Previous Editions:

Breaking News!
Santa is Coming
The Hits Just Keep on a Coming!

Botswana veterinary and health officials are on alert following confirmation of an outbreak in Zimbabwe of the dreaded avian (bird) flu, H5N2. The government has denied a similar outbreak has occurred in the Kachikau area of Chobe after reports were received by this newspaper that up to 20 chickens had this week died mysteriously.

The Department of Animal Health and Production in the Ministry of Agriculture has banned the import of birds and bird products from Zimbabwe into Botswana in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. This means that no poultry product s such as chickens and eggs as well as exotic birds or bird feathers can be imported.

The outbreak – believed to be the first in Africa since the worldwide warning about the disease came into force – is in the Matebeleland North province. It has so far been confined to two farms in the Umguza and Bubi districts.

The Director of Animal Health and Production, M Fanikiso, said this week: “People are urged to remain vigilant and inform us to ensure that this disease is not introduced into Botswana.” The Senior Veterinary Officer in Chobe, Dombole Babayani, has refuted claims that an outbreak had occurred there.

 “My office has no information to that effect. I can inform you that there is an Extension Officer from the Department of Animal Health who is permanently based at Kachikau and indeed if there was something of that nature doing the rounds in the village, he should have got the wind of it,” Babayani said.

Bird flu has spread across Asia and penetrated into southern Europe since the first cases were detected in Hong Kong eight years ago. The virus mutated to the extent that it transferred from birds to humans to cause widespread panic over the possible outbreak of a pandemic which scientists believe could kill millions of people if the disease is not controlled.

Road blocks, breathalyser to beat accidents

By Calistus Kolantsho

Police say that the notorious Maun-Sehitwa road is a “death trap”. The Traffic Officer (Commanding) for Police District No 5, Superintendent Pelontle Kesupile, says this is particularly so during the rainy season and urged motorists to drive slowly. Random road blocks and breathalyser tests will be carried out throughout the festive season.He says that as people are preparing to go on holiday, they need to be told to be sensitive about the safest ways of staying clear of accidents.

Kesupile said in an interview this week that before drivers plan trips, they should take their vehicles to garages for service. He said drivers also need to rest if they are travelling long distances if they feel tired and also to allow tyres to cool down. Resting is the only way to kill fatigue. He also said that people should travel in covered vehicles and best possibly use public transport. If a vehicle without a canopy is involved in an accident, the occupants on the back are thrown everywhere and often suffer fatal injuries.

Kesupile has also discouraged people from driving without a driver’s licence. He said the police will be “on every street corner of Maun” to deal with people who are disregarding the law and random road blocks will be set up. Kesupile said drinking and driving was a punishable offence and if one wanted to drink, they should do so at their homes. At the end of the interview Kesupile said the police’s breathalyser was “in a good working condition and just waiting for customers.”

Christmas weather

Christmas Day’s weather looks like being reasonable over the Maun area.

The long-range forecast carried by weather.com on the Internet forecasts a partly cloudy day with the likelihood of isolated thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

Temperatures will also be above average over the preceding few days – with the maximum rising to about 34 deg C and a minimum of 20 deg C

Bank offical dies in horrific accident

By Bright Kholi

A crash between VW Polo and a Land Cruiser about 7 km out of Maun on Wednesday night claimed the life of a Maun bank official.

Three people were injured – the woman driver of the Land Cruiser and a man travelling with her, and the woman passenger in the other vehicle, which was extensively damaged. Huge crowds gathered at the parking lot opposite Maun Police station on Thursday to view the extensively wrecked vehicles, particularly the Polo whose engine was ripped from the chassis.

According to eye witnesses, the Polo was travelling towards Nata and the Land Cruiser was travelling in the opposite direction when the head-on crash took place. It is believed the Polo veered from its side of the road and hit the oncoming vehicle, which had already started to take evasive action when the crash occurred.

A medical response team from MRI were called to the scene by police to assist the injured.

The dead man, who was apparently with his girlfriend, the mother of a young child, was a senior official at a local bank while in the other vehicle was local businessman and an unidentified woman. Police District No.5 officer commanding traffic division, Superintendent Pelontle Kesupile, said police were still investigating the cause of the collision. He said the woman passenger in the Polo was seriously injured, with both legs fractured and had been flown to Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, on Thursday.

The name of the dead man is being withheld until his next of kin are informed.

Accused rapist says he 'knows the actual rapist'

By Calistus Kolantsho

A Gweta alleged serial criminal who is charged with raping his cousin took the Maun Magistrate’s Court by surprise this week when he told chief magistrate Tshegofatso Mogomotsi that he “knew” the person who raped his cousin. Kgathatso Eletsang (25) said the person who raped his cousin was named “Moagi”. who he left with his cousin at the water well.

Eletsang has been charged with seven offences - two murders, two attempted murders, an attempted rape, arson and being in possession of a firearm without permission. Eletsang allegedly shot and killed his grandmother and her common law husband, and he also shot at two police officers. He then set fire to a hut in which five people were sleeping at the time.

Mogomotsi told the court that she will deliver judgment in the rape case in January. Eletsang lashed out at the police, saying they had failed to investigate Moagi in connection with the offence. The rape is alleged to have taken place in 2002 at Soso Lands near Gweta.

Eletsang told the court in his final submissions that the complainant did not tell the court the truth, and that what she told the court was hearsay, which is not admissible in a court. He claimed that the complainant was told by some people what she should say and also argued that the evidence of witnesses Badi Nkaigwa and Ontshwanetse Kenyaditswe should be dismissed.

Eletsang said the Investigating Officer, Constable Oneilwe Kgotladingwe, had told the court that the incident was reported to Gweta police station in July, 2002. He said Kgotladingwe had also said he was taken to the crime scene by the complainant, her eight year old brother and her father.

Eletsang argued that the police had failed to put the eight year old in the witness box. Eletsang said the investigating officer had also explained to the court that he was advised by Assistant Superintendent Stali Phuthego that he had refused to make a confession statement, and argued that both Phuthego and the complainant had denied what Kgotladigwe had said in court when they gave evidence.

He accused the officer of lying to the court when he testified that the complainant was raped on her way to the borehole instead of saying that it happened on her way back.  Eletsang submitted that Kgotladingwe’s evidence was suspicious.

He also submitted that a medical doctor did not detect any injures on the complainant’s body to show that there was violence involved. “The state did not give the court any evidence to prove that I was ever at the crime scene,” said Eletsang, who also submitted that the complainant had agreed to have sex with the person who raped her. The complainant knew the person and she was only implicating Eletsang because they are not in good terms.

Air Bots fast-tracks planes deal

GABORONE – Air Botswana has brought forward its plans to replace the airline’s entire fleet.

Earlier it had been reported that Air Botswana was looking at 2008-2009 as the financial year in which it could do so, but now the Minister of Works and Transport, Lesego Motsumi, has told parliament the replacement would occur earlier.

She said that the deal for the leasing of a BAe146 passenger jet was concluded on November 30 and that it would soon arrive in Botswana. It would be carrying spares for the existing BAe146. Repairs and refurbishing of the aircraft would take place in either South Africa or Zimbabwe and could take up to five months.

Public urged to fight crime over the festive season

By Calistus Kolantsho

As the Christmas holidays are approaching, the police have called on members of the public to join with them in the fight against crime over the holidays. Maun Police acting station commander, Assistant Howard Modo, said in an interview that the neighborhood watch system was the best as those who are leaving would have their neighbours keeping an eye on their premises.

He said they should also give neighbours telephone numbers so that they can communicate in case of a break in. Modo called on Maun residents to report to the police any suspicious looking person or strangers loitering around their area.

He also urged the business community to engage security guards who are equipped with communication gargets such cellphones and radios so that they can communicate with the police in case of an attack, and businesses should stop the tendency of employing older men who were not even able to fight back when attacked.

He urged people not to move around with lots of money in their pockets because of conmen. He said even the business community should not leave large sums in their safes because robbers could easily break in. “You should always bank your money,” Modo said. Police patrols are also going to be intensified around Maun and the district, with only a few police officers taking a break over the holidays.

Modo also said bar owners should obey closing times and opening times, and that according to the local bye-law, are not allowed to play music on their businesses. Meanwhile, the police, immigration and labour departments and the BDF held a clean up operation last week and managed to nab 32 Zimbabweans.

He said they had committed offences of overstaying, and being in the country illegally and working without work permits. He said those who were illegal immigrants have been deported and those who had overstayed have been fined. Modo also said two Batswana have been fined for employing Zimbabweans without work permits.

Christmas wish list:

It has long been a feature of Christmas that children write to a fellow named Santa Claus or Father Christmas who lives at the North Pole.

They send him their wish lists for what they would like to find on their beds on Christmas morning.

Of course, more often than not, the wish list is unsuccessful.

We, too, have a wish list this Christmas and it concerns much to do with Botswana and what we would like to see take place – not on Christmas Day but at least implemented in the year ahead.

1.   An end to crime and placing more police officers on the streets.

2.   An improvement in our economy and a clamp on rising consumer prices.

3.   An end to the stand-off between government and the Basarwa tribe over relocation from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

4.   Eradication of xenophobia which is busy destroying this land – tribe v tribe, citizens v foreigners

5.   Keeping the pula currency name for as long as possible

6.   More effort shown in the improvement of Maun

7.   An end to continuous power breaks affecting the North West District

8.   The tarring of the Disaneng gravel road

9.   Orderly removal of residents from Mabudutsa and provision of services for them at Matshwane

10. Protection of the Okavango delta in the face of developments such as the Popa Falls hydro-electric scheme

It’s an ambitious list but perhaps Father Christmas will be able to help.

The Maun Shuffle

Shuffle recently wrote about how Britain’s Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, is supporting the Basarwa people and a British activist group, Survival International (SI),  in their bids to overturn the Botswana government’s decision to relocate the tribe from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).

It can now be revealed that his involvement is nothing new, and in fact dates from early 1996 when he met with a Basarwa leader in London to pledge his support.

His enthusiasm also apparently got him into trouble with his then-wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, on their honeymoon when he re-read his mentor Laurens van der Post’s fables about the “Kalahari Bushmen”. It was so interesting, the story goes, that he forgot about his conjugal rights. Whoops! – not a good start to a blissful marriage. Well, it was blissful at the start .. .

The late Princess Diana, in a taped account of her honeymoon which was broadcast in March last year by the NBC TV network in the United States, described Van der Post’s books as “ghastly”. She said that Charles told her: “I’ve stumbled upon a lustrous passage about the Kalahari Bushmen and I’m much too entranced to think of sleep.”

There is also the rumour that the Kalahari air was a bit too much for a Prince who talks to plants and has heaped scorn on architects, doctors, urban planners, politicians, teachers, civil servants and teachers because Van der Post indoctrinated him in “a journey of individuation and rediscovery of the self” which necessitated the defeat of “those great priesthoods of science, particularly applied science, technology and economic realism.”

It has long been rumoured that Charles broke his marriage vows to Diana by bedding his mistress (now his wife), Camilla, in the CKGR way back in the mid-1980s

The “Botswana Cinema and Film Studies, 1st Edition” records a documentary covering a visit to the CKGR in March 1984 “by Prince Charles – with his (then) mistress Camilla hidden from the cameras . . “

**

Anyone who tells you that there are places warmer than Maun in this country is very wrong, according to statistics on temperatures recently published by the Central Statistical Office.

During 2004, Maun recorded an average of 30.9 deg C, warmer than Shakawe (30.1) and Ghanzi (29.6).

For those interested, Maun’s rainfall in 2004 measured 427.8mm, way below that of Mahalapye on 590.3, Francistown 572.6, and Shakawe 518.3. Even Ghanzi got more than us – a soaking 478.2mm during the year.

 ***

Recent visitors to Maun, film star Daryl Hannah and film producer Quentin Tarantino apparently thoroughly enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime when they went on a horseback safari in the delta in August. It is reported from the United States that Tarantino opted to observe wildlife on horseback so that they could get closer to the creatures in their natural environment.

Hannah says, “I love wildlife and I’d never been to Africa and I’d always wanted to go. It was just the best way to see the wildlife, because when you’re on horseback, all of the wildlife recognises you as another creature like them - or food!

“So you get to actually gallop with the giraffes or the zebras or next to the wildebeest, and ride right up to elephants and things like that.” Hannah and Tarantino stuck to a special code to get them out of trouble if one of the creatures got territorial.

The actress explains, “The leader of the tour had a signal, which was ‘run away’ and then you’d just run. It’s a good plan. It works.”

It sure does, madam.

**

And on that note, Shuffle signs off for 2005. A Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to this column’s readers.

Car population keeps growing

There were 179 376 registered private vehicles on Botswana’s roads in 2004.

The Central Statistics Office has disclosed that of these, 73 537 were motor cars and 74 455 light duty vehicles. Government vehicles totalled 9 889. The figures show an increase of just under 9 000 in the number of vehicles over the previous year.

The statistics also record 18 875 international aircraft landings at the country’s airports and 49 474 domestic landings, while international air passenger arrivals totalled 135 875 with 132 089 domestic arrivals.

Health minister deplores delays in service

GABORONE – The Minister of Health, Sheila Tlou, has told parliament that more than 57 000 patients believed eligible for anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy have not yet been enrolled for the course. By September this year, there were 52 843 patients for ARV nationwide, of which there were 45 543 from the private sector.

She said that “major constraints that continue to hamper programme implementation include a lack of adequate human resources, inadequate infrastructure, in terms of storage space for drugs, inadequate capacity for drug logistics asnd adherence management.”

She attributed the deficit to inadequate capacity to facilitate an organised monitoring and evaluation system.

She also told MPs the health service was facing difficulties in retaining skilled staff and that there was a low rate of return of doctors and other health professionals trained abroad.

Major financing afreement for SADC

GABORONE - The Delegation of the European Commission in Botswana and the SADC Secretariat have reached finalisation of a new financing agreement for Euro 14.2 million from the European Development Fund.

The Agreement is related to a five year support programme to the SADC Secretariat and SADC member states in Standardization, Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM).

It will support trade and investment, enhance the protection of consumers through improved safety and health standards, and improve the competitiveness of suppliers of products and services. The support contributes to the integration of SADC states into the world economy and will enable them to better comply with WTO requirements in the area of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).

Botswana gold mine now in Canadian hands

SYDNEY, Australia - Another Australian mining house has been lured by the American financial market. Gallery Gold, which operates the Mupane mine in Botswana, will be swallowed by Toronto-based IAMGold, which is capitalised at $US1.1 billion (about P6-billion) and which has stakes in four producing gold mines located in Mali and Ghana.

Gallery shareholders, who will end up with a 15% stake in IAMGold, are being offered the equivalent of 46c a share.

This leaves Resolute Mining as the only substantial gold miner operating in Africa - it has the Golden Pride mine in Tanzania

Paladin Resources, which is about to mine uranium in Namibia, is also now listed in Toronto.  The key is the need for the amounts of money simply not available to smaller mining companies here. This is why Red Back Mining (Ghana gold) and two companies with projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo - Anvil Mining and Moto Gold Mines - have shifted their domicile to Canada. So to has Equinox Minerals which operates in Zambia.

