship as your relationship won’t be based on true intentions.You may end up being nuisance to your new partner as you will be so fragile. Note, a new partner won’t fix what is broken in your life but may temporarily distract you from your present heartache which may eventually catch up with you. Clean up the mess in your house before inviting company over.

First things first,work on your self image since your appearance is important.When you look your best, you feel your best. If you can get a complete makeover. Sometimes,after an unhappy relationship ends,you walk away with a temporarily damaged self -esteem. Don’t forget how much you have to offer the world and what a great catch you are. The real you isn’t the same as your ex lover’s bitter perspective of you. So pick yourself  up first before you expect someone else to give you a high price  tag.

Deal with feelings of desperation and loneliness. It is normal to feel lonely and long for someone to love you and assure you that you are still one of the living on this planet. Such feelings may drive you to grab the first Tom that comes your way to take away your loneliness. That Tom knows that you are desperate and very vulnerable.What he/she does is to go for what they want from you because you are not in a state of refusing. If it is sex ,then they will get it from you and then disappear. If it is money ,they will get.The feelings you will have after are self-hatred .You will feel like everybody else thinks you are not worthy to be loved,when you could have avoided it.

LAUGH  A WHILE:

YOU KNOW YOU ARE BLACK IF...

¨ You unwrap all your gifts carefully, so that you can re-use the wrappings.

¨More than 90% of the music CD’s and cassettes in your home are illegal copies.

¨You teach others swear  words in your language

¨When you are young ,your parents buy you clothes at least two sizes bigger so   that they last longer. 

‘Golden Tooth’ gets off after police confusion
By Golang Raditsela

Metlha “Golden Tooth” Maphanyane, who had been an accused in a break-in committed at the Department of Civil Aviation offices at Maun airport, walked free this week after magistrate Nsikelelo Moyo declared that he has been acquitted and discharged.

The matter was before the court for a ruling following confusion in the prosecution’s case. Maphanyane was faced with charges of office braking and theft, after the late Constantine “Horse” Motlhabi had told police they had been together at the time of the break-in.

Motlhabi later changed his story in Maphanyane’s presence, saying that he committed the crime alone. Police however again arrested Maphanyane, who was held in custody. The grounds for the arrest were different from the prosecutor and criminal investigator’s viewpoints.

The prosecutor said Maphanyane was arrested because his fingerprints matched those which were taken at the scene of crime while the investigator said he was arrested because of information received from Motlhabi. Moyo said in a situation where the evidence connecting the case with the crime to support the conviction “is manifestly unreliable, contradictory, or discredited in cross examination,” then the accused must be acquitted.  He said in a case such as Maphanyane’s, it was necessary that evidence acquired from the prosecution has to link to the offence, adding that in this case there was not any link.

Moyo also said evidence cannot be supplied by speculation or suspicion, and one cannot make any conclusion from multiple suspicions. The prosecution had failed to produce quality evidence and in that case there is no linkage between the accused and the commission of the crime.

Mogae’s plane experiences go on and on

GUMARE - Aircraft carrying the country’s President Festus Mogae seem to be jinxed!

His presidential jet OK1 had a cracked windshield while flying to Sweden recently and on Monday, the Botswana Defence Force plane carrying him and his party from Shakawe to a Gumare kgotla burst a tyre on landing at the Gumare airport. The tyre had to be replaced while the president was addressing a kgotla, and he finally took off for Maun from the unlit airport at about 8pm.

No one suffered any injuries during the incident. Some months ago, the president had to use a commercial airline to travel to the Far East after it was found that OK1 was not airworthy for the long journey.

It is believed there are plans to purchase a new presidential jet.

Threat to ‘crush chief magistrate’s head’

An accused in a rape case threatened in the Maun magistrate’s court this week to “crush with a stone the head of the town’s chief magistrate. “If you are not willing to transfer my case to another magistrate who is willing to proceed with it in justice, I will crush your little head with a stone,” an angry accused Keloreng Mosabata, a middle aged man of Sedie ward, before the chief magistrate Tshegofatso Mogomotsi during the mention of the rape case.

Prosecutor Isaac Mamadi told the court Mosabata had been on the run after being granted bail at an earlier hearing, and told to report to the Maun police station until the trial was over. He absconded to Dukwi, where he was later arrested. He gave the court excuses of the magistrate being unfair and unjust in his trial, saying this was the reason why he had run away.

In response to his plea, the magistrate said the transfer to another magistrate would not be possible since she had already started with the case.  The magistrate’s response angered him and he said: “If justice is not done, I will refuse to co-operate and you will have to sentence me on my absence”.

He promised to misbehave before the magistrate and threatened to crush her “little head” with a stone because he considered the magistrate “enjoyed” seeing him being imprisoned. Mosabata was in leg irons and was taken back to prison before the case ended.

The court heard said that Mosabata has four cases pending before different magistrates - two for rape and one each for burglary and unlawful possession of dagga.

Maun BMC to remain closed
By Bright Kholi

GUMARE - President Festus Mogae says it is highly unlikely that the Maun BMC abattoir will be re-opened, and there is also no guarantee that the Francistown abattoir will remain open for long.

He said this in Gumare this week when responding to calls for the Maun abattoir to be opened years after it was closed due to the cattle lung disease outbreak that decimated Ngamiland herds. He was told “the whole of North West District” has recovered following the eradication of over 300 000 head of cattle.  Farmers maintained that while the number of cattle had increased over the years, they have problems in finding markets and that in selling their cattle to the Francistown BMC, they face many difficulties.

It was also said that many cattle die before they even reached BMC, while some loose a lot of weight at the quarantine camp in Makalamabedi. They pleaded with the government to consider re-opening the Maun abattoir. In response, Mogae the Maun BMC will not open as there were many challenges that the meat industry faced. The major buyers of Botswana beef were putting introducing many regulations which he says have over the years cost government millions of pula to meet.

One was the animal identification bolus which he said had cost the government over P70- million, while others were outbreaks of disease which lead to closures of abattoirs as well as ending exportation of beef.

“Currently the government has loaned BMC over P200-million so that the Francistown abattoir remains open,” he said, adding that  remains unknown whether BMC will be able to repay the loan. Mogae said a situation might arise where the Francistown abattoir had to be closed as well.

Sex offences rampant across country

GABORONE – Police are hunting men across the country who have violated young children in a spate of sexual assaults.

This week, police booked 14 men in various parts of the country for sexually abusing minors and teenagers.In one of the cases, reported at Werda, a 44 year old man was arrested for allegedly raping two girls aged 7 and 8 one after the other on the same day. In another case, an 18 year old man was arrested at Rakops for alleged sexual assault on a four-year-old child. The child had been left in the care of the suspect.

“Cases of sexual assault on minors and teenagers were rampant in the police administrative district of the south Central Division,” said a statement from Police headquarters.  The division stretches from Serowe to Gaborone. The division had listed seven cases of sexual assault on minors and teenagers with three recorded at Mahalapye while Mogoditshane police are investigating two cases and Palapye, one.

Four men were arrested for 1‘6 rape cases reported during last week.  The suspects, aged between 16 and 44, allegedly committed the offences between 6pm and 10pm.

Police are also looking for a man who attempted to rape a 35 year old woman in Mochudi who had been promised employment. She was rescued by a passerby and the suspect fled.

                FNB puts smiles on Bana Ba Naga

First National Bank of Botswna CEO Danny Zandamela, presents a cheque to Angela Morgan, of Bana Ba Naga. By Bright Kholi

The First National Bank Foundation this week donated P100 000 to the Children in the Wilderness (Bana ba Naga) programme. The donation was made by the Chief Executive Officer of First National bank of Botswana, Danny Zandamela, at Crocodile Camp. Handing over the cheque, Zandamela said the funds will be used to cover the cost of hosting two groups of children for a six-day camp in the Okavango Delta.

The FNBB Foundation was established by the FNB board of Directors in 2001 as a Trust Fund and its purpose is to aid beneficiaries in need of and deserving assistance. “FNB contributes 1% of its after tax profits annually to the Foundation and contributions to date are in excess of P6.5 million,” Zandamela said.

He said they offer support in areas of community education, job creation, skills development, arts and culture, community sports and recreation and needy communities especially under-privileged children, adding that to date they have covered areas such as Otse, Molepolole, Shakawe, Moroka, and Palapye.

He also said that the funding of Bana Ba Naga was two-fold as “we are responding to a growing need to provide quality early childhood development services to children whose normal childhood has been interrupted and disrupted by poor health.” He said the other is to help Batswana children to learn more about the wonderfully unique environment around them while at the same time developing life skills and leadership capabilities.

He said FNB Botswana will continue to support projects of this nature all over the country. The Member of Parliament for Maun West, Ronald Ridge, commended Wilderness Safaris for coming up with humanitarian concepts and action programs to assist children. He also commended FNB Foundation for supporting such initiatives.

The Executive Director of Bana Ba Naga Botswana, Angela Morgan, also thanked FNB for “this most generous sponsorship.” She said it was a great honour to have gained the support of such a reputable and locally based foundation.

           Maun parade honours Africa’s children

These young women won people’s attention as they were the queens of the day after they won a beauty contest held at Maun Senior Secondary School on June 16, the Day of the African Child. In the middle is Bontle Morris who was crowned Queen, and she said that children deserved to be protected as they are precious leaders of Botswana. Morris says she intends to teach children about youth empowerment and to sensitise them to different issues such as HIV/AIDS.

By Kesegofetse Sentsima

Maun residents flooded the streets on June 16 to commemorate the Day of an African Child with a parade of dedicated citizens.

This annual celebration commemorates the June 16 schoolchildren demonstrations that ended in a massacre in Soweto, South Africa, in 1976. Leading the walk was the Minister of Local Government, Margaret Nasha, and the theme was the right to protection: “Stop violence against children”.

Other guests included Ngamiland district commissioner Bernadette Malala, and the MP for Maun West, Ronald Ridge. Dominating the crowd were many students from different schools who came to support the motion.

Giving a vivid and informative speech was a young girl from Leapotswe Primary School,  Gorata Radithupa, who strongly opposed violence imposed on children, warning the public about the vulnerability of children to bad situations. She said that, the fact that most African children were born without silver spoons in their mouths does not give parents a guarantee to deprive them of their needs. She further noted that in creating a bond with their children, parents will be able to provide them with love, care and support they need.

A song that touched many hearts was given by Happy Home Academy pupils who emphasised their need for protection with the message “Flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today”. Nasha said “we should protect our children as they cannot protect themselves”.

She recalled incidents in Africa where children are subjected to torture, neglected, and abused adding that in some countries children roam the streets with guns, vigilant actions are targeted to them, some are sold to sex slavery, or and put in prisons where they meet with experienced criminals who introduce them to new tactics turning them into hot-headed criminals. Nasha said children should be guided and shown a way to live like proper human beings. All cases involving abuse of children, however minor, should be immediately reported, giving an example where 70% of reported cases were withdrawn by irresponsible parents after being bribed by accused.

She added that sitting back and pretending that we do not know that children are abused shows a sign of irresponsibility. She urged the media to consider and include children affairs in their writings and that day carers should stop taking advantage of the opportunity. She was unhappy she was with the absence of most parents.

The Kabelano Trust presented a cheque last weekend to Mochudi Resource Centre for  Blind Children at a cocktail party which was the start of the initial phase of the OrangeKabelano Charity Cup soccer competition, which will be held on July 29 in Gaborone.

Times Art & About

Night the ‘stars’ came to town!

It is amazing to think that Maun’s small community can stage big events like those that year-in-and-year-out celebrate the birthday of the Sports Bar Restaurant and Bar.

It happened again at the weekend when revellers were treated to the first Maun Grammys, and what a success it was. People, mostly dressed up as “musical personalities”, crammed into the venue to perform, see and hear some fine acts being put on by local residents. There were 15 items on the programme – all performed in (and needless to say with) the spirit that has become a landmark of local musical productions.

Maun’s own version of ABBA belt out the hits songs of the 1970s

On stage were such entertainers as Abba – they eventually won the main award – and having seen the real Abba live in their heyday, the local group gave a remarkable performance that may well have given the real Abba a run for their money all those years ago. The “Swedish girls” looked great while the guys backed them up beautifully. There were so many fine performances that it is impossible to focus on each separately so all one can do is say “well done” to a great crowd of performers. As has become normal practice at events of this nature, Glen made a first class MC and performer while Dolly Parton (ssh! no telling the name) gingerly and with chest heaving made it up and down the steep ladder to the gantry to control the lighting and the background music. Jens handmade all the Grammy awards presented to each act and to each performer, as well as a special one that went to Fano and Yvette. He in turn was presented with a special award for the hard work he put in. The evening ended with a buffet supper, dancing and karaoke – NC

‘Face of Africa’ links with top agency

The stakes have been raised in this year’s Nokia Face of Africa model search as M-Net revealed that the winner of the 2006 competition will receive a 3-year, US$ 150 000 (about P800 000) modelling contract from Elite Model Management, New York. Founded in 1971 by John Casablancas and originally based in Paris, Elite relocated to New York after six years. 

Elite has maintained its position as one of the undisputed leaders in its field, launching the careers of Stephanie Seymour, Cindy Crawford, Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz, Andie McDowell, Linda Evangelista, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bundchen, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Tyra Banks. With over 30 years of experience, processing over five million bookings, Elite remains at the forefront of the industry. 

 Head of M-Net Local Productions, Carl Fischer, welcomed Elite’s involvement in the Nokia Face of Africa project. “Elite’s pedigree speaks for itself – the agency represents some of the biggest names in the fashion world, and will help us put African models on the international map,” he said.

 Cathy Gould, Executive Director at Elite Model Management New York, sees the agency’s involvement as a step towards building a strong relationship between Elite and the African continent. “Elite Model Management New York is excited to part of the Nokia Face of Africa initiative again and is delighted to add Africa to our scouting network,” says Gould.

Meanwhile, Nokia Face of Africa 2005 winner Kaone Kario, of Maun, continues to grow in catwalk status. The energetic young model, who was signed to Storm Models as a part of her prize package, recently moved to Zero Models in Cape Town and is continuing to win fans for her dynamic presence and go-getting attitude.

The first episode of the Nokia Face of Africa 2006 model search will be broadcast on M-Net on July 23, with the final broadcast live from Sun City, South Africa, on M-Net on 13 August.

Soccer shocked by Bhamjee’s actions

Botswana football has been severely shaken by the expulsion of the Botswana Foo0tball Association’s honorary president Ismail Bhamjee from the FIFA World Cup. He has admitted to selling tickets to the competition at three times the value of the tickets. After confessing, Bhamjee – chairman of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) - said: “I have been a fool. Spare me”.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he was “furious” and told Bhamjee to immediately leave the World Cup. He also stripped Bhamjee of his accreditation and as match commissioner based in Frankfurt. FIFA was tipped off about Bhamjee by a British journalist from the “Mail on Sunday” newspaper after he allegedly told people in an Indian restaurant in Frankfurt that he had tickets to sell, also saying he knew where the 2014 World Cup would be staged (the 2010 event is scheduled for South Africa).

The journalist said he was having dinner at a nearby table when someone shouted “Brazil” and when the journalist asked the person (Bhamjee) how he knew, Bhamjee allegedly replied: “Because I’m FIFA”.

Bhamjee returned to Botswana on Tuesday and immediately went into a closed door meeting with BFA executives.  By the time of going to press, no statement had been issued. The BFA said this week in a statement signed by its president, Thabo Ntshinogang, and vice-president (administration), Segolame Lekoko Ramotlhwa, that the BFA “is shocked and saddened” by the news of Bhamjee’s actions.

“We await his arrival from Germany at which point further clarification on the matter shall hopefully be obtained,” the statement read. It urged for calmness “on the part of the nation and the football family.”

The BFA said that it would “treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves and make a formal statement once we have gathered all the facts.” It is understood that the association has already consulted the Department of sport, administered by the Ministry of Labour, about the matter.

In admitting he had sold the tickets – valued at US$127 (about P890) each for US$380 (about P2 667) each – for a total of P39 120, Bhamjee said: “I deeply regret this incorrect decision and apologise to FIFA for violating the relevant terms and conditions governing the sale of tickets for the World Cup.”

Ismail Bhamjee

Bhamjee is an executive member of FIFA, having been elected in 1998, and so far has not been striped of his position “pending further action”.

Bhamjee was a former president of the BFA – whose patron is vice-president Ian Khama - and appointed its only honorary president several years ago. He is a former secretary-general of the Botswana Olympic Committee (1979-1988) and treasurer of Africa’s Association of National Olympic Committees between 1989 and 2001. He is deputy chairman of FIFA’s Association committee and a member of its Finance committee. He is paid about P586 980 a year as an executive committee member of FIFA, P2 935 every day that he travelled on FIFA business and was getting an extra P2 800 a day while attending the World Cup. He was also getting a pension.

Team Projects move up the log

Team Projects, of Wenela, Maun, defeated Shorobe’s Desert Sky to move to 4th spot after Delta League Division A games over the weekend.

Team Projects has 11 points from three wins, two draws and three loses for the games they have played so far. Both teams struggled to find the back of the net even though they visited each other’s goals quite often.

After half time, both teams made several changes that worked positively for Team Projects as substitute Samuel Fisher finished classically following a cross by Baps Bapaletswe. Fisher was at it again when he scored his second goal of the day. Desert Sky now trail the log with three points acquired from their three draws.

In another match, log leaders Desert Wind put up a splendid performance when they crushed Shashe United 3-0. Delta League results: Desert Wind 3 Shashe United 0; Kutlwano 3 Big Five 0; Maphane United 3 Delta Eagles 2; Crocodile 3 Rough Riders 0; Desert Sky 0 Team Projects 2; Delta Wanders 0 BOP 0.

Fixtures: Saturday (June 24) - Delta Wanderers v Crocodile (12noon), Maphane United v Desert Sky (2pm), Black X1 v Big Five (4pm).Sunday: Delta Eagles v Shashe United (12 non), Rough Riders v BOP (2pm), Liverpool v Desert Wind (4pm).

Edition 319 June 16 - 23, 2006

Begorrah!  Scottish kilts and all at a Botswana wedding . . . Moshe Seloko (the groom’s in the centre of this picture with the red kerchief in his top pocket) decided he wanted to look the part of the laird when he married Masego Mmusi in the gardens of the Marang Hotel in Francistown recently. Seloko, a finance manager, kitted out his wedding party in traditional Highland kilts, which after all is the cultural dress of Scotland. Haggis was not on the menu but we are sure good Scotch malt whisky would have been imbibed somewhere during the reception!

TOURISM SHAKE UP

The government has made an unprecedented attack on safari camps and operators, accusing them of discrimination against Batswana employees and guests, and of not supporting the local economy

It is the government’s first major attack on tourism operations in Botswana, and particularly in the Okavango delta and Chobe. The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Environment, Kitso Mokaila, spelled it out in no uncertain terms to safari operators and tourism stakeholders at a Tourism Pitso in Gaborone this week that the government would not tolerate discrimination.

The industry however reacted by giving him facts and figures, and refuted generalised claims of discrimination and untrained expatriate camp managers, and also attacked the poor service provided by national airline Air Botswana.

The pitso also heard that tourist guide books are now telling would-be visitors not to camp in Maun and that safari companies are not prepared to risk their clients overnighting in the town because of the crime situation.

The pitso heard that Embassies and High Commissions are also advising their nationals not to travel to Botswana on holiday - “tourists are soft targets and they are not prepared to appear in court,” Patrick Penstone, of the mobile safaris sector, said.

Mokaila’s remarks were listened to by many operators whom, he said, gave the impression that “foreigners ran the tourism industry.” Mokaila said “another disturbing issue was the failure by the industry to employ Batswana managers in their lodges” as it is common practice for some lodges to employ young unqualified foreigners as managers when they have Batswana employees who are said to have the necessary qualifications and experience to occupy such positions.

He urged the industry to pay attention to this as “it has the potential to sour relations not only between employers and employees but also between employers and Batswana in general.”

Most operators have reservations and administrative offices outside the country to the extent that even domestic tourists have to make their reservations outside the country- “whilst I acknowledge that this might make economic sense to the operators, it heightens the perception that Botswana’s tourism is foreign owned and dominated.

“We do not see why it is still necessary for Batswana and local residents going on holiday locally to make their hotel reservations outside the country and it was no longer a secret that this prevailing practice by some operators facilitated the leakage of tourism revenue from Botswana.”

Mokaila said he was concerned about lodges that turned Batswana away from their facilities, adding “this is something we cannot tolerate and I would like you to be particularly sensitive to this.”

He also told the Pitso that the high number of vehicles going into prime tourism destinations sparked concerns of environmental degradation. This caused overcrowding at a particular sighting (of wild animals) and overcrowding at Chobe,

Disaneng shooting range to be moved

By Lets Open

A shooting range which has over the years become surrounded in Disaneng ward by residential developments and a school is to move to a new site on the Boro. Residents have spoken out about rifle shooting in which live ammunition was used and the dangers this posed.

Delta Waters International School previously complained to the Botswana wildlife Training Institute about shooting practice during examination times as “our children were not able to concentrate when hearing gunshots,” said deputy principal Ferdinand Berkhof.

The principal of the BWTI, Mpiga Mangubuli, told The Ngami Times this week that residents had not to his knowledge complained to the Institute. “We are aware of the danger posed by the range. The village has grown quickly and because of that we have acquired land in the Boro area for a new range. The current range is in any event outdated and the land due for development. It is surrounded by cattle
posts, homes and government buildings such as the new district hospital,” Mangubuli said. The new range will be suitable for small arms and other weaponry used by Wildlife scouts and other government departments.

Tourism sector wants specific approach

By Bright Kholi

The tourism sector feels that while it is vital for government to raise its concerns with regard to the industry, and that a more specific approach would be best. Speaking during interviews with The Ngami Times following the Tourism Pitso in Gaborone this week, spokesmen for various sectors described the meeting as “very fruitful” and provided a good platform for all those involved to discuss issues of concern and chart the way forward.

Patrick Penstone, of the Mobile safaris sector, said that the reaction to the meeting was positive as the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Kitso Mokaila, highlighted issues of concern that were also cleared up.

Penstone said the issue of ill treatment of employees had to be addressed with the concerned operators and that with evidence, it would be easy to bring prosecutions. With regard to the issue of the sector employing foreign unqualified and managers, Penstone said that it may be due to the fact that the managers had better training in the field than local candidates.

He said “it cannot be true” that the managers are not qualified for the jobs. He also refuted allegations that some camps have a tendency of turning away citizens from their camps and lodges. He said a camp was different in that “one does not just show up at the camp and do the booking.” Penstone said some local people do their bookings when the camps are already fully booked, and when told the camp is full they then assume that they are being turned away.

“A camp is not like a hotel where you get to the reception and get a room there and then. Some operators are already taking bookings for 2009,” he said. Penstone has called on different government departments to communicate, and know exactly what the other is doing to better help the industry.

Grant Woodrow, who represented hotels and lodges at the pitso, said the perception of racism in the industry may not be as big a problem as it is claimed. If the problem does exist, specific individuals should be pulled out and brought to justice. He also mentioned that disciplining employees can sometimes be perceived to be racism or ill treating workers.

He also refuted allegations of employing unqualified foreign managers saying “we do not employ unqualified staff. They may be young but they are qualified”, adding that those who do employ foreigners without work permits should be brought to book as labour laws were specific.

One problem the industry faced now is in the processing of work permits which, he said, takes too long, but added that the Pitso gave them the opportunity to air their views to the relevant authorities.

Woodrow also said that currently, lodges in Botswana were expensive and recognised government’s intention in calling them to be accessible to Batswana. It is the prices charged by camps and lodges in the delta that cannot be afforded by most Batswana. He also said the sector raised their concerns about delays by national carrier Air Botswana, saying these had a negative impact on the industry. The response they got from Air Botswana was that the organisation was going private and that their fleet was old. Woodrow says the industry has called for a “one-stop shop” for government departments to avoid a situation whereby they have to go from one office to the other to get anything done.

Chantal Mantel, who represented the air charter sector, said their main concern was the poor facilities at Maun airport. She said while neighbouring countries were excelling in such facilities, Maun airport -which is the home base to over 40% of the country’s aircraft - remained stagnant. The sector made a call to government to consider sponsoring citizens for pilot training. Mantel – who described Mokaila as “a man of action” - said the main challenge was when air charter firms want to employ foreign pilots, and she added that an expatriate pilot is required to first get the Botswana Pilots Licence before getting a work permit.

The process however is long and bureaucratic as the concerned departments do not know which one does which part of the process. Mantel says a one stop shop for the departments and good communication between departments would make things easier.

TOURISM SHAKE UP

Okavango and Kgalagadi could degrade the eco-system because of its fragility. The industry had to regulate itself to ensure that the carrying capacities of the tourism areas were not exceeded at any one time and that the tourists must enjoy the product on offer.