Business urged to combat crime

GABORONE – The business community has been urged to organise and embark on programmes geared towards educating their employees on issues of crime prevention.

The Principal State Counsel in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Kgosi Ngakayagae, urged participants at a crime prevention workshop in Gaborone last week to recognise and take responsibility of ensuring that they make a meaningful contribution to the reduction of incidence of crime in their business environment.

He suggested that businesses install closed circuit television systems and that over the Christmas season, business people should be aware of credit card fraud, money laundering and other electronic offences.

Another brawl at yet another local beauty contest

The man in the middle of the brawl-Zimbabwean national Taurai (centre with cellphone) with some of the contestants who are crying foul. Tauri who is also a director for a company known as New Generations Limited was the chief organiser of the Mr & Miss Village Contest.                                                                                    Picture: Calistus Kolantso

By Onkabetse Tsaro

The organiser of the ‘Mr and Miss Village’ and the contestants are at each others throats over the prizes. The organiser, known to The Ngami Times as Taurai, says “people are out to destroy this company and reputation.” His company is New Generations Limited.

Taurai this week spoke out in an effort to clarify complaints and allegations brought by contestants and the people who attended the event. He said “there are people out there who are after diminishing the image of my company, this includes the contestants and especially those who registered at the last minute”.

The contestants’ complaints are that the organiser “is playing hide and seek with their prizes,” threatening a re- run of the contest as the elected Miss Village winner allegedly  did not pay P60 for registration.

Taurai denies the allegations, saying “I am not refusing but if they continue with spreading false accusations, I will not give them the prizes. I had an agreement with them. It seems they are now going over board.”  

A contestant who spoke to The Ngami Times anonymously claimed the organiser had promised to give out the prizes at the venue after the event “but that was not the case. We are now following him to force him to give us our prizes. We honoured our agreement and participated at the event.”

The organiser says no date was set for the presentation of prizes. “There is a procedure for doing things. Their prizes are ready and I will give it to them. I am currently organising a trip for them to go to Moremi (game reserve) but I will drop it if they continue fabricating issues,” said Taurai.

He says the show was successful but he made a loss. “I spent P3 000 in organising the show, but I made P125.00 from the gate takings and the rest of the money went to the venue.”

Bid to find origin of lake's birds

A major bird ringing project is on the go at Lake Ngami in a bid to shed some light on the origin of the thousands of waterfowl that have arrived at the lake. The campaign involves capturing and fitting birds with uniquely coded leg-rings that may be recovered when the birds disperse to their places of origin once the lake dries up.

Lake Ngami is regarded as one of Botswana’s important bird areas due to the large numbers of waterbirds that congregate there.

“Little is known about where the birds come from, or how they know that the lake currently has water,” says Pete Hancock, of Birdlife Botswana’s Maun branch. “Many birds, especially ducks, come from all over Africa and some of the migrant waders may come from as far afield as the Eurasian sub-continent.”

Ornithologists from the Avian Demography Unit of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Britain are participating in the project.

Education donates to Motse wa Tsholofelo

By Keneilwe Moreetsi

Officials in Maun’s Department of Primary and Secondary Education have voluntarily donated building and other equipment to charity.

They donated 16 poles, 20 metres of netting, two shades, 30 metres of water system pipe, and binding wire to the Motse wa Tsholofelo orphan day care centre. A member of the board of Maun Counselling Centre and Motse wa Tsholofelo, Gabatswane Peter Kgati, received the gifts.

“We are very grateful that Education officers also take part in helping orphans. I would like to encourage social workers and parents to evaluate the orphans and make sure that we have a caring and compassionate country by 2016”, he said.

The principal education officer Abotle Pansiri said that department members have decided to give P5.00 from every individual each month.

She said that since the HIV/AIDS committee at the department is voluntary, no one was forced to donate.

Pansiri said it was hoped to donate gardening equipment for a vegetable garden that will help them grow some vegetables “so that a healthy nation is accomplished by 2016.”

Police appeal about body

GABORONE – The police have appealed to the public for assistance in identifying the body of a woman who is believed to have been knocked down by a north-bound goods train in Gaborone on November 29. She was wearing a maroon dress, a multi-coloured long sleeve blouse, a black scarf, a multi-coloured head scarf and shoes with a “diesel” label.

Anyone with information can contact the police on numbers 390 1355 and 318 1810, or advise the nearest police station.

Leapotswe pupils excel in examinations

By Onkabetse Tsaro

Leapotswe Primary School headmaster Susheel Bhanot is a happy man as his Standard Seven students have gained excellent grades in their final examinations.

A total number of 25 students sat for the finals, and 22 obtained grade A, placing the school at the top of Ngamiland region’s schools in terms of its pass rate. Bhanot said the school is improving yearly and is aiming at achieving a 100% pass rate.

“Only 17 students this year got straight A’s, so our aim next year is that all the students for the Seven examinations will obtain straight A’s. “Our policy encourages students to learn hard, whilst our main duty is to get the best out of their capabilities. We encourage them work hard and utilise the resources the school has for the upliftment of their marks or grades.”

He says the goals the school set are maintained and achieved as a result of support by   parents.  “Parents are very supportive and play an active role in seeing for themselves the advancement of their children academically. This is also complimented by the qualified teachers we have in our school. Our school’s actions speak for itself. It is there for everyone to see, and as our motto says ‘action speaks larger than words’,” said Bhanot.

“We have academic clubs that provides lessons on French, English, journalism and also sporting activities such as tennis, soccer and others.”

Row over burial plan in CKGR

GABORONE – A newspaper here has reported on a controversy following the death of an 81-year-old Basarwa woman who has died and whom the family wants to bury in the disputed Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).

Xoroxo Duxee went missing on November 5 and after a search by her family, the community and the anti-poaching unit, the body was found. The government is reported to have issued a statement absolving itself of any blame regarding the delay in the burial, saying it regrets “the ongoing efforts being deployed by some people and organisations to delay the burial.”

It adds that a large group of people were attempting to enter the CKGR under the pretext of being relatives of the dead woman, and fears they may want “to gain political mileage and enable members of the First People of the Kalahari to enter the CKGR,” the newspaper says.

The CKGR is closed to outsiders.

All fun at the weekend

When Maun parties, it parties!

That’s why it was a busy weekend for partygoers last weekend. There were events at the Trekkers nightclub, the Buck & Hunter pub and grill, Okavango River Lodge, Audi Camp and The Bridge.

The Buck & Hunter celebrated its first birthday in grand style. More than 120 people from a cross-section of Maun’s burgeoning population turned up to listen to singer Heather, and to eat and dance the night away. Succulent steaks and loads of salads were on the menu for the event, with owners Jamie and Jo fervently hoping that the rain would stay away! And it certainly did. Some of the crowd, including the owners, dressed up for the occasion’s theme “Out of Africa”.

There was fun galore at Audi Camp last Friday when a family day took place. Stalls filled with Christmas gifts, free imported beers, children’s entertainment (including a clown) and a good vibe all contributed to a successful event. For good measure, the “Old Ballies” band from South Africa played the type of music many love, and continued with it at the Okavango River Lodge on Sunday.

Okavango River Lodge also presented noted musician Ndingo Johwa on Friday, and he moved on to The Bridge venue on Saturday for yet another successful gig.

A local traditional dance group entertaining patrons at The Buck & Hunter 1st anniversary party

Ndingo Johwa played at Okavango River Lodge and The bridge over the weekend

Dzalobana promotes abstinence and safer sex

By Onkabetse Tsaro

Dzalobana, a youth led festival which is a partnership between Ghetto Artists Production and the Youth Health Organisation (YOHO), government, UNICEF, BOTUSA and BONASO, proved its popularity when it came to Maun recently.

The festival, which was organised by the Youth Action Network Organisation (YANO) in Maun, for the two lead bodies - YOHO and Ghetto Artists - brought together the performing groups, Exodus, and a group from Kasane to provide entertainment at the same time promoting abstinence and safer sex.

The local groups that took center stage were Krez Squad, Brace Matrix, Half Jozi and Thito theatre group, while Vee’s former dancers, Exodus from Gaborone, were the crowd- pullers with Lelekeng theatre group from Kasane at the festival. The main speaker at the festival, “Miss Stigma Free”, Cynthia Leshomo, a person living with HIV/AIDS, said the youth must be educated and empowered in all issues of HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at the Mummies and Mogobe bars respectively, Leshomo also gave her testimony of living with the virus, reminding the youth that if they were already engaged in sex, they should go for HIV testing.  “Abstinence helps one to develop personal discipline in a holistic manner and it allows youth to mature and it also helps to clarify personal values,” she said. “Abstinence is not only about sex but also about making choices that are pro-excellence.”

On the Dzalobana Bosele Arts Festival, Leshomo said the youth can develop messages that are youth friendly, adding that they can provide opportunities to interact with their peers and educate one another on issues of HIV/AIDS.

Festival organiser Tsholofelo Seitshiro said despite the rain that threatened the proceedings, “the event went well. It was well attended and the local groups had an opportunity to showcase their talents, at the same time providing educational messages on HIV/AIDS and on adolescent sexual reproductive health to the young people.”   

Ndingo Johwa flanked  by Okavango River Lodge Management team, Matthew Montague (left) and Neil Kendrick during his show over the weekend

Lead us to the soccer field... These two guys turned up at the Buck  & Hunter ready to take on the best.

Giving hand... Maun Lodge General Manager Yasmin Potts with Father Christmas at the Boma where he later gave away presents to kids

Men at work....Big Shark (left) and Kabo Malela of Ellerines getting down to the tunes of the Ika jazz king Ndingo Johwa at Okavango River lodge last weekend

Excited... Onalenna, Kebogolo and Tony sharing a light moment at Letshego’s year bash

Party time....Partygoers in festive mood at the 1st anniversary party of The Buck & Hunter

Doing what he knows best ....DJ Decks  gave a superb performance at the Letshego year-end party at Riley’s Hotel last weekend

SPORTS

Zebras for Maun

If all goes according to plan, Botswana’s national soccer team, the Zebras, will come to Maun soon to play against a Maun Select in a game which will be part of a fund raising project for the Children’s Park to be built in Maun.

The match is being organised by A to Z Mica Build. According to the company’s vice president, Brijesh Vora, the idea of the theme park is the brainchild of 16 year old Sohum Mehta, who is the son of company president Subhash Mehta.

Vora said that they are currently waiting for a response from the Botswana Football Association proposing a suitable date for the encounter. He said that the game can be expected between now and February 2006, adding that the Zebras have agreed to play.

Vora said Air Botswana had also shown an interest in sponsoring the transport side of the event.“We are very proud to be bringing the national team to Maun as this will also enhance the local football talent,” Vora said. Vora also said that the match will also promote tourism. Vora appealed for major support from the community at the game and to support the fund raiser as it is aimed at benefiting their children. He said the Theme Park is expected to cost over P400 000, adding that so far they have raised P25 000.

Tough games ahead for Africa’s World Cup sides

The 2006 World Cup soccer championship will see Africa’s representatives compete in four of the eight groups.

Angola is drawn in Group D and on the face of it may not have much chance of advancing to the finals as they are bracketed with Portugal, Mexico and Iran.

Ivory Coast are in Group C alongside top teams Argentina and Holland, as well as Serbia & Montenegro, while in Group E, Ghana will clash with Italy, the United States and the Czech Republic. Togo is in Group G with France, Switzerland and South Korea, while Tunisia plays in Group H against Spain, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.

The full draw is:

Group A– Germany, Costa Rica, Poland, Ecuador.

Group B – England, Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Sweden.

Group C – Argentina, Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro, Holland.

Group D – Mexico, Iran, Angola, Portugal.

Group E – Italy, Ghana, United States, Czech Republic.

Group F – Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan.

Group G – France, Switzerland, South Korea, Togo.

Group H – Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia. The opening game of the World Cup will see Germany take on Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

Makgabisa registers first loss

Makgabisa registered its first loss over the weekend, when Maun Terrors beat them 1-0 in an Nhabe Regional soccer league match.

Makgabisa had won seven consecutive matches, and it came as a shock to the team and their supporters who came to the game sure of a win.

Terrors goal came in the first half of the game through their hard working striker Boenyane David.

Terrors are now 8 points behind Makgabisa, who are the league leaders.

Other weekend results were:

Moeti United 2, Sankuyo 0; Gaegolelwe 2, BMC 0; CTO 3 Gunners 0; Sankuyo 0, Elephants 2; Zungu 2, Fuji Rollers 5.

Vol 7 No. 294 December 9 -16, 2005

No wonder Maun has the prettiest girls in Botswana! And with this smile, Priscillah Makhao lived up to our reputation by winning the Miss Village beauty contest last week.           Picture: Calistus Kolantso

CRIME  SPREE GOES ON

Crime continues to occupy a front row seat in Maun as the holiday season approaches. Police are working overtime in an effort to apprehend a gang thought to be responsible for most of the break-ins. A woman was severely beaten with an iron bar when a burglar jumped a perimeter wall around her Wenela home on Tuesday morning. The house had previously been burgled.

The business premises of one of the town’s leading anti-crime organisers was targeted at the weekend when thieves broke through a wall to gain entrance, and an air charter company, a stationers shop and a bar were burgled. Also burgled were safari companies, an accountant’s office and a company office. Another hit was a private home in Disaneng, a ward that has seen an increasing number of break-ins over the past few months. Two arrests have so far been made.

Patrick Penstone, who heads the 911 neighbourhood watch organisation and whose members are linked by radio, said this week that thieves apparently first entered the premises of the Woolworths store at the Ngami Centre and smashed down a wall to gain entrance to the Bateman’s liquor store. “The office was trashed, the cash till destroyed but little in the way of liquor was taken,” he said. Nothing was apparently taken from Woolworths.

At an air charter company, whose offices are part of a safari company complex, thieves would have had to negotiate a high wall and electric fencing to gain entry. A burglar broke through the roof of the Office Shop stationers company and was apprehended by police at the scene.

Thieves also entered a Disaneng house, stealing a cellphone, in the latest burglary of homes in the ward. A large number of homes have been burgled in the area over the past few months, with residents now too terrified to leave their properties at night.

In another incident, a man believed to be a Zimbabwean, snatched a cellphone from a child in Matlapana and ran into nearby bushes. Acting Maun police station commander, Assistant Superintendent Nkape Kealotswe, confirmed the incidents.

End of the Pula?

Botswana’s name for the currency – the Pula - may be on the way out. President Festus Mogae has said in Gaborone that it may be time to drop the word Pula and replace it with another.

He explained during a visit to the Office of the President by top officials of the Lutheran Church that the word “pula” meant rain but it was misconstrued at international conferences whenever Batswana end their speeches with the word to mean a strong currency. Mogae did not say what new name he had in mind. The Botswana Pula was introduced in 1976 to replace the South African rand. Currency in use in neighbouring countries includes the South African rand, Namibian dollar, Zimbabwean dollar, Zambian kwacha, and Angolan kwanza. The rand is on an equal footing with the national currencies of Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho. 

Song and dance over AIDS day

By Onkabetse Tsaro

World AIDS Day last week was not one for song and dance and rather a solemn remembrance of those who have died from the pandemic.

This was the decision of the local District Multi Sectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC) relayed to local music and other artists prior to the event in Maun on December 1 and also to the “16 days of activism for zero tolerance to violence.”

Church pastors are being blamed for the decision. The artists feel aggrieved and say they were sidelined from an event in which they believe they should have taken a leading role.

The groups say they received information that the activity was not a celebration but a commemoration.

Things changed when the event was merged with the 16-day programme.

Local church pastors are said to have “not been comfortable” with youth groups billed to perform - Rap Boez, Krez Squad (hip hop groups), Kesegofetse (a female poet) and a traditional dance group, Loshalaba - as they viewed them as unsuitable for the event.

Church and clinic choirs performed instead. An anonymous member said:  “Maybe it was a mistake to merge the two events.”

By Calistus Kolantsho

A case in which a Maun traffic police officer, Aaron Kerebotswe (38), is accused of  stealing money was brought to a halt this week as the prosecution failed to turn up for the mention court appearance. Maun police failed to appear in court on Monday and a Shakawe-based police officer; Sergeant Mashumba, had to stand in. When the case was called, only the defence counsel was available.

Kerebotswe is alleged to have between February 19 and August 2 this year stolen P19 760 which came into his possession by virtue of his employment. The accused pleaded not guilty.

When the case was registered before court in August this year, Superintendent Olefile Badisang, who appeared for the State then, told the court that police investigations were complete and the prosecution was ready to set trial date. Kerebotswe is represented by Langwane Langwane, of Langwane Mmekwa Attorneys, Gaborone.

Accused convicted of vehicle theft

By Calistus Kolantsho

Maun chief magistrate Tshegofatso Mogomotsi has found three accused persons guilty of stealing a motor vehicle. Bruce Mokere, Benjamin Motai and Ditshupo Tshere (a student at Maun Brigade) are alleged to have stolen a vehicle belonging to Thusanang Ngashe, a teacher at Kareng Primary School.

The incident happened on August 21, 2003 when the vehicle was stolen in Maun and was involved in an accident near Mamuno. The evidence that was brought before court was that Mokere was seen in Ghanzi driving a white Toyota Hilux which looked exactly like the one that was stolen from the complainant.

The accused persons said in their defence that at the time the vehicle was seen at Ghanzi, they where in Maun and claimed witnesses were not telling the truth.

Passing judgement, Mogomotsi said that there was no way the trio could have been in two places at the same time. She said that she agreed with prosecution witnesses that Mokere was the one who was driving the vehicle.

The court was also told that the accused had told one of the witnesses that the vehicle was his and had also said the vehicle belonged to someone called Jomo but he failed to bring him to court to be his witness.

Mogomotsi told the court that the State brought overwhelming evidence before court. During trial, the court was also told that Mokere had telephoned Motai asking him if he wanted to go to Ghanzi and he agreed. The magistrate said Motai did not tell the court the same story that was narrated by Mokere and that the accused were contradicting each other.

Mokere had said in his defence that he went to Ghanzi to visit his sister, who is staying there.

Mogomotsi said it was a coincidence that the two planned going at the same time and the persons they were visiting were not present. She mentioned that none of the two called the people that they were visiting to come and testify on their behalf. She said this was meant to mislead the court. Mogomotsi also told the court that the accused were not credible witnesses.

She said their evidence was an afterthought and a complete fabrication.

Inspector Vincent Balatlhwa, who was prosecuting, said the complainant wanted to be compensated. He also applied for the accused persons to be fingerprinted to check their previous records.  The three accused did not agree with the complainant application. Mokere told the court that he was going to make an appeal against the judgement. Meanwhile Mokere faces charges of burglary, stealing from a dwelling house, attempted robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm, involvement in the Metro armed robbery case, armed robbery, theft, and giving false information.

The accused have been remanded in custody pending sentence. The case will come for mention on December 13.

'Wettest November in a half-century'

Maun has probably experienced its wettest November since 1952, official and unofficial statistics show. And it looks as if the rainy conditions will persist for a while longer.

November traditionally has a monthly rainfall of about 44.8mm, according to official records kept since 1922. Over 100mm being recorded in a November have been noted only five times - in 1933 (115.6mm), 1938 (115.4), 1952 (169.6), 1967 (111.9) and 2002 (126.4).

According to the Meteorological Service, only 82mm fell in Maun during November but private rain gauges in various wards have shown much more rain than that officially measured.  In some areas, up to 74mm fell while there were heavy downpours in other wards as well.

In the first 11 days of last month, rainfall recorded officially was already over 60mm and after that date, there was more heavy rain. Official statistics for Ngamiland for November are: Maun 82.0mm, Sehitwa 40.6, Gumare 128.5, Shakawe 98.2 and Seronga 97.7.

Air Bots to replace fleet

GABORONE – Air Botswana intends to replace its entire fleet of aircraft in the 2008-2009 financial year. According to the Ministry of Works and Transport’s input of the draft mid-term review of the National Development Plan 9, presented to parliament last week by Assistant Minister of Works and Transport, Frank Ramsden, the national airline made a loss of P4.6-million in the last financial year for the first time in eight years. The forecast for the current financial year also indicates a loss.

He said this is the result of “operational problems that led to frequent disruptions of its schedule”. Ramsden acknowledged that the disruptions had created negative perceptions “regarding safety, leading to a decline in passenger confidence.”

In a bid to improve matters, the airline is leasing a BAe146 passenger jet this month.

Government calls for support over Basarwa

By Bright Kholi 

The tourism industry has been asked to join the fight over the relocation of the Basarwa – on the side of the government.

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) members were told at their annual meeting over the weekend that the British organisation, Survival International (SI), had targeted two pillars of the economy, diamonds and tourism, with its campaign against the relocation of Basarwa from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR).

The Office of the President sent a four-man delegation to address delegates. It consisted of the special legal advisor to the President, Sydney Pilane, Department of Wildlife and National Parks deputy director (Parks), Jan Broekhuis, the deputy private press secretary to the President, Jeff Ramsay, and Clifford Maribe, Director of Public Relations  in the research and information division in the Ministry if Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Ramsay told HATAB that the campaign by SI and the First People of the Kalahari had taken a different turn as they have now targeted tourism as well. He said that it is evident that FPK was being used by SI and some other organisations to turn against their country.

Ramsay urged the tourism sector to partner the government in its fight against these organisations. He said that most people who incite the incidents that recently occurred in the CKGR area came into the country as tourists to gain access to the Basarwa.

He recalled recent demonstrations where some Basarwa were intercepted when they were on their way back into the Reserve. “In this regard, it is important that we all become sensitive about the issue and that calls for dialogue,” he said.

According to Ramsay, the government has  initiated a new communication strategy which would ensure that everyone is involved in the issue -“if we can’t protect the integrity of CKGR, then we can’t protect any other park or reserve.”

He also said that while they had wanted to know and expose the funders of SI, it has proved futile as its operations are secretive, except that the organisation has been registered as charity organisation.
Ramsay said that as there is a  case that is currently before the High Court this was a “stumbling block for a lot of things.”

Pilane said the government was ready for dialogue but said the problem was the court case and that the government cannot initiate negotiations because it was not the complainants who took the matter to court. Pilane said that government was determined to do anything that would end the issue once and for all.

Broekhuis told HATAB members that the alleged torture of Basarwa that SI has been spreading had “no proof and was without foundation.”

Survival is currently putting advertisements in British newspapers about police shooting Basarwa in the CKGR, with one advertisement reading “Don’t Holiday in Botswana, Don’t buy its De Beers diamonds and tell President Mogae what you think.” HATAB members felt that the government had taken too long to respond to SI and that had been damaging to the country.

They said that as tour operators, they need information so that they can effectively answer any questions about the issue and also know how to deal with it at a personal level. They called on government to strengthen its campaign against SI.Maribe said the government had been open and transparent on the CKGR issue and also provided SI with the true facts, which were ignored. He said some media houses also reported negatively about the issue.

He said the government has put in place a website specifically for the CKGR issue and engaged an expert at the Botswana High Commission in London.

Thieves have upper hand

It was something many had been waiting for. A top government official being robbed in Maun. Unfortunately, this has now occurred and equally unfortunately, it took place at a leading hotel.

The incidence of crime in Maun is now overwhelmingly in favour of the criminal. Few if any have been apprehended for a spate of burglaries and robberies that have taken place all over the town in the space of a few months.

The police are being cast in a bad light insofar as being seemingly unable to curb crime but, in their defence, Maun is a big town, spread out in all directions, and with limited manpower it is virtually impossible to get from one place to another at the drop of a hat.

Added to that is the problem of funding – many residents can tell of how they have had to drive to the police station to pick up a constable to start investigations into a robbery because there are no police cars available or else there is no fuel..

Now that a senior official in the Office of the President has felt the wrath of the criminals it may be that something will be done. We certainly hope so.

Statistics tell a story

Statistics don’t usually tell the whole story but we were surprised to note from the latest available figures of the Central Statistics Office that the number of business visitors to Botswana fell dramatically in 2003 as compared to 2001 and 2002.

If one casts ones mind back, those three years were hugely difficult for the world at large, wrestling as we all did with the terrorist attack on the United States and the Iraq war. Business was slack, with the result that the economy of not only this country but also many others took a terrible hiding, particularly in regard to the number of tourists.

This impacted heavily on business.

Tourism made a slow recovery in 2003, due largely to the fact that Americans were too frightened to travel long distances by air for fears of hijackings of planes and other terrorist-related events. They seemed to be getting over the problem in 2003 and hopefully the statistics for 2004 and 2005 will show a continued rise in our tourism numbers.

Maun Shuffle

A ship of the desert normally refers to the camel, whose swaying movements when walking depicts a ship on the ocean wave.

But here in Maun we have a new ship of the desert – an ocean-going boat manufactured right here for service in the Indian Ocean!

This must surely be a first in any country – a vessel built in the desert (we still have camels down in the south-west corner) and destined for the ocean wave!

The team at Aliboats, in Boseja, worked long hours to get “Maybelle Too” ready for service by the British Red Cross in Indian and Maldives waters. The vessel is to assist with freight, more particularly the carrying of building materials to assist those hard-hit by December 2004’s tsunami that devastated south-east Asia, the Maldives Islands and part of the East African coast.

Many thousands died and countless others were left homeless as the giant wave struck.

Rod Bateman, one of the head honchos at Aliboats, which is the trading name for Power Serv, tells Shuffle that building had to be re-designed to accommodate the vessel, that staff worked long hours ensuring the success of the venture, and that once it is all over there is the possibility of another order from the same organisation.

It really is good business not only for the company but also for Maun and Botswana for it shows that we have the expertise to match the best shipbuilders in the world, even though we may live on the shifting sands of a desert!

Well done, Aliboats!

(If any reader wants to see the boat in colour, log on to our website – www.ngamitimes.com – for the picture).

** 

One of the joys of summer is attending cocktail parties under a clear African sky, chatting to people from all walks of life – district commissioners, police chiefs and business people.

It’s a chance to get to know how they feel about things in general, and talk about the weather.

Now, talking about the weather is what this little snippet is all about.

Shuffle and Co attended such a function on the rolling lawns of the Sedia Hotel the other night. Sumptuous food was laid out, the bar was doing a roaring trade. Alan, Janet and Joel were fussing about making sure everything was in order, and then down came the rain!

Everyone huddled under the blue and white striped tent, thinking no doubt that the rain shower would soon end. No such luck – it simply poured, fortunately not spoiling the food or the steady stream of people to the refreshment stand.

But it did do something else – it broke the ice for many people in that they were able to interact with those they never see.

Maybe ordering up a rain shower or two during a cocktail party is a good idea!

**

Shuffle has a vague memory about a wonderful statement made a couple of years ago by the Botswana Power Corporation (or, as the late Lionel Palmer dubbed the organisation, “Botswana Powerless Corporation”) that Maun’s continuous power cuts of that time were well and truly over.

Well, it seems that such comments are well and truly over as well, judging from the number of scheduled and unscheduled power breaks we have been experiencing over the past few weeks.

These have wreaked havoc on business and industry (ourselves included) as, without warning, off goes the power and try as one may, there is very little chance of finding out exactly what the cause may have been because no one answers the telephone at the Corporation’s local office.

One of the latest excuses foisted on a bemused public is that southern Africa is “running out” of power.

Could someone tell Shuffle how that is possible, given the following: Koeberg nuclear power station in Cape Town, Cahora Bassa hydro-electric station in Mozambique), Kariba (Zimbabwe-Zambia), and coal powered power stations dotted all over the landscape. No one can tell Shuffle that the regional electricity grid is malfunctioning, and if it is not functioning correctly, then someone is not doing their job properly! Perhaps it is a simple case of being incompetent!

PS: A power cut was advertised as scheduled for last Sunday from 5am to 12 noon but, guess what?, it didn’t happen!

Gated at the airport

Sundays are usually fun days in Maun but sometimes the fun can get a bit too much for tourists and others wishing to catch their flights to far-off destinations.

They either miss their flights completely because of delays to the Air Botswana schedule, the weather we have been having, or cannot even get to the airport terminal building.

Take last Sunday for instance. The main gate to the airport remained closed (perhaps some of our enterprising thieves nicked the keys) so passengers had to take their luggage by hand through the narrow pedestrian gate (that quite often remains locked even during the week). No one was about to explain the main gate problem to the tourist and others trying to reach the front door of the airport building, as one would have thought would be the case.

At least the locked gate (which has a grid to allegedly stop donkeys and goats from entering the premises) kept out vehicles as there was no other way into the complex except through the exit gate, which amazingly enough was open.

The police who busily wave you on if you dare to pull up in front of the terminal building were able to have a well earned rest from their arm waving.

Tourism sector warned against ill-treatment of workers

By Bright Kholi

The Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Moeng Pheto, says his ministry has been inundated with reports of unfair labour practices, ill-treatment and abuse of workers by some employers in the tourism industry.

Pheto was officially opening the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) annual general meeting in Maun over the weekend. Pheto said “the economic importance of tourism is quite high” for Botswana because it represents one of the major contributors of income to the economy, adding that labour relations play an important role in the industry.

Employment conditions and remuneration were among the least attractive in the sector, adding that labour mobility in the industry was also very high. He said the flexibility in the work schedules results in long working hours and stress during peak periods and split shifts.

Pheto regretted that some management styles were not helpful to the situation, adding that some of the reports border on racism, which he said is not allowed in Botswana. “All these may result in workers’ dissatisfaction, lack of motivation, low worker morale and productivity, and general disillusionment with management, with negative implications for stable labour relations,” Pheto said.

He urged employers to adhere to labour laws, instruments and code of good practice, whether national or international. “The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 1991 adopted Convention No.172, concerning working conditions in the tourism and hospitality industry. This Convention attempts to balance the needs and rights of workers and many of the standards have been ratified by Botswana,” he said.

He said that the best guarantee that the industry will flourish and expand in the years to come are decent working conditions industry and decent opportunities for workers outside the industry to benefit from tourism. Pheto told HATAB that efforts to ensure that locals are given the necessary training to localise non-citizen-held posts is at times making it difficult for employees to get the skill they require. “The problem is that some employers do not give training and localisation the attention they deserve. As a result, it is not uncommon to come across non-citizens who have been in the country for too long, without imparting their skills on locals,” he said.