Mokaila added that it may be worthwhile “reflecting on the impact and value of (tourist) trips from outside our borders.” He did not elaborate. Another area of concern was staff welfare and industrial relations, and said complaints were being received from employees and also guests. An initiative being pursued was that of opening forest reserves for tourism.

“This, we hope, will assist in increasing tourism sites and activities in the Chobe District and lessen the congestion in the Chobe National Park”. Existing campsites in the national parks and game reserves run by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks would also be leased to private operators.

To address payment hurdles experienced by visitors at park gates, Mokaila said point of sales offices would be introduced, requiring that payments be made at district wildlife offices where possible. Spokespersons for various tourism sectors said the meeting had been fruitful and many of the issues were discussed.

Crime was one of the major points on the agenda as was the delays of Air Botswana flights to and from Maun.  The issue of work permits, experienced managers and alleged discrimination were also addressed by the delegates.

Foot and Mouth outbreak confirmed

KASANE – The Department of animal Health and Production has confirmed the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Chobe.

Affected areas are Parakarunga, Satau, Kachikau, Kavimba and Mabele. All animals in the area are now being vaccinated by government vets.

It is understood that the outbreak will not affect beef exports to the European Union because of the status of western Chobe as an FMD area. The outbreak follows on a recent one in the Bobirwa and Selebi-Pikwe areas.

Freak accident injures tourist

A Swiss tourist has been dramatically rescued in the Okavango delta after being injured in a freak accident while changing a wheel on his vehicle. The man, who was not identified, was with his wife near Mankwe when the incident happened. It is understood he was using a high-rise jack at the time.

The couple had a satellite telephone and when the man collapsed from an excessive loss of blood, his panic-stricken wife called for help to a local safari company which in turn alerted the 911 neighbourhood watch.

Patrick Penstone, of 911, said this week that there were no helicopters available so a private pilot left Maun to search for the couple. When he located them, it was found there were no suitable landing areas and it was decided to call for MRI to drive to the scene. The pilot guided the paramedics to the stricken couple, treated the man and returned to Maun.

Police stamp down on harassment of public

By Basadi Morokotso

A top policeman has given the assurance that people should not fear the police and that police officers and special constables are “servants of the community.”

The Deputy Commissioner of Botswana Police, Thebeyame Tsimako, says Maun residents should report complaints to the office of the station commander “whenever they feel belittled or undermined by the officers in charge at the police station”. People should not fear the police but rather feel free to come to the district police headquarters, “as doors will be widely open for them.”

Tsimako said this at a brief meeting with The Ngami Times, senior police officers and the station commander Superintendent Moitaly Thokweng at the latter’s office following an article that appeared in The Ngami Times about alleged ill-treatment of the public by special constables. He said they have received numerous complaints and not only in Maun that the special constables mishandle people.

Tsimako said the public should be made aware that there are right channels of communication to be followed. If they feel the station commander is unable to assist them, they should ask to see the District Officer commanding, and that if they still feel not satisfied, they should call the office of the Divisional Commander in Francistown. He said police headquarters in Gaborone, where he and other senior police officers are based, should be the last resort.

Tsimako admitted that special constables are not fully trained in the same way as the Botswana Police because they only go for two-month training and said this may be one of the reasons leading to their misconduct.In the meantime, he said plans are underway to empower them so that they act the same way as the police.

The problem with some special constables is that they feel they are “head and shoulders above the law and that they declare themselves masters automatically.”

He went on to say appropriate disciplinary action would be the only way to correct issues of ill treatment. Police officers and special constables, he said, need to be alerted to the fact that they are the servants of the community.

“We need humble people in the police force, people who will serve the community in the most diligent way. If they fail, then we’ll be glad to part ways with them because they’ll be of no use but quite a drawback”, he said. For his part, Thokweng said he has come a long way working with Maun residents and that quite a good number of them have came directly to lodge complaints with his office, but none of them has ever mentioned being harassed by the police.

Deputy Police Commissioner Thebeyame Tsimako toured the offices of The Ngami Times during a quick visit to Maun late last week. Pictured with him is The Ngami Times  Editor Norman Chandler ( right) and Chief Reporter Bright Kholi. Picture: Onkabetse Tsaro

He went on to say if someone comes across such misconduct, they should look at the name tag of the police officer attending to them so that if a case is reported, they will be able to identify whom they were dealing with. He said it complicates their work even more if complainants fail to do so because they end up pointing accusing fingers at innocent people who perform their duties well.

Tsimako  said the public needs to be made aware of what is happening around them. He said they are working hand in hand with the neighbourhood watch 911 and that the good thing is that the 911 service is community based, and that being the case, people have a chance of interacting with the police and share grievances.  Superintendent Tebogo Tokwe said he is worried about the low turn out of the public at community policing forums where they are educated on security issues and matters affecting them. Tokwe said it is at the same forums that they discuss issues concerning grievances and he called on Thokweng to take stern measures against his men, monitor them and see to it that all those responsible are brought before court for disciplinary hearings.

Lashes for hair products thief

Opelo Harry, of Boyei ward, Maun, was this week found guilty and sentenced to lashes by the Maun customary court for the theft of hair products from the Shoprite supermarket.

A security guard at the store, Alan Mbwe, told the court that he saw Harry enter the supermarket and after a while, he tried to sneak out with his hands in his pockets. Mbwe told the court he challenged Harry and found Nivea facial products in his pockets. Mbwe called the police who took Harry to the police station and charged him with common theft. Constable Tshenolo Mophuti displayed the stolen products in court as proof of evidence.

Harry pleaded guilty before the court. In mitigation, he stated that he is taking care of nine siblings. Chief Labane Meno, who was presiding, told the accused he was guilty and that if he continues to get involved in common theft, he can be jailed for a year. Harry received  five strokes on his back.

EDITORIAL..

Think about it

Teachers should think hard and clear when they start demanding that the annual Teachers Day celebration should be held on Fridays and not Wednesdays.

Taking a jaundiced view of it, one could easily assume that teachers want another long weekend!  And who suffers? Why, the children, of course.

Teachers did not turn up in any great number at the national celebration of the day in Maun two weeks ago, which perhaps is an indication of their disinterest in the event. Their union leader lambasted them for staying away but in the next breath asked for the Friday as if that would make any difference to the attendance.

Sorting out the dogs

The issue of dogs in Maun has always been a vexed point. Stray dogs abound and nothing, it appears,  had previously been done to control the ever-increasing population.

Now at last the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) has stepped in by lending support and enthusiasm to spaying bitches. The World Wide Veterinary Service provided veterinarians and nurses to Maun to help the cause, and for that the town should thank them.

Of course, there are still too many dogs, but as time goes on, we are sure that MAWS will again  start another project of a similar nature. Well done!

THE MAUN SHUFFLE..

There are some impatient people out Disaneng way. They just cannot wait for the gravel road through their ward from Boseja to Matlapana to be completed! Now that the Chinese contractors are on site and their big yellow machines are ripping out the undergrowth etc, it is only a matter of time before the tarring of the road takes shape, and changes the face of the area, too.

One has to put up with inconveniences when it comes to infrastructure improvements, so here’s hoping that the good people of Disaneng well keep their patience for some months to come . . . The good news, of course, is that construction is starting during the winter months and that by the time the rainy season hits, construction work will be well on the way.

The road promises to be a boon to everyone as it will cut travelling time from one end of Maun to the other, take traffic off the main road, and it is logical that the road will bring further developments in the form of filling stations, shops, a satellite police station (hopefully), schools and churches.

**

The group of international vets and veterinary nurses who have been doctoring (literally) the Bitches of Maun – by that of course Shuffle means female dogs! – have done sterling work during their short stay.

Apparently there have been lots of fun moments too for the group which hails from Britain, Canada and France. They had never met each other before and as volunteers with the World Wide Veterinary Service Charity, they came together at various airports prior to leaving for Maun.

They arrived in Johannesburg and then began the long haul through Botswana. To a man, they all said it was an exhausting journey but worthwhile, indeed.  They were impressed with the country and its peoples, and had made many friends among animal welfare enthusiasts.

In Maun, the home of Terry and Mervyn Palmer was literally been turned into an animal hospital, visited daily by members of the government’s veterinary services and of course private vets who have all helped to augment the procedures being carried out on their dogs.

The dogs were brought in the day before their operations, given a good meal, their own special doggy blankets and snuggled down for the night in wire kennels. The next morning the dogs were treated in various ways, and sent home a day or two later with sufficient dog food to last two to three days.

Shuffle understands that it is hoped by the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) to run regular clinics with foreign and local vets – their work will surely go a long way in helping the doggy population of this town of donkeys, goats, cows, horses and strays of all sorts.

**

Namibia’s temporary royals have now left with their baby. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent two months in the country awaiting the birth of their daughter, Shiloh, finally pulling out from their hideaway on the Swakopmund coast at the weekend.

In the process, they alienated themselves from local townspeople who couldn’t use their own stretch of beach as the couple employed burly guards to ensure no one intruded upon their privacy and the Namibian government co-operated by throwing out journalists and photographers who had arrived en masse to cover the visit by the two stars.

One wonders whether they were worth it. After all, they are merely film stars, not foreign royalty or ex-presidents banished from their homelands.

Anyway, that being what it is, Shuffle was intrigued to find out over the weekend that the baby’s name, Shiloh, is a religious name that means “Messiah”. One would think that that takes it a bit far, because probably in the minds of the parents, she is a “Messiah” of sorts. We hope she lives up to her name.

**

Time for a laugh, courtesy of Giepie Barnard, of BMC Sports Club:

Man: “Haven’t we seen other other before?”
Woman: “Yeah, that’s why I don’t go there.”
Man: “Is this seat empty?”
Woman: “Yeah, and this will be empty as well if you should sit down.”
Man: “Your place or mine?”
Woman: “Both. You go to your place and I will go to mine.”

Kuru San cultural festival billed for August

The annual Kuru San cultural festival will   this year take place on august 11 and 12 at Dqae Qare Game Farm, near Ghanzi. Participating groups will be from Ghanzi, Ngamiland, South Africa and Namibia.

Entrance fee will be P10 and people are advised to use 4x4 vehicles as the road is not accessible for small cars.

Young girl killed by minibus

An eight year old girl died last week after being knocked down by a minibus on Tsheko Tsheko Road near the Maun sports complex.

The girl is said to have been crossing the road when the accident occurred. According to Maun police traffic officer Bigboy Tiyedze the driver of the bus was detained to help the police with investigations.

The motorist could face a charge of causing death by driving a motor vehicle in a manner which is dangerous to other road users.

Young man commits suicide

A young man, 21, of Shashe, Maun, hanged himself from a tree in the yard in which he resided. The  Maun police station commander Moitally Thokweng told The Ngami Times that the deceased’s neighbors reported the matter to the police. He said according to his housemates, the deceased had gone out of the house where they were laughing and joking but never came back.

The deceased is also said to have shown no signs of stress or of having problems.

‘I cannot find my shoes anywhere’
By Golang Raditsela

A man who had his shoes confiscated by the police who were checking on shoe prints during a case nine years ago is still waiting for three pairs to be given back to him. But it seems the police have lost the shoes, and now he wants full compensation of P500, as was agreed at the time.

Kavenata Hikuama, of Kareng, has grown old waiting for his shoes which were taken by the police in 1997 when a furniture store was allegedly broken into and he was one of the accused.

Now middle-aged, Hikuama said police had to confirm certain footprints which led them to taking three pairs of his shoes. According to him, the shoes were then lost. “The police even took me to the storeroom and we searched everywhere and could not find them”, he said.

Hikuama said they later agreed with the investigator, an Inspector Selato who is now in Selebi Phikwe, that he would be compensated P500. Selato however only sent him P100 allegedly promising to send the remainder later. Later never came.

Hikuama  says he kept on visiting Maun police with the hope of recovering the full amount but later gave up after realising that the money he used for transport from Kareng to Maun for all the visits was more than the value of the shoes.

“What discouraged me even more is that each time I went to the police, I had to start the story from the beginning as if nobody knew what had happened”, he lamented. When The Ngami Times asked the police for a comment, the CID officer in charge, Superintendent Phuthego said he is aware of the matter.

He said he had been following the matter until Selato sent P100. Selato was then told that the money was not enough but he did not send more. Phuthego said the police would now do something to help Hikuama.

Hammer man lashed for assault

Mothusi Kehaletse, 30, a Ditshiping man, earned himself five strokes this week at the Maun customary court for beating a woman with a hammer. Kehaletse is said to have beaten Itireleng Nthoiwa with a hammer above her eye, leaving a wound.

Constable Tshenolo Mophuti told the court that on June 9, Kehaletse went to Nthoiwa’s house and started the fight. Kehaletse told police that Nthoiwa had once accused him of rape and he wanted revenge.

Asked by Kgosi Labane Meno to plead, Kehaletse said the facts of the case were true and pleaded guilty and he asked the court to be lenient as he was taking care of his blind grandmother. The court ordered him to be given fives lashes.

‘Muti’ in underpants didn’t help

Stealing muti medicine from the Choppies supermarket recently earned a 27-year-old man five strokes at Maun customary court.

Keratile Mokoya, of Riverside ward, Maun, allegedly entered the supermarket and stole the medicine labeled “The Special Muti”. A security guard, Hadzisani Tibone, told the court that he saw Mokoya taking the medicine pack from a shelf hiding it in his underpants.

The guard told the court that he approached Mokoya and asked him to take out what he had placed under his pants. Mokoya denied theft and then Tibone applied force in order to search him and the medicine was found in his underpants. The police officer who handled the case, Tshenolo Mophuti, presented the evidence.Chief Labane Meno asked Mokoya why he stole the product and he told the court that one of his cousins had been sick for nearly three years and he thought the medicine would help. Meno said it was against the law to steal no matter the reason.

HIV levels now ‘unsustainable’ says Mogae

NEW YORK – The high level of HIV is a cause of major concern, says President Festus Mogae.

Addressing a high-level conference here recently on breaking the cycle of HIV infections for sustainable AIDS responses, he said that HIV infections have reached unsustainable levels, and yet new infections were occurring at an alarming rate. He is quoted by news agencies as saying “we also note that, in view of these rates, the current levels of the response are inadequate. They are not enough to stop the epidemic, let alone reverse it, hence the need for this discussion.” The key was in breaking the cycle of infection for sustainable AIDS responses. It was important to understand HIV’s principal mode of transmission and what “drives or fuels: the spread of the epidemic. Mogae said some epidemics manifested themselves in more infection among women and girls than in males, among the youth, drug users, commercial sex workers, and sexual orientations. Others included rural/urban, culture and tradition.

People had to know their HIV status, as being HIV negative opened “a gateway to treatment and support services, and contributes towards reducing stigma and discrimination as more and more people disclose their status. He said that in Botswana most people were reluctant to know their HIV status “and this clearly demonstrates that prevention and treatment are closely interlinked. Both are required to sustain the intensity of prevention efforts for reducing the rate of new infections, thus breaking the cycle.” Through the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, a reduction in the rate of transmission from 405 in 2002 to 6% this year had been achieved in Botswana. All expectant mothers who test HIV positive must enroll for the programme. He added there was concern over the pregnancy of women who were on anti-retroviral therapy treatment. “We certainly must avoid a situation in which, as treatment access expands, increases in risky behaviour occur while resource commitment to a visibility of prevention programmes diminish.”

He called for the development and implementation of new interventions and technologies.

‘Starving’ woman steals pie – charged

A Zimbabwean woman, 50, who allegedly stole a pie from Choppies supermarket in Maun found herself in an embarrassing situation this week when she appeared before the Maun customary on a single charge of common theft.

Joyce Chiwewe is said to have entered the store on June 2, and got away with a pie. At the exit, she was unable to produce a receipt to a security guard.

The guard, Hadzisani Tibone, said he was surprised to see her walking past with nothing to declare. He became suspicious and told Chiwewe to open her purse, in which he saw a pie. The incident was then reported to the police and she was charged her with common theft.

The pie was presented before court as evidence. The presiding officer, Kgosi Oleo Ledimo, asked Chiwewe why she engaged in such a crime at her age upon which she answered that she was “starving” on that particular day.

Chiwewe pleaded guilty to the charge and was ordered by Ledimo to pay P10 within five hours or face a jail term of a month. The pie was taken back to the supermarket.

Titanic fight in the bush
By Lets Open

A titanic struggle in the bush between a female elephant protecting her young and a pack of hyenas has been reported from the Savuti area. And what saved the elephants came straight out of a Tarzan movie – the elephant’s bellowing brought others to the scene, and the hyenas retreated as the lumbering pachyderms moved in to rescue the helpless mother and baby.

According to safari guide Kane Motswana, the fight to the death took place when the elephants were attacked.  The baby elephant had part of its trunk badly bitten while the mother was also injured. The fight was seen by five tourists on a game drive.

“It is the most remarkable thing I have seen. The fight lasted about three hours,” Motswana said this week. “As the fight progressed, and with the mother making a terrific noise, suddenly out of the bush came a number of other elephants, obviously drawn to the scene by the cries of the two elephants. “They proved too much for the hyenas, which retreated hastily.”

Parents urged to register disabled children

Parents and relatives whose children have disabilities have been advised to register their children at schools with special education units.

According to Boyei Primary School head teacher Noah Kebafitlhetse such children have the right to education as well. Boyei has a special unit for the deaf, he added, and that since they started the unit they have registered fourteen children. The unit still needs more children to register as it is operating below capacity.

“We have two hostels, a dining hall and about sixty beds for these children to stay on campus,” he said. The school has applied to private companies to help them with computers so that the children can learn new skills.

Meanwhile, the special education teacher at Moremi Primary School, Kuda Zibani, blamed parents for neglecting and hiding children with disabilities. He said some children also come to school dirty, and called for more parental care. He said the unit at Moremi has 33 disabled children and encourages parents to take their children for regular check ups.

He stated that Moremi has in place special sports codes for children with disabilities, such as athletics and ball sports which help the children in improving their talents and exercise them mentally and physically. According to Zibani, the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) recently donated balls and T-shirts for children with disability.

IEC calls for a review of polling stations
By Bright Kholi

With next general election three years away, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has asked for councillors, party liaison members, the communities and other non governmental organizations to look at existing polling stations to see if they are still viable.

Addressing the recent North West District Council’s meeting, IEC Secretary Gabriel Seeletso said the Electoral Act gave him the power to review the existing stations, with the aim of establishing whether there is need to establish new ones or get rid of some.

Seeletso told councillors that during past general elections, some polling stations did not meet the expectations as they were underutilised and he urged councillors to look at the relevance of the existing stations in wards and any need for extra stations to be established.

He gave examples of polling stations which have been relocated, saying such instances would mean getting rid of old ones and establishing new ones where people have been relocated. Seeletso advised councillors to give their recommendations to district election officers, who would then do the necessary assessments.

People should look at different aspects, including population, and after the assessments the final recommendations would be forwarded to the IEC, which would then advertise the established and closed polling stations in the Government Gazette.

Police protection for embassies

GABORONE – Complaints that valuable police manpower is being used to protect foreign embassies and diplomatic premises have been answered by the Botswana Police.

It says that the service has been inundated with enquiries on why it is providing physicals guards on premises of some diplomatic missions. The police are bound in terms of the laws to take appropriate steps to protect the premises of diplomatic missions against intrusion or damage. Section 8 of the Police Act charges the police with the responsibility of ensuring protection and carries out the mandate through the Security Intelligence Service, and the Security and VIP Protection Unit.

The eyesore of Maun’s own hell
‘Everyone scrambled to welcome the waste truck’
By Charlotte Mpho

The old Maun landfill near Matshwane has become a serious eye sore to anyone who happens to pass through. With the new landfill almost complete, one hopes that the old one will be seriously rehabilitated to avoid the shortcomings experienced at the old one. This week, The Ngami Times visited the place and on arrival saw people scrambling and hunting through piles of garbage.

At first it looked like they were collecting cans for recycling, but a much large group was searching for anything edible! The people were actually mingling with dogs, donkeys and even cattle, each one of them minding his/her/its business.

The situation was as if no one recognised the presence of the other. There was one group of youngsters who appeared to be school kids and who should have been at school.

It was a sorry sight to witness when a waste truck appeared to dump its load, with everybody scrambling to welcome the truck – like a triumphant soccer team being greeted back after winning the league!

The truck brings hope for these people. Looking to the horizon of the landfill, there is sign that some people have built shelters there as blankets were hanging on trees and small fires showed that they do their cooking on site as well.What a health hazard. The whole place stinks like hell and obviously, these people’s lives are in danger.

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> The big question therefore is what the authorities are doing to help the pathetic situation or at least are they aware of it.Our first stop in trying to get answers was the North West District Council, custodians of such facilities in the district. But, as expected, we got two big NOs from the NDWC boss, the Council Secretary  Paulos Nkoni, for obvious reasons for those who follow district news very well. With a no from him, it meant we could not talk to the Environmental Health department, the waste and sanitation departments, and the NWDC bye-laws section.

So we did the next best thing in the face of this slamming of the door in our faces – we spoke to councilor Isaac Phoi, councillor for Boseja/Kubung, who welcomed the idea of talking to me.The soft spoken councillor said: “I know about the situation at the old dumping site, and I have talked about it at every forum I hold with my electorate.” His concern was clearly expressed on his face as talked to us.

To Phoi’s knowledge, people who have shelters there are those who collect cans for recycling but said he will follow up on the matter to see if some stay there as scavengers. Phoi said the place is a health hazard, adding that the new landfill will keep these people away as it is fenced.

He said in meetings he held recently, he mentioned the issue and the response he got was that some people send their children to the landfill.  “It’s really touching because there was one incident whereby the police were called to collect someone who had died after eating poisoned food,” he said. Phoi said if it not been for a shortage of staff in the Environmental Health and Bye-law departments, there could be serious monitoring to nab those who frequent the place for these reasons. Meanwhile Phoi said he will not rest until the situation is under control.

Employees spit fire at their employers
By Basadi Morokotso

Employees of various private companies in Maun this week spat salvos of criticism at their employers for what they termed unfair treatment. The employees said this during a meeting they had with the Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Olifant Mfa.

They claimed grievances were not attended to by employers, who for a long time have taken them for granted whenever they raised issues of unfairness. They said they felt it was “high time something be done before it is too late.”

A hotel’s employee told of “too much discrimination” at their hotel, and that the manager “looked down upon us.” One said: “This guy complicates our lives and he is never willing to listen to whatever we have to say, instead he keeps on threatening us that he will call his lawyers and that our contracts might be terminated if we talk too much.”

A staff committee had presented a petition letter to the District Commissioner’s office. District Commissioner Bernadette Malala, who was present at the meeting, denied any knowledge of the letter. They then asked Malala to consult her office about the letter. Employees also said senior hotel staff were “boot lickers” even though some also complained of ill treatment but were fearful of victimisation.

Assistant Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Olifant Mfa

An employee of a construction company at the new hospital in Maun asked the minister to set a date so that he and senior officials from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) could tour their site to see for themselves as most of the employees were working without work permits. An employee of a major safari company said there is too much racism at his workplace and added that all senior staff were whites and all blacks were junior staff, adding that this has created some hatred between the two parties to the extent that they (the black staff) are not allowed to answer telephone calls.

They also did not get annual leave while degreed persons and diploma holders were “abused”, which was said to be “very common in the delta.” He also called on the minister and the district labour officer to tour the delta on an inspection to see if companies complied with labour laws.

Similar complaints came from garage staff. Mfa said his office has received numerous complaints of misconduct from employees in different sectors. He said people get below minimum wages, do not get their annual leave and are always threatened, something which he said is not encouraged.

Mfa added he finds it inappropriate for people to employ foreigners when there are Batswana who can do certain jobs, saying these foreigners undermine locals, forgetting that some of them came here as beggars - to an extent that some arrived “carrying only a single pair of shoes.” “Of course we need foreigners here and there, but I feel they should be granted such posts only if there are no Batswana who can fill their spaces,” he said.

He lashed out at locals who ill-treated others at work, saying they easily forget their roots, and that they should be the ones protecting junior staff “from these foreigners.”  People need not be threatened by “boot lickers” because what they are doing is short- term and that it is these same boot licking acts which will land them into trouble if caught. “You guys should take a stand. Do not feel threatened by foreigners. Threaten them as well. Tell them this is your country and that you belong here.“Hold your head high and tell them the soil that they are standing in is yours but not theirs. Make them feel out of place!” he added.

Tsetse fly spraying gets underway

An aerial spraying programme to eradicate tsetse fly from northern Botswana, Namibia’s Caprivi and the southern border area of Angola has started. Spraying started on May 28 and is expected to end in August.

According to the Tsetse Information Centre, surveys have been carried out along the Kwando and Lenyanti rivers since 2004 and although the number of flies is much lower than those in the Okavango before 2002, they are nevertheless significant in this important area for tourism and represent a continuing threat of invasion back into the delta.