Parks gates 'obstruct movement of people'

By Calistus Bosaletswe

The Sedudu and Ngoma gates are said to be an obstructive barrier restricting movement of residents who travel through Chobe National Park to access services in Kasane. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks has now decided to charge an entry fee at the gates as a cost recovery measure for any traveller passing through Chobe.

At a meeting of the local leadership, councillors and traditional leaders in the North West District in Maun last week, it was said that such issues needed to be addressed for the success of community integration and for democracy to prevail “as they have divisive and obstructive effects on people.”

The gate opening times are not convenient to residents as most of the people affected live in the Chobe Enclave. Councillor Machana Shamukuni said some people want to work while living in their home villages but due to the opening times, it has created tension which needs to be resolved.

Shamukuni said health services were deteriorating as people were not allowed to pass through during the late hours, even when they are sick, and urged local authorities to find other alternatives. Local authorities providing services to residents are also denied access when the gates close at 6pm each day.

The 54 kilometres between Sedudu and Ngoma is said to be no different from the Gweta-Phuduhudu stretch of road from Nata to Maun and which passes through the Makgadikgadi national park and Shamukuni is of the opinion that what applies to one game reserve should apply to all others. Chobe representative Peter Johane Chika called for an improvement in the opening hours to allow free movement from Kasane. He told of how he was once denied passage through the park when he wanted to fetch someone who was sick.

Chika said Botswana was “not the Congo” where people can be restricted to visit places of their choice. He said people were stranded at the Kazungula border post where they were vulnerable to incidents of crime as they were not allowed to cross due to stipulated times.

The DWNP district coordinator, Sibangani Mosojane, told the meeting that the department was using existing regulations. He said the cost recovery measure will soon be introduced and the introduction of fees should not come as a shock to residents. Mosojane said the DWNP usually gave permits to residents, if booked in advance, if they have problems.

Development plan for Shakawe

By Bright Kholi

The Settlement Planning and Development component of the Okavango delta Management Plan Project (ODMP) is to prepare a Settlement Development Plan for Shakawe starting in February 2006. This was revealed by the District Physical Planner’s office at Councillors workshop on ODMP held in Maun last week.

Shakawe is the third largest village in the district after Maun and Gumare, both of which already have development plans. According to the District Physical Planner, Fanuel Kibakaya, the thrust to prepare the plan emanates from the fact that Shakawe lies on the fragile ecosystem of the Okavango Delta.

“Shakawe is also a service centre of all the settlement in the panhandle, hence the plan will provide an orderly development which will provide a base for the district to provide infrastructure services like roads and other utilities in a more cost effective manner ,” Kibakaya said. The settlement Planning and Development component is being done by the Physical Planning Unit in the North West District Council. The plan is expected to include among others, the synthesis of the geotechnical survey and environmental impact assessment findings.

The existing settlements development plans for Maun and Gumare will also be reviewed, with the analysis of the demography and its attributes in Shakawe.

The plan will also carry with it the investigations and analysis of the available socio economic resources. It will include a structure plan for the entire village, and the preparation of a detailed upgrading layout plan for the built-up area. Consultations with stakeholders will be done throughout.

Murders on the increase

GABORONE – The number of murders reported in the country this year is now nearly 20 more than during 1994, police have reported.

They said that there were five murder cases reported last week, with one suspect having been arrested, while another committed suicide. Armed robbery cases now total 34 for last week, with cash amounting to over P30 000 having been stolen along with property valued at P40 000.  Of the armed robbery cases, three involved the use of hand guns, 18 knives and the remainder various weapons. Also on the increase compared to last year are rape cases – 1 212 compared to 1 195 last year.

'Cut phone charges and boost industry'

An independent market analyst Datamonitor (DTM.L) says Botswana is making the right move to develop a strong contact centre off-shoring sector.

However, the report stipulates that the government must immediately address the high telecomm charges currently being levied to contact centres if the industry is to be allowed to move forward and realise what could be a very promising future.

“The excellent incentives which the government has afforded foreign investors together with an educated labour force are core strengths”, says Peter Ryan, outsourcing and off-shoring analyst with London-based Datamonitor and author of the report.

“However, elevated telecomm costs are a major drawback. If the current charges remain in place, Botswana’s industry has no chance over the long term, relative to international competition.”

Target markets ideal for Botswana include English-speaking locations such as North America, the UK and Australia / New Zealand. Ryan also identifies South Africa as an excellent possibility:

“South Africa is rapidly becoming one of the world’s highest quality locations from which to serve offshore customers. However, with that comes a higher cost per agent.  Botswana is well-positioned to provide near-shore contact centre services to South African customers, especially given their close proximity and common commercial/popular cultures.”

Botswana has several areas in which it can develop its offshore contact centre competencies, which include outbound calling, and debt collection with the possibility of expanding into a full range of business process outsourcing (BPO) services. Datamonitor expects outsourced call centre agent positions in Botswana to rise from a very small base of less than 100 to nearly 500 by 2009.

The report identifies a number of targeted incentives available to foreign investors provided by the Botswana government. They include generous training subsidies, low corporate taxes, a VAT holiday and the permission to import specialised staff from abroad.

It says the government has adopted pro-active investment policies and there are aggressive outward marketing campaigns by local economic development agencies in tandem with the private sector. Add to this the economic stability and ongoing economic reform, coupled with one of Africa’s most educated workforces.

“Given these, Botswana could be an ideal location of choice for offshore investors looking for new offshore opportunities,” says Ryan.  However, elevated telecomm costs the main competitive threat to the industry. Offshore investors are concerned, however, about what are extremely high call charges.

Not only are they significantly more costly than those found in most other offshore destinations, they also threaten the long term viability of the contact centre industry. Ryan points out that India, the Philippines and many other offshore locations have been successful in developing through a combination of targeted incentives and low call costs. Botswana Telecommunications Corporation must immediately address high call charges currently being levied to contact centres (and) if it can “this industry will have nowhere to go but up.”

*Call Centres are desks from which agents make and/or receive telephone calls to internal or external customers.

Museum hosts annual Masters Art Exhibition

By Keneilwe Moreetsi

The Maun Masters annual art exhibition at Nhabe Museum has drawn art lovers from various areas including Shorobe, Sehithwa and Francistown.

The exhibition, which has been a feature of the museum’s year for the past 10 years, is aimed at promoting local and professional artists who are hungry for success and full of potential.

Assistant curator Darkie Kamunduuoo said anyone who is capable of artistic works can participate in the exhibition but he said “the problem this year is that most artists did not participate. It seems like most artists are running away from Maun, so basically art is not doing well in Maun.”

Most participants this year were students. The exhibition runs for two months and the community in general is welcome to explore and enjoy the world of art.

Kamunduuoo said the main purpose of the exhibition is to promote artists not for competition so that the importance of art is noticed. He urged artists not to be discouraged and continue to do the best they can to promote local talent especially students.

Business visitors drop but holidaymakers increase

More visitors came to Botswana than during the two previous years the latest available statistics for 2003 show. The Central Statistics Office says that 2 006 519 visitors entered the country, with 226 167 coming on holiday, 110 960 on business and 529 423 on short visits.

The total for business reasons is well below the figures for 2001 and 2002. Most visitors came from Zimbabwe (658 357), followed by South Africa (648 798).  The South African figure shows a drop of 14 000 over 2001 while, overall, holidaymakers were 80 000 fewer than in 2001.

Other statistics released this week show that by September last year, there were 296 387 people employed in the formal sector, of which central and local government accounted for 117 533. Diamond production, which reached 31-million carats in 2004 had totalled 18-million carats as at September this year while for the same nine months period of this year, copper production is at 31 612 tonnes, coal 544 280 tonnes and soda ash 163 657 tonnes, four times as much as the whole of the soda ash production in 2004. The statistics also show that the annual rate of inflation has been 10% until September this year, with inflation in towns standing at 9.8%, urban villages (such as Maun) 10.2% and villages 10.5%. The wholesale price index as at August this year stood at 173.4 points.

There are 106 690 head of cattle recorded so far during 2005, which is less than the figure in 2003 and 2004.

There were in 2004 a total of 312 234 children enrolled at local government and grant-aided primary schools and 16 977 at private primary schools. The government schools’ figure is down 2 000 on 2002, with Standard One enrolment dropping from 53 063 to 50 850. There were 120 260 in state junior and secondary schools in 2004 and 27 691 in senior secondary institutions. Total Form One enrolment was 40 199 and Form 5, 19 170. The literacy rate is placed at 81% for the period 2003-04 as against 68.9% in 1993-94.

'Wonderful to see grass again'

Excitement is mounting in many parts of northern Botswana as good rains continue to fall over a wide area. Rain has already helped farmers and is now also increasing the volume of water in local rivers.

A farmer in the Lake Ngami area, Morico-Blue Segadimo said this week that it was “wonderful to see green grass again” after a long winter of drought. “Vegetation has improved greatly for livestock.” he said.

Tsau pools are also holding large amounts of water while Chobe had a major rainfall during the week in the Kazangula area and at Puku Flatts.

It is hoped by veterinary officials that any further threat of anthrax among wildlife will end as a result of the rain. The disease recently killed many animals in Chobe National Park.

Getting down.. Miss Judy of Sedia Hotel leading the pack to the dance floor during their end of year cocktail party last week

 VIP’s ... The Batawana Paramount Chief Kealetile Moremi and  Maun West MP, Ronald Ridge listening to the proceedings during the commemoration of the World AIDS Day recently

 Smiles... It was all smiles and joy at the Sedia Riverside Hotel end of year cocktail  party. Pictured above is Bose of The Ngami Times (left) , Joel Lutanga (centre), Manager, Sedia Hotel and Khumo, also of Sedia

Vol 7 No. 292 November 25 - December 2, 2005

MOREMI SHOCKER
By Bright Kholi 

Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana’s top game park, may be handed back to the Batawana tribe. North West District Council (NWDC) members charged this week that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) neglected the vast 4 872sq.m. reserve, almost a third of the size of the Okavango delta, and the country’s main tourist attraction.

Councillors said at a presentation by the department of its Draft Moremi Game Reserve Management Plan that the area needed to be given back “to its rightful owners”. The Batawana say money generated from concessions would benefit the tribe and area in general. The plan has the support of senior Batawana chiefs.

The park was first mooted in 1961 and approved at a Batawana kgotla meeting in Maun on March 15, 1963. Two years later it was officially designated as a game reserve and run by a committee known as the Batawana Fauna Conservation Association. The Reserve was then handed over to DWNP in 1979 after alleged mismanagement of funds. 

This week, councillors said the department had failed to keep Moremi – which earns about P8-million a year from tourists - “to its required standard.” Among irregularities listed were conflicts between DWNP and communities over the reserve’s boundaries, the reserve’s camps are “a mess”, and the DWNP camps meant to monitor the situation inside the reserve were not functioning. Councillor Moses Seboifeng, of Botshabelo ward, said that there was a lot of lawlessness inside the reserve as there was no monitoring - “Tourists are even taken on game walks by their hosts, a thing which is not allowed inside a reserve,” he said.

While the reserve rakes in millions of pula, the facilities – including roads - were in bad shape and waste water was being drained into the rivers from camps there. Seboifeng said that since the reserve was an initiative of the people of Ngamiland, maybe it was high time that the initial owners took part in the running of the reserve. He said Batawana ran it at a time when the Community Based Natural Resource (CBNR) management programme was not in place.

Aircraft over the area were also not monitored and one councillor said it was quite possible that contraband articles could be flown in and out at will. There are at least four privately-owned camps and several DWNP camping grounds in the reserve .“We are not benefitting from the reserve as do other people in concessions that their trusts operate in,” he said.  Councillor Kebalepile Nkwane, a former DWNP district co-ordinator for Ngamiland, came under attack from council colleagues who claimed he had also not done anything about Moremi when he was in charge.

Councillor Phillip Wright regretted that while Batawana started Moremi Game Reserve, they are being left out of every thing that is being done inside the reserve, adding that maybe giving the reserve to the DWNP was not a good idea at all, adding that Batawana can still run the reserve because they had never failed in any way. Responding to the complaints, DWNP official Mophutholodi Modise told councillors that a shortage of funds hinders the improvement of facilities and a lack of resources, including staff, made it impossible to be able to monitor aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Batawana Senior Chief’s Representative, Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe, told The Ngami Times this week that he would personally support the move to regain the reserve. “I  believe other Chiefs would support the move as well because our people do not benefit anything from the reserve,” he said. Letsholathebe feels that if the reserve is given back to Batawana, the money would be ploughed back into the district and developments would be to the benefit of the people, who had the ability to conserve natural resources for future generations.

Butcheries, bakeries and restaurants out of supermarkets?

By Bright Kholi

Hot on the heels of banning music and pool tables from bars and restaurants, the North West District Council (NWDC) now also wants to ban butchers, bakeries and restaurants from supermarkets. This would directly affect major businesses such as Spar, Shoprite and Choppies Superstore whose in-store businesses are already reserved only for citizens. Councillors made the remarks at a full Council meeting this week following an address by the Small Business Council (SBC), which is under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The Trade and Liquor Act stipulates that if any chain store has these components in it, these should be run by citizens but councillors felt there was a loophole in the Act which encouraged “fronting”, whereby a citizen will be brought in as a disguise while in actual fact the components are run by the same owners of the chain store. Councillors said the big stores had taken business away from small concerns “as they sell everything from fat cakes to cooked papa, including other merchandise.”

Councillor Gospel Mokotedi said the SBC was the custodian of small businesses and therefore had a mandate to protect them. While there were licensed restaurants all over the place, the big chain stores are also selling things that are sold in such restaurants at prices that sabotage the former, he claimed, and added that many tuck shops had gone out of business.

Other councillors decried that citizen-owned businesses were not receiving any support from government, adding that a lot of imported material can be found in Botswana and there were also complaints that most businesses in Maun, “including those selling oranges” were run by people of Chinese and Indian origin. Council vice-chairman Pelokgale Monyame pleaded with the SBC to advise the responsible Minister that businesses-within-businesses in supermarkets should be removed so that the citizen owners’ progress is recognised. 

Reporter in court scuffle

A reporter of The Ngami Times, Calistus Kolantsho, was involved in a scuffle in court during a hearing at which an accused, Alisdair Kirk, was appearing. It took place when Kirk’s father, Robert Kirk, apparently attempted to take Kolantsho’s notebook. Kolantsho held on to the notebook, and then left the court on the advice of a police officer.

The incident took place after the presiding magistrate had made a ruling in regard to a bail application brought by Kirk jnr. “I was busy recording the proceedings when the man, whom I knew to be the accused’s father,  turned around and said, ‘Are you the court reporter?’ I said I was. He then attempted to grab my notebook,” Kolantsho said. “I had to struggle with him in order to keep my notebook and at that point in time I was really scared as I did not know what he really was intending to do.”

Charles Tlagae, a lawyer acting for Alisdair Kirk, saw what was taking place and, according to Kolantsho, “came to my rescue.” The magistrate and other court officials were in court at the time. Kolantsho later made a statement to police.

The Editor of The Ngami Times, Norman Chandler, said: “Our reporter was merely carrying out his duties by reporting on the case. Harassment of a journalist during a court hearing, or at any other time, is unacceptable.” A family member visited the offices of The Ngami Times following the incident and claimed that Kolantsho had “laughed” during the hearing. The reporter said there had been general laughter from the public gallery when Kirk jnr told the magistrate he would be prosecuting him (the magistrate).

Accused threatens magistrate with ‘prosecution’

By Calistus Kolantsho

The Maun magistrate’s court this week heard that three new charges had been formulated against an accused, Alisdair Kirk. Magistrate Nsikelelo Mafa Moyo denied Kirk, 33, of Boseja Ward, bail pending trial.  Moyo made the ruling after the accused attorney, Charles Tlagae, of Chadwick, Anderson and Partners, made the application last week.

There were tumultuous scenes in court as Kirk shouted at the magistrate that both he and his attorney would be suing the magistrate, with Kirk saying “I will be prosecuting you.” Moyo recalled that following the withdrawal of bail sureties by Kirk’s parents, the accused was brought before court and remanded because he did not meet bail requirements.

He said the accused was not supposed to communicate with the complainant, Neil Kendrick, and that he was not supposed to be involved in any violence and use of insulting language. He said the court had to do a “balancing act”, taking into consideration the character of the accused, his nationality, and the strength of the case. Moyo added the accused might flee the country before trial.

Moyo told the court that it is in the interest of the society and prosecution that Kirk be remanded in custody. He also said the accused should be taken for “help” Tlagae had suggested that the court should look at the conditions imposed by the then-Maun magistrate, Milidzani Beja. He had also said there had been no change in the material circumstances.

Kirk lashed out at the court, saying that he had been in prison for 45 days and that he did not agree with the ruling. He shouted out at Moyo, saying that he and his attorney will be taking him (Moyo) to court. He claimed Kendrick was the one who was pushing him on the night of the alleged incident and he had never threatened to kill anyone.

He shouted into the microphone saying that the magistrate wil

l listen to him whether he liked it or not - “I will be prosecuting you in the future. Give all your details to Chadwick, Anderson and Partners and I will see you in court your honour.”

New charges were read in court against Kirk. The accused is facing three more charges of malicious damage to property. He is alleged to have damaged at Maun Prison a police motor vehicle windscreen valued at P1 119.91, damaged two bass speakers and a 600 watts hybrid amplifier valued at P10 000 being the property of Moreetsi Molelekeng, at Trekkers Night Club in October, and that in November 7, he damaged a front bumper of a motor vehicle, the property of one Gabriel Wellio, worth P1 220.

According to the charge sheet, the accused also in November 7 caused Gabriel Wellio to receive death threats by uttering the following words: “I am going to kill Wellio when I come out of prison.” The court was also told that Kirk had caused grievous harm to Sergeant Alfred Gabaake by throttling him on the ground, causing Gabaake to sustain a fracture on his right harm. The accused will appear before court in December 5 and 6 for mention. He has been remanded.
 

‘Illegal tour operator’ to face charges

By Calistus Bosaletswe

GHANZI-  An Iranian citizen is being investigated for allegedly operating several illegal guest houses in Ghanzi. One, called Sahara Guest House, was closed down last week after the Department of Tourism discovered the man had been operating it illegally for a period of four months.

The department’s Maun office informed Ghanzi police and asked them to investigate a man named E S Esamimi. He was said to be running illegal guest houses in Khurakhura and Kabakae wards.

Regional Tourism Officer Chodwapi Chilume told The Ngami Times in an interview that they had advised Esamimi that it was unlawful to operate a guest house without a licence from the Department of Tourism. According to Chilume, her department had handed the file to police for charges to be preferred.

Some guest house owners in Ghanzi claimed this week they had for some time reported the matter to the relative authorities. The station commander of Ghanzi Police Station, Booker Osupile, said they were still investigating the matter.
 

Disciplinary hearing for school staff member

By Duncan Taolo

The fate of a services staff member, who last week allegedly hosted an unauthorized party for students at his residence in Maun Senior Secondary School, is still to be determined by the school administration. The party ended in a fight between students, resulting in bloodshed as one student was stabbed in the neck with a knife.

The staff member whose identity the school head, Galesengwe Mohube, declined to reveal, has been charged with violating the school’s rules and regulations and has been given time to answer for the said charges against him in an internal disciplinary hearing.  “We have given him time to answer for these charges and shall treat this case accordingly”, said the headmaster.  The staff member is currently carrying out his full duties as a kitchen hand.

Mohube said that all the students who were implicated in the incident managed to complete their examinations, but with the exception of the one who was injured who missed two papers. “This came with the conditions they had to meet in order for them to be allowed to write examinations at Maun Secondary” said Mohube.

The Form Four students who were involved are still to hear of their punishment, which shall commence during the first term of January 2006. On the matter of the student who allegedly caused injury to the other, the headmaster said the school had handed the case over to the Botswana Police.

 “I have not been formally informed of the incident and have not seen any report regarding that case.” he said. I have only become aware of it through your paper.”  The student who was injured in the fight is said to be recuperating.

Drama as some combis relocate to taxi rank

By Duncan Taolo and Calistus Bosaletswe

Commuters at the town’s main combi rank were left in the lurch on Monday in an unexpected turn of developments that has also affected owners of private cars. Some combi operators moved their business to a new site, at the existing private taxis rank in the car park near the Maun Book Centre (pictured). There is confusion at the new site as owners of private vehicles compete for the parking with taxi drivers and combi drivers.

The relocation was due to several complaints lodged by the Maun Taxi Association (MTA) about the congestion at the current taxi rank made to the Department of Roads Transport and Safety (DRTS. The MTA has pressurised the DRTS in the past four months because of accidents occurring due to congestion.

Some combis were alleged to be using the “no entry” point to access the combi rank.  The commotion at the combi rank, which led to some of the combis parking in the pavements, was unpleasant to motorists, pedestrians and shop owners.  MTA chairman Talon Maya said that the relocation affected combis from route 4 to route 10 while route 1 to 3  remain at the old combi rank. Maya said private cars are giving them a headache as they know that the site is a public parking area.

He said owners of private cars should be informed about the move as it seems they are not aware of the move. “The newly relocated site does not have enough space to accommodate the combis, taxis and private cars.” said Maya. The long-awaited proposed new bus and taxi rank in Mabudutsa may help alleviate the situation said Maya. The relocation will help curb problems such as pick pocketing. He said commuters were not informed about the recent relocation but it seems they were willing to adapt to the change. He was however also worried about the location of the new proposed rank.

In a recent meeting, MTA secretary Baitshinki Habano attacked the DRTS, blaming the department of ignorance as some of the road signs were vandalised. Habano said police fined them when accidents took place. The MTA told the department they were paying a lot of money annually but were told to speak to the North West District Council about overcrowding.

Editorial

Moving the airport

We are pleased that sense is prevailing with regard to the renovation of Maun airport. As the country’s busiest airport and one of the busiest in southern Africa, as well as being the tourism gateway to our natural resources, it is important that infrastructure and service be maintained at all times. This has now been acknowledged by the Ministry of Lands and the Department of Civil Aviation.

To bow to pressure from a section of the public to move the airport some 25km from its present site would cause unbelievable problems for all involved. We know that some sections  of the population will be affected as housing will have to be expropriated and the people involved re-housed elsewhere, but progress is what we are looking for and in the interests of the country, the town and the economy, surely this should not be too high a price to pay?

We are not saying these people do not have their rights but with forethought and understanding, they will surely agree that it is more viable to retain the existing site and make improvements there rather than transfer deep in the bush.

Student high jinks

Students on the verge of leaving school are more often than not caught up in the excitement that surrounds such an event. It is therefore not surprising that a large number of pupils at one of our top schools found themselves under suspension for attending an illegal party on school premises.

Discipline is paramount in our schools, and the decision to suspend these people is probably the right one. However, let us not jeopardise their performance in the examinations as a result of the party by not giving them the opportunity to complete their finals.

The Maun Shuffle

The Ngami Times is this week six years old.

From small beginnings in 1999, we now circulate through most of Botswana, bringing to people the news of the North West. The newspaper’s first edition was printed at the Serowe Brigades printing unit under the late Aloysius Choma and published in Maun on November 26, 1999.

Since then, many improvements have been made – from computerised type-setting and full colour advertising to full colour photographs, which is now a priority for our future development.

We like to believe we have grown with Maun, and it was a particular pleasure earlier this year to receive the congratulations of President Festus G Mogae on our achievements.

In the few short years of our existence, we have seen many new buildings go up in Maun (business premises, the Maun magistrate’s court and factories), large projects signed (among these the new P300-million district hospital and the P500-million water and sanitation scheme) and we have reported on plans for the future – such as the removal of donkeys, goats and other animals from our streets, the redevelopment of Maun Airport, the proposed changes in the central business district, streetlights and traffic lights, roadworks, and so on.

We have kept pace with decisions of the North West District Council and watched the tourism industry improve year by year in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington DC.

We hope, too, that our newspaper has been accepted by all sections of the community. There is, we know, a core of loyal readers and hope to improve on this in the years ahead.

Thank you for your support.

The newspaper’s first edition which was published on November 26, 1999.
**

Our reporters have been covering many school prize-giving ceremonies over the past few weeks, and it seems that there is one thread running through all those gatherings - the lamentable attendance by parents of the school children. Speakers at school after school have commented on this, and have blamed the parents for their insensitivity to their children and the well-being of the children.  Students have looked in vain for familiar faces in the audience as they proudly go up to collect their prizes for outstanding work or contribution to school activities, and it must be heart-breaking for many to note that mom and dad are not in the audience.It really is a sad reflection on parents, who after all have a primary role to play in the education of their children.

Perhaps next year will be different.

**

In Shuffle’s day, school parties were held with cool drinks and cake. Times have certainly changed – now we are finding that alcohol and drugs are the dominant factor at such parties, including those held at schools.

The taking of liquor has resulted in dreadful fights breaking out, rapes on school premises, and criminal activities. So it should not come as surprise that young people are imbibing at a very young age is such behaviour appears to be the norm at schools.

Teachers are often powerless to prevent students from entering the school grounds carrying alcohol or drugs – as we found at Kang a while ago, the kids made their own dangerous brews from chemicals found in the school science laboratory, and with tragic results.

In the United States and other countries, gate guards search students for alcohol and weapons and many schools have installed closed circuit television cameras to monitor the kids, even in the toilet blocks! Shuffle hopes that Botswana doesn’t follow this trend, but when incidents mount up, then maybe it is time.
 

‘Wear Botswana’ is fashion choice

By Keneilwe Moreetsi 

Local designers are worried by imported clothing designs which they claim depresses the market and does not encourage creativity.

In an interview, Ursula Engelbrecht, owner to a local boutique, distanced herself from the worries. “I am always up to date with the latest designs”, she said, and gets to know the trends and creativity from magazines and television. Engelbrecht says most designs she sells are from Botswana - “we only spice them up with the latest in fashion, to show creativity. That is not importing. “I am stylish, I work with local designers that are visionary and in touch with fashion and we create our Dunes label that we sell in our shop.” The store encourages people to buy Botswana products.

Ursula says, however, it is sad that most of her designers are Batswana design graduates and students from institutions in South Africa.

The managing director of Maun company Arma Dressmakers, Malebogo Gwamba, says they, too, don’t import designs but “we do our own.” The company employs designers from different countries and she is puzzled to hear that there are people importing designs - “there is no business in that at all and does not show creativity. It belittles the talent we have as Batswana. This depresses the fashion market.”  She says imported designs contribute to losing clients as “they opt for big clothing stores and this leaves us with selling school uniforms only.

“People should associate with their local clothing and that will be possible if other designers stop importing designs rather be creative and produce original brands that Batswana could associate themselves with.”

Khama Designs also does not rely on imported designs. A spokesperson said “we do our designs in-house and use local and foreign designers to cut and do the finished product with the materials that we import from other neighbouring countries, but the designs are 100% original.”

 

‘Keep on top of organised crime’

OTSE – The deputy director of the Directive on Corruption and Economic Crime, Adolph Hirschfeld, has urged law enforcement agencies to be efficient and effective in combating trans-national organised crime.

He said this during a keynote address given at the graduation ceremony for distinguished law enforcement officials at the International Law Enforcement Academy at Otse. The six-week course was attended by 38 law enforcement officers from Angola, Botswana, South Africa and Mozambique and was devoted to corruption and economic crimes, narcotics and weapons trafficking. Hirschfeld said trans-national crime, especially fraud and use of counterfeit bank notes and documents, must be curbed as they are an impediment to growth and development of the region’s financial systems. The devastating effect of financial crimes on the economies of countries in the region posed a serious threat to the integrity of financial institutions.

The Regional Head of the Special Investigating Unit in South Africa, Matye Toyo Mnqaba, urged participants to take the programme with the seriousness it deserves and to come up with strategies to harness trans-national and domestic crime in their respective countries.

Police involvement in crime a big worry

By Bright Kholi

GABORONE- The involvement of police officers in crimes and the indiscipline continues to haunt the Botswana Police Service. This was said by the Botswana Police Service Commissioner Edwin Batshu at the senior officers conference held here last week.

Giving the keynote address, Batshu said the level of unethical behaviour in the service was worrisome, as it has a negative impact in the manpower availability due to suspensions, interdictions and expulsion from the service of officers involved in crime - “my office will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to ensure that this organisation is made up of professional police officers, men and women, who live the values of the Botswana Police Service,” he said.

Batshu advised his subordinates that while the pay levels or the conditions of service may be unsatisfactory, the service still has an obligation to the nation, adding that “safety and security remains our responsibility and there are no two ways about it.”

He regretted that some officers were increasingly being convicted by the courts for violating the Maintenance Orders Act. “Once you are ordered to pay maintenance to your child by the courts, it becomes compulsory that the maintenance fees are paid. “I should indicate that a conviction for failure to comply with the court orders is a criminal and attracts immediate dismissal in terms of the Police Act,” he said.

Batshu also reminded the officers that the nation expected them to be exemplary in respecting the law, adding that any police officer who finds himself in jail for whatsoever reason will not find their way back into the fold because the law says so. Batshu also admitted that the level of crime in the country is still growing, adding that the current trend erodes public safety and security which is one of their corporate strategic deliverables.

The Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Phandu Skelemani, told officers that individuals in the police service who engage in corruption and criminal activities do not belong to the service. “I urge the Commissioner and the leadership present in this hall to identify not only the affected individuals, but also  the behaviour that gives rise to this tendency in order to come up with long lasting solutions,” he said. Skelemani regretted that statistics indicate a persistent increase, adding that the society was increasingly becoming more violent with no respect for human life, as testified by the rise in the general assault incidents through murder. “This development calls for a multi-agency approach particularly with respect to ‘passion killings’, which is a clear signal of a society running short of sound value systems which are an essential element for relationship survival,” he said.

Skelemani commended the existing partnership between the police and the community and other stakeholders. 

The year that was!