In August 2002 aerial spraying for tsetse over the entire Okavango Delta ended successfully and over a two-year period the department claimed victory after they had sprayed the insecticide, deltamethrin. The problem however remained as the fly was also found along the Kwando and Lenyanti rivers.

An “aerial spray block” covering Lenyanti and Kwando, Caprivi and an area of southern Angola is being funded by Botswana. It forms a component of the African Union, Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC).

Surveys have also been carried out in the Caprivi side of the border and clearly show that areas such as the Madumu National Park are infested. The first application of the insecticide was completed on June 3, and so far, 10 000sq.km has been covered.

The second application starts this weekend,  and after that there will be three more which will be timed according to daily temperatures. If successful, the operation will have completely eradicated tsetse flies from Botswana

Orsmond Aviation, a South African company, is doing the spraying using five aircraft.  Tsetse control officials say that every effort is being made to minimise disruption of tourist activities and each camp in the affected areas is being notified when aircraft will overfly. All spraying is being done at night from Katima airstrip, Namibia.

Home water purifier launched

Population Service International (PSI), a non- governmental organisation, has launched its PuR home water purifier in Maun The launch follows on the recent diarrhoea epidemic which caused more than 400 deaths of infants.

According to PSI Country representative, Soumitro Ghosh, PuR is a “double action system” of purification that gives double protection against germs. Ghosh says PuR removes the dirt you can see and kills the germs you cannot see in only one treatment. It keeps the water clean because it kills the germs that might be present in the water storage containers.

“Each packet or sachet contains a special powder that treats 10 litres of water,” Ghosh said. The ingredients in PuR when mixed in water as they act like a magnet for all the dirt and germs, pulling theses to the bottom so they can be easily filtered “You can actually see this happening”, Ghosh added.

On how PuR works he says “it is easy to use. In four steps, and without boiling water, dirty water can be made safe just by adding PuR. The whole process takes only 30 minutes.”

The vets who care . . . Voluntary vets and veterinary nurses from three countries have spent the past two weeks in Maun treating more than 130 dogs, cats and horses as part of a project organised by the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS). Aimed specifically at spaying dogs, the project was the brainchild of Virginia Keys, vice-chairperson of MAWS, and her daughter, Dani Shaw, of Britain, who enlisted the aid of the World Wide Veterinary Service. It is hoped that more teams of volunteers will soon be visiting Maun. Pictured at the home of Terry and Mervyn Palmer where a temporary veterinary clinic and facilities was set up, are, back (from left to right), Nation Kangondi,  of MAWS, Mervyn Palmer (chairperson, MAWS). Bob Lehner (Britain), Nick Bell (Britain), Stephanie de Moulin (Malaysia), Dani Shaw (Britain) and Fiona Ely (Canada). In front: Mandy Tamba (Britain) and Hannah Westen (Britain).

SPORTS:

Mascom premier league play-off this weekend

The Premier League play offs kicks off will be held over the weekend in Selebi Phikwe. The winning team in the promotion race will play in the next season’s Mascom Premier League. The games will be played on a points system, meaning that all the three teams will each play 4 games in a space of two days.

The favourites are Mogoditshane Fighters, who will rely on the vast experience of having been playing in the Premier League, as well as individual players who can win them promotion.  Fighters bank their hopes on goalkeeper Bleski Mokobi, and the defence of national team player Mompati Thuma will add confidence to the team. Midfielder maestro and national team player Masego Abedi Ntshingane and Lubigisa Lubigisa will add depth. “The Brazilians”, have been struggling of late to find the back of the net, will rely much on the midfield.

On the other hand, Letlhakane’s Stone Breakers don’t have big names in the team, but will rely on team work and determination that kept them in a comfortable position in the Med Rescue First Division Northern Zone.

The Southern Zone is being represented by Jwaneng Comets, who had played in the first league for the past three seasons and will be hoping to go back to the top league.  On Saturday, Mogoditshane Fighters will take on Jwaneng Comets, followed by Comets again up against Stone Breakers (2pm) and the final game of the day will see Stone Breakers lock horns with Fighters (7pm). On Sunday, Comets will clash with Mogoditshane Fighters at 9am and at 2pm, Fighters play Stone Breakers. The final game will see Stone Breakers against Comets.  All the games will be played at Selebi Pikwe Council Stadium. 

Brothers of Peace tops Delta League
By Cobrie Kgaodi

Former BOFWA team Brothers of Peace (B.O.P), now playing in the Delta League division registered their first loss against middle of the table Matlapana Black X1 by 2-1 at the start of the second round league games.

B.O.P have so far registered four wins, two draws and one loss from all three games to tops the league table with 14 points. Black X1’s victory has not changed their position on the log and they remain perched to 5th spot with nine points.

Kutlwano closed the gap with the top teams by thrashing Delta Wanderers 4-1 in completely one-sided affair that they could have won with an even higher margin. Kutlwano has jumped to second spot a point behind B.O.P and if they keep their winning spirit going, they might finish top by the end of the season and qualify for promotion.

Kutlwano has 13 points and Delta Wanderers, which caused havoc in early games, have drifted to 3rd position with 12 points. Crocodile F.C have 11 points for 4th place.

Disaneng ward’s Desert Wind beat Desert Sky, of Shorobe, 2-0 to consolidate their position on top of the log. Wind played better than Sky though they failed to convert a number of good scoring opportunities that came their way.  Desert Sky still trail the table with three points they acquired from three draws and if they do not pull up their socks they might find themselves playing in the league’s Division B next season.

Shashe United started the league’s second round on a high note when they beat Matlapana Liverpool 5-2 in a thrilling encounter. The win has put United on the second spot with 14 points and need to win their game against Desert Wind on Saturday by six goals in order to climb to the top (Kick-off 12.30pm, Crocodile Camp ground). The once-feared league Team Projects continued to display poor performance this season when they drew 1-1 against Delta Eagles. Team Projects now sits in 4th place with 8 points.

BISA boxing this weekend

Orapa will this weekend host the North Zone elimination boxing tournament.

Ten boxers from Maun Senior Secondary School, Tshwaragano and Moeti CJSS will be participating. The winners from this category will face the winners from South Central in a knockout tournament to qualify for the national finals at a date to be set.

Tony Makula, the North Zone co-ordinator told The Ngami Times that preparations have been going well, adding that the boxers had a weekend camp with Mater Spei College, Moeding College and St Josephs College. Maun SSS are the defending champions of the under 19 category that includes under 17, 18 and 19 and above.

Makula added that the team has three boxers who are in the national under 19 boxing team - Mofenyi Goitsemodimo and Kebautile Kebalepile from Maun SSS, and Kapatjipanda Kaputuari (Tshwaragano CJSS). The three will be going for camp after the tournament to represent the country in the SADC games to be held in Namibia from June 24 to July 2.

Edition 318 June 9 - 16, 2006

Heartless mother leaves baby to die

A baby was intentionally thrown into the bush  this week and left to die from exposure during the current cold spell, police said. Strange and weird stories of how Maun babies were born and some found abandoned have been reported in this newspaper for the past few weeks. The death of the child is one of a series of incidents involving babies, including a baby found under a bed and a baby born in a taxi.

A Zimbabwean woman led police in a wild goose chase in trying to find a baby she allegedly aborted. On Tuesday the police spent hours trying to retrieve a baby in a toilet after a tip off from neighbours. The suspect, when asked by police, said she had  not  thrown the baby into the toilet and said the baby “fell.”

Using the information, the police tore the toilet apart in an attempt to retrieve the baby but to no avail. The woman then told police she had wrapped up the baby, and the description of the cloth matched that of a baby found the previous day in bushes in the area. The baby was admitted to Maun General Hospital but later died.

Meanwhile, CID district officer Mookami Kame said the woman is likely to face a murder charge as she is allegedly  responsible for the death. “She left the baby in the cold intentionally and the baby’s death is her responsibility,” Kame said.

TOUR DRIVER STABBED

The driver of an overland tour bus was stabbed in the back and tied up  this weekafter three men in a whiter Corolla motor vehicle flagged him down because his vehicle was leaking fuel. The bus was not carrying any foreign tourists, who had transferred to safari vehicles for a visit to the Moremi Game Reserve and were to return to Maun on the day of the attack.

The incident on the Sehitwa road near Sitatunga has shaken the tourism industry, already reeling from the effects of a wave of crime in Maun. Police this week launched a massive hunt for the white Corolla, registration number B 109 AKC, which has allegedly been seen at other crime scenes, and for the car’s owner.

It has been established that at least one of the three men involved was also allegedly  involved in a recent housebreaking and armed robbery in which a Dutch couple was  injured.  The suspect left his photograph on the property in his hurry to leave the scene.

The driver, a 31-year-old Zimbabwean, told The Ngami Times from his hospital ward he was unable to comment as his head office in Cape Town, South Africa, was investigating.  It is understood that he had stopped enroute to a camp and that the three men are thought to have been at the stopping place as well and saw an opportunity to commit a crime by cutting through the fuel line.

They then followed the truck and waved down the driver, saying fuel was spurting from a ruptured fuel line. He stopped and as he bent down to investigate, a knife was allegedly pushed into his ribs and he was forced into the cab, where he was stabbed as the robbers took his passport, a wallet containing P800 and US$35 in cash, and other valuables. It is not known whether any of the property of the foreign tourists was stolen.

According to CID investigation officer Mookami Kame, the driver was found by a passer-by in the truck he was driving. The driver said his attackers had been in a white Corolla which he said had the registration numbers B 109 AKC. Kame said this car had been mentioned before in connection with similar crimes and is being sought by the police. The car is said to be owned by a man wanted by the police.

Council Secretary makes good his threat

The Secretary of the North West District Council (NWDC), Paulos Nkoni, has refused to talk to The Ngami Times. He informed a reporter on two occasions through his staff this week that he “did not talk to The Ngami Times”.  The reporter had wanted to question him about the Maun dump near Matshwane.

Nkoni last month attacked the newspaper by name at a World Press Freedom Day meeting, claiming it did not support developments in the town – such as the relocation of Mabudutsa residents to undeveloped Matshwane - and vowing the NWDC would not support The Ngami Times in the future.

The newspaper refuted the allegation and protested, through the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Botswana Chapter) to the Minister of Local Government. Other senior politicians have also been informed of Nkoni’s threat, which was roundly condemned by residents of Mabudutsa.

An aerial shot of the new Maun District in Disaneng, showing the sprawling facility and in the background staff housing. The P300 million hospital is expected to be completed towards the end of next year. <!--[endif]-->

Safe blowers strike again

A gang that specialises in blowing up safes has struck again. The latest one to be severely damaged was at Matshwane Primary School, where cash was stolen. Previously, safes have been blown up at Makalamabedi, PostNet, Maun Printers and Stationers, and Okavango River Lodge.  It is under stood that no one has been arrested in connection with any of the incidents.

Speculation is that the gang may have had access to dynamite from the mines, other industries or government users but this has not been confirmed. Police are investigating in all cases. According to Maun police station commander Moitaly Thokweng, the Matshwane robbers broke a window to gain access after having tied up the nightwatchman. They got away with more than P5,000 cash. No arrest has been made to date and the police are appealing to members of the public to help.

In another incident, the police are investigating a case in which shops at the Rainbow Filling station complex were robbed and a variety of goods stolen.  Thokweng said the robbers stole goods valued at P2 800 after also tying up two watchmen while another was beaten with a blunt object on the head and injured. Again, no arrest has been made and police investigations are continuing.

Robbers struck several times in the Maun area over the past few days. A woman returned to her home on Sunday to find it had been ransacked and a tourist’s tent was entered at a local camping ground. Personal property was taken. The intruders cut a fence to make good their escape as well as fencing on an adjoining property.

Meanwhile, the police said in their weekly national roundup of crime that there had been 28 armed robbery cases reported in the week ending May 28.  Six of the robberies involved handguns and 19, knives. Four murders were reported in Botswana during the week. Two suspects committed suicide. There have been 70 murders committed in Botswana to May 28 this year, down a third on last year’s figure for the same period.

Cases of rape on the increase

Rape cases in Maun and surrounding areas have shown an increase. According the Maun police station commander Moitaly Thokweng, a 14 year old schoolgirl was raped at Kgonego settlement by a 37 year old man, who is in police custody. Thokweng said the incident happened during the day on June 1.

On June 2, a 54 year old woman of Botshabelo was raped by a 24 year old Sedie man, who was later arrested.The next day, a 27 year old Boro woman was raped while she was sleeping by an elderly man whom she knows.

The police are currently looking for him. Thokweng says Maun is no longer a safe place because women are raped day and night, adding that at times they are raped by people they know and trust.

Devaluation and school fees contributed to high inflation
By Bright Kholi

The high rate of inflation that was experienced at the beginning of the year has been largely attributed to the introduction of school fees. This was said on Maun this week by Leina Gabaraane, executive director of the Investment Management Services, a subsidiary of Stanbic Bank. While the devaluation of the pula the previous year saw inflation going up, the trend became even sharp with the introduction of school fees.

In January, the inflation rate stood at 16.6% and shot up to 17.2% by March. The April rate was 3.5% lower than the previous month. He also argued that although public service salary hikes and changes in taxation also put pressure on inflation, these did not have much impact as the consumer had already been hit hard by the devaluation and school fees.

He said the Bank of Botswana has introduced a three-year period with an objective of 3-6% inflation rate. The economy still thrived, despite during 2004/05 a growth rate of 8.3% was predicted by the government.

He said it was “ironic that during a period when the economy experienced currency devaluation and other problems, it could have such a considerable growth.” Gabaraane said the devaluation of the pula by a total of 19 % was an ill timed move, adding that more devaluations should be expected as it is a gradual process. “The belief is that an economy cannot grow when its currency is very strong,” he added.

Gabaraane also had the opportunity to elaborate on two products which his company handles - the Money Market Fund which he said was a collective investment scheme that invests in a wide range of highly marketable short term debt securities and the Managed Prudential Fund, a specialised investment designed to provide long term capital growth and enhanced levels of short term income. This provides investors access to growth opportunities both locally and exposure to international markets.

Work on the tarring of the Disaneng gravel linking Boseja to Matlapaneng got underway last Thursday afternoon when the contractors,  China Jiansung International, moved heavy equipment on to the site. The work is part of Maun’s  first phase of infrastructure development.

            Foreign vets treating Maun’s dogs

Waiting her turn... Vets and veterinary nurses from Britain, France and Canada have been kept busy since arriving in Maun at the weekend by spaying dozens of dogs as part of a major project launched by the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS). The project is being carried out at a Disaneng property where special clinic facilities have been established. The vets are members of the volunteer World Wide Veterinary Service and the project is being held with the approval of the Botswana Veterinary Council and the Veterinary department. MAWS held a welcome dinner for the visitors at the Sports Bar and Restaurant and other functions have also been planned before they return overseas next week.

EDITORIAL

Double-session pitfalls

Teachers, and students, too, are not particularly happy with the double-shift system introduced in our education system this year.

It sounds a great idea on paper, but one gets the impression that the architects of the project did not think much farther than their noses when it came to realising that night falls quickly in an African winter and teachers get very tired mentally and physically in the afternoons after having already taken classes in the mornings.

Students have been caught in the middle as well, as they cannot concentrate it has been found during afternoon lessons, sport is being adversely affected, teachers don’t turn up for the afternoon sessions, and young girls leaving school in the dark run the very real risk of being attacked and raped on their way home. Unhappily, that has already happened in Maun.

Perhaps the Education department should take a new in-depth look at the problems and then decide once and for all to either carry on with the scheme or scrap it.

Defeating crime

The police say they are “working tooth and nail” to overcome the crime situation in Maun. That is good news, and we hope for continued success as most people are fed up with the criminal activities that have caused such mayhem.

Recent safe blowing incidents and robberies at private homes are a major cause of concern. Maybe the time will come when we can run a headline that proclaim Maun as a “no-go area for crime”.
 <!--[endif]-->

THE MAUN SHUFFLE

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->
Many in Maun will remember Charlie Stephenson, the jack-of-all-trades and one-time safari operator (oldtimers will recall the adventures of Step-By-Step Safaris!) who lived here for more than 20 years and became part of the furniture in many a watering hole.

Well, Shuffle chatted to Charlie the other evening and found out that his sudden disappearance from Maun was the result of a serious illness which is now apparently being brought under control. He left Maun to go on holiday with relatives to Mozambique but there he fell very ill and was taken by relatives to his daughter’s home in East London, South Africa.

Charlie told shuffle that he is now in a convalescence home in Devon, England, and says he is “doing well.” Naturally, coming from Botswana he is a bit upset with the cost of things over there but Shuffle warned him not to convert the pound into pula – it will give him more grey hairs than ever before!

Anyway, here’s hoping Charlie finally settles down and finds that special girl who “can clean a caravan, make a bed and make coffee” as he always said  . . .

**

Shuffle hears that our dramatic front page headline the other week of “Crime Capital” has upset a lot of people not least of who are the police. The story goes that the headline was “a bit harsh” and that crime in Maun is basically at the same level as other Botswana towns of similar size and therefore did not turn our town into a “crime capital.”

In view of the story below the headline, the only inference that one could draw was that Maun was a sort of crime capital – after all, how many crimes have been committed here this year alone, and what about the criminal activities of 2003, 2004 and 2005 that brought the Commissioner of Police and other top officials hurriedly to Maun when the business community called meetings?

Shuffle appreciates the harshness of the headline but someone had to say it. In the same week, incidentally, a daily newspaper in Gaborone reported that Maun was “sinking under crime.”  We didn’t say that.

**

Two Maun pilots have opened up what has been sorely needed in Maun and indeed throughout Botswana – a flight training centre.  These centres are dotted all over southern Africa so it is refreshing to be able to tell aviation types in other countries that our town also boasts of a training centre where young and old can be taught to fly. Of course, it costs money but if you have flying in the blood, then this will be the place for you!

The training will be awesome as you learn totally new skills, and above all learn to fly without the advantage of “the horizon” – in other words, no power lines, hills or railway lines to guide you from one end of the delta to the other, or the desert for that matter. Lutz Gottschalk and Heike Schwagget opened up the centre as a result of the demand for a facility.

They have already had successes, particularly among citizens as Botswana desperately needs citizens who can share the job of piloting tourists from Maun to remote delta camps.  The job being done by expatriate pilots is indeed wonderful but wouldn’t it be nice that at some future time, the work is shared with locals.

Shuffle is not downgrading expat pilots, far from it! There were some very capable Botswana Defence Force (BDF) air wing pilots who attended the opening in the company of the commander of the BDF, the affable General Fisher

**

A couple who were recently robbed in their Disaneng home and were not named in this newspaper tell us they don’t like being tagged as “elderly.”  OK, we all want to remain young and we bow to their request that the people of Maun should know they are not elderly folk!

Joining those magnificent men (and women) in their flying machines
By Bright Kholi

I have never thought or dreamed of being given the opportunity to fly an aircraft, but believe me last week I had a 30-minute stint at the controls of a C172 training aircraft-thanks to African Planes Flight Training Centre, based in Maun. When my Editor asked me to join him for the official opening of the centre last week Friday, I never thought that a once in a life time opportunity was awaiting me that day.

When we got there, I was honestly humbled by the presence of the Botswana Defence Force commander Lieutenant General Matshwenyego Fisher. The General is my role model. He is the most humble, open and down to earth person I have ever met.

The official part of the event started with speeches as usual and, of course, aviation terminology was the order of the day. After the official session, the media was invited for an introductory flight in the centre’s C172.

The introduction started with some basic rules, checking the aircraft, which involves fuel quality and levels, and other external features - names forgotten.! I then volunteered to start, and I sat next to the pilot, Heike Schwagget, who was at the controls. In no time we were taxing down the runway and into the air we went.

Once we reached 6 000 feet, and after a few instructions, Schwagget told me the controls were all mine! I looked at her in astonishment and the seriousness on her face meant that she meant every word of what she said. Following instructions, I kept the plane on course. Turning on her command, going down, up - it was all fun.

My time was suddenly up and she instructed me to turn the plane round and head back to the airport, which I did, descending before handing over the controls to her for landing. Believe me, flying is more complicated than driving since an aeroplane moves in three dimensions. The thing has to stay stable up there at the same time moving both ways. To Schwagget, I say keep the flying spirit going, you are a star.

Moment of truth for chief reporter Bright Kholi as he pilots the C172.

Pilot poaching worries BDF
By Bright Kholi

While it is an expensive exercise for the Botswana Defence Force to train pilots, the organization says the biggest challenge is pilots being recruited from them after finishing training. Speaking at the official opening of African Planes Flight Training Centre in Maun, Brigadier Tumelo Paledi, of the BDF Air Arm, said the exodus of pilots from the BDF was a major problem.

He said that BDF recruited trainee pilots “straight from the streets and we train them for us.” The trainee pilots take about 5 to 6 years from point of entry to being  fully fledged pilots.

Brigadier Tumelo Paledi

He said after this period, other organisations would already start recruiting BDF pilots. Although there are regulations that bind BDF pilots to work with the BDF for a certain period, they were outdated and needed to be reviewed as they have some loopholes.

Paledi added that certain courses that are attended by their pilots are not long enough to bind them. He said these led to the exodus, adding that the current system was not cost effective.

Forensics vital to fire claims

GABORONE – Forensic fire investigations are vital in the reduction of fraudulent insurance claims being made to insurance companies.

This was said at the Botswana Police College at Otse this week by the director of Botswana Insurance Co, Dziki Nganunu. He said insurers paid out hundreds of millions of pula each year in claim settlements, a majority of which are as a result of fires. It was imperative that the police upgrade its forensic skills with a view to dealing with sensitive evidence.Nganunu said some fire claims went to the courts, adding that it was often the quality of forensic investigations that determined whether the cases were successful or not. It was estimated that in some countries, 30 to 40% of all insurance claims had an element of fraud.

Angelina Jolie roped into Basarwa land fight

Angelina Jolie with her adopted son Maddox

GHANZI – The Basarwa, locked in a legal battle with the government over relocation from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), have appealed to American film star Angelina Jolie for help in their fight to return to their traditional lands in the desert.

Jolie, a UNICEF ambassador, has been approached by the First People of the Kalahari organisation. In an open letter, she is told that “the (Botswana) government is trying to destroy us and we are asking for your help in our battle to save our people.Those who remain in the CKGR are not allowed to hunt and gather, and have no access to water. The health situation is bad in the (resettlement) camps. Young people are getting HIV and are drinking. This is not the way of our people. The death rate is now high.”

As far as can be ascertained, there has so far been no response from Jolie. Jolie, and her fellow film star boyfriend, Brad Pitt, became the parents of a baby daughter at a Namibian coastal hotel at the end of May. They are negotiating to sell photographs of the baby and themselves with the child for as much as US$7-million (P36-million)  and the proceeds being given to disadvantaged organisations throughout the world.

Teachers want Teachers Day celebrated on Fridays
By Basadi Morokotso
     

The president of the teachers association, BOFESETE, Eric Ditau, says Teachers Day should be celebrated on Fridays instead of in the middle of the week. Speaking at national celebrations in Maun to mark the day, Ditau said as teachers they do respect their profession, adding that it “is improper to them” to face students the following day after the celebrations. Ditau also lashed out at teachers for their low turn out at the event.

On other issues, Ditau expressed concern about lack of security for teachers at the work place as they are exposed to all dangers. He cited an incident in which a secondary school teacher in Mochudi was beaten by an alcoholic student and was left blinded permanently. He also said they are teaching “in a time bomb” and that recently, two students were raped in Maun and another in Serowe. He criticised teachers who bring alcohol to school and those who come to school drunk.

The event, the 8th since its official launch in 1998, was attended by Paramount Chief of Batawana, Kealetile Moremi, District Commissioner Bernadette Malala, the MP for Maun West Ronald Ridge, and senior government officials. The assistant Minister of Education, Moggie Mbaakanyi, said since the 1998 launch, a total of 1 067 teachers and former teachers have been honoured for their outstanding performance in the teaching profession and that this year alone, an additional 152 were awarded.

She said although some teachers in various places were not able to be present, thousands of them were celebrating at local or regional level with the communities they serve. Mbaakanyi said concerns continue to be raised about unprofessional conduct of some teachers and that such misconducts tarnish the good name and image of the teaching profession. “In this respect, I would like to implore teacher organisations to be more vigilant and ensure that those teachers who bring the profession into disrepute be made to believe that they cannot belong to the teaching profession,” she said. To the awards recipients, Mbaakanyi said their nomination is a clear indication of their valuable contribution as members of the teaching profession to the education system.

Men sector walkers reach Sojwe
By Golang Raditsela

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Walkers in of the 1 000km sponsored walk will spend the night in Sojwe before carrying on to Gaborone tomorrow (Saturday). The walk, an initiative of the Men Sector, was launched in Maun last Friday by the Member of Parliament for Maun West, Ronald Ridge.

The walkers, led by the MP for Gaborone South West, Robert Molefhabangwe, left Maun on Saturday. Their route was through Kumaga, Xumu, Kidia, Letlhakane, Mmashoro, Thabala, Kodibeleng, Hatsalatladi, Lephephe, Molepolole and Gaborone. During the walk, the entourage makes stops for brief testing and counseling.