We take a look at issues that made news over the past year

November, 2004

A man posing as star South African Kwaito artist Mzekezeke took the stage at Trekkers night club in Maun. The fake singer was later at the centre of an almighty row after the revellers realise that the man on stage was not Mzekezeke but a fake singer who was later thought to have been Gaborone based promoter ‘Bulldog’ Mothusi.

Residents of Sepopa in the Okavango sub-District tell of how badly they want the head teacher of the local primary school to be canned. These came about after the teacher disciplined their children by caning them.

An alleged passion killer is arrested by police, following the murder of his girlfriend in Gweta.  

December

Two men who assaulted and raped a nine year old girl are sentenced by Maun Chief Magistrate, Tshegofatso Mogomotsi. The two were sentenced to 15 and 12 years in jail respectively.  

There is a gunmen drama in the Maun main mall as robbers armed with guns and knives carried out major robberies in Maun and the Okavango Delta areas, stealing many thousands in cash in Pula, foreign currency, photographic equipment, clothing and firearms.  

A special investigation team is sent to Maun to investigate suspect police officers alleged to be conniving with some prominent thieves in Maun. Assistant minister of Works and Transport, Frank Jack Ramsden announces Maun airport will be upgraded at its present site.

January, 2005

Government stops the allocations, sale and/or transfer of tribal land from citizens to non citizens, a move which stirred the local business community, especially in Maun.

A 280km electric fence separating wildlife and livestock in the Makgadikgadi is reaches its completion and soon becomes the centre of controversy as animals die due to thirst as they cannot reach water points.

The first passion killing this year in the region is reported as a 24 year old man strangled his 19 year old girl friend before hanging himself.

Development again eludes Jao Flats and Xaxaba as the NWDC Secretary announces that they cannot get developments because they were ungazetted, despite the fact that they have a councillor on the NWDC.

Local referees threaten to boycott BFA games, unless the BFA gives them what they are owed for their services.

Mombo Camp in the Okavango is rated 7th in the Conde Nast Traveller magazine’s annual gold list of the 700 places to stay in the world.

Ditshepo Samakabadi, chief of Bayeyi who replaced Shikati Calvin Kamanakao dies. Samakabadi succeeded Kamanakao after the latter’s death.

February

NWDC announces that it would undertake a multi million Pula project to tar the Boseja- Matlapana road and also put streetlights on a 20km stretch. The decision was later vetoed.

Shoprite Maun dismisses more than 20 of its staff members over theft and cash losses.

The Ngami Times reporter Calistus Bosaletswe is arrested by police taking pictures at a gospel music video shooting.

A Sangoma, carrying and controlling an enamel plate like a water diviner becomes the talk of the region as he is believed to be able to locate thieves using his plate.

Councillors in the NWDC call for the review of the council’s tendering process to avoid a situation whereby contractors who are awarded tenders end up abandoning projects.

March

A Maun customs officer, Alfred Matshane, appears in court for obtaining money by false pretences after he unlawfully obtained money from people who wanted their vehicles, mainly Japanese vehicles, cleared at Customs and Excise. The case started in October and is postponed until 2006.

Maun’s Miss Botswana, Juby Peacock loses her prize car after the car dealer took their car as a result of the failure by the organisers to pay for the car.

Metlha ‘Golden Tooth’ Maphanyane gets bail again on his many robbery cases, leaving many people suspicious of the judicial system and police competence.

NWD Councillors take ministry of Local government to court over terminal benefits and subsidies.

An electrician while working on an 11KVA power line near the new government hospital after BPC’s failure to disconnect the line.

Two students of Shakawe CJSS die in an accident after an open truck they were travelling in overturned.

April

Five rapists are sentenced to a total of 58 years in jail by Maun chief magistrate Tshegofatso Mogomotsi, calling them” inhuman” for preying on young girls.

Choppies Supermarket in Maun is robbed of more than P144 000 by a gang of Zimbabweans and South Africans.

A bogus cop working at the Maun Police Station is exposed by her ex husband.

Journalists blamed for disturbing Prince Harry and her girlfriend while on safari in the Okavango Delta.

May

Residents of Botshabelo, Boyei, Moeti and Sedie ward tell the Department of Civil Aviation that they want the airport moved to Chanoga, about 20km away.

Batswana call for more government support so that they can also have a share in the tourism industry which they said was dominated by foreigners.

The Member of Parliament for Maun West, Ronald Ridge supports a motion by a councillor Gospel Mokotedi for Maun to be declared to be given town status.

June

The Botswana Defence Force hosts a military exercise which attracts more than 3 000 soldiers from SADC countries in Ngamiland.

A serial donkey rapist is caught, taken to hospital for treatment and charged for an unnatural offence.

July  

NWDC follows up on safari companies who had been avoiding paying royalties due to council for the use of the resources.

The region experiences two passion killings, in Maun and in Gumare.

Maun beauty Kaone Kario is named the Nokia Face of Africa.

An alleged rapist tells the court that family sex was normal for them.

The Ngami Times News Editor, Rodrick Mukumbira, ordered by the Ministry of Home Affairs to leave the country. No reasons are given.

August

Ezekiel Witness, a man who challenged the government for unlawful imprisonment wins his case in the Francistown High Court.

Paramount Chief of Batawana, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi, receives a hostile reception in Bayeyi villages while on tour in Ngamiland.

Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe expresses fear that crime might possibly drive away foreign direct investment.

September

An eight year old boy kills his cousin with a shotgun

Vehae Tjiriange, of Maun, is crowned “Miss Malaika Botswana” in a pageant that was plagued with controversy.

A farming family in Pandamatenga lose a member of their family who is murdered by midnight robbers at a farm at Marulamantsi.

NWD councillors adopt a motion asking the Ministry of Works and Transport to consider relocating the Maun airport.

Three people die at Dikgathong cattle post in a passion killing when a man shot his girlfriend, a man he suspected to have an affair with his girlfriend then turned the gun on himself.

Part of Central Kalahari Game reserve is closed due to a highly contagious disease affecting animals.

A special advisor to the President, Sidney Pilane, spends a few days in jail for contempt of court.

Amantle Montsho, Botswana 400 metre champion loses all her belongings as her house burn to ashes.

Air Botswana acting general manager explains the airline’s situation to angry tour operators who wanted to know when the problems of the airline will be overcome.

Maun hosts the World Tourism Day celebrations.

Britain’s Prince Harry celebrates his 21st birthday in the delta.

Security is beefed up at CKGR to deal with illegal activities such as poaching, further entry of Basarwa into the park, and also to deal with residents who assaulted wildlife staff.

A police officer based in Francistown murders his graduate nurse girlfriend, of Maun, in what is believed to have been a passion killing.

Alasdair Kirk, a Maun businessman, is given bail after being charged for allegedly threatening to kill another businessman, Neil Kendrick

President Festus Mogae addresses the national HIV/AIDS Prevention Conference in Francistown.

More than 20 Basarwa, among them their leader, Roy Sesana, are arrested in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve for trespassing after they returned to the area from which they had been relocated three years ago.

October

Two passion killings take place, when two young University of Botswana woman students were killed in Maun by their boyfriends, who then killed themselves.

Anthrax closes part of Chobe National Park for the second time.

North West District Council enforces a legislation that bans music and pool in bars.

President Festus Mogae opens the Boyei Deaf Unit in Maun.

Police intercept two Zimbabwean women at Makalamabedi cordon fence gate for carrying thousands of pills from Zimbabwean to be sold in Maun.

Vice President Ian Khama Seretse Khama announces at the opening of the Maun Magistrates Court that international crime syndicates target Maun because it is the tourism capital of Botswana.

Prisoners at Maun prison claim ill treatment at the prison as they allege that they receive death threats from prison warders and also refused the right to go to the toilet.  

A Sehitwa based police constable threatens to kill his colleague, a special constable also based at Sehitwa.

November

A teenager at Etsha 6 Community Junior Secondary School is arrested after fighting and shooting another teenager at the village.

Botswana Federation of Secondary School Teachers announces it wants the double shift plans for schools to be suspended.

The Minister of Lands, Ramadeluka Seretse, announces that relocation of Maun airport is not the best option

Heinz murder suspect gets seven years jail

By Calistus Kolantsho

Maun magistrate Nsikelelo Mafa Moyo has sentenced Lekopanye Gaobotse (28,) of Boseja, to seven years in jail for burglary. He was also given another seven years for stealing from a dwelling house.

Gaobotse is a suspect in the murder of Dr Hans-Joachim Heinz, the internationally respected anthropologist, in Maun five years ago. The accused is on bail in the matter. Heinz was murdered at his residence at Tsanokona in 2000 and his wife, Olga Xoliswa, was seriously injured.

The accused was sentenced together with Keneilwe Boitumelo (28,) of Botshabelo, who also received the same punishment. They will also be given six strokes of the cane each. Gaobotse and Boitumelo pleaded guilty to the two offences.

Passing sentence, Moyo told the court that he has looked at the prevalence of offences that the couple is facing. He said burglary and stealing from a dwelling house are common offences in the country and they call for deterring sentences. He mentioned that these types of offences are difficult to control.

Moyo said if one takes part in burglary and steals from a dwelling house, they should expect deterring sentences. He said the two broke into the house of the complainant with the purpose of permanently depriving her of her property.

Moyo also said he has taken into consideration what the accused persons had said in their mitigation before sentence. Gaobotse pleaded with the court to be lenient with him because all the stolen property was  recovered. He also submitted that they did not benefit from the crime.  Boitumelo told the court that he was a first offender.

The two accused broke into the home of Angela Karen Rawlinson on November 5 at Tsanokona Ward and stole items valued at P38 352.

The court heard that Gaobotse and Boitumelo stole a Sony digital video camera, a flat screen desktop computer, a video recorder, a cellphone, a satellite radio, a portable DVD player, cameras, jewellery, a kitbag and clothing.
 

Village’s ‘gun boy’ is charged

By Calistus Kolantsho  

An under-age schoolboy who last week shot and injured another teenager at Etsha 6 was this week arraigned before the Maun magistrate’s court to face a single count of attempted murder.

According to the charge sheet, the accused person is alleged to have on November 13, at the village school, unlawfully attempted to cause the death of Mbamba Mbamba (18), of the same village. Plea has been reserved.

Inspector Othusitse Marape told the court that the case will be transferred to the Attorney General’s Chambers for prosecution. He said Mbamba is still hospitalised at Gumare Primary Hospital.

The accused is said to have sent a letter to Mbamba inviting him to a fight at the school. He then allegedly shot the victim twice with a shotgun.

Top AIDS official loses job

By Onkabetse Tsaro

It is believed that a recent comment by African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership (ACHAP) Director of Programmes and Capacity Building, Dr Amussa Inambao, may have lost him his job. He recently commented at a ACHAP conference in Maun that programme officers deployed in the district were “not going to clean up anyone’s mess”, and it is thought that this did not go down well with ACHAP’s board of directors.

The information reaching this newspaper is that the organisation’s district officers viewed  the comment as an attack on them and undermining them as service providers. Sources revealed that the district officers all expressed their discomfort at what had been said.

ACHAP Director Tsetsele Fantan had to stand and apologise to the district coordinators who were offended by Dr Inambao’s comment. The chairman of the board, Dr Luke Nkinsi, was present.

In an interview with The Ngami Times, Dr Inambao said it was “true” that he had been relieved from his duties and believes it was not as a result of what he said at the conference. He described his comment “as just a joke that was taken badly by some individual (who) made it an issue.”

He added there had been a disagreement between him and the management and its policies – “I was brought to ACHAP to do a job and the policies were restricting me to carry out my duties effectively. I was hired to develop programmes that were to combat HIV/AIDS in Botswana but they were not working as ACHAP and I had different philosophies, and there were differences in the office.” ACHAP Communications and External Relations Manager, Pierre Pelletier, says Dr Inambao was employed by ACHAP on contract and like all other senior officers, the contract included a six-month probation period during which both parties assessed whether they wish to continue the relationship. “During the assessment, ACHAP decided they would not pursue their association with Dr Inambao, but strategic priorities compelled ACHAP to find a different manager for a very complex and strategic department,” he said. 

Football fans want report made public

By Cobrie Kgaodi 

The Botswana Football Association has been called to make public the report handed by the task force which was appointed in September to conduct an investigation relating to an incident in Morocco where Zebras players threatened to boycott the game.

This comes after the task force recently handed in their report to BFA. At the handing of the report, the chairman of the task force, Oagile Dingake, said it was up to the BFA to see what to do with the report.

Dingake made it clear that the contents of the report are not likely to arouse public feelings in any way, but Zebras’ supporters want to see the report themselves, and say   should not be treated like any other government report which never became public information. The team’s supporters in Ghanzi and Maun are not very happy that the task force did not ask for local input.

Dingake has defended this, saying that since they had low turn out at Gaborone and Francistown and presumed Maun and Ghanzi would be worse.

BFA president Phillip Makgalemele promised that they were going to take the contents of the report seriously as it will be a guide in their day to day duties. Makgalemele said the association has not yet decided whether they will make the report public.
 

SCHOOL GUN FIGHT
By Calistus Kolantsho

A teenager sent an older  youth a letter “inviting” him to a fight after school – and then shot him twice.

A youth, who has just finished Form 3, is in police custody facing a charge of attempted murder after an 18-year-old was fired at with a shotgun following the fight.

Gumare Police commander, Superintendent Gilbert Mathumo, told The Ngami Times the incident took place over the weekend at Etsha 6. The 15-year-old boy had stolen the shotgun from his parents.

It appears the two boys had a fight at the Etsha Community Junior Secondary School (CJSS) after classes had ended for the day. A spokesperson for the school said the victim was no longer a student there and he had come to school at odd hours. She said teachers did not hear the rifle being fired. The victim was shot in the chest and another bullet went through his jaw.

Joseph Seemeko, who is the victim’s uncle, said he had gone to collect firewood and on coming home he had heard about the incident. He found his nephew at the Etsha clinic, from where he was then transferred to Gumare Primary Hospital, where he is being treated.

Seemeko said he found a letter that was written by the 15-year-old inviting his nephew to come to school for a fight.

The youth is to appear in the court on charges of attempted murder. In another incident, a 6-year-old boy was found dead after he went missing for three days in Gumare.

Mathumo said the boy disappeared on Saturday morning after playing with his friends at a pond. It is thought they were chased by a stranger and the boy lost his sense of direction. His body was found about 20km from Gumare by a search party that tracked his footsteps.

Partying students get themselves suspended
By Keneilwe Moreetsi and Duncan Taolo

 Thirty-two Form 5 students are on suspension after attending an unauthorised party – at which alcohol was available - at Maun Senior Secondary School on Saturday night.

The suspension comes as the students are writing their final examinations.

According to headmaster Galesengwe Mohube, the school’s administration had no idea that the involved students were planning a party that night. There were initially 39 students under suspension but this dropped to 32 with a further two also being investigated for re-instatement.

A fight is said to have broken out at the residence of one of the kitchen staff members who hosted the unauthorised party. A second authorised party took place on the same night and was strictly supervised by teachers.

Mohube said it is mandatory that all such events are monitored by a teaching staff member, which was not the case at the unauthorised party - “services staff members are not allowed to supervise events in the school”, he said.