Speaking at the launch last week various speakers emphasized the fact that men were  reluctant in taking action in the battle against HIV/AIDS though they lead in sexual decisions in the family.  Giving the keynote address at the launch, Ridge said the aim was to sensitise men and to encourage them to take part in fighting HIV/AIDS. It has been realised that men are relaxed when it comes to HIV/AIDS matters. He encouraged men to be active, change their attitudes and views towards the pandemic disease.

Ridge regarded Men Sector as a very important organisation. However, he maintained that forming an organisation is not as important as taking action. The Commissioner of Prisons, who is also the chairman of Men Sector Botswana, Herman Kau, was also among the guests.  Kau said people normally relate HIV/AIDS with traditional sickness, termed “Boswagadi”, but that was not the case and he spoke with a concern of how lightly people take HIV/AIDS message even though it is as serious as it is today.

District Commissioner Bernadette Malala, speaking on behalf of North West District Council chairman John Benn, stressed the negative impacts of AIDS and said it is a challenge faced by everyone.

SPORTS

       Hockey becomes popular in Maun

Hockey is continuing to grow in popularity throughout Maun. Coach Dipeba, from the Okavango International School, has been an instrumental leader by holding Saturday morning clinics at the Maun sports complex.These sessions are free and everyone is welcome. Along with running the clinic, he has played a key role by involving other schools through the help of the Botswana Hockey Association (BHA) as well as through organisation of the hockey festival.

The BHA has once again held clinics for 72 students from the Okavango International School, Delta Waters School, Matshwane Primary School, and Leapotswe Primary School. During the clinics Bongani Nsumiwa and Wickliffe Opany, from the BHA, provided students with opportunities to learn and improve their hockey skills. Students received group instruction as well as individual attention as their understanding of the fundamentals and rules were enhanced.

Last Wednesday, Okavango International School organized a hockey festival at the stadium where the four schools were in fun competition in both the under 13 and under 16 age groups. Through the success and enjoyment, students are having while playing hockey, it is hoped that further coaching clinics and festivals will be held again next year.

Terrors take Nhabe regional league crown

The Nhabe Regional League season has finally come to an end. The league had its ups and downs but at the end one team had to be crowned the winners. That fell to Maun Terrors, were crowned champions after beating Cubs 1-0 in a game that was eventually abandoned after Cubs brought eight players to the ground, of which two were red carded – a situation that left the referee with little choice but to call off the game.

It was a sweet victory for Terrors who wanted nothing less than a win to go through to the Division One promotion/relegation games for the first time. Terrors proved to be the better side all season as they collected points to finish on 67 points from 26 games.

They won 22, lost 3 (to Zungu, Makgabisa and had 3 points deducted after using a defaulter against Maun Tigers) and drew one. Terrors defence was stable, conceding 22 goals, and their strike force managed to hit the back of the net 86 times.  Makgabisa (65 points) and Tigers (54) finished second and third.

Makgabisa won 21 games, lost 3 and drew 2, but they had the best finish as the strike force managed to bang in 103 goals and the defence conceded 25. Tigers were last season champions, but this time around they finished on 3rd position. They were also hot favourites for the top position, but were caught by surprise by lowly  placed teams. Tigers lost 4 games, leaving them in an impossible position to win the league. CTO finished 4th with 54 points.

Moeti United finished in a comfortable position in 5th spot, with 41 points from 26. If  all goes according to plan, this years relegation games will be played in Maun, and that will be a boost for them as they will have home ground advantage as their fans will be rallying behind them.

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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]-->Delta football league fixtures:

Saturday (June 10): BOP v Black 1X (12 noon); Desert Wind v Desert Sky 2pm);  Delta Wanderers v Kutlwano (4pm).

Sunday (June 11): Shashe United v Liverpool (12 noon); Big Five v Rough Raiders (2pm);  Team Projects v Delta Eagles (4pm)  

BOFWA league:

Saturday:Boseja Chiefs v Maun Rangers (2pm, Ground 1); Double Action v Desert Warriors (4pm, ground 1) Bolton Wanderers V Smiling Boys (2pm, Ground 2) Delta Soccer Chiefs v  Thunder Stars (4pm), Ground 2)  Sunday:Delta Raiders v West United (2pm, Ground 1)) Golden Bush v Maphiri (4pm, Ground 1)) Masa Young Stars v Horizon Stars (2pm, Ground 2) Interlico v Maun Heroes (4pm, Ground 2)

Cheron Evans playing the keyboard

THE JAMES EVANS ENSEMBLE - a family group of talented musicians - are popular entertainers  in Maun. The Ensemble is in demand at private parties while dad’s guitar playing skills have entertained patrons at local hotels. James and his children, Jason and Cheron (inset),  were photographed at an 82nd birthday bash at the weekend. (Picture: Bose Sethupa)

CRIME CAPITALBy Golang Raditsela

Schoolboy criminals are helping to turn Maun into a “crime capital” The police disclosed to The Ngami Times this week that a huge number of criminal acts have taken place this year, and said these put residents’ lives at risk.Victims have said also that often the criminals, mostly described as “young”, wore balaclavas or masks, or “are brazen enough” to not bother with camouflage.

Statistics from the Maun Criminal Investigation Department (CID) show that in the 139 days since January 1, police have handled 77 cases of burglary, a murder, 20 cases of rape, 30  robberies, 68 house breakings, 3 motor vehicle thefts and 68 storeroom break-ins.

District CID officer Mookami Kame says that of all robberies committed, that of house breaking is increasing, and he pointed a finger at Maun Senior Secondary School (MSSS) students aged between 15 and 18. Kame said of all suspects arrested, the number of youths taken in stands out. MSSS headmaster Galesengwe Mohube said the police did not share information with the school when students were prosecuted for crime and therefore the school was not aware of the allegation.

The school handled similar issues on the school property in which students stole from others, and perpetrators are punished by the school. Mohube added they requested police intervention only in cases where there is no breakthrough. The school has a disciplinary committee as well as guidance and counselling staff who work on student behavioural change.

Kame said the police “try our best to reduce the rate of crime but it is impossible to accomplish the mission without the help of the community”. For the police to know how and when a crime took place, they have to find out from the witnesses or neighbours of affected people. There are strategies in place to help with investigations and arrest suspects but there are some instances where there is no evidence that can lead to an arrest, which is one of the causes of failing to curb crime.

Kame said the rate of arrest “is 50/50”, which means that in all crimes that have happened, arrests have only been made for about a half of the total. Police also worked with hospitals and clinics to identify suspects, and thanked hospitals for advising people to report to the police any injury they suspect is from beatings or the result of criminal activities. He also urged residents to support neighbourhood watch groups, which he said were of great help to the police.

The latest attacks have occurred in Disaneng, for long one of the worst hit crime areas in Maun, and Thitoyamokodi ward. A Dutch resident and his wife were attacked by two unknown men in their Disaneng home last Friday night. The robbers broke in through the bathroom window and threatened the couple with a weapon “which looked like a shotgun” and demanded cash. They got away with pula and foreign currency as well as two Nokia cellphones. The victims were injured during the struggle, and required medical attention as both were hit on the head.

The night before, a well-known German camp operator,  and his wife, were attacked by three men at around 3:50am in their Thitoyamokodi home. The thieves broke the burglar bars and after terrorising the couple and their two children, managed to get inside. They got away with two Nokia cellphones, a laptop, a driver’s licence and cash. The husband received medical attention for injuries inflicted by the burglars, who tied him up in what is described as “a professional manner”.

Robbers  blew up a safe at a printing and stationery company on Tuesday night. An undisclosed amount of money was taken A  Senonnori woman was attacked while walking with a friend from the Maun Post Office towards Choppies supermarket. The suspect, who twisted the victim’s wrist and demanded a cellphone, turned out to be a MSSS student. The phone was recovered.

COMMENT

NWDC versus ourselves

The country now knows that officials of the North West District Council (NWDC) have banned this newspaper from obtaining any information about Council affairs.

It is a sad decision that flies in the face of democracy and transparency as this means the Council has stopped the public from being made aware through this publication of matters of interest concerning them as taxpayers and residents of the North West District.

The Council Secretary claims we have twisted the facts about the Mabudutsa relocation issue. We reject that allegation outright.The consequences of this are very serious as the ramifications of the claim may well be widespread and damaging.

However, banned or not, we shall endeavour to obtain news and information of interest to our readers – and particularly those who are soon to be moved to Matshwane. The NWDC meets next week and it can only be hoped that sanity will prevail in their deliberations, which we presume they will hold, about the action of their Secretary, Paulos Nkoni, and his stamping down on press freedom at a World Press Freedom Day celebration.

‘Take-away tent plus humans, please!’

An elephant decided that Maun’s take-away were a bit too far to go for a take-away the other night, so it decided the next best thing would be a tent – complete with humans! That’s what happened in the Moremi Game Reserve, and while the reserve may not strictly be described as part of Maun, it is close enough for something like this to only happen in this neck of the woods.

The tourists, sleeping peacefully, had a real rude awakening when the towering pachyderm did what comes naturally in the jungle – it picked up the tent and walked off with it as humans scrambled out and cowered in the bush. Apparently no one was injured but the tourists received an almighty fright – and a dinner table conversation piece that will be handed down from father to son to grandson for generations as after all, it is not that often that an elephant calls on you at night, is it?

Two students raped near Narrow Bridge

A 31-year-old Boseja man has been arrested and charged with rape after allegedly raping two Maun Senior Secondary School students last week. The students aged 17 and 18 respectively, were on their way from evening study when the incident happened at the narrow bridge

The man, Olathile Saokwa, appeared in court on Friday on allegations of rape. He pleaded not guilty. According to the District CID officer Mookami Kame, the two girls were on their way home when the incident occurred.

The alleged rapist is said to have pounced on the two girls along the river towards Tsanekona. They shouted for help but a man who was fishing could not help and they decided to comply with the alleged rapists demands to save their lives.

He is said to have taken them to a spot where he ordered them to undress before raping them repeatedly in turns. The rapist then told the girls to cross the river after which he took them halfway to their homes. One of the managed to identify him during the ordeal.

“After getting the name of the rapist, it became easy to arrest him since we knew where he lived as he is a ‘regular’ here at the station,” he said. Kame said they arrested the man at Boseja on Wednesday and he appeared in court on Friday.

The value of a home in Mabudutsa

P9000.00

P3000.00

P20 000.00

By Onkabetse Tsaro

Residents of Mabudutsa who own rondavels are in a state of shock and demanding an explanation from the district leadership concerning their compensation as they feel they “have been cheated” if what appeared in a report published in a Gaborone newspaper is true.

The article, published in “Mmegi” May 11, quoted North West District Council secretary Paulos Nkoni as saying that in 2003 cheques were issued to the residents for compensation, and that “each owner pocketed at least P14 500.” Nkoni also is quoted as saying Mabudutsa people had “never moved as agreed” because The Ngami Times had written that compensation paid was very low.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with what The Ngami Times has been writing about compensation and on how the Mabudutsa issue has been handled,” said one angry resident, who submitted the figures of what his rondavel was worth. “We were given peanuts as compensation. I am very surprised to read that rondavel owners were given P14 500 each. If those are the figures the Council has, then something is not right. I own rondavels and none of them received that large some of money.”

Some residents spoke out about the payments made to them - Moiseraela Oane, who owns a one-roomed house and a rondavel, was paid P9 000 and P3 000, respectively, while Onkamile Mogwasi’s one room was worth P12 000, Mmopi Goitsemang’s one room P7 000, Zacharia Oane’s rondavel P9 000, Diretse Oane’s mud house P900 and Go-wedicwe Oane’s two roomed house P20 000.

According  to an assessment report of properties affected by the bus and taxi rank development coming to Mabudutsa, a mud hut, tuck shop and disturbance allowance payable to one of the owners was calculated at P2 287.20, while a mud hut, dilapidated mud hut , reed fence and disturbance allowance raised P3 765.30.

A brick house including an incomplete house,  trees, a reed house, other improvements, reeds and a disturbance allowance was calculated to be worth P13 390.60.

Neighbourhood watch leads to reduced crime in Chobe
By Bright Kholi

KASANE- The Neighbouhood Watch initiative is said to be effective in Kasane as people have come together to work with the police in the fight against crime. In an interview with The Ngami Times last week, the Kasane police station’s crime prevention coordinator, Sub-Inspector James Kabangu, said they had introduced the init1iative after realising that crime was on an upward trend.

He says that crime has reduced tremendously due to this initiative. “We started off by getting people in the same localities to know each other and be cooperative with each other,” he said. Kabangu said that the relationship between neighbours proved to be worthwhile as they started working hand in hand in the fight against crime. Committees in each area pleaded with the North West District Council – of which Kasane was part of at the time - to erect lights in some dark spots believed to harbour criminals and also advocated for the removal of bush. “Some areas had bush and together with the police, the crime prevention committees called for the clearing of these bushes,” he said.

Kabangu said Kasane alone had 14 neighbouhood watch committees. He said they are currently calling on people to buy whistles so that they can alert others when they are attacked.

Kasane police station’s crime prevention coordinator, Sub-Inspector James Kabangu and Plataeu neighbourhood watch secretary Bonani Kholi

Kabangu said that they also liaise with Village Development Committees on issues of crime. They also hold seminars and workshops in which they educate the community on crime prevention. Business owners were also taught on how to protect their businesses.

He also said that most criminals in the area were from neighbouring countries – Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kabangu warned that illegal immigrants who come as jobseekers were a serious threat as “they actually spy on people’s houses, taking stock of what each house contains that can be stolen and jot down the house number.”

This has been proven as when police make arrests in one of the neighbouring countries, they find thieves with a list of house numbers of Plateau ward in Kasane. He urged people to demand passports from people who look suspicious and report them to the police. Kabangu appealed to residents of Kasane to associate themselves with crime prevention initiatives.

Delta’s future comes under microscope
By Basadi Morokotso

The future of the Okavango delta came under the microscope at a three-day stakeholders’ workshop in Maun this week  organised by the Okavango Delta Management Plan Project (ODMP) on the Okavango Delta Tourism and Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) master plan.

The workshop attracted people from all walks of life, including politicians, business people and the public. The main aim was to examine and look at a variety of issues that relate to the use and management of the area designated and recognised internationally as a Ramsar site – a   wetland of international importance.

The project facilitator at ODMP, Comfort Molosiwa, said to achieve success, there’s a need to carry out a process to determine the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) for the delta. He described it as a planning process that attempts to balance the interests of people who live in an area against the need to monitor ecological processes found in such areas. Molosiwa further said there are many stakeholders in the Okavango Delta with interests in protecting their stakes, such as the interests of entrepreneurs who make use of the resources found there.

In a group discussion chaired by Mark Kyriacou, of Bird Safaris, the audience reacted with mixed feelings over socio-economic issues that included the unsustainable use of natural resources, the development of citizen capacity in the Okavango Delta and the need for monitoring tourism activities. They felt the natural resources in the wetlands are either deserted, neglected or not taken care and this they said was the reason why the government is facing problems such as poaching and cross-border jumping.

They felt its high time Batswana should be well informed about tourism and what it has in hand for them and be taken for courses that will, at the end of the day, leave them empowered enough to stand on their own rather than relying on foreigners. They labeled as “mere empowerments” situations whereby Batswana are taken for light courses such as training as tour guides.

Phillip Wright, the councillor for Makalamabedi South, pointed out that although Maun is known as a gateway to tourism, the residents themselves do not know a thing about tourism and how they can benefit from it. Wright mentioned developments such as building of schools, hospitals and construction of roads as some of the examples of how people benefit from tourism and said people need to be alerted of these so that they know what happens around them.

Nokaneng sub-Land Board clerk Mpho Keareng said people have long been complaining about the use of generators and the spillage of oil in the Okavango River and said his worry is that there’s no one inspecting issues such as these whereas at the same time they are a threat to society and pose a health hazard to humans.

NWDC boss repeats he will sideline newspaper

Paulos Nkoni

North West District Council Secretary Paulos Nkoni has repeated he will not provide The Ngami Times with Council information as the newspaper “distorts and twists facts”. He said this on Radio Botswana on Monday morning.

In the interview on RB1’s Masa a Sele programme, Nkoni said while the people of Mabudutsa ward were willing to relocate to Matshwane, they have started complaining because The Ngami Times reported negatively on the relocation process.

Nkoni said while the NWDC had given the facts to the newspaper on several occasions, the newspaper had “always seen it fit to twist them to suit it.” Asked whether he has banned the newspaper on the provision of information, Nkoni said that until the newspaper’s management approaches him for talks, the NWDC would “starve the newspaper” of any information.

He also said while the compensation money for affected residents “was not enough”, the newspaper had made it look as if it was the NWDC which was responsible for the rates. Nkoni also said that he had complained to the newspaper and did not get any redress.

In another interview with the radio station, immediately after Nkoni’s interview, Bright Kholi, chief reporter of The Ngami Times, denied any knowledge of Nkoni’s complaints. Kholi said the newspaper only got wind of his complaints at a World Press Freedom Day public gathering where Nkoni was invited as a guest. At the event, Nkoni broke the protocol under which he was invited and made accusations against The Ngami Times, claiming the newspaper was guilty of negative reporting on the relocation.

Kholi said it was unfortunate that Nkoni did not lodge his complaints officially with the newspaper - “he did not lodge any complaint with us formally. We are only working on speculation as we do not know exactly where we misquoted him,” he said.

He also maintained that Nkoni, as a person holding high office, should have followed the procedure of lodging a complaint instead of making the attacks in public. He said that it is unfortunate that Nkoni had decided to starve the newspaper of any information – “what Nkoni and his subordinates should know is that they are public servants who are there to serve the people. They do not own the information. “Denying us information will be tantamount to starving the public of information they need. This will be a serious violation of press freedom”.

Asked whether the newspaper supports the relocation, Kholi said since its inception The Ngami Times has been very supportive about Maun’s developments. He said they had the interests of Mabudutsa residents at heart and whether people were relocated to a habitable place. “A bus/taxi rank is a major development that we support as a government initiative, but the implementers should guard against failing the government,” he said.

EDITORIAL..

The ugly face of crime

Criminals appear to once again be trying to gain the upper hand in Maun. This time they are apparently using aggresive  methods and targeting the elderly.

As reported elsewhere in this newspaper, there have been many incidents – news of which has culminated in tourism officials warning the government that their industry is in serious danger if the crime wave continues.

We now hear that senior personnel of a top safari company are moving out of Maun to a city regarded as one of the crime capitals of the world, Johannesburg, South Africa.  If that doesn’t send a clear message about the state of crime in this town, then nothing ever will.

The police need to beef up their crime prevention methods. The Botswana Defence Force and the SSG need to be deployed. Family, friends, neighbours, doctors and clinic nurses need to be exhorted to report anything they may see or hear about criminal attacks or  injuries and blood stains that are suspect.

The German government has already said it will issue a warning to travellers not to visit Maun and Botswana. Our problem is that once one government issues such an advisory, others in the 25-nation European Union will do the same – that will be very bad news for the tourism industry.

No stone should be left unturned to stop the criminalss from ruining our town and above all our very important tourism industry.

THE MAUN SHUFFLE..

More than 78% of 1 253 080 Batswana have Setswana as their mother tongue, according to 2001 Census figures made available by the Office of the President. According to the figures, the population of Botswana was 1 601 885 at the time of the big count

A fascinating insight into the many languages spoken shows that Ikalanga is spoken by just under 8% of the population, with Sekgalagadi by 3.5% and English is spoken by 34 433 people who make up 2.1% of mother tongue speakers and are the fourth largest segment of the population.

According to the figures, there are also 1.8% speaking Khoisan (Sarwa) with a similar number speaking Mbukhusu. It is interesting to note that the 6 750 Afrikaans-speaking people in the country – many of them live in Ghanzi, Francistown and Maun - make up 0.4% of mother tongue speakers, and that the 1 848 Indians speaking different languages from the sub-continent total 0.1%.

**

Open Season regretfully appears to have been declared on this newspaper’s reporters by members of staff at the North West District Council. Shuffle hears that reporters have been accosted on the streets and in parking areas, and given a good telling off for the newspaper’s alleged negative reporting of what’s taking place over Mabudutsa/Matshwane.

Shuffle finds this distasteful, particularly as Council staff are actually civil servants paid by, among others, the people who are being moved! They should remember that transparency is the name of the game, and the next time an international organisation wishes to rank Botswana as one of the most transparent countries in Africa insofar as government is concerned, they will surely be looking twice at the performance of our Council employees and their attitudes.

Transparency has never, it appears, been a favourite word among Council employees as never before have they been subjected to such a deluge of criticism and anger as being exhibited by Mabudutsa residents (are we also to blame for that?).

**

The history of the world is relatively new, we are told by scientists. They have been trying for many years to date the start of mankind, and every time an ancient skull is found in places such as Ethiopia, South Africa or Kenya there is excited chatter about re-writing history.

The reason for this interest by Shuffle is that last week in far-away Brazil another link to the earth’s mysterious past has been uncovered. Archaeologists have discovered an astrological observatory they are tentatively placing at 2 000 years of age.  It is similar to the famous Stonehenge ring of monolithic stones in England and which has also been said to have been an observatory.

The Brazilian blocks of stone are positioned to mark the winter solstice in December – this means that the path of the sun allows rays to pass through a hole in one of the blocks, possibly to calculate agricultural activity and religious rituals.  The discovery is of particular interest to Shuffle as he has been reading a book about the Maya peoples of Central and South America, and the amazing ruins (including the biggest pyramids ever found) they left behind in the jungles of both areas.

Similar stone circles as that found in Brazil have also been discovered in the Americas, and these have been dated to tens of thousands of years old – which means that somewhere along the line, our present-day scientists are woefully wrong about the age of the earth, the appearance of mankind, and many of the ancient ruins found so far. It’s an interesting thought, isn’t it?

Teenage thieves now target shoppers

There appears to be a new trend in thievery in Maun as robbers wait in front of shops to snatch customer’s goods on their way out and follow people at their homes to demand money Some people have been relived of their groceries, cash and cell phones on their way from some shops and even bars. Gothatamang Motlalephuti of Boiteko Bottle Store, says his customers have been earmarked by a group of thieves who sit in front of his business.

In an interview with The Ngami Times, Motlalephuti said “a crowd of boys” wait at the gate to Boiteko Bottle store and watch customers as they buy drinks. “Once the customer leaves the shop, they follow him/her until they have the opportunity to rob the customer,” he said. Another place that has become a meeting place for thugs is the big tree in front of Super Bar. A gang of young boys is always seen there.

Maun Station Commander, Moitally Thokweng said these were not only confined to Boiteko Bottle Store and Super Bar, but said it is almost everywhere in Maun. He said young boys in Wenela waited at the gate of a businesswoman and got away with P4 000 after snatching her handbag. Some of the attackers have been arrested. Thokweng said these teenage thieves were a great concern, and urged people to report any suspects to the police. Botshabelo Ward has also become one of the hardest hit by crime, with a group of young boys knocking on doors and demanding cash and cell phones.

First Methodist Church to be inaugurated

Maun’s first Methodist Church is to be inaugurated on Sunday (May 21). Church services were previously held at the Maun Senior Secondary School chapel, but now will take place in the new church in Borolong ward (behind Bo’s bakery building). The inauguration is at 9am.

The history of Methodism in Maun began in the early 1980s when it was felt necessary to provide an English-language church service to cater for local residents and expatriates. Larry and Jane Kies, who were Anglican missionaries, began the initial groundwork in Maun and they were followed by Mike and Judy Coulton – both families arranged Tuesday evening meetings to discuss the Bible and pray together.

The first Sunday morning service was held at the Coultons’ home. In 1986, the Rev Gordon and Leigh Ann Fort arrived and became very involved in the ministry, with Leigh-Ann Fort starting a mid-week “Sunday School” class which drew 60 children. In the meantime, the church had been named the Maun Christian Fellowship and met at the Riley’s Hotel conference centre, where Mike and Sharon Hayes, of the United Methodist Church, and Reg and Mary Epp, of the Aviation Fellowship, were active.

The first site of the church in the early 80’s

In 1992, the Rev Dick Harding and his wife, Shirley, of the United Methodist Church, took up positions as the first full-time pastoral couple in Maun, ministering to a congregation of 40 adults and 30 children. They were followed by Truman and Patsy Barrett in 1994.

The Maun Christian Fellowship affiliated itself with the Methodist Church of Southern Africa in 1996, and the Rev Alex Stein and his wife, Ems, arrived in the July of that year to be the first Methodist minister in Maun.  They returned to South Africa in 1998 due to ill health, being followed by the reverends Malakia Ntogae and Bethuel Medupe who stayed in Maun until the end of 2003 when the Steins returned to the town. The present congregation numbers 108 adults and 34 Sunday School children, which has necessitated the building of a church. With Kevin McMinn as the main driving force, the church has now been completed.