It appeared that events leading up to the fight were attributable to a consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. Some students were taking alcohol for the first time after being urged to do so by others.

The fight started between one student and another who wanted to force his way into the party. A scuffle ensured and one of the fighting students allegedly broke  a bottle in order to use it as a weapon. A student is said to have sustained serious injuries to the neck though it is not clear whether these were caused by a broken bottle or a knife.

Deputy headmaster Christine Ramakhubu said it was difficult to pinpoint illegal parties at weekends, and especially on Saturdays, entertainment events are held for students.

Mohube has met with some parents of the suspended students. It is not clear as yet whether the students would be able to complete their examinations.

Teachers want suspension of double-shift plans
By Calistus Bosaletswe

The country’s secondary school teachers have told the government to suspend its plans for double-shift classes in schools or face court action.

The proposed system is due to come into effect next year and entails morning and afternoon teaching. Also being introduced is the re-introduction of school fees, a controversial subject on its own.

Teachers say that although they are not against the idea, they were not properly consulted.

Now, the Botswana Federation of Secondary School Teachers (BOFESETE) has advised the Ministry of Education to re-consider, saying there was a lack of consultation with stakeholders.

Publicity Secretary Justin Hunyepa told Maun teachers in Maun last week that the main problem with the system was lack of consultation and the implementation.

A pilot project in which students are expected to attend classes in the mornings and others attend in the afternoons will, teachers say, encourage problems such as teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, crime and students might also be victims of rape. In addition, students would not be psychologically prepared for such changes as double shift in teaching. The system would encourage drug abuse among students because more time is going to be allocated for them during the week. Students are expected to travel during the night during the winter  and this might cause conflict between children and parents.

Hunyepa said the Ministry should have involved teachers in the decision making and planning for effective educational reforms. The organisation will take its arguments to court if it is not suspended because education “is a fundamental human right” which is supposed to be taken seriously and effectively to enable individuals to realise their potential - “some parents are poor so they are unable to provide their children with money for transport at the time. There are many problems that are going to emanate from this new system.”


Man burns down his houses
By Bright Kholi

Residents of Botshabelo ward in Maun were treated to what could be called “a live movie” when a  middle-aged man decided that the only way he can get his partner to listen to him was to burn down his two houses. People looked on helplessly as the enraged man took his time to burn the first house, from which he had first removed his belongings.

The man is believed to have been angered by the fact that while he and his partner’s child was sick, the partner had been comforting the child and apparently he felt she did not have much time for him as a result of it.

When he was satisfied that all his clothes were safe, he then got burning thatch from the first house and torched the other.

When asked what had happened, the man told onlookers that “his wife” was responsible as he had allegedly seen her burning the houses.  Police arrived 90 minutes after being called, by which time both houses were gutted.

The man was arrested, remains in custody and is likely to be charged with arson.

Airport removal ‘not best option’
By Calistus Bosaletswe

The proposed relocation of Maun airport will not take place, says the Minister of Lands and Housing, Ramadeluka Seretse, and the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). The Tawana Land Board has also endorsed the proposal. The DCA says removing it from its present site off the central business district (CBD) is “not the best option.”

The department is aware that building a new airport will exceed the estimated amount allocated for renovation and rebuilding project scheduled to begin next year. To build a new airport out of town would take eight years. The DCA says there are plans to expand four airports - Shakawe, Maun, Kasane, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown. Seretse told a business community meeting in Maun that there were no plans to relocate the facility. It has been said by a number of people that the airport should be relocated to Chanoga, about 20km from Maun.

In so far as Maun was concerned, the deputy director for Civil Aviation, Kemoitse Mosupukwa, says consultants had several options, such as increasing the existing 2 000m runaway to accommodate planes the size of a Boeing 737-800. This would necessitate a runway length of 3 700m. “It is going to be cheaper for construction to take place at the existing airport,” said Mosupukwa

The evaluation of properties in areas such as Sedie, Boyei and Botshabelo is under way and it is expected to be completed by the middle of December. A number of properties would be affected. Mosupukwa described Maun airport as one of the busiest and it was expected that construction there will boost profits generated from international and regional landings.

Relocation to another site would impact on the businesses within the airport. He urged towns people to accept the value of the re-development which is meant to benefit many.

The Maun Shuffle Column

One cannot really blame nurses and social workers for not wishing to travel by boat to remote areas of the Okavango delta. After all, if one has been caught flat-footed without extra fuel and spent a night out in the wilderness (just ask our staffer Mantsia Welfing about it), it will take a large amount of courage to do so.

The North West District Council (NWDC) supplied a boat complete with engine for social workers earlier this year, and the poor souls on board spent a terrifying night because it ran out of fuel – obviously no one had bothered to check the tank or to provide extra fuel.

And terrifying because it is not a river known for its placid reptiles and other predators – crocodiles and hippos abound, and those are not impartial to human flesh.

The problem is that now with the refusal to travel by water, the poor and the children of  Okavango are suffering.  Two to three months pass by before boats carrying their rations and medical equipment arrive at what the government quaintly calls “ungazetted areas.”

Ungazetted or not, these are settlements inhabited by human beings and therefore require the same amount of tender loving care as do the citizens and residents of bigger centres. Or perhaps Shuffle has got it all wrong?

**

At a time when the Botswana Pula and the South African Rand are almost on a par due to devaluation, people are wondering why South African goods in our shops (the government says 90% of our imports come from that country) are considerably more expensive than what they should be.

To give an example - the other day, Shuffle thought he would buy a South African newspaper on sale in Maun.

On the front cover, the newspaper said its sale price in Botswana was P7.50.  Imagine the surprise when at the till, the assistant asked for P11.50 – P4 more than the advertised retail selling price printed in bold letters on the newspaper’s front page!

Of course, there were the usual mumblings about transport, cost of items, profit, and so on. However, as the newspapers arrive in Maun aboard a van that carries hundreds of copies of other magazines (all considerably bulkier and costing about the same here as in South Africa), Shuffle cannot see why a newspaper should be more expensive than the price advertised, particularly as no doubt the newspaper’s accounts department had already worked out in advance the foreign exchange difference between the South African price and that of Botswana and other countries..

After all, on closer inspection it was quickly seen that the newspaper had not been printed on gold leaf!

**

Spare a thought for Air Botswana. No sooner had the directors appointed an expatriate as general manager, when more trouble is heaped on its back.

Passengers to and from Maun have been hard pressed to keep their tempers these past few days as planes have regularly been late, flights cancelled, flights diverted, aircraft tyres have burst etc.

Everyone is asking: “What has happened to the second BAe146 jet that has been promised for so long?”

The flying public needs answers as the airline’s credibility rating drops below zero . . . People are now using some unfortunate names to describe the airline and management should surely know that a basic public relations exercise is now long overdue to restore confidence and prestige. 

**

From the moment the government decided that it would re-introduce the school fees system, Shuffle had a gut feeling that this would only lead to trouble with a capital T. and that’s what seems to be building up.

Now we find the government and the teachers’ union at loggerheads, with the government saying it is cost recovery and the teachers union saying it is impoverishing even further people who cannot afford to send their children to school if they have to pay for it.

Botswana is, as been pointed out on many occasions, reasonably well-off compared to other African or Asian countries and should therefore be able to provide free education, in particular for primary school children.

The government keeps on talking about how much it has to pay for this, that or the other, but the very fibre of society, the children, are unfortunately being targeted – and there is precious little that they can do about it because the Men in Government are not budging.

It’s a pity, really.

Rain Brings Relief

The first heavy rains of the season soaked Maun and other parts of Ngamiland late last week, bringing much-needed relief from scorching heat that at times reached 45 deg C over the past few weeks.

In some parts of the town, more than 100mm fell over a 12 hour period while in other areas, falls of between 40mm and 75mm were recorded.

The rain disrupted telephone links and also resulted in a power outage.

Business

Huge refurbishment project for top hotel 

One of Maun’s top hotels is to be refurbished at a cost of about P10-million.

It will involve the upgrading by Cresta Riley’s Hotel of its existing conference centre, new rooms including luxury executive suites, a gymnasium, shops, and an upgrade of the existing restaurant and Harry’s Bar. Work is due to start in February next year, said manager Ngonidzashe Shumba.

“We want to continue with our drive to deliver superior service to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations and for that reason, there are changes to meet those expectations,” he said. The hospitality group running the hotel is experiencing a change in business trends as new hotels, lodges, guest houses and camping sites have increased competition.

“Spending power is emphasising quality as customers know what they want and, as Cresta, we have developed a passionate resolve to ensure our business continues to survive and therefore the major refurbishment will keep up our standards,” Shumba added.

The refurbishment includes the upgrading of the old conference room to a spacious conference facility with two breakaway rooms accommodating a total of about 200 people, a gymnasium, four shops facing Tsheko Tsheko Road for businesses such as a hair and beauty salon, a cafeteria and a coffee shop, an additional block of 16 rooms, three blocks with super de luxe rooms, two new blocks with executive suites, a new block for four VIP rooms including a presidential suite, an upgrading of the restaurant and bars, refurbishing of all existing rooms.

This will bring out total number of rooms to 93.

Meanwhile, the Cresta Marakanelo Group Sales and Marketing Manager, Patrick Chivese, recently disclosed that the group would be embarking on a P10-million refurbishment of Cresta President Hotel in Gaborone, a P10.8-million project at the  Thapama in Francistown,P1-million at the Marang  in Francistown  while projects at the Mowana Lodge in Kasane has also been completed

Sports

Floodlights bill too much for BFA

Ambitious plans to play league soccer under floodlights as summer grinds on have been temporarily thwarted by a huge power bill presented to the Botswana Football Association’s Nhabe Regional League.

Last weekend, it became evident that the P400 per hour bill at the Maun stadium was just too much for the Nhabe BFA. The only game played was the one between Gaegolelwe and Cubs while the match between Maun Tigers and The Elephants was not played because the committee failed to pay the money in time.

The other games that were supposed to be played on Saturday and Sunday afternoon were re-scheduled as the stadium was in the dark. It is hoped that this weekend’s late games will go ahead as scheduled.

Information reaching The Ngami Times is that the BFA is having problems footing the bill for the electricity and the regional  committee is said to have asked the Clubs to assist in paying for electricity. It is said that with less money being raised from gate takings, it was difficult for them to pay for the flood lights. Clubs have however been assured that the money will be paid so that the league is not affected in any way.

Vol 7 No. 291 November 11 - 18, 2005

HEINZ SUSPECT NABBED
By Calistus Kolantsho

A Heinz murder suspect who tried to sell a digital camera stolen in Maun this week is now in prison on charges of burglary and stealing.

The suspect in the murder of Hans-Joachim Heinz, the internationally respected anthropologist  in Maun five years ago, Lekopanye Gaobotse, 28 - who had been on bail - has been remanded in custody after pleading guilty to two counts of burglary and stealing from a dwelling house.

He appeared in the Maun magistrate’s court this week together with Keneilwe Boitumelo (25), of Botshabelo, who also pleaded guilty. The two allegedly broke into the Tsanokona home of Angela Karen Rawlinson, between 9pm and 11pm on November 5.

Heinz was murdered at the front door of his Maun home in 2000 and recently his son, Ralph, returned to Maun to find out why investigations into the murder were taking so long. He has not been given an answer, he said.

The court was told that they stole a Sony digital video camera, a flat screen desktop computer, a video recorder, a cellphone, a satellite radio, a portable DVD player,  cameras, jewellery, a kitbag and clothing. The total value was P38 352.

The prosecutor, Inspector Isaac Mamadi, applied for the two to be remanded in custody. The State had “strong evidence” against the two because almost all the items were recovered after Constable Doctor Mandau arrested them in central Maun while they were trying to sell the camera. He said Gaobotse has been a serving convict at Maun State Prison for another burglary offence that he committed whilst he was on bail following the Heinz case. Boitumelo was also a serving convict after being sentenced to 12 years plus four strokes for rape.

 He submitted that the public must be protected from the two accused persons. Mamadi also submitted that even though the two have been in prison, it shows that they have not been rehabilitated since they continue committing more offences.  Rawlinson’s husband, Hennie, told The Ngami Times in an interview that he would like to thank the 911 neighbourhood watch organisation and the police for their prompt response and the recovery of the goods.

Baby dies as speeding car destroys house

A six months old baby was killed early on Sunday when the driver of a vehicle lost control and rammed into the house in which it  and six other people were sleeping.

And in another incident, Maun police are investigating a case in which a middle-aged woman was found dead at Boseja.

Maun Station Commander, Superintendent Moitally Thokweng, described it as “a very mysterious case” and did not want to reveal a lot of information to the press.

Officer Commanding District No 5, Senior Superintendent Philip Makoba, told The Ngami Times in an interview that the baby died when a Toyota Land Cruiser smashed into a hut in Botshabelo. The mother of the child was not present when the incident occurred. A 40-year-old woman was seriously injured and referred to Nyangabwe Hospital, Francistown. Makoba said the vehicle was being driven by Jabulani Disepo (22), of Botshabelo, from west of Mathiba road. Instead of turning south, Disepo apparently lost control of the vehicle and drove into the traditional hut, which is next to the road.  Disepo has appeared before the Maun Magistrate’s Court and granted bail. He is facing charges of causing death by reckless driving, driving a vehicle without a drivers licence, and taking a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission.

Cases of driving without driver’s licences are on the increase in Maun, Makoba said, and currently 282 people had been arrested.

Police reinforcements get Kirk back to prison
By Calistus Kolantsho

Ten policemen had to be called to the Maun magistrate’s court on Wednesday to escort remand prisoner Alisdair Kirk back to prison after he appeared for mention in connection with a threat to kill case.

At the same time, Botswana Prisons Service headquarters in Gaborone has revealed it has sent an investigation team to Maun to probe allegations that Kirk broke the back window of a police van taking him to a psychiatrist in Francistown.

When the case was called before magistrate, Nsikelelo Mafa Moyo, on Wednesday, Kirk was not present.

Sergeant Mokiya Mokiya, who is prosecuting, told the court that the accused’s father had given him a letter from lawyer Charles Tlagae to the effect that he (Tlagae) will be representing his son.

Mokiya suggested that Kirk’s remand warrant be extended to next Monday. The court was also told that because of “his character,” it would be wise if Kirk appeared in court with Tlagae. Moyo agreed to extend the warrant to Monday. When Kirk arrived at the court, he was told that his warrant has been extended in his absence and this did not go well with him.

When he was told that he has to go back to prison, he got into the police vehicle but he told them that the officers should take him to the District Commissioner’s office and not Maun State Prison. He shouted out from the back of the police vehicle that the police were making a “f. . . up.” He said he had handed a corruption report to Assistant Superintendent Howard Modo and wants police corruption investigated.

Police at the court then called for reinforcements as they feared Kirk would damage the vehicle if he was not taken to where he wanted to go. Ten officers arrived to escort the man, who was in leg irons, back to prison.

It also transpired this week that Kirk was taken by Prisons officials to Trans World Motors, Maun, on Monday this week - without wearing leg irons.