A ‘bush chef’ with cuisine to make the mouth water!

Craig Higgins is executive chef at a luxury Okavango delta camp and with a following of food lovers who love what he produces in his wilderness kitchen. Higgins has now put on the market more than just a recipe book.

His “Elephant in the Kitchen – Recipes from the Wilderness” is a wonderful addition to any bookshelf, particularly as the recipes are coupled with stunning photographs and text from international photographers Dereck Joubert and Beverly Joubert who have just been chosen as explorers-in-residence by National Geographic magazine.

A passionate kilt-wearing Scotsman, Higgins - based at Mombo Camp, the premier camp run by Wilderness Safaris - is a character of note who loves life to the full and craves nothing more than to keep his international guests well satisfied with an array of the finest foods on offer . . . and, of course, the true taste of Africa..

As Dereck Joubert writes: “The food here also takes you on an exotic journey, but doesn’t leave you out at sea wishing for something similar.” The book explains just why this Scotsman is in Africa when it states that African cuisine south of the equator is sometimes quite dull “so when Craig decided to seek out flavours from Africa, he decided that the only way to do that was to blend cultures and then mediate with his own inventions.” And he has succeeded admirably.

Where else would one find superbly presented bobotie spring rolls, wild mushroom risotto, African Cape salmon mille-feulle with avocado and wasabi dressing, gourmet ostrich burgers, duck and papino salad, groundnut pesto with fresh pasta, sweet potato and ginger torte, Okavango sushi, safari chicken laksa or skewered coconut chicken.

There is also a wide and varied selection of meat dishes, vegetarian foods, desserts, soups, breads, preserves, biscuits and sorbets coming out of that magic kitchen. This is a book that provides the reader, and the avid cook, with a true touch of Africa – and with aromas to challenge the palate. “Elephant in the Kitchen” is available at all good booksellers

Craig Higgins

SPORT

The FIFA- Special Olympics development project took place in Maun recently and was attended by Frank Ramsden (assistant minister of works and transport), Senior Chief representative Charles Letsholathebe, district Commisioner Bernadette Malala, Stanley Kanyemvu, chairman of the Nhabe Regional committee of the Botswana Football   Association, and a FIFA representative (Picture: Bose Sethupa)

Zebras win friendly - and now for COSAFA!
By Cobrie Kgaodi

The Zebras scored a well-deserved victory on penalties against Zambia’s Chipolopolo in their warm up game for the COSAFA tournament in Gaborone this weekend. Many people feel that a one match practice especially a few days before the crucial Cup games is not enough.

First to raise this concern was sports analyst Jimmy George who said it’s going to be tough for the coach to try out all his players, such as Malepa Bolelang, Masego Ntshingane who has been out of action for the Zebras because of injuries, Floor Kgetholetsile and Pontsho Moloi.

Many Zebras supporters accused the Botswana Football Association (BFA) of  not having given the national team enough time to get game fit by playing as many international friendly games as they could.

They feel there are a lot of new players - like Bolelang, the sensational dribbling wizard Pontsho, his brother Dirang, Thato Siska, who is reported to be banging goals abroad, Mpho Mabogo, Patrick Mathaba and Phenyo Mongala, who is reported to be on the move to South Africa’s premier league side, Jomo Cosmos.

BFA technical officer Philemon Makhwengwe said the problem was a lack of funds and other nearby countries turned down invitations. Nevertheless, the Zebras preparation game against Zambia left many soccer followers confident of a win against Madagascar over the weekend.

The Zebras, who went into the game with aggression were the first to be awarded a comer kick, two minutes into the game after a shot from left wing forward Tebogo Mothusi was kicked out for a corner by Denis Banda. Zebras came close, but a shot from right wing Duncan Kgopolelo went wide after receiving a long ball from Mogogi Gabonamong.

An attempt at goal by the Zambians’ Dennis Banda from a set piece was saved with ease by Modiri Marumo. Chipolopolo came back strong in the 20th minute but were thwarted by a Zebras defence led by steady and rocky Ndiyapo Letsholathebe. Forward Kgopolelo came close to scoring, but his shot was headed into play.

In the 35th minute, Zambia’s dangerous mid-fielder Lameck Ndlovu slipped between Gabonamong and Michael Mogaladi, but missed the target. Zebras replied with a powerful drive from Bolelang whose shot went over the bar and nearly caught Zambian goalkeeper George Kolala by surprise.

Zambians got their first corner kick that was taken by Lumba Momwamba but it landed safely into Marumo’s hands. After the break, Zebras brought on Jomo Moatlhaping, goalkeeper Kagiso Tshelametsi, Talk-Talk Motlhabankwe and Viola Gabolwelwe. Chipolopolo brought in Samson Ngulube and Alison Mkandawire for Phiri and Wilson Mulenga.

The Zebras were nearly rewarded in the 47th minute when Gabonamong could have hammered a powerful shot than trying to round off the advancing Kholala, who kicked the ball for a corner kick. Zebras brought in Ntshingane and Ernest Amos for Mothusi and Seabo Gabanakgosi who added some flavour. Full time came with the score at 0-0.

Zebras’ penalties were scored by Ntshingane, Selolwane, Motlhabankwe, Letsholathebe and Gabolwelwe. Dennis Banda, Kennedy Nketani, Jobe Jonele, Sebastian Mwamba scored for Zambia, before Tshelametsi saved Henry Mulenga’s shot and Alison Mkandawire. Zebras penalty by Jomo Moatlhaping was saved by Kolala.

What are the chances?

Cobrie Kgaodi takes the readers through the first eleven with perfect combinations that he feels can benefit the Zebras in tomorrow’s match: Cobrie opts first for the regular 4-4-2 system, which will have captain Modiri Marumo in the posts as he has had enough match practice at BDF X1. Cobrie’s defence would have Mompati Thuma, Ernest Amos, Khumo Motlhabane and Ndiyapo Letsholathebe.

On the right side back, I will give the role to Thuma as he is quick in overlaps and also has the required speed. I would then pin Motlhabane on the left side for his steady and calculative mode in a match. I would them happily pitch Nchingane, Motlhabankwe, Mogogi Gabonamong, and Jomo Moatlhaping in the middle field.

Nchingane has good passing, the ability to switch positions and this whole lot of creativity make him anchor well with his strikers and wingers. My strike force will be comprised by Diphetogo Selolwane and Tshepo Molwantwa. Dipsy can dribble and shoot whilst marked and even jump over tall defenders to steal a goal. Molwantwa has got pace, he keeps defence busy and never gives up. My bench will comprise of Kagiso Tshelametsi, Nelson Gabolwelwe, Tebogo Mothusi, Michael Mogaladi, Seabo Gabanakgosi, Malepa Bolelang and Duncan Kgopolelo.

Meanwhile Maun Zebras supporters club members leave for Gaborone at 08am on Friday but for those not making the 2 000 km round-trip, the games will be shown on the big screen at Cresta Riley’s Hotel. Admission is P15 and you will get two drinks for free.

Bulls get place in semi-finals

The Bulls rugby team from South Africa has reached the semi-finals of the Super 14 international competition.

They had to beat Stormers by 32 points and score four tries to pip Sharks for a place in the semi-finals. They did so by winning 43-10 at Newlands, Cape Town, on Saturday. Bulls play the defending champions, Crusaders, in Christchurch on Saturday (morning kick-off, Botswana time), with the second semi-final between Hurricanes and Waratahs. The final takes place on May 27.

Action cricket  at exciting stage

The annual; BMC action cricket competition has reached an exciting stage after four matches have so far been played by the six teams. Stocks lead the league on run rate with three victories and one loss, followed by Dad’s Army and Moremi air, both with 6 points. Then come Fridge Air (4), Tao Aotearoa (2) and Delta Air (0). In matches played on Wednesday night, Fridge Air beat Delta Air, Dad’s Army beat Tao Aotearoa, Stocks defeated Moremi Air and Fridge Air defeated Tao Aotearoa. Games next Wednesday will see Moremi Air play Delta Air, Stocks clash with Tao Aotearoa and Dad’s Army meet Fridge Air. Indian food is on sale. There is a bar as well.

Fans wait patiently for important tournament
By Cobrie Kgaodi (who will be at the National Stadium)

The long awaited weekend for many soccer lovers is finally here. Tomorrow (Saturday) starts the two day COSAFA group B semi-final matches.

Group B consists of Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and Madagascar with the first game South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Swaziland at 1pm at the Gaborone’s national stadium, followed by the Madagascar and Botswana match at 3pm. The names of the Botswana squad have been announced. It is: defenders Mompati Thuma, Ernest Amos, Khumo Motlhabane, Ndiyapo Letsholathebe, Seabo Gabanakgosi, Kabelo Kgosiang and Kolagano Pius. Midfield: Nelson Gabolwelwe, Michael Mogaladi, Tebogo Mothusi, Tshepo Motlhabankwe, Mogogi Gabonamong, Moemedi Moatlhaping, Masego Nchingane and Pontsho Moloi. Strikers: Diphetogo Selolwane, Bolelang Malepa and Tshepiso Molwantwa. Goalkeepers: will be Modiri Marumo and Kagiso Tshelametsi. Jelusic Veselin is head coach and Major David Bright assistant coach.

Edition 314 May 12 - 19, 200

COUNCIL THREAT

The Secretary of the North West District Council (NWDC), Paulos Nkoni, says he is being pressurised by councillors and his staff to ban The Ngami Times from Council affairs because of a belief that the newspaper is not supporting Maun’s development.

He told this to more than 100 people attending a World Press Freedom Day commemoration in Maun last Saturday – and his views were immediately challenged by Modise Maphanyane, director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa Botswana Chapter.

Maphanyane described Nkoni as a civil servant accountable to the people and it was uncalled for that such criticism should be levelled on a day to celebrate press freedom. “It would be unfortunate if officials kept information to themselves as they are civil servants,” he said

Nkoni, holding a copy of The Ngami Times, claimed the reporting of the Mabudutsa relocation to Matshwane showed the newspaper was “not positive.”
Residents of the ward are being relocated to Matshwane.

He said: “The Ngami Times is not saying anything positive about what we are doing. We are trying to develop the area (Mabudutsa) and we are taking them (the residents) to a new area and need to encourage them. “Maun was a bush at some stage. Gaborone was a (railway) siding that has been turned into a city. We are also trying to turn Matshwane into a city. “Officers and councillors are pressurising me to say ‘No’ to The Ngami Times, saying the newspaper is causing conflict.”

The newspaper’s editor, Norman Chandler, said this week that it cannot be accused of causing conflict or negativity for merely reporting the views of residents who were angered at being relocated, particularly to an area where there is little in the way of infrastructure.

“The Ngami Times supports Maun to the hilt. We shall continue to do so. We have been at the forefront of the fight for street lights, an end to the crime wave, tarred roads, abolition of litter, new sewerage lines, barring animals from our roads, and have backed the Council every inch of the way in its bid to improve Maun.

“Mr Nkoni is wrong in his assumption we are critical or negative of what the NWDC is doing. “We agree that people need to be encouraged to uplift themselves but not in the manner now being carried out. There has, one would think, been sufficient time for forward planning to take place, for the area to be cleared, for roads to be graded or tarred and for infrastructure to be put in place.

“If we are criticised and then banned from Council affairs because of our reporting, then it woul appear  transparency, press freedom and the right of people to voice their views is doomed not only in Ngamiland but also throughout Botswana.”

Cordon gate chaos as food confiscated

Angry safari operators and tourists have lashed out at police and Department of Agriculture staff this week for confiscating all foodstuffs at cordon fences because of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the north-east of the country.

Piles of food, including tinned dog food, could be seen at various gates, including Makalamabedi. The farcical situation came to an end on Tuesday when a government statement clarified which areas were in fact affected by the ban.

Despite numerous telephone calls to the Ministry of Agriculture, the statement was not released to The Ngami Times. A copy was obtained from other sources. It was reported to this newspaper that gate staffs were taking food off trucks and from cars, and not paying any attention to the protests of motorists. Large truckloads of foodstuffs not affected by foot and mouth disease were being turned back.

The food taken included UHT milk, processed meat products, tinned beef, tinned fish products, fresh fish, cheese, tinned dog food, coffee and tea. “It’s a ridiculous situation,” said one operator. “They were even confiscating fresh fish. They wouldn’t listen to reason. Since when is fish regarded as having foot and mouth disease? Do fish have cloven hooves?”

According to the Department of Animal Health and Production, fresh meat including vacuum packed meat, smoked and parboiled meats, fresh milk including pasteurised milk, biltong, hides and skins, and grass for cattle feed are not allowed out of the Selebi Phikwe infection zone. Processed animal products, including UHT and powdered milk, are allowed in or out without a permit. Surveillance zones have been established at Kasane, Shakawe and Palapye. Products are allowed out of the zones if they are being taken north.

These include fresh meat, including vacuum packed meat, smoked and parboiled meats, fresh milk including pasteurised milk, UHT milk, powdered milk, biltong, hides and skins and grass for feed but no cloven-hoofed animal products can leave the zones for southern parts of the country.

Camp operator attacked in home

A prominent Maun safari camp operator and his family were attacked in their home at about 3am on Thursday. Three men wearing dark bomber jackets, dark trousers and wearing balaclavas smashed through the burglar bars to gain entry.  They carried sticks and sjamboks.

The gang forced the operator’s wife and children under an eiderdown and ordered them to be quiet while they attacked the husband. The gang demanded money. The family’s screams resulted in neighbours calling the police and 911 neighbourhood watch.

In another incident, a Maun General Hospital ambulance on its way from Francistown burst into flames on Wednesday after hitting a cow in the Matshwane area. The ambulance was carrying two patients from Francistown but no one was hurt in the incident.

Celebrating World Press Freedom Day in Maun . . . more than 100 journalists and friends of the media marched through Maun last weekend.

Death of Maun businessman

A well-known businessman in Maun, Jenamo David Moalosi, has died suddenly. Moalosi was the owner of The Mixers Pub in Sedie ward. He was born in Tutume and was married with children.

Prior to opening one of the most popular pubs in Maun, he worked for Kgalagadi Breweries (Segwana) for more than 20 years.

Raped on way home from kitchen tea

By Golang Raditsela

A woman who had attended a kitchen tea and was walking home with a friend was allegedly raped in Maun. Police are investigating the case in which a 26-year-old woman was raped by two men between 10.15pm and 10.30pm on April 30.

She had been with a female friend and were on their way home in Kgosing ward from Matlola.  About 100 metres from where the party was held, the women were attacked by three unknown men who demanded cell phones. The women did not have any. The men then changed their story and grabbed the victim. Her friend fled. Two men allegedly raped her and the third one refused due to a shortage of condoms, police said.  A 29-year-old man was arrested by police and the other two are still being sought. The police have appealed to women not to walk alone at night, particularly in unsafe places. They should also avoid strangers.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the alleged rape of a 26-year-old Sankuyo woman by a workmate on April 29 while walking the 7km between Sankoyo village and Mankwe bush camp. According to the CID officer Superintendent Mookami Kame, the man, aged 28, is alleged to have proposed to the woman, who rejected his advances.  He then offered money – P50 – but the woman again refused and he allegedly raped her. The woman managed to reach Sankuyo, where she reported the matter and was later taken to Maun police. The man is in custody.

Anti-litter, Ranching Highlighted

GHANZI – A major anti-litter campaign in Ghanzi on Saturday is to be followed by a kgotla meeting addressed by the MP for Ghanzi South, Braam de Graaff, and a presentation of the new game ranching policy in the evening.

The presentation will be made by the deputy director of the Department of Wildlife, Moemi Batshabang, at the Kalahari Arms Hotel at 7pm. The day is being organised by the Kalahari Conservation Society in order to make people more aware about litter and to enable farmers and others to be more informed about the game ranching policy adopted by the government. The kgotla meeting will be at 10am with the anti-litter programme getting underway from the main mall at 7am.

Office workers tied up, gagged

Office workers at a safari company in Maun were tied up with wire and gagged when thieves staged a daylight robbery on Saturday.

The robbers stole about P3 000 in cash and made good their escape by cutting a hole in the property’s fence before disappearing in the direction of the Thamalakane River. In another robbery, two young women living alone were robbed of personal property and a motor car when thieves broke the lock on the main gate to their home and smashed the front door to gain entry. The vehicle was recovered.

Horse thief gets five years

A man who stole two horses from the home of Terry and Mervyn Palmer in Disaneng, Maun, two weeks ago has been sentenced at the Customary Court to five years in prison for stock theft and ordered to pay P5 000 compensation within two months. Thomas Morangi was also convicted of common theft with a second accused, Ngueva Morangi, and both were sentenced to three lashes.

The horses, both thoroughbreds imported from Zimbabwe, were found dead following a huge search that ranged as far as Rakops.  The first horse to be found had died from exhaustion about 60km from Maun while the second was found dead near Kareng. Efforts had also been made to change the appearance of the animals.

Tourist gored by buffalo

SERONGA – A New Zealand woman tourist on a walking tour in the Seronga area this week was gored by a buffalo when she fell in its path. The woman, who was airlifted to the Delta Medical Clinic, declined to be identified. It is understood that she was walking with a group of other tourists and a guide when a buffalo charged out of long grass.

The party scattered but the women fell and one of the hooves of the animal gored her on the thigh. The woman and her husband left for Namibia on Wednesday. It was the second such incident involving a buffalo in the past few weeks. Earlier, an employee of a safari company was gored at a luxury camp in the Okavango delta and underwent surgery in Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, an elephant attacked a tent in the Moremi Game Reserve on Tuesday night. Few details are available, and it is believed no one was injured.

    South Africa recognizes senior Maun Politician

The founder of the Botswana Independence Party, 85-year-old Motsamai Mpho, of Maun, has been awarded the Order of the Companions of Oliver Tambo in Silver by South Africa. The award was made by President Thabo Mbeki (pictured with Mpho) at the Union Buildings in Pretoria in recognition of Mpho’s “excellent contribution to the struggle for liberation, democracy and human rights in South Africa.” He is the first Motswana to receive the award. Mpho started working in South Africa in 1948 and joined the African National Congress in 1952. In 1956 he was arrested and charged with high treason at a celebrated trial at the Johannesburg Drill Hall and was among the first group of 67 treason trial detainees discharged with the late Chief Albert Luthuli. Mpho then organised a committee at Randfontein Old Location to burn their passes and then arrested for entering Westonaria Location without a permit. He was ordered to leave South Africa within seven days and not to return. On arrival in Botswana in 1960, Mpho formed the Botswana Independence Party that assisted South African political activists to cross the Botswana border enroute to exile in Lusaka.

Truck overturns, passengers injured

A government truck overturned last week near Sitatunga, injuring a number of passengers. According to Maun police traffic officer Bigboy Tiyedze the road was slippery due to rain and the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle. The truck was travelling from Sehitwa to Tsabong, through Maun, transporting a government officer and his belongings.

There were three passengers – an 11-year-old boy, a woman (30) and her eight months old baby girl. They were all, as well as the driver, injured and admitted to Maun General Hospital.  Traffic police are  appealing to drivers, especially those who use the Maun/Sehitwa road, to drive responsibly during rain as the road becomes slippery. Tiyedze also added that even when there is no rain, drivers should be vigilant.

Six lonely houses in the bush are start of New Mabudutsa

The Ngami Times has been accused by the Secretary of the North West District Council, Paulos Nkoni, for not being positive about the relocation of Mabudutsa residents to Matshwane, 10km from their present homes. Reporters made an on-the-spot survey this week to find out what is happening there and also spoke to residents in the existing ward.

BUILDING... An incomplete house at the New Matshwane

People relocated to Matshwane and Matshwane Ext (on the opposite side of the Francistown road) will have to travel long distances to shops, petrol filling stations, clinics and other facilities.

There is a standpipe just off the main road in Matshwane Ext, with nothing further in evidence the deeper one goes into the bush. It is believed that the Department of Water Affairs does not at this stage have any plans to lay a pipeline into the extension area. None of the areas has been totally cleared of bush. Taxis only operate on the tarred road which means residents will have to walk through the bush to their homes or in order to take a taxi to their place of work, shops and schools. There are no power lines or telephone poles in place. There is cellphone coverage. People relocated to Matshwane and Matshwane Ext (on the opposite side of the Francistown road) will have to travel long distances to shops, petrol filling stations, clinics and other facilities.

The Ngami Times this week visited the two areas to see what developments have taken place.

In Matshwane, there is at present a single dirt track leading into the bush with the first of six houses being built by residents about 1.1km from the main tarred road, while in Matshwane Ext the first of the plots are marked out more than 600 metres from the main road and can only be reached through high grass and along a rutted track.  There is a water pipeline that has been laid in Matshwane to link up with police housing built some distance away from the place set aside for Mabudutsa residents. There is one public standpipe which is not visible from the track.

Mabudutsa residents have their say on attack
By Staff  Reporters

Mr & Mrs  Motseothata Phaladi

People living in Mabudutsa are surprised that The Ngami Times has signalled out by the North West District Council and issued with threats because of its reporting on the issue.

Residents expressed shock at remarks by NWDC secretary Paulos Nkoni, saying that the newspaper has done “a great deal in informing the general public about the shortcomings of the whole relocation process.” One woman, who feared victimisation if she was identified, said: “The paper has been operating for a long time and I cannot believe it is known to be a biased and negative newspaper. At least the paper reported the voices of us, the disadvantaged.” Their complaints as reported in the media were genuine, adding the relocation money was never enough - “You cannot build a house with P1000”, she added.

Motseothata Phaladi stated relocation was never clear to them and they were not given a map of their move. He said they were told before Choppies Supermarket was built about their departure and was surprised sometime later to be given Tawana Land Board documents and told to move.  He complained that only active residents have been moved out and the disabled and old people have been left behind.

Botshabelo Gaabotswe Seloilwe, who settled in the ward a long time ago, stated that Land Board officials never came to the family home to discuss relocation.  “Even if they did, I will not move my family out of Mabudutsa ward. I have worked so hard to build my home and compensation is out of the question”, she said. She believes The Ngami  Times has the right to tell their stories the way they hear and see it. “The media, particularly The Ngami Times, has never influenced or confused anyone for that matter. They were reporting hat we told them,” said Galebonwe Areneng.

Areneng said there “were many irregularities in the whole process and somebody had to report on those, and that is what The Ngami Times did.” She states that they have talked a lot and now they have no words any more – “now officials want to shut the media up by issuing threats.” Areneng added: “If they accuse you of lying, take us to the plots in Matshwane, photograph us in the bush that is supposed to be our plots. Pictures never lie.” She reiterated that so far all her compensation money has been paid out for debushing the area and also hiring vehicles to cart water and sand.

She maintained that the NWDC did have a change of attitude in deciding to provide transport for people to move. “It was a bit too late because some people had already spent money in having their things moved and debushing their plots,” she said.

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EDITORIAL

Duty of a newspaper

The duty of a newspaper is not only to report the facts but also to support communities in time of need – particularly people who believe they have or may have been wronged. People such as those of Mabudutsa ward, in Maun.

This newspaper was, in public, last weekend hauled over the coals during the World Press Freedom Day celebration in Maun for allegedly negative reporting about the situation in Mabudutsa.  We have been following the saga for some time. It is a classic story of people fighting for the right to remain where they and their forefathers had been residing for almost 100 years.

We reported on their fears of being relocated to bush land near Matshwane, the lack of running water in their new area, poor transport links, the lack of other public facilities – such as schools and clinics - that surely is their right in this day and age, and the poor compensation paid to them for their expropriated homes and plots.

We reported the reaction of Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, residents, area councillors, the North West District Council (NWDC) and the Tawana Land Board. In other words, we have attempted to do our job and report the views of all involved. For that we have been castigated in public by the Secretary of the NWDC, Paulos Nkoni, who says this newspaper does not have the interests of Maun at heart.

The problem, as mentioned by the director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Modise Maphanyane, at the celebration, is that civil servants believe they have a God-given right to dictate what appears in a newspaper – that may be the case in a government owned publication but not in an independent newspaper. To use a day of celebration of press freedom to stamp down on press freedom is unacceptable.

Nkoni did so when he said his staff and councillors, the latter elected to office by the public, want to cut off any information emanating from the NWDC to The Ngami Times. It’s an old ploy by peeved civil servants, and it would constitute a sad day for press freedom in Maun and Botswana if it should happen.

It would also indicate very clearly the contempt which the Council holds for the very people it professes to serve.

MAUN SHUFFLE

The history of Botswana, and of the old Bechuanaland Protectorate, is filled with stories of how people have been lost in the desert. A reminder of this came about last week with the news that two Swedish journalists helping the government iron out problems at Botswana Television had ventured into the wilderness – and failed to return on time.

Fortunately they had found an old house in which to shelter when their vehicle burst into flames, and that provided them with some refuge from marauding predators such as lions. They spoke on TV the other night of how lions had been heard all around the house while they huddled together on a cold Kalahari night, scared out of their wits.

A massive air and land search failed to locate them and it was only when they managed to get an old tractor to start and they were able to drive along dirt tracks that they eventually reached a farm and could tell the full story of their dramatic escape from a certain and slow death in the desert.

It must be a stark warning to anyone that to venture into the remote desert region without back-up is foolhardy to say the least. And more so if you do not understand what Africa is all about – it is a place filled with danger for unsuspecting tourists who venture out alone in vast uninhabited areas. At least these two are alive to tell the tale.

There are many who did not live to tell their stories – those were the foolhardy ones who thought they could conquer the desert on their own.

**

Staff of this newspaper had a good laugh on Saturday during the World Press Freedom Day celebrations at Cresta Riley’s Hotel when the editor of this publication was described as “the auditor-general” of the newspaper.

Shuffle has been called many names down the years but never elevated to such a high position! The staff is already calling Shuffle “A-G”!

**

Birds, already the cause of the major bird flu epidemic threatening to sweep across the world from its Asian origins, are having a tough time of things in the Lake Ngami area.

Dying birds are a feature of the lake area at present as they crowd together seeking water along the almost dry channels which usually attract migrating birds in wet periods. The stagnant waters are killing off bird life, as well as the myriad of small animals and aquatic life found there.

Because of thick vegetation, resulting from the heavy unseasonal rains, farmers have been unable to track their cattle into the marsh-like areas, with the result that some head of cattle have been found dead from thirst and hunger. Snakes have also become a problem for visitors and villagers alike, with one man reporting to us that there are literally “hundreds of pythons”, a snake which is regarded as royal game in Botswana and cannot therefore be killed.

**

More and more complaints are being received by this office about the state of roads in the North West District, in particular the main roads from Sehitwa to Shakawe and the road from the ferry at Mohembo to Seronga.

Potholes and dongas (gullies) the size of open cast mines – or that is what they appear to be similar to – have appeared on some stretches but precious little is being done by the roads department to effect repairs, vital to transport companies and private motorists.

Shuffle also notes that not too much attention is being made to complaints about the roads, beyond the traditional “we are trying our best”.  Magic words if you can get someone to do anything, it would appear!

The history of Botswana, and of the old Bechuanaland Protectorate, is filled with stories of how people have been lost in the desert. A reminder of this came about last week with the news that two Swedish journalists helping the government iron out problems at Botswana Television had ventured into the wilderness – and failed to return on time.

Fortunately they had found an old house in which to shelter when their vehicle burst into flames, and that provided them with some refuge from marauding predators such as lions. They spoke on TV the other night of how lions had been heard all around the house while they huddled together on a cold Kalahari night, scared out of their wits.

A massive air and land search failed to locate them and it was only when they managed to get an old tractor to start and they were able to drive along dirt tracks that they eventually reached a farm and could tell the full story of their dramatic escape from a certain and slow death in the desert.

It must be a stark warning to anyone that to venture into the remote desert region without back-up is foolhardy to say the least. And more so if you do not understand what Africa is all about – it is a place filled with danger for unsuspecting tourists who venture out alone in vast uninhabited areas. At least these two are alive to tell the tale.

There are many who did not live to tell their stories – those were the foolhardy ones who thought they could conquer the desert on their own.

                       Lost the election but definitely not out!

Gibson Nshimwe, former councillor By Bright Kholi

KASANE-Gibson Nshimwe, former councillor for Plateau who lost the parliamentary elections for Chobe in the last general election is gearing for a comeback in the 2009 general elections. Nshimwe was for 10 years a councillor on the North West District Council until in 2004 when he decided to stand for the Chobe constituency on the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) ticket. Nshimwe lost to the current Member of Parliament, Duncan Mlazie, of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).

The Ngami Times caught up with the most vocal politician at his home in Plateau, Kasane. From the interview, one could tell that Nshimwe might have lost the elections, but he was definitely not out of the race.

The former councillor said that he was going to stand for Chobe constituency again, adding that the BCP structures in Chobe have had no break since the last election. “My standing for the constituency does not stop anyone who wants to challenge me at primary elections for the party,” he said.

The BCP has been very busy with strengthening structures, recruiting members in to the party and defining the way forward to 2009. His constituency has managed to attend all party activities held at national level, adding that they also welcomed new members from the BDP.

Nshimwe, who is also the constituency co-ordinator, says a new committee was elected early this year to get the 2009 election material ready and to revive party structures. Asked about his achievements as a councillor, Nshimwe put on a bright face and said there are many.

Ntshimwe points out that the establishment of Chobe as a district is the fruit of his hard work in NWDC. He said that during his stay term he presented motions that called for Chobe to make a fully fledged district. He also prides himself in having had a say in the making of Chobe as a parliamentary constituency as well.

“I passed a motion to the effect that the Delimitation Commission should disregard the population issue when it comes to assessing Chobe for constituency status, as the population would have disqualified Chobe right away,” he said. In his motion he however suggested that other factors such as geographical location, economic importance and distance from other areas should be used in assessing Chobe.

The establishment of a district is very important, adding that it is up to those who start the new Chobe district to get everything right, and is happy that developments in Chobe will not be hampered as the budget for Chobe will be a priority to Chobe alone. Nshimwe also boasts of the developments that he has brought to Plateau ward. He says Plateau’s developments did not come by mistake, but through his deliberations in the NWDC.

Dramatic story of how journalists reached safety

GHANZI – Two Swedish television journalists lived out their own dramatic story by being found alive last week in the vast Kalahari Desert after their vehicle caught fire and burned out. The two women – Helene Aston, 34, and Jenny Soderkvist, 32 - walked many kilometres through lion-infested country and then found a disused house where they sheltered last Wednesday night from the cold Kalahari night.

They then attempted to start an old tractor, which finally spluttered into life and they were able to drive for six hours over a bush track to Grasslands Lodge, near D’Kar and Ghanzi. There, staff fed them on rice and tomato sauce, according to lodge owner Annatjie de Graaff, and they had a shower and slept while staff washed their clothes. The next day, they and staff then drove the tractor for many more kilometres until they were able to pick up a cellphone signal on the phone of one of the staff.

“The one woman was hysterical and kept on calling for her mother,” said De Graaff. The staff stayed with them until police arrived. A massive air and land search had meanwhile been launched for them after they failed to return from a two-day trip to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Botswana Defence force helicopters and private aircraft took part in the hunt.

They were airlifted from Ghanzi to Gaborone, arriving on Thursday night to a reception committee that included government officials, representatives of the Swedish embassy and television, radio and print journalists. The two were taken to hospital for a medical check-up before being allowed to go home.

Parents are to blame for kids behaviour

The negligence of children by their parents is said to be the main cause of bad moral behaviour amongst some children. According to Mpho Rantsubu, social worker at Maun General Hospital, neglected children tend to develop unwanted behaviour because they get no advice from their parents. He also said that orphaned children were also prone to abuse because relatives care less about them and they see being street kids being the only way out of abuse.

He said juvenile delinquency mainly affected children under the age of 18, adding that most do recover while a few end up in jail. Rantsubu said there was a special reformatory centre where children are taught special skills like gardening, carpentry and have access to recreational facilities to keep them occupied.

He also said parents should always seek help from the church and immediate families when they have problems with their children. “Parents should develop the spirit of fellowship and love towards their neighbours’ children and advise them,” he said. He also advised premarital counselling so that parents understand their children’s upbringing - “children should be taught moral values and parents should be exemplary at all times,” he said.

TIMES BUSINESS

Tactic Tourism Botswana takes over Gunns Camp management

The management and operations of three camps in the Gunns Camp stable have been taken over by Tactic Tourism (Botswana) (Pty) Ltd. The company successfully concluded negotiations with tourism icon Mike Gunn to take over the operations and management of Gunns Camp, Gunns Bush Camp and Semetsi Camp –  well-established camps situated on Chiefs Island deep in the Okavango Delta.

The management agreement was effective from May 1 with the company also having an option to acquire the shares of Trans Okavango (Pty) Ltd, the entity that owns these camps, within a specified time period based on certain terms and conditions.

This transaction brings three tourism businesses under the control of Tactic Tourism, namely Crocodile Camp, Delta Flyer and now the businesses of Trans Okavango. The transaction is beneficial to all stakeholders involved, explained Amanda Greeff, CEO of Tactic Tourism. She said: “Tactic Tourism is privileged to assume management of these three well known Botswana tourism assets. Our initial risk in the transaction is counter-balanced by the active involvement of the Gunns Camp management team with strategic input from Mike Gunn.

“Essentially, we will build on the success of Gunns Camp without changing its fundamental business model. Synergies between Tactic Tourism’s current operations and the operations of Gunn’s Camp will be leveraged”. Mike Gunn added: “I have recently begun the upgrading of these facilities and this will be concluded under the supervision of Tactic Tourism”. Tactic Tourism is now well positioned to successfully complete its tourism strategy in Botswana.

Tactic Tourism has a investment strategy to invest in tourism in the SADC region and is  set to invest in 3- to 4-star facilities in SADC. The group will ensure that the combination of location, marketing and excellent services as well as first-rate facilities will ensure the critical mass.

Tactic Tourism is a subsidiary of Tactic Group Ltd – a South African investment holding company that has as key focus areas financial services, tourism and own private equity investments in the SADC region due to the perceived growth potential of these sectors within the region and its impact on small and medium enterprise development.

The group’s board of directors consists of well-known business people, including former United States presidential advisor Dr. Millard Arnold as chairman, former “Miss South Africa” and joint owner of Top Billing, Bassie Kumalo, the CEO of Vodacom Tanzania, Romeo Kumalo, Tactic CEO Gerbrand Bothma, a former Group Financial Director of various JSE listed companies and head of the investment department for a US$100million American-based venture capital fund chaired by former US senator Andrew Young, Keet van Zyl and Amanda Greeff, both experienced venture capital investors in the SADC region.  The company says it is committed to tourism investment and management while transferring knowledge to citizens and supporting the local communities surrounding the regions in which the tourism assets are located.

According to Greeff, tourism in Botswana should be seen as part of the government of the day’s strategy to reduce the dependence on the mining industry. The recent failure of Afri-Tourism Ltd (ATL) should not be seen as a negative for the tourism industry as a whole in Botswana.

Tactic Tourism acquired the assets of Crocodile Camp out of the liquidation of ATL. The camp was re-opened in August 2005 and created 35 new jobs in Maun. To date more than 90% of the stated purchase price has been paid to the liquidators, with the remaining amount to be paid over once certain disputes between Tactic Tourism and the liquidators have been resolved. Negotiations are in progress to resolve all outstanding issues timeously.

“Gunns Camp and Crocodile Camp have been working closely together during the past few months to enhance the traveller’s experience of the Okavango Delta through different activities. We will be managing these entities as separate divisions of Tactic Tourism because of their unique offerings, while extracting benefits from economies of scale where possible” Greeff said. Negotiations are continuing to acquire other tourism assets in Botswana. 
                               Building In Maun - No. 2

A major extension to the Shoprite supermarket in Maun is one of the town’s newest developments, and another sign of how Maun is growing and catering for a rapidly increasing population.

River poses dangers for school children
By Basadi Morokotso

The area between Disaneng and Sedie wards has been dubbed a “danger zone” for school going kids from that area who on daily basis have to cross the Thamalakane river using a mokoro. The children are pupils at Mathiba and Sedie community secondary schools across the river.

They say that for them to gain access to a mokoro, they have to pay a fee which is not affordable to most of them or their families. They say to them it’s a nightmare because in most cases, the younger ones have to remain home or desert school because they are too scared of water, more especially after the recent rains. During a random survey conducted by The Ngami Times, parents expressed concern that it’s not all of them who can afford to pay the required fee as most come from poor backgrounds.

One parent said young men operating the mokoro are so aggressive that they cannot transport their children on credit, unless there have been negotiations that they at least pay per month. He said although he understands that its their way of living, they should compromise at times, a comment that brought laughter to other mokoro passengers awaiting their turn to be transported to the other end of the river.

The principal of Sedie Community, Mophutholodi Raditsi, confirmed that it was true that there are students who rely on a mokoro for them to get to and from school. He said although he was a newcomer at the school, it had come to his attention that there are students from Disaneng who either miss school or come late because they couldn’t afford the one pula paid for the mokoro. As a result they have to go as far as the new bridge near Riley’s Hotel or make use of the old timber bridge or Matlapaneng bridge.

He said this had affected their school work tremendously. He said issues like these scare them as school management because when the Thamalakane River floods, it becomes dangerous for adults crossing there as well.He said those who cannot afford the required fee end up being tempted to find any possible ways of crossing, something which he said could result to drowning.

Raditsi shared the same sentiments as parents that it’s not all of them who are able to pay money daily as some are either unemployed and/or out of work. Raditsi says it would be wise if parents come out with issues like these at their Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) meetings so that maybe they could come up with ideas or other alternatives on what steps to take. “As teachers we cannot handle it alone as it is a very critical issue. Wee have to hear their side of the story and take it from there”, he said.

Mathiba primary school declined to comment saying there had been no notification of any student missing classes due to failure to pay for a mokoro trip. The school referred The Ngami Times to “the relevant authorities” at the Education department’s Maun office as the right channel to be followed.

The councillor for Sedie ward, Kaukapita Galebine Kaukapita, said he was aware of the situation and the grievances of the people.. He said this issue does not only affect children but the general public as the same mekoro are used by those commuting to and from work on daily basis.

He said the old bridge needs to be extended as it was too narrow and dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists. He received several requests  from constituents that something be done and he promised to present a motion  at the next full North West District Council  meeting so that at least it  be included in District Plan 7, which starts in March 2007. In the meantime, he would request that at least there should be a temporary bridge erected at the crossing point – known as 2M station - while waiting for a major project to be carried out.

Zebras take on Chipolopolo in preparation for COSAFA
<!--[endif]-->By Cobrie Kgaodi

Botswana’s national soccer team, the Zebras, take on Zambian national squad, Chipolopolo, on Sunday in a friendly encounter in preparation for the COSAFA games on May 20. Chipolopolo are expected to arrive in Botswana today by road and rest tomorrow before their encounter at the University of Botswana Stadium (3pm).

The Botswana Football Association has asked all relevant officials to accord the visitors assistance they need throughout their journey to and from Botswana. The statement also says that the Zambian team will be bringing a fully fledged squad made up of the 2006 AFCON finalists. The match is expected to prepare the Zebras for an encounter with Madagascar in the COSAFA group B semi-final match on May 20 at the national stadium in Gaborone.

The Madagascar/Zebras game, which starts at 4.30pm, will be preceded by the once football powerhouse of Southern Africa, Bafana Bafana, against Swaziland which will start at 2pm. The winners go into the final game scheduled for Sunday, May 21. The losers final will be played the same day. BFA technical director Philmon Makwengwe is adamant that the Zebras will qualify.

The games on each day must produce a winner, and it is emphasised that a penalty shoot-out will take place as there is no extra time if the teams are tied as it is stipulated by the laws of the tournament decided by COSAFA.

Makwengwe said other visiting teams are expected to arrive in the country two days before the COSAFA games. The country’s local supporters’ clubs are busy working around the clock mobilising fans, raising funds and holding meetings every week in preparation for this important tournament. This has been evidenced in all the team’s games which confused people at the last COSAFA games held in Namibia where Windhoek was festooned in blue, black and white colours of our national flag, surpassing even the supporters of the host country.

Committee members are asking fans who want to watch the games to contact them in advance. In Maun, members are asked to attend regular Zebras supporters meeting every Thursday at 5.30pm at the RAC in preparation for the trip and other related issues.

Makwengwe, who supports the efforts from the local fans club, says it is pivotal to have as many supporters at the national stadium as this will boost the national team and scare the visitors. He said the 26 member squad is beefed up by new faces and went into camp on May 1 in preparation for the games. He is worried that a lack of funds has attributed to the team’s match practice. Rollers players in the squad are Jomo Moatlhaping, Sox Molwantwa, Phenyo Mongala, Seabo Gabanakgosi, Patrick Mathaba and Mogogi Gabonamong.

The team will have the country’s export to South Africa, Diphetogo Selolwane, who banged lots of goals which helped his Santos side climb up the South African league log was rated as the best in the top 15 players. The goalkeepers in camp are captain Modiri Marumo, towering Kagiso Tshelametsi and Antony Matengu.Other players are Monametsi Koolebale, Mike Mogaladi, Talk-Talk Mothabankwe, Viola Gabolwelwe, Kenanao Kgetholetsile, Pontsho Moloi, Malepa Bolelang, Tebogo Mothusi, Puis Kgolagano, Masego Ntshingane, Ernest Amos, Ndiapo Letsholathebe, Mompati Thuma, and Alex Motshameko.

Zebras last year defied the odds when they beat Namibia in their own backyard to reach the COSAFA final, in which Zimbabwe beat them 2-0. Madagascar, nicknamed “The Scorpions”, pose no threat to the Zebras but Zebras should watch out for Randria Marozaka, Razafin Drakoto, Radrian Soloniana, Menakely and Radon Amahafalison. Meanwhile BFA says tickets for the COSAFA games will soon be available. Tickets for the grandstand will be sold at P150, other covered stands P120, Panda P50 and the south and north stands P40.

Junior schools compete in sports event

Delta Waters International School is to host the inaugural Maun junior schools sports tournament on Saturday (May 13).

Community junior schools invited include Sedie, Tshwaragano, Tsodilo, Moeti, Motopi and Makalamabedi, and the sports on the programme are basketball, football and volleyball for both boys and girls. The tournament is used as a curtain raiser to this season’s BISA championships and to prepare teams for national competitions. In football, the main competition is expected to be between traditional rivals Sedie and Tsodilo while in volleyball, Motopi and Sedie are expected to be the main challengers for top positions.

The teams to watch in basketball are Tshwaragano and Sedie as both qualified to represent the North Zone in last year’s BISA junior championship.

The Delta Waters boys and girls basketball teams – trained by their national champion coach – cannot be ruled out of contention. The weekend will also see netball teams from all the schools competing at the Maun stadium in the 4th “Face of netball against AIDS” tournament, organised by Moeti CJSS.

Etsha CJSS, the 2005 BISA national junior champions, and runners-up Moeti are favourites.

International Super 14 rugby games

The programme for the final full round of games in the Super 14 rugby competition between teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will be played this weekend.

The matches are:
Friday, May 12: Crusaders v Brumbies 9.35am, Christchurch); Reds v Highlanders (11.40am, Townsville); Sharks v Western Force (7.10pm, Durban).

Saturday, May 13: Waratahs v Hurricanes (11.40am, Sydney); Cheetahs v Cats (3pm, Kimberley); Stormers v Bulls (5pm, Cape Town).
The semi-finals will be played on May 20 and the final on May 27.

Nhabe League results
CTO 3 Gaegolelwe 2
Terrors 6 Fuji Rollers 1
Zungu 3 Maun United 3
Fuji Rollers 7 Elephants 3
Cubs 1 Gaegolelwe 3

Bofwa league results
Maun Heroes 5 Bolton Wanderers 1
Maun Rangers 1 Desert Worriors 0
Boseja Chiefs 1 West United 0
Triple Action 4 Delta Soccer Chiefs 3
Masa Young Stars 2 Thunderstars 2
Maphiri 1 Smiling Boys 1
Delta Raiders 2 Horizon Stars 1
Interlico 1 Golden Bush 1

Delta league results
Liverpool 2 Shashe United 2
Team Projects 1 Delta Eagles 0
Big Five 2 Rough Raiders 0
B O P 3 Black X1 1
Desert Wind 3 Desert Sky 3
Delta Wanderers 1 Kutlwano 1

Nhabe Regiuonal league fixtures:
Satarday May 13
Makgabisanaga v Maun United 2pm Makgabisanaga Grounds
CTO v Cubs 4pm Makgabisanaga Grounds 
Fuji Rollers v Gunners of khwai 2pm Maun Stadium
Gaegolelwe v Maun Tigers 4pm Maun Stadium

Sunday May 14
Gunners v CTO 2pm Makgabisanaga Grounds   
Zungu v Maun Terrors 4pm Makgabisanaga Grounds 
Makgabisanaga v Elephants 2pm Maun Stadium 
Sankoyo v Maun Tigers 4pm Maun Stadium 

The website has now had over 100,000 hits. Thank you for your support and keep spreading the word.

Bon Arrivee - visit - be treated like you are in the 'First Class Lounge'
ISSUE 311 April 21 - 28, 2006

Local government officials – said to be key figures in tendering processes and land allocation – are under investigation by the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) following allegations of corruption involving millions of pula.

The matter was first handled by Botswana Police and all documents relating to it have now been handed to the DCEC, according to Superintendent Mookame Kame, the CID District Officer. Kame declined to comment further as police do not involve themselves in matters transferred to the DCEC.

At least three of the officials, it is common knowledge in Maun, were taken into custody temporarily last week and released pending further investigations. The Secretary of Tawana Land Board, Nickson Mogapi, said yesterday he had “no knowledge” of the alleged corruption. “This is all news to me”, he said. Employees of the Land Board have been told to treat the matter as “confidential” and not to talk to the media.

The DCEC’s spokesperson, Ella Moepedi, was unable to deny or confirm an investigation was underway on the grounds that any information on any case handled by the Directorate is only communicated to the media through press releases.

Information obtained by The Ngami Times appears to indicate that a leading landowner, a member of an old-established family in Maun, acquired land already owned by other people through dealings with Land Board officials. The land owner is also said to own huge tracts of prime development land throughout Maun.

When the registered land owner visited a property he had been allocated by the Land Board, he found construction work being undertaken there and lodged a protest with the Land Board. The matter was also reported to the police and later to the DCEC.

Registered owners have on occasion been told that documentation had “gone missing” or had “never existed” even through they held official documents to the effect that he or she owned the property.

'First weed', then nurses will help

By Golang Raditsela

A district health clinic is telling patients to first weed the clinic yard before any medical attention is given. Even new mothers have been told they have to do this if they want their babies or toddlers to be weighed by nursing staff, and if they don’t agree, nurses tell them to go home.

The Boyei clinic’s view is that as they are not allocated gardeners, “someone has to do it.” The scandalous attitude to the public has left a secretary to the Member of Parliament for Ngami, Jacob Nkate – who is also Minister of Education – fuming as his wife refused to weed and was bluntly told their child would therefore not be weighed.  An angry Gaenakgosi Mohiemang told The Ngami Times his wife took their son to Boyei clinic on Wednesday (April 19) for weighing and instead of immediately attending to the child, as would have been expected, the nurse told her she had to weed part of the grounds “before she could receive the service.” When his wife said she would not do so, she was told the child would “never be weighed here” until she did so.

According to the nurse in charge of the clinic – she declined to identify herself in a telephone interview with The Ngami Times – there is no labourer or gardener to weed, as is the case at some other clinics. She said that asking parents to weed the clinic yard “is just a request, not a command.”

Mohiemang’s view is that weeding the clinic yard is the responsibility of the North West District Council or the government since both provides a service to the public.

Kachana first Chobe council chairman

KASANE - The councillor for Chobe Enclave West, Philemon Kachana is the first chairman of the newly established Chobe District Council.

He was elected at the first special full council meeting here yesterday (Thursday). Tengenyane Tuelo, of Pandamatenga, is deputy council chairman. In an interview with The Ngami Times after the meeting, acting Council Secretary Erastus Mathumo said apart from electing the chairman and his deputy, committee structures were also presented.

Mathumo said these would be limited to three committees.

It was a sour Easter for some

By Golang Raditsela

The Easter holidays are meant to be a joyful and a rest time for workers, but for some people who went away for the four-day break there was  a sour ending as their houses were broken into. There were also numerous house break-ins recorded by police, who said this week they were handling and investigating a large number of robberies and burglary cases.

According to the District C.I.D officer Mookami Kame, there were a large number of burglaries and house breaking cases. Kame said in most cases, there were no people at the homes as a security precaution. He maintained that normally robbers take advantage of houses, which are left unattended during the holidays and make it a good opportunity for their work.

Kame urged the public to always leave their houses under the care of somebody, be it house-sitters or neighbours. In such cases, Kame said house breaking will be minimised and will help the police in their investigations.

Police have arrested two men in connection with a theft in which the Tyre World company in Maun was robbed of 47 tyres valued at over P22 000. Kame said four men broke into the premises at about midnight. The tyres were all new, and of different sizes for cars and vans valued at P22 521.  He said they have so far arrested two men aged 34 and 36, while the other two are on the run. Kame said the suspects would continue to help the police with their investigations.

Meanwhile, seven tyres of the 47 were recovered from the suspects’ homes in Botshabelo and Herero wards. Also under police investigations is a case in which a 51 year old security man at Mummy’s bar in Thitoyamokodi ward was attacked and stabbed with a knife by a group of young boys.  The incident happened on Easter Sunday (April 16) near Sanyedi ward. The thieves took a wallet containing the Omang identification card, bank cards, medical aid cards, and a 50 thebe coin. His Nokia 3310 cellphone valued at P500 was also stolen.  After the attack, the man was rushed to Maun General Hospital, where he was treated and released.

The police have arrested four Maun men, two aged 26 and others aged 16 and 20.

Seven killed on Botswana roads

At least seven people were killed on Botswana’s roads during Easter, police headquarters has reported.

There were 284 accidents in the week ended Easter Saturday, while 1 395 motorists were charged for over-speeding and 28 charged for driving under the influence of liquor. A further 30 motorists were arrested for using handheld mobile phones while driving.

Police also said that three murders were reported, with a suspected arrested in connection with one of the cases.

Robbers went on the rampage in the week leading up to Easter, with 40 armed robbery cases reported during which cash and property valued at about P290 000 was snatched. There were also 18 rape cases.

Millions at ZCC Easter gathering
By Lets Open

ZION CITY , S Africa – Thousands of Zionist Christian Church (ZCC) adherents from Maun and Botswana joined more than 5.5-million people from South Africa and other countries at the traditional ZCC Easter conference. South African government officials were also present.

There were 8 400 representatives from Botswana, 780 from Swaziland and 303 from Lesotho as well as delegates from Namibia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, the United States and  England.

The service has become one of the biggest religious gatherings in southern Africa, and results in massive traffic problems on roads leading to Moria City, just outside Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg). Most church groups used buses for the journey to the site, resulting in some instances to major accidents. 

This year, a bus returning to South Africa’s Eastern Cape province was stopped at a speed of 153km an hour, and was also found to be overloaded with some passengers stuffed into the luggage compartments.

In his sermon, the head of the church, Bishop B E Lekganyane, said “the world at large is experiencing chaos, civil wars are the order of the day. Children, women and the innocent are caught in the crossfire. “It has become imperative for the church now more than ever before to get involved and pray for God’s intervention. The time has come where we, as members of the clergy, should have our voices heard on what is happening around us.”

He urged the church to “go to the houses and countries of despots and tyrants” . . . . and to remind them “that the tears of the multitudes will turn into rivers of blood if they do not listen to what God wants them to do.”

Maun man 'assaulted Air Bots passengers'

A man who has been living in Maun and recently appeared in Maun magistrate’s court on various charges has now appeared in a Gaborone court on charges of allegedly assaulting Air Botswana passengers aboard a flight from Gaborone to Johannesburg.

Andreas Aichenaver, 36, a German national, allegedly assaulted two passengers at Johannesburg International airport and allegedly threatened further violence. The pilot of the plane called the police as it was said to be an act likely to endanger the safety of the aircraft.

Sub-Inspector Mogakolodi Pakati, of the Botswana Police, applied to the court for Aichenaver to be remanded in custody, according to the Botswana government newspaper “Daily News”. It was feared he would abscond if granted bail. Pakati said investigations had revealed that Aichenaver was a prohibited immigrant in South Africa.

Germany promises support in fight against HIV/AIDS

GABORONE – Germany will do everything in its power to help Botswana overcome the HIV/AIDS scourge. This was said in Gaborone last week by Germany’s president Horst Kohler who paid a short visit to the country. 

He said at a press conference with Botswana’s President Festus Mogae that there would be unreserved German support in tackling the challenges of HIV/AIDS as well as economic diversification. He urged the industrialised world to support and sustain “good developments” taking place in Africa.

Kohler described Botswana as having an opportunity to become and intellectual and political engine for further co-operation in the region, and as service centre for the region “if it exploited its energy resources.” Mogae said that African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) needed international support to undertake credible elections, and that established economies, such as Germany, could do more towards promoting democracy in Africa.

He also spoke about Zimbabwe, saying the country needed the assistance of Western countries to solve economic and political problems. “I agree there are problems in Zimbabwe but we believe in peaceful negotiations in resolving the matter. “Boycotting and imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe is not helping the situation. How can you talk and negotiate under such hostile circumstances?”

Kohler later visited Kasane, and said that more German tourists could be expected to visit Botswana.

April Fool's story backfires!

A story published in The Ngami Times on Friday, March 31, to commemorate April Fool’s Day on April 1 has been taken too literally by many people.

The spoof story – similar to those published on the day in newspapers throughout the world to give readers a laugh – spoke about how rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo were diverting the river water destined for the Okavango delta to agricultural and other users in the DRC, Angola and other countries as the delta was not considered important.

The story said that an organisation called the Movement de 6th Banana Split l’Guava, loosely translated as the “Movement of the 6th Banana Split on your Guava” (old English slang for your posterior) had taken the decision to starve the delta of water.

Organisations dealing with the Okavango delta have been inundated with calls from people demanding to know whether the rebel threat was real and what action was being taken. The Ngami Times wishes to clarify that the story was a joke and that there is no such plan to affect the Okavango River or delta.

Maun chosen to host Africa Malaria Day

Maun is to host Botswana’s celebration of Africa Malaria Day on April 25. The celebration comes at a time when malaria has broken out in many areas in the Okavango panhandle and in the delta.  Recent figures show that at least 800 cases a week are being reported from the Okavango sub-district.

The decision to commemorate the day stems from the African Summit on the Roll Back Malaria in Abuja, Nigeria, six years ago when governments pledged to set aside April 25 each year to focus on malaria.

The disease, spread by mosquitoes, kills up to 2 million people a year, of which 90 % takes place in sub-Saharan Africa. It is present in over 100 countries and threatens over 40% of the world’s population.

The illness contributes to anaemia, which affects growth and development in children, low birth weight in babies, and maternal illnesses and anaemia in pregnant women. Malaria, in tandem with HIV/AIDS, stands in the way of social progress, national economies and better standards of life at every level, says the World Health Organisation (WHO).  The need for effective treatment of malaria in Africa is great. WHO recommends the use of Artemisinin based Combination Therapy (ACTs) as the standard treatment for uncomplicated malaria. In southern Africa some countries have introduced ACTs while others are in the process of changing their policies towards ACTs.

The theme for this year’s Africa Malaria Day is “Get your ACT together” and the accompanying slogan is “Universal access to effective malaria treatment is a Human Right”.  The theme has also been selected to move the fight against malaria to a new level, focusing on the human rights approach.

Africa Malaria Day 2006 should also provide the opportunity for countries to take stock of how much they have moved towards achieving the Abuja Targets and to chart the way forward for the period 2006 and beyond. Africa Malaria Day will be commemorated at Maun Stadium.

Major power line commissioned

GHANZI – A cross-border power line between Botswana and Namibia was due to be commissioned late this week.

It is being inaugurated by President Festus Mogae and Namibian president Hifikepunye Pohamba.  Mogae left on Thursday for a State visit to Namibia. The132 kilovolts line has been erected at a cost of US$7.7-million (about P$$-million) by the Botswana Power Corporation and the Namibia Power Corporation. The line stretches from the Omaere sub-station in Namibia to Charleshill and from there to Ghanzi.

Funerals are not respected

Onkabetse Tsaro

There was a time when funerals were a very holy occasion where family members and friends mourn and bid their loved ones farewell. It now seems there is a new trend that is diminishing the image of funerals “after tears, fashion parades including constant ringing of cellphones- that mainly annoys the man in color- extravagant funerals with limousines.”

Moses Seboifeng, councillor for Botshabelo ward, lamented that it was becoming a habit that people these days attend funerals that “they are sure food and drink will be provided and it is not about comforting. “If the bereaved family is “ba ba kobo dikhutshwane”- a disadvantaged family- no one attends the funeral and this scenario seems to be spreading rapidly. People should attend funerals to comfort not to judge what was eaten or how extravagant or expensive the casket may be.”

“After tears” parties immediately after a funeral is also proving to be a problem as friends and families of the deceased  go on a drinking spree to “console” themselves.  Many people feel these should be stopped before too many people adopt the trend. One mourner says “after tears” parties are gatherings for people to console each other -“it helps the hurting souls to be at rest as it is a quiet outing and it is not intended to make people get drunk.”

EDITORIAL...

Laying it on the line

The powers-that-be must take heed of the crime situation affecting Maun, and more so our very important tourism industry.

Five members of the Cabinet listened to what tourism operators had to say at the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) conference the other week, and what was said hopefully gave them food for thought.

Some operators are even considering moving out of Maun as they fear for tourists being caught up in our crime wave – a situation which could very easily spell the death knell for the industry.

We have already had remote camps being targeted by these people and, locally, camps in and around Maun have been hit as well, with tents being slashed and private property stolen by thieves in the night.

One operator put it fair and square by saying that “crime in Maun has a negative impact on the tourism industry and on Botswana’s ambitions of being the number one tourism destination in the region.”

Surely that must rank as a very important statement that no Cabinet minister would wish to hear.

MAUN SHUFFLE…

Many people in Maun had a good chuckle the other day when reading about the woes of Air Botswana, as enunciated by the airline’s chief executive, Lance Brogden.

Brogden is trying his best, it appears, but is bogged down by good old fashioned Botswana bureaucracy and loads of red tape as he struggles to turn-around a national carrier that has been limping long for far too long.

He says the airline – a monopolistic operation if ever there was one – needs new aircraft and then went on to say new equipment would allow the airline to serve new routes. He used Swaziland and Lesotho as examples.

The Botswana tourism market, and therefore the national exchequer, thrives on American dollars and not the currencies of Swaziland and Lesotho, where in both cases the people are so poor they cannot afford to even ride the buses! Ponies and donkeys are their preferred mode of transport.

Swaziland’s lilangeni currency and the Lesotho loti are both on a par with the South African rand, and as we all know, the Botswana pula is just about on par with the rand as well! So what’s the point?

There’s very little business emanating out of both Lesotho and Swaziland to interest Botswana (except maybe national pride to have an airline going to places no one else wants to fly to).

Now if Brogden had said his airline should fly to Kenya to entice big-spending American tourists to the Okavango delta or to Mauritius to haul in the many foreign visitors to the Indian Ocean islands, then it makes sense.  It beats Shuffle as to why Swaziland and Lesotho should suddenly become key destinations for Air Botswana, unless it is because something is going on that is being kept under wraps.

Late departures and late arrivals are part and parcel of an air traveller’s life in Maun. Easter weekend was a case in point. The “direct” Maun-Johannesburg flight on the national airline left about 20 minutes late and halfway to Johannesburg the pilot announced the aircraft was being diverted to pick up passengers at Gaborone!

All very well, except that aboard the plane from Maun, Shuffle hears, were at least 14 people travelling overseas or to other destinations – and they all lost their seats on outbound aircraft!

No problem to Air Botswana. For the few passengers collected in Gaborone, the airline has had to fork out thousands of pula for the privilege of putting up these luckless passengers at a swish Johannesburg airport hotel.

It most probably cost the airline more than the diversion would have cost.

Returning from Johannesburg to Maun, the aircraft was again late – the boarding pass issued by Air Botswana’s check-in staff at Johannesburg International stated that boarding would be through gate 28. The departure boards said boarding would be through gate 30 and then this was changed to gate 26.

Passengers finally boarded through gate 28 – and arrived back in Maun almost two hours later than scheduled because Botswana airspace had been closed to allow a presidential flight to take off from Gaborone.

It doesn’t auger well for the airline if time keeping is not one of its strong points.

**

A town in the American state of Georgia loves it goats! The community has decided to hold an annual “Goat-a-Rama”, a festival to commemorate the humble goat and its contribution to the economic well-being of the place. Anything or any product to do with goats (milk, goat’s cheese, feta cheese, meat, skins) will be on display.

There are many monuments to animals in many parts of the world. In India, as we all know, oxen are sacred while right here in Botswana, the python is regarded as Royal game and cannot be harmed.

In Maun there is (or should we say, was) a statue of a baboon, in South Africa there is the famous Horse Memorial in Port Elizabeth,  in Mombasa (Kenya) one drives through an arch of elephant tusks to commemorate the role played by these mighty animals in Kenya.

In Africa, no one has yet thought of honouring the goat – and nor for that matter, the donkey. Maybe Maun can do so.

What better than to salute the donkey, a beast of burden in our cities, towns and villages, by erecting a statue of sorts? Love ‘em or hate’em, the donkey is indeed a prize possession for Maun and the rest of the country.

The faithful donkey is found everywhere in this land, serving as friend and confidante, and at times, even as a lover (as we have reported on occasion!). A few years ago there was a move afoot in Maun to establish an organisation to look after our donkeys.

Then there is the goat. Here’s another animal that provides meat and also comfort to its owners. Goats and donkeys may be a big cause of road accidents but that doesn’t mean to say we should ignore the animals.

Perhaps we should follow in the footsteps of Georgia.  At least it will be a tourist attraction and hopefully distract tourists from seeing all the rubbish lying on the streets, maybe left there for the enjoyment of the donkeys and goats . . . .

**

Last week was hardly fun week at The Ngami Times! In the few days available to get your favourite weekly newspaper on to the streets, all manner of drama came roaring in through the door.

With an air connection summarily (and without notice) cancelled, leaving us and dozens of other businesses and people out on a limb as the next “scheduled” flight to Maun from the capital was slated for Wednesday afternoon.  Of course it doesn’t seem to matter that they work on the theory that why should we bother to tell anyone we are not flying!!

Then the telecommunications system played up. Desperate to get colour work to reproduction houses in Gaborone (there is no such animal in Maun), we resorted to using the internet system – both through Botswana Telecoms and private satellite links.

Do you think it worked? Not on your nelly, as the saying goes!

Of course journalists don’t throw in the towel. They just stress, or maybe we should have followed the old maxim: When the going gets tough, the tough go drinking! Hope you enjoyed the blood, sweat and tears paper. This week promises to be no different.

Police probe theft at bank

KASANE – A pre-Easter internal heist of about P140 000 from the Barclays Bank sub-branch in Kasane is being investigated by the police. A bank clerk and another man have appeared before Kasane magistrates in connection with the theft. They are Nicolas Malapela, 28, and Kabelo Baakile, 25.

They were not asked to plea and remain in custody while further investigations are undertaken. They are due to appear for mention on April 28.

Chobe police spokesman Joseph Mothagodi said that the theft was an internal matter and that as far as the police were concerned, there was no robbery involving outside persons. Charges relating to conspiracy to defraud are being investigated.

'Asthma is curable' says doctor
By Golang Raditsela

A London doctor, Mark Levy, says that asthma is a curable disease if detected at an early stage.

A specialist in asthma and allergies, Levy conducted a series of lectures at the Maun General Hospital last week. According to the Nurse Practitioner for Wilderness Safaris (OWS), Donna Stanislawsky, the lecturing was organised by OWS with the help of Levy.

The first lecture was specifically directed to safari doctors, nurses, staff and guests, while the second and third lectures were for all the medical fraternity on Maun including doctors (both private and public), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and rehabilitation centres.

Levy said that he has been a regular tourist to Botswana for about 11 years and had seen how safari people were exposed to agents of allergy and asthma, such as animals and pollen. He realised they themselves could contract the disease, and therefore should have knowledge about them.

When asked why he considered offering his service, Levy said he wanted to touch people’s lives. He also said he has realised that lots of people lost their lives due to asthma, while he said is curable and can be prevented. He suggested the lecture tour lecture during the new tourism season because of the heavy rains this year, which could result in a higher rate of asthma and allergy problems.

Levy also spoke on occupational asthma, which is work-related asthma, and that it could develop from work or when one is previously weakened at work. Its agents or carriers are paint sprayers, animals, food processing, timber, baking and nursing.

He said it is not a common problem in Botswana but there is a potential because of the mining and agriculture industries. Levy suggested that for one to realise that they have occupational asthma, the disease would strike immediately they go to work, and then will be a lot better when they are away from work.

Levy advised patients to see doctors regularly and to be loyal to their medication. He said asthma is curable when diagnosed early. He alerted people to be careful of the symptoms because they can be confused with those of hay fever. Common symptoms include repeated chest problems, particularly in children, coughing with rising shoulders and chest wheeze, as well as difficulty in breathing and sleeping. Levy said natural occurrences such as thunderstorms also lead to asthma problems as they provide air pollutants, leading to breathing problems and causing lots of heat.

Focus on Chobe
Chobe taking on role of Botswana's tourism capital

Many people call Maun the hub of the tourism industry, but things are changing . . . The “king of the tourism world” seems to be the Chobe area as it forges ahead with new ideas and new developments.

Kasane is the administration capital of the Chobe District, which from April 1 broke ties with the Maun-based North West District Council to become a fully fledged district council.

According to some village elders, the name Kasane comes from a popular tree in the area, mostly found in the river, called by its Setswana name of mosane (the English name is water berry).

Above: The Chobe river - Kasane

Most people know Chobe for its renowned offering of the country’s Big Five animals.

Located in the north-eastern corner of Botswana where Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia converge, the Chobe area is becoming the perfect place from which to explore the beauties of Africa.   The area is a home to the largest concentration of elephants in the world, the famed Chobe National Park, and also houses some of the biggest and most lavish lodges in the country – such as Chobe Marina, Chobe Safari, Chobe Game Lodge and the Cresta Mowana, which all are perched on the banks of the great Chobe River. A number of activities are available in this animal-dense Chobe area ranging from game viewing from 4x4 vehicles, sundowner and sunrise boat cruises, trips to the Kasane Forest Reserve, river rafting on the Zambezi River, while nature lovers will appreciate the abundant game and diverse bird life.

 <!--[endif]-->Elephants passing in front of one of the lodges in Kasane

Kasane Youth Centre - an alternative choice for Young People

While other young people in the country have a difficulty of where to spend their spare time - or should I say where they are going to socialise without alcohol - it seems that is not the case with the young people of Kasane.

Kasane Youth Centre, which was built with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is no doubt proving to be the only alternative for the young people in Kasane as it offers various activities in terms of recreation, but most importantly it provides them with a life skills education, especially on the topics such as adolescent sexual reproductive health (ASRH) issues.

The fully equipped centre greets a first time visitor with a vibrant youth friendliness atmosphere as young people are busily engaged in a variety of games. Games include table tennis, snooker, chess and monopoly. There are also alternatives of watching educational videos on a giant television screen or tuning in DStv channels that provides any of the young people with interests from sport, movies and entertainment.

In an interview with The Ngami Times, the junior professional officer at the centre, Cynthia Mokgosi, says the centre gives young people a lesser risk of hanging out in unsavoury places as it offers “non alcoholic activities.” Mokgosi said most of the young people’s core business at the centre is more into getting advice on the issues of socio- economic development, capacity building and on HIV/AIDS.

Sedudu Island: The famed disputed island

A boat cruise on the Chobe River takes you to the famous Sedudu Island also known as the Disputed Island, a name it adopted after a lengthy dispute surfaced between Botswana and Namibia, which was finally resolved by the World Group. In an interview with The Ngami Times on the tour of the island, Chobe Marina Lodge professional tour guide Stanley says the dispute between the two countries was over who “was the rightful owner of the island main channel which in the dry season attracts lots of different animals and other species as it never dries.”

Stanley says the channel on the left of the island belonged to the Namibians, while the Right channel belonged to Botswana “but when these channels dry, the issue of where the main channel belongs became a heated dispute and with the intervention of The Hague International Court of Appeal (the World Court) the matter was laid to rest and Botswana was declared the rightful owner of the main channel.”

Above: A boat cruising on the Chobe River

The burning question on everyone’s lips on the boat became apparent, and as the only journalist aboard, I suggested to a South African tourist who seemingly had a particular interest on the issue  that he ask Stanley the obvious question.

How did the court come to the decision of awarding Botswana the main island? Stanley answered: “They measured the depth of the two channels and the deepest channel determined to whom the main channel belonged to. The right channel was deepest and that was Botswana’s channel.”     

So what was the main interest on the channel? The main channel never dries up and in dry seasons it provides one of the only kinds of wildlife scenery in the world as different animals converge here at the same time.

A night out in a Kazunguls Club

A journalist who visits a town for the first time and does not get the feel of the town’s night life is NO journalist. Period! So to avoid being labelled as such, on a Thursday night I grabbed a cab and headed to Kazungula, a small village about 10km from Kasane to check out the only night club in the Chobe area.

When I arrived at the Sesheke Night Club, it turned out to be “Ladies Night” meaning all the sisters were admitted free, so as a scribbler, I received free admission too (remember, I’M a male!)

Before drowning my sorrows in  the holy waters, I instantly called the club’s DJ Mathata to give me the low down on the entertainment industry in the area. Mathata informed me that “people in these areas are still not used to a night club. It is still a new thing to them.

“They still have to be educated on what really happens when you are at or in the night club. What happens here is that they flood the outside premises and play loud music from their cars, which sometimes results in fights.” Interestingly, some of the revellers came with blankets and slept on a verandah in the open outside the night club, waking up in the early hours of the morning.

Mathata says the club becomes vibrant only when big artists such as Vee, Franco, Jeff Matheatau or Alfredo Mos are playing. “That is when you can see this club filled to capacity. They don’t entertain artists who play CDs and gimmick,” he said. He points out that one of the observations he made is that people in the area like Kwasa Kwasa and disco music - “maybe it is that we have similar dialect with some of our neighbouring countries where Kwasa Kwasa is popular.”

Mathata immediately shifts the conversation from the night club to tell me that he is a recorded artist with a three-member band.

“It is myself, Mompati and Obuile and our band name is Sedudu Guys. We mostly play disco music. We have released an album called Tandabala (pension money) and having been selling slowly, the only problem is sponsorship. “Despite many safari businesses in the area, they are not helping us, so what happens now is that we sell our music on the streets.”

On a Friday night I switched venues and check out the Savannah Beer Garden, a nicely located entertainment and jazz joint which I recommend to anyone.

The lodges provide entertainment for their clients, with resident DJs such as DJ Tony. Then there is The Old House and the Old bank, both vibey venues with restaurants attached. Among the bars are Cool Joint and the Centre Bar, and all the venues are well patronised by tourists, locals and truck drivers travelling across the borders with Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

SPORTS….

Makgabisa struggle to stabilise

Makgabisa is still struggling to stabilise its position on the Nhabe Regional league table.The super giants only tasted the top position of the log for a week before Maun Terrors reclaimed it two weeks ago when they got two wins to get 6 points while Makgabisa played a draw with Gaegolelwe. However, this weekend will see Makgabisa battling it out against Maun Tigers on Saturday at Maun Sports complex. Fire works are expected with both sides searching for a win to keep their hopes high of winning the league. Hot favourites Maun Terrors are well placed on top of the log after winning their last two games, Terrors are now leading the log with 52 points from 21 games, leading 2nd placed Makgabisanaga who played 20 games and 50 points. Third placed Maun Tigers has played 21 games and have 48 points, after being held to a 1-1 draw by CTO in their last encounter.

The encounter between Makgabisa and Tigers is going to be a mouth-watering clash, with both sides needing nothing less than three points. Makgabisana had a disappointing game last week, when they drew 1-1 with lowly placed Gaegolelwe at the Stadium, while Terrors were unstoppable as they won 6-0 and 6-1 against BMC and Gunners of Khwai.

Makgabisa has a game in hand, which is an advantage for them if they win this game and get to53 points. Their position will depend on the outcome of the Maun Terrors-Gaegolelwe match on Sunday at the same venue.

A win for Terrors will keep them on top. Tigers have an added advantage as they did not break for the Easter holidays. Instead, they took part in a tournament organised by Orapa’s Boteti Young Fighters and did well to finish second behind first division Boteti, with CTO and BMC occupying the third and fourth positions.

Morale is high in the Tigers camp. They will probably keep the same squad, including goal king Kabo who will be expected to command the defence of Seelilo Casalis, Gomolemo Mathomola and George Jacob.

In the middle, Tigers is rated as the top team with one of the best midfields in captain Welcome Patrick Mazibuko and Sparks Pako with Gontsi Mothalawothe behind the strike force of Tshepo and Caiphus upfront.

That will be a complete outfit that will match Makgabisanaga who have the most experienced keeper Omphemetsi Spider Kanyeto, on whom all of Makgabisa’s hopes will depend. Spider is feared by most strikers as he is not easy to beat and also a shot stopper. He will be assisted by the defence of Jama Mokumbi, Mmoloki Zama Sakwape and Mpho Dungaree Kgosietsile.

The midfield of Rex Mokgama and Zola Dinonyane will have a lot of work to feed the strike force of midfielder cum striker Mumbush Kagiso Moatshe who will collaborate with Kabelo Dunga Seemeka. 

In other games, Terrors will take on Gaegolelwe on Sunday, North West United (the Elephants) face Moeti United and Cubs play the Mababe outfit Zungu.

Close fight in the Delta League

Liverpool and Desert Wind are fighting it out for the top spot in Division A of the non-league Delta League competition in Maun. In Division B, top spot is occupied by Brothers of Peace (BOP).

The latest league positions are:

DELTA LEAGUE PLACINGS DIV A

TEAMS                  P      W        D       L            GF          GA         GD           Pts

Liverpool              3       2          1        0               6              3              3              7

Desert Wind          3       2          1         0              5              3              2              7

Shashe United       2       2          0         0              7              3              4              6

Maphane United     3       1          1         1              2              2              0              4

Delta Eagles          2       0          1         1              3              6              -3             1

Desert Sky            2       0          0         2              3              7              -4             0

Team Projects       3       0          0         3              3              6              -3             0

DELTA LEAGUE PLACINGS DIV B

TEAMS                                  P       W      D     L     GF      GA        GD      Pts

Bothers of Peace (BOP)            3        2        1      0      5         1           4           7

Delta Wanderers                      2        2        0      0      6         3           3          6

Crocodile                               3        1        1      1      4         4           0           4

Black X1                                3        1        0      2     10         7          3           3

Kutlwano                               3        0        3      0      2          2          0           3

Rough Riders                          2        0        1      1      3          7         -4           1

Big Five                                 2        0        0      2      2          7          -5          0

Local league soccer fixtures

Nhabe Regional –
Saturday April 22: Gunners v Moeti (2pm, Makgabisana); Fuji v Maun United (4pm, Makgabisana); Tigers v Makgabisa (2pm, Maun Stadium; Cubs v Zungu (4pm, Maun Stadium).

Sunday April 23: Zungu v Sankoyo (2pm, Makgabisana); CTO v BMC (4pm, Makgabisana); Elephants v Moeti (2pm, Maun Stadium); Gaegolelwe v Terrors (4pm, Maun Stadium). 

Delta League –
Saturday April 22: Desert Wind v Delta Eagles (2pm); Brothers of Peace v Crocodile (4pm).
Sunday April 23: Team Project v Maphane (2pm); Kutlwano vs Rough Riders (4pm)

BOFWA League -
Saturday April 22: Ground 1 - Smiling Boys v MASA Young Stars (2pm); Black Lions v Boseja Young Stars (4pm).

Ground 2 - Rangers v Thunder Stars (2pm); Boseja Chiefs v Calendar Stars (4pm)

Sunday April 23: Ground 1 - Golden Bush v Maun Heroes (2pm); Blue Waters vs Triple Action (4pm).  

Ground 2 - Maphiri v Delta Raiders (2pm). 

All games at Thamalakane grounds 1 and 2 near BOFWA offices.

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A rare sight . . . A rhino, one of two sighted this week, grazes contentedly in the Nxai Pan National Park. Alwyn Myburgh, of Capricorn Safaris, who took the picture, says it was the first time in 10 years he had spotted rhinos. “Game drive etiquette becomes second nature with all the other wildlife but rhinos are a special breed – very shy at first and these two were relaxed as they disappeared into the shrub and hopefully not into mythology”, he said this week. He is pleased the Department of Wildlife and National Parks was very interested in the sighting, a sign that the DWNP cares “and in particular for rare species such as this.” Several rhino were released into the wild some years ago in the delta in a bid to re-introduce the animals to northern Botswana.

Maun Crime Hits Tourism

By Onkabetse Tsaro

KASANE - It seems it is not only the residents of Maun who have been affected by the increasing crime rate in Maun but the whole country - and in particular the tourism sector.

The crime outbreak formed a major part of the discussion at the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) open season conference held here last weekend. Tourism operators and other business officials raised their concern on the state of crime in Maun.

They were concerned about the effect on holidaymakers and said it had impacted on their business negatively, to a point where they are contemplating in moving to other places that are safer “unless the government and the responsible authorities address the situation completely.”

The HATAB chairman Keith Vincent said the crime situation in Maun had become a threat to the lives of tourists but more importantly to the residents of Maun in particular.

Vincent, in an interview with The Ngami Times, said people now fear working or living in Maun or outside of Maun “as their lives and properties are not safe wherever they are. In my four years of living in Maun, I have been a victim of crime. I have been robbed 14 times.“It is outrageous (and) something needs to be done. The law must be enforced.” He echoed the tourism operators’ call for government to address the situation before it completely gets out of hand.

“It is fortunate that five Cabinet ministers attended the conference and got first hand information on the state of crime in Maun. Hopefully there will be an immediate response on the issue,” he said. “Crime in Maun has a negative impact in the tourism industry and on Botswana’s ambitions of being the number one tourism destination in the region.”

Ngamiland District Commissioner Bernadette Malala confirmed at the conference that “it is true crime is high in Maun.” She mentioned that the district leadership had already met to discuss the matter and “strategies on how to curb crime are being put in place. We are working with the Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police, Local Police, the Special Support Group (SSG) and the community on how to address the situation.”

The HATAB conference was officially opened by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Neo Moroka, and attended by Health minister Sheila Tlou, the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Kitso Mokaila, the Assistant Minister of Education Moggie Mbaakanyi, and the Assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning Duncan Mlazie.

Barking dog angers killer elephant

A faithful dog refused to leave his dead master’s side and led a search party to him deep in the bush near Maun. The dog’s master, 92-year-old Sankoyo man, Sangwana Saleshando - who had been out searching for his goats - had been killed by an elephant about a kilometre from the settlement.

According to Maun police station commander, Moitaly Thokweng, Saleshando was reported missing on April 6 and his body found the next day. A search party comprising police and the community, including Saleshando’s relatives, began a hunt for him.

During the search, the party was alerted by a barking dog. They went to check on what was making the dog bark, and found it next to the body. It was found Saleshando had been killed by an elephant, but Thokweng said it is not yet known how the elephant killed him and what might have been the cause of the attack.

Police noted a “lonely and tense elephant”, which they suspect could be the killer animal. Thokweng said deaths such as this rarely took place but said communities who live in areas with animals should be careful and take every precaution, especially against lonely elephants.

The District Co-ordinator in the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Sibangani Mosojane, also confirmed the incident. Department officials went to Sankuyo this week piece together what exactly happened.

According to Mosojane, it appears that what may have happened was that an elephant “went berserk” after the old man’s dog barked at elephants and one of them then chased the dog, which ran straight to its owner.

The elephant then caught up with the old man, who was probably running, and killed him. Mosojane said the responsible elephant has not yet been killed as it is not easy to identify it. He added that the police who attended the incident first saw the elephant but scared it away so as to fetch the body.

His staff was in the area to find more information that can lead to the identification of the elephant. Mosojane also has warned people living in areas with wild animals to be extra careful when moving around - “people should avoid going around with dogs, because when dogs bark at elephants, elephants get annoyed and chase them.” He said when a dog is chased by an elephant, it runs to its owner who will then be in great danger of being killed by the elephant.

Air Botswana heavily critised over delays
By Onkabetse Tsaro

KASANE - Air Botswana has come under heavy criticism from the tourism industry for its constant problems which include delays and cancellation of flights.

The dissatisfaction with the monopolistic national airline surfaced at the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) open season conference held here over the weekend. The operators said these problems have affected their businesses and also inconvenienced clients.

An air charter operator based in Maun said the national airline “had become unreliable”, to a point where they have to be constantly on telephones checking the airline’s schedules as they were never accurate.

“Our international clients’ flights are interrupted and this leads them in cancelling their bookings with us as they do not want to miss their connecting flights back home,” he said. It was a concern that it appeared seems the national airline was unable to cope with the number of tourists coming to Botswana.

Commenting on the concerns in an interview with The Ngami Times, the airline’s chief executive officer, Lance Brogden, who was at the conference, said they are aware of the situation and are prepared to address it before “it hampers the tourism business.”

He added the airline needs “a fresh and appropriate fleet” to offer services of high class.  “The country needs new aircrafts. We cannot afford to buy previously used aircrafts as they cost us to maintain,” he said.

Brogden says it has not been easy as one of the ATRs in the fleet had been out of commission for three months for repair and then when it arrived back, another problem came up. Other aircraft also experienced mechanical problems at the same time, prompting the airline to reschedule flights. He says even though they have not calculated the amount of revenue lost “it is a lot of revenue” as they have to compensate passengers affected by Air Botswana’s delays.

He says the government is fully supporting the national airline, but he believed that when the airline is privatised and with the open skies policy in place “then other players will come in and open other routes to boost our economy as there are other networks we have to embark on. “We also have to expand our routes to other parts of the region such as Lesotho and Swaziland to attract new customers,” he said.

New hospital: 'No building delay'

The new Maun district hospital in Disaneng continues to be built despite rumours in the town that construction had come to a halt. The Department of Buildings and Engineering Services (DBES), which is the government body in charge of the operation, has denied the claims, saying that no part of the P300-millon project is on hold.

It was also being said in Maun that some sub-contractors had planned to take the matter to court. This has come as a surprise to the department.

In response to written questions from The Ngami Times, the director of DBES, J O   Modise, refuted the allegations but said there had been a reduction in activities caused by the unexpected liquidation of mechanical and electrical sub-contractor, Kentz Botswana (Pty) Ltd.

“Reduced activities occur on mechanical and electrical related works and all efforts are being made for an early resumption,” he said.

Modise also said that the date for the official opening of the hospital is determined by the appropriate authorities. On whether some completed areas of the project may be demolished because they were allegedly sub-standard, Modise said there is “a qualified and competent professional staff on site that ensures that all works satisfy the prescribed technical specifications.”

Woman forgives death threatening lover

A man who was facing with charges of threatening to kill his lover - mother of his two children - was this week forgiven by the complainant. Patricia Saubi (21), of Gumare, decided to withdraw the charges against her boyfriend, Collen Kotewa (26).

According to prosecutors at Maun magistrate’s court, Kotewa was accused of threatening to kill the woman on January 2 this year. She reported the matter to the police. She then went back to the police after a few days to withdraw the charges. When asked to give the reasons why she wanted to withdraw the charges, Saubi said Kotewa was the father of her children, and if he were imprisoned no one will support them. Kotewa’s parents have also apologised to her and she had accepted.

Unhygienic standpipes face closure

The Department of Water Affairs is threatening to shut down all public standpipes that are found to be unhygienic.

This follows a wide range of complaints that most public standpipes in Maun are in a deplorable condition. In Sanyedi ward, residents have complained about standpipes which they say have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes as the installations are always flooded. The water flooding these standpipes is also suspected of spreading other water- borne diseases. The councillor for Boyei ward, Etsogile Senabye says he is aware of the situation of unhygienic standpipes in the area and intends to call a meeting with people in his area to discuss the issue.

Water Affairs’ Maun co-ordinator, Jonas Ramosalagadi said the department had not received any report on “any health threatening standpipes.” According to Ramosalagadi, people do not report faulty standpipes because they know these would be closed. Water Affairs closes any standpipe found to be unhygienic and overflowing.

Ground breaking for SDA orphanage
By Golang Raditsela

The Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA)has held a ground-breaking ceremony for an orphanage at Shashe, Maun.

It was held at the Shashe SDA church premises this week under the auspices of the church’s women’s ministry.  The event was attended by Sedie ward headman Elizabeth Sekeseke, North West District Council chairman John Benn, and the headman for Chanoga Village, Kerileng Phutlhego.

According to the director of the women’s ministry and organiser of the project, Susan Williams, this was the first orphanage the church will be building in the country. The church had chosen Maun because it had confidence in the women of Maun. She added that the orphanage would be strategically planned because “immediately kids walk outside, they will see a temple of God, meaning that they are not orphans because Jesus has adopted them.” She stated that as SDA women, their motto is “We care, love and serve,” and that is exactly what they will be offering children.

The project is being funded by Masiela Trust Fund in an amount of P513 000 and will be serving both educational and spiritual purposes, the women of the church will be working together to create a link between children, social workers, guardians and officials. The centre will include recreational facilities, a library, as well as providing a conducive environment for children attending school.

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Local wholesaler A to Z Mica Build this week donated blankets to Manna from Heaven, a charity organisation that helps the sick and destitute persons with food and clothing. Abraham Liebenberg, of A to Z Mica Build, handed over the blankets to Erika Visser, founder of Manna from Heaven.

Editorial

A very hot potato

Mabudutsa is turning into a hot potato for Maun’s civic leaders, tribal authorities and the government.

Councillors are saying openly that the handling of the evictions from the old village to Matshwane is nothing less than a shoddy exercise, that compensation was insufficient and based on year 2000 figures, and that few services are being provided at the new site.

We are now hearing, also, of what residents call a conspiracy to get them out for the benefit of others. By that they mean big business and powerful individuals who have the ear of top players in the town’s affairs and are generally not interested in the troubles of the small man.

We think it is time to clear up the matter before it becomes an even bigger mess.

The need to know

Health affairs has gone to the top of the agenda in Ngamiland and other parts of the country these past few weeks.

The troubles at the ailing Maun General Hospital, disruption in the construction of the new Maun district hospital, non-functioning medical equipment, outbreaks of diarrhoea and of malaria have all been given wide publicity. Publicity that has had to be prised out of politicians and civil servants.

It is a pity however that various government ministries continue to believe that the so-called “mushroom factor” will keep people quiet – in other words, say nothing and hope it goes away while the people they serve are unaware of it all.

Unfortunately in an era of modern telecommunications this is now hardly likely, and more so in a country that is determined to enter the information age to a far greater degree than has been the case in the past.

Government departments need to know that they cannot hide much from the public. Today is not like previous times when a need-to-know basis was all that was required, reasoned civil servants. Now people want to know the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and woe betide the civil servant who thinks otherwise, and particularly that civil servant’s political master.

Easter is as good a time as any for politicians to mull over their reactions to what is basically information of interest to the people.

The Maun Shuffle

Botswana is trying desperately to shift its economic lifeblood away from diamonds and into other mineral activities and industrialisation.

To some extent, this has been successful, with Australian, South African and Canadian companies involved in prospecting for all types of minerals and natural gas.

One of the biggest to enter the playing field is South Africa’s Kumba Resources company (formerly known as Iscor) which is actively checking out Botswana’s coal reserves.

It has concluded an agreement with the Magaleng company to commence a pre-feasibility study for the development of the Mmamabula Central coal field west of Palaype.

The coalfield is an extension of the Waterberg coalfield in South Africa’s Limpopo province, which is already mined by Kumba through its Grootegeluk mine, the largest coal operation in South Africa and the world’s largest coal beneficiation complex.

It supplies Matimba power station, from which Botswana also derives some of its power as part of the southern African power grid.

Magaleng, which has a two year prospecting licence over an 87.5sq.km of the Mmamabula Central field, wants to mine the area through open cast methods. It is thought there are 200 million tonnes of coal mineable from the surface over the next 20 years. Ernst Venter,head of Kumba’s coal business, says that Botswana is importing electricity because of a shortage of coal to supply the 132MW Morupule power station, just outside Palapye and about 90km from Mmamabula.

Mmamabula’s coal is regarded as being of good quality, although this still requires verification.

**

The Easter Bunny has been busy making a lot of Easter eggs for the deserving children of this planet as Sunday is the day when big cities in Europe and the United States hold colourful “Easter Parades”.

It’s a day when sweets and chocolate bunnies are handed to children in hospitals and orphanages so that they too can take part in the ritual that seems as ageless as time itself!

The day is of course the commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and  an annual festival  observed throughout the Christian world.

**

Literals, literals, literals.

The biggest bugbear in a newspaper’s life is the number of literals that seem to crop up from nowhere.

Our staff tries very hard to eliminate these, but what a job sometimes when the pressure is on!

We had one last week in a Letter to the Editor about the Disaneng gravel road. Instead of stating “we are”, the words “were are” found their way into cold type. 

It is something, readers, that we are working on but like everything else, it takes time and patience in the hurly-burly of newspaper deadlines.
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It is always good to see rivals in the communication world pop up – and the latest is the Black Entertainment Satellite television (BEStv) organisation which is challenging MultiChoice’s DSTV in Botswana and soon, they say, throughout Africa.

The new station says it will be providing a few channels at the start but then build up to 100 to 300 to offer alternative broadcasting to Africa, the only continent where at the moment there is only one cable/satellite TV network.

In the United States, Europe, Asia and South America satellite channels are two a penny, some good, some downright bad, but the viewer at least has a choice – and programming is not repeated ad nausea as if the provider has run out of ideas or money to buy new series or block-buster movies.

Students donate to deaf and provide bins for clean-up
By Golang Raditsela

Development Studies (DVS) students from Maun Senior Secondary School (MSSS) have donated a cheque of P700 to the deaf students at Boyei Primary School special unit for the hard of hearing.

The event took place at Boyei as an end of term function last week, and was attended by teachers, parents, students, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chairman Lisho Nduwe, and his assistant, Victor Nduwe.

According to Gofamodimo Mokgosi, a DVS teacher at MSSS, the donation was part of the students’ project requirements for completion of their BGCSE studies. He said they chose deaf students because there were also deaf students at their own school.

According to deputy head teacher, Patricia Waloka, Boyeyi has 14 deaf students in total. She said the students are taught through sign languages, which she also used.

The school head teacher, Noah Kebafitlhetse, referred to what the MSSS students did as an “expression of love” and described it as a great honour that his school was chosen for the donation. He said it was important the disabled children were exposed and not locked behind doors as used to be the case. Meanwhile, MSSS development studies students donated two bins to Herero ward in Maun before starting a litter campaign last week

Among the guests were the headman of Mabudutsa ward, Maoto Maoto, and the principal technical officer for waste management in the North West District Council, Martalazah Nleya.

Project chairperson Julia Kagiso, who is also a student at MSSS, said members were concerned by the state of the ward in terms of littering. The students believed that by providing bins, there was an opportunity to change people’s behaviour and views towards littering and the environment as a whole.

Maoto said his ward was the worst in Maun in littering and was disappointed by the poor attendance of residents at the ceremony – partcularly so as they are also active in creating the problem. He appealed to residents to change their behaviour at an individual level as he was “quite embarrassed” to realise that outsiders can see a dirty ward such as Mabudutsa.

Nleya said it is known by the NWDC that the ward is “one of the dirtiest places in Maun.” He added that “Maun in general is a dirty town.” Nleya said the council was not responsible for providing household bins but they will consider providing a skip to the ward. He urged residents to continually use the bins, and to make sure they use them to serve the right purpose.

Burning litter in the bins was discouraged. Residents admitted the truth of all what was said about their ward. They said that the reason why the problem was worsening is that “nobody feels personally responsible” for cleaning up and one, Richard Johannes, suggested the headman should be stricter and that the council must make sure the law takes its course.

Conman takes taxi driver for a ride

Tlamelo Gabanakitso, a taxi man in Maun, is not a happy chap. He says he was conned by a passenger who allegedly swindled him over P600 in cash and services, and it has now been discovered that the conman has been doing the rounds in Maun, stealing literally thousands of pula from unsuspecting victims.

In an interview with The Ngami Times this week, Gabanakitso said the man, who he does not know by name, stopped his vehicle on Tsheko Tsheko road in the centre of the town and claimed to be looking for the person who drove that taxi before.

After being told the person no longer drove, the conman then asked for Gabanakitso’s taxi services. “He told me he had no money but wanted to go to a certain garage to view a car he was going to buy once the money gets into his account,” Gabanakitso said.

Gabanakitso helped the man and made several trips around the town before he dropped him off in the afternoon. The taxi driver said when he dropped off his passenger, he was asked for P30 to buy meat with an agreement that he would pay it back later when he got money from a bank. Gabanakitso said the man then telephoned him later and told him that the money had not yet been paid into his account, saying he would only be able to pay the following day. “We met at the bank the following day and he said the money was not ready yet and then he took me to a shoe shop where he asked me to pick out shoes of my choice,” he said.

He was amazed to hear a person who says does not have money on him saying he was buying shoes for him. “I picked out a pair and he took the shoes to the cashier whom he told he would collect the items later when he’s got the money,” he said.

When he again dropped off the conman, Gabanakitso says the man asked for another P30 and P180 for certain papers which he said he was having sorted. “We had earlier agreed that I would take him on all his errands and he would pay P200 per day,” he said. The man was to have contacted him later that day but did not and that’s when Gabanakitso started suspecting that something was not right.

He said the following day he called the man’s number and was told by the person who answered that the conman had only borrowed the phone and that in any event the taxi’s passenger had gone to Gaborone that day.  “I have not been able to get in touch with the man since then and I did not report the matter to the police,” he said. Meanwhile, Gabanakitso said upon enquiring about the man, he was told that he was a conman who had fleeced thousands of pula from different victims. What surprises Gabanakitso the most is that none of those who were taken in by the man’s claims never reported the matter to the police.

Times Sports

Referees urged to act professionally

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Participants at the three day referees workshop held in in Maun last weekend

Referees in the Nhabe regional league have been urged to act professionally in the course of their duties by showing commitment.

This was said by North West District Council secretary Paulos Nkoni at the start of a three day referees workshop over the weekend. It attracted participants from around Maun and was facilitated by two Botswana Football Association FIFA registered referees.

Nkoni said it was good that the National Referees Committee (NRC) saw it fit to bring the course to Maun. He said from what has been in the media recently it showed that the region needed more referees to take charge of league games. Nkoni also urged participants to work very hard and achieve from what they are taught in the workshop and keep on revising and knowing the rules of refereeing.

Also present was Stanley Kanyemvu who is the Chairman of the Nhabe Regional League. He encouraged participants to cooperate and work hard as they have to progress to the next stage of the advanced course.  

NRC secretary Harris Lebotse said that he was impressed by the co-ordination of the participants who were ready to work and learn much from this event. He stated that apart from the course, they had a chance to assess refereeing in the region as they attended two league games on Saturday.

He said that he was not happy to see three of the referees who had officiated in the first game, also taking the 2nd. He urged women to attend such courses as only two of the 21 participants were women. An advanced course for referees is due to take place soon.

Hungry Lions are rugby champions
By Cobrie Kgaodi

Ghanzi’s Hungry Lions rugby team clobbered Maun Dogs 22-7 in the final game to become the champions of the national 10-a-side division two tournament held in Maun on Saturday.

Hungry Lions, which shocked Maun Dogs 38-10 a fortnight ago in a friendly match in preparation for this tournament, proved too strong for all the seven teams that took part in this tournament.

The Hungry Lions led their pool to reach the semi-final by beating BDF Cheetahs 22-0 and Maun I 14-7 while Maun I also walloped Maun II 42-0 and BDF Cheetahs 12-10 to reach the semi-final.

Jwaneng reached the semifinal after two convincing victories by beating Orapa 40-0 and Selebi Phikwe 12-0 respectively and Gaborone Technical College got through by beating Selebi-Phikwe 7-0 and drawing 14-14 against Orapa.

The first semi final saw Maun I brushing aside Jwaneng through 5-0 win, from a try by Julian Penstone after a pass by Chris Pistorius two minutes into the game.

Ghanzi had a field day in the semi final by crushing Gaborone Tech 31-0 in a game that saw a Ghanzi player being carried off the field after being tripped on the verge of a try line by a tech player, who was red-carded. Jwaneng came third by Gaborone Tech 20-0 in the loser’s game.

The fearsome battle of the final saw Ghanzi scoring first through David Adams and went onto convert to make it 7-0. Ghanzi dominated the game and registered the second try through Norman Adams and David Adams failed to convert.

Maun Dogs reduced the margin when winger Lesh Moroka received a pass from Slayer Panga and outran Jandre Peacock before dotting down near the post and Pistorius converted.

Ghanzi immediately registered a third try through Gilbert Peacock and David Adams missed the conversion. Johan van Niekerk hammered in the final nail with the fourth try.

The games, organised by Botswana Rugby Union, saw eight players, three from Maun Dogs, joining the country’s national team, the Vultures. Maun players selected are Panga, Pistorius and Penstone.

Braam Venter, Jan Vorster, Johan Bekker, David Adams and Van Niekerk were selected from the Hungry Lions and Monametsi Kenosi from Jwaneng.

The games were watched by Botswana Rugby Union treasurer Joe Thokweng, national team scout manager Nick Van der Watt and BRY development manager Zee Khumalo.

MSSS does well at national competition

Maun Senior Secondary School has performed well at the Botswana athletics championships held in Serowe over the weekend, bringing home 24 medals.

School sports master Beau Williams said that he was impressed by the performance of the athletes who made the region proud by bringing home four more medals than they won last year. MSSS won 12 gold medals, 5 silver, and 7 bronze in the 100m, 200m, javelin, and relay events

Williams said five students were selected to represent the country for the Confederation of Southern African Schools Athletics Association (COSSASA) championships, and the Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) to be held in Swaziland and Namibia, respectively.

The students are Itireleng Dimbo, Keitumetse Phologolo and Loato Kelediyakgotla who will be going to Swaziland end of April, and Orapeleng Kelebogile and Gabaikanngwe Moyampi will be leaving in June for the COSSASA games in Namibia.

Moyampi told Times Sport that she was well prepared for the games and knew she was going to qualify to represent the country again after she managed to bring home two silver medals in last year’s competition, and expects to bring back more this time.

The team competing in Swaziland will be led by Kelediyakgotla. Williams said that he is confident of the athletes who had all promised him to bring back medals.

MSSS will be hosting the annual ball sports tournament for mission schools in June, which includes karate, boxing and rugby. Competing will be Moeding College, Mater Spei College, St. Joseph’s, and MSSS.