The owner, Gabriel Wellio, told The Ngami Times he received a call from a Maun Prison officer called Dintwe, telling him that they would be bringing Kirk to his garage.  He said that he told him that they should not bring the accused to his garage. The prison officers brought him anyway.

Wellio said he was not present when Kirk arrived but Kirk allegedly destroyed Wellio’s vehicle’s bumper valued at P1 220 and allegedly harassed his staff. Wellio said Kirk allegedly told his (Wellio’s) wife that he was “going to kill him” (Wellio) when he gets out of prison.

Superintendent Moitally Thokweng, of Maun Police, confirmed the incidents adding the police were also investigating allegations that Kirk threatened to kill some people at Trans World and destroyed Wellio’s vehicle. Kirk has also broken a vehicle’s back windscreen when he was transported to Francistown.  Prisons officer Anthony Mokento, of Botswana Prisons Service, Gaborone, said he could not comment on the matter because a team of officers had been sent to Maun to investigate the allegations.
 

A chilli welcome for elephants

The days of elephants trampling over farmers’ fields eating what ever they find may be at an end if an ambitious scheme is carried out. Wildlife authorities in the Okavango delta propose to use pepper chilli at water installations on farmlands in order to deter the animals.

Elephants regularly destroy water pipes and installations in some of the most remote areas of the country.  They also wander through farmlands at will, eating butternut, melon and maize crops. Human lives have also been threatened.

“It is now time to try the pepper chilli method to stop farmland destruction. The method has been used in other parts of the world and it does not harm the elephant,” a Wildlife official said. It will first be tried out in the Okavango area and then probably in the Tuli Block.

Misuse of funds was COCEPWA’s down fall
By Onkabetse Tsaro

Leading HIV/Aids organisation COCEPWA collapsed because of alleged misuse of funding, an internal audit has found.

The Ngami Times reported 10 months ago that the organisation – the Coping Centre for People Living with HIV/AIDS – was in serious financial trouble. The story was repudiated by the organisation although the Maun branch had to vacate its premises for non-payment of rent amid allegations of maladministration and misuse of funds.

A Gaborone newspaper has now published a story reporting on an internal audit conducted into COCEPWA by one of its funders, the National Aids Coordinating Agency (NACA), for the period 2002-03 to 2003-04.

The aim was to establish whether funds donated to COCEPWA were used as per budget; that assets were safe guarded, accuracy and reliability in transactions through the use of supporting documents and whether loans and recoveries were made, and funds used with due care for efficiency and effectiveness.

The Director of COCEPWA at the time was the HIV/AIDS activist Helen Ditsebe- Mhone and most of the money came from NACA and the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnership (ACHAP). The audit is quoted as having established that there was no contract between NACA and COCEPWA and nothing legally bound COCEPWA to use government funds for what they were intended for.

The audit is also reported to suggest there was possibility of duplication of funding as there was nothing to force COCEPWA to disclose its donors, for example NACA and drugs company Bristol Myers Squib, which both sponsored the “Buddy Programme”. It is alleged further that budgetary control procedures were not followed.

The audit found that COCEPWA also paid P232 2001,82 and P46 563,79 to two companies the report alleges to be part-owned by staff and other staff applied for salary advances that were never paid back, the largest being P45 000.

COCEPWA is also alleged to have disbursed a total of P53 900 as loans to some staff and members of the organisation. Of which P13 550 was paid back.

A staff member in the accounts unit was allegedly paid P13 628.50 for preparing a policy and procedure manual, while also drawing a salary. The spouse of a staff member is alleged to have bought an air ticket worth P16 146.00 to travel to Amsterdam although not employed by COCEPWA. This money was also not repaid.

Editorial

A Scary Statistic

It certainly is scary to take notice of the number of women and children who are allegedly violated by husbands, boyfriends, fathers and mothers.

The District Commissioner, Bernadette Malala, said in the town recently that “many women and children are suffering in Maun” – and put the figure at about 80% of women being sexually abused.

That is an unacceptable figure in any society, and the situation needs to be addressed post-haste.

Malala urged women to be supported by everyone, and in particular urged the police to follow the right precaution process so that this situation can be stamped out.

Mmaokwa’s Sacrifice

The sacrifice being made by Maun’s Mmaokwa Mohemele to assist her relative by donating a kidney so that he may live is a truly brave action.

We have followed the story for some time but when Mmaokwa’s decision was made known, it was only then that it became apparent as to why she had become withdrawn.

The town should honour this brave woman, for not many of us would even consider such a step. We sincerely hope that she and her relative, the well-known “BJ” Mohemele, make rapid recoveries.

The Maun Shuffle

Shuffle watched with interest as tourist after tourist boarded a recent Maun-bound flight at Johannesburg International airport and wondered whether the poor souls had any idea of the blanket of heat waiting for them.

Tourism in November is wonderful for us, considering the poor years tourism experienced after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Here were these people, mostly elderly but with a sprinkling of young honeymoon couples off to experience  Africa at the start of their marriages, and not really knowing what was in store – certainly they had read about the heat, but what was waiting for them as the aircraft doors opened on to Maun’s airport tarmac was probably not entirely expected!

The pilot had announced 36 deg C and it certainly was! The next day, Maun and its surrounding bush produced 40deg C and the day after it went up a degree to 41 deg C . . . 

The fascinating thing about late season tourism is that it is essentially a trip by elderly widowed or pensioned travellers who have heard so much about the animal kingdom’s Big 5 and seen the animals only on television or at the movies.

Many of these travellers are Americans, some are British, Dutch, Italian and Canadian, but wherever they may come from, they want to see this part of the world and for that we should be grateful.

Maun has its good points (there are bad points, too!) and our Okavango delta is a fantastic drawcard. Perhaps we should officially declare the so-called “Green Season” at this time of the year the time for budget travel aimed at honeymoon couples and the elderly in order to keep the wheels of the tourism industry turning?

**

It’s happened again!

For many weeks there is a drought of entertainment in Maun but on one weekend on occasion, everything seems to take place.

We had that situation recently when (on the same night) Women Against Rape held its 12th anniversary dinner and the Maun BMC Sports Club hosted the annual beerfest, and the next night, the Amantle Montsho fund-raising sponsored walk and dinner was held. Each one was not for free – so it turned out to be a domino experience for the three events.

Hard work had been called for to ensure the success of each function but in the end, everyone was a loser because there were too many events on the same weekend. Surely it is time for a committee to be formed to perhaps regulate events so that everyone gets a fair share of the pie?

A publicity association may be a good thing but must have the support of all sectors of the community if it is to be a success.

It is pointless for the tourism industry, the lifeblood of this town, not throwing its weight behind events (unfortunately this happens quite often, although with a few exceptions, ie World Tourism Day) just as it is pointless for the rest of the community – expats and local people – not to bother to attend.

Staggering events could also have an effect on our crime rate.

After all, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist of a criminal to work out that if there are three events on at the same time, the town’s houses will be largely deserted and therefore like a cookie jar for those unsavoury characters!

**

Thieves appear to be doing their “Christmas shopping” early this year. The past two weeks or so have been positively horrible for many people in this town

They have lost a lot of personal property, with the thieves even going so far as to try to pinch a four-wheeler out of a yard normally guarded by some rather large-looking dogs. Fortunately for them, the dogs had that evening been taken inside the house but Shuffle suspects that that practice will stop fairly soon if the audacious gentlemen (or is it gentlewomen) make a return visit. It is fairly obvious that the police are powerless to stop the spate of thieving and now enjoy the assistance of the 911 neighbourhood watch team but what happens if those people decide to take a well-earned rest during the Christmas season from the rigours of business and running after thieves in the dead of night?

Shuffle will be watching with interest.

Letter to the editor

Minimum wage ‘hopelessly inadequate’ to live properly

Sir, - Minimum wage as stipulated by the government is hopelessly inadequate to anybody who wants to make a decent living by being employed.

This minimum wage prescription is religiously followed by employers because it suits them all too well.

Would I as a capitalist who wanted to enrich myself pay more than the minimum wage? Capitalists are not here to help people, they are here to make money.

I know of many big and strong companies whose directors have several cars and houses here and abroad, and who are paying the minimum wage as stipulated by government. What can you do with P500 a month if you have children?

Do not business people realise that their most important asset is the human one and that happy staff is productive staff?

It is a shame that the capitalists rule of supply and demand is applied to people. Just because there are so many people without jobs, businessmen and women choose to exploit the situation, telling their most important assets to “go if you are not satisfied with your salary.” It is a hopeless situation.

The carrot of a raise “when we make more money” is always dangled in front of people and then it is eventually the boss who buys himself another smart car or goes on holiday overseas. The cost of living is skyrocketing and on top of that we have VAT that further impoverishes the poor man only because big business and clever people manage to evade VAT with the help of the tax man.

It is no wonder that people turn to crime and to sustain themselves.

It is the duty of government to see to it that minimum wage levels is at living wage levels and if any rich capitalist threatens not to invest or to take his or her money and go, let them go. We do not need capitalist parasites and exploiters who call us “stupid and lazy”. Will they work like a donkey for P25 a day? No, they will be just as lazy because they will not have food in their stomach.

We need employers who take employees with them on the road to prosperity. We need to be able to feed ourselves and our children properly. Malnutrition is slowing us down. We need to have a decent house.

Please, Mr President, adapt minimum wage levels to enable us to meet the escalating cost of living.

GABRIEL
Maun (Name and address supplied)

Parents ‘let down their children’
By Bright Kholi

Parents whose children attend school at Bonatla Primary School, in Maun, came under heavy criticism last week for failing to show up at the school’s prize giving ceremony.

The school head, Dorcas Sethoko, expressed her disappointment to the low turn-out of parents and said while the school has more the 600 pupils, it was painful to have less than 100 parents present.

The ceremony was held under the theme ‘Partnership, a strategy for achieving quality learning.’ “This is a special day for our children as we would like to recognise excellence in different fields,” she said.

Sethoko mentioned that the way parents were avoiding such activities was a serious problem that needs to be addressed sooner than later for the sake the children’s education.

She also called upon the parents to release their children whenever they are needed by the school for the extra curriculum activities and decried that teachers alone cannot be able to mould the children into responsible citizens without the input of the parents.

Sethoko said a clear indication that parents were not responsible even at home was the way some of the children indulged in alcohol and sexual activities.

Parents give their children a lot of money, which in turn tempts them to buy alcohol and drugs. “Children are provided with enough food at school and there is no need for them to be given a lot of money at home,” she said.

Keynote speaker Lesedi Rakhudu, of the Letshego group, said that the partnership between parents and teachers was a license to the success of the children. She said children needed to be encouraged by parents to take education seriously and, in turn, children should also be advised to learn to respect their elders.

Rakhudu added that these were the guiding tools to empower children at home before they get into the classroom as they need support.

 

Non-citizens feel discriminated by land guidelines
By Calistus Kolantsho

Investors have told the Minister of Lands and Housing, Ramadeluka Seretse, that they feel that the new land allocation guidelines were discriminating against non-citizens. This was said at a business meeting held in Maun last week when participants said they also felt investors had more land rights than citizens.

Seretse said there has been “a serious misconception” about the guidelines, and said citizens had welcomed the guidelines when addressing them at kgotla meetings. The guidelines are not meant to scare away investors, adding that the government is trying to avoid a Zimbabwean situation whereby it has to grab back land.

He told the business community that land was the corner stone of the economy and that land has taken nations to war.

Seretse said the government realised that there was more alienation of land by Batswana. He said lots of citizens, especially in Maun, were selling land to non-citizens and citizens are now complaining that foreigners are taking all their land. Seretse said guidelines were done for citizens to have interest in their land.

Land meant for farming is also turned into industrial and residential areas, which is a clear indication of a shortage of land in Botswana.

Investors can be allocated land if they will contribute significantly to the economy and  non-citizens can only be allocated land if they are in partnership with citizens.

The business community heard that tribal land was reserved for citizens and they get it for free and the government was encouraging investors to work with Batswana. Guidelines were a way to make sure that citizens had control of their land.

He observed that citizens must make a living out of the land that they have and that is why they should not sell it.

Prominent businesswoman Hazel Wilmot, of Natlee Properties, Maun, said in an interview with The Ngami Times that the issues that were not cleared had been cleared after the address by the minister.

She said what people did not understand was that guidelines were not the law and that there should also be an estimated value attached to land. She also said that on occasion, citizens are ripped off and cheated by non-citizens. Wilmot said property developers in South Africa “are hungry to buy land in Botswana” due to the devaluation of the pula currency.

Randall Moore, chief executive officer of Elephant Back Safaris, told The Ngami Times that his company supported citizen empowerment. He said “it is a good thing for the government to encourage citizens to have interest in their land” and called on safari companies to sell shares to their employees.

Moore also praised Seretse, saying that he should stay in office for a long time. Keloitsang Ledimo also agreed that Maun residents were selling their land in large numbers. He said investors normally bought land at very low prices.

He also raised a concern that the meeting was only attended by whites.

Entertainment News:

Star Luu, Msawawa, Exodus and Tsekeleke rocked Maun

Despite the screaming entrance fee at the Saturday show held at Trekkers Nite Club, the show was a killer. It featured South Africa’s most loved teen, Msawawa, his burly compatriot Tsekeleke and the duo took on Botswana’s upcoming kwaito artists Exodus, Star Luu and Mbodlela.

Msawawa mesmerised night crawlers with his silky dance moves coupled with hit songs Bibo and Sigidi. Tsekeleke, also known as  Fatty Boom Boom, dished it all out and proved that he could still be counted amongst the best musicians. The former Vee dancers, Exodus, also showed Maun music lovers that they could also dance and at the same time sing.

The biggest talent of the night without doubt was Star Luu, who for the first time in Maun, performed his debut album My Selecta. The Gaborone based artist told The Ngami Times that his album is in stores country wide.

 “My album was recorded at Small House, Mud Hut and was produced by Le Roy, K.G Jimmy and Solo B as the executive producer,” he said. Star Luu says the album is doing well in the market since launching it at Vee’s album launch.

“I am currently working with Easy B, of Monate Fela, and Zenzele, of Zen Promotions, in terms of promoting my album.”  Star Luu says he aspires being a music producer and opening a dance club that will have branches all over the country - “I want to groom talent and I will love to share my talent with other young people,” he said.Tsekeleke and Msawawa said the show was a killer and could love to come to Maun again.

“I have performed in Maun three times and the reception has been wonderful, the people here appreciate music and I will come again after finishing my album,” said Msawawa. Tsekeleke said “The crowd loved me and  my body. I will do it again if invited.”

He's a one-man Team!

When a team plays a game and one man scores all the goals, then he stands tall among all 11 players. This is what happened over the weekend when a Sankuyo player ensured a 3-3 draw with Fuji Rollers in the Nhabe Regional League.

All three goals were scored by Gaojenkabo Bahenyi. The two teams played a charged game, with Sankuyo having the major support as Sankuyo residents had come all the way to support their team. Be that as it may, Sankuyo did not disappoint as they were the first to score through the hero of the day, Bahenyi, who finished off a ball from Mothabane Tema.

However, it wasn’t long when Fuji Rollers settled down before more damage was done. Rollers’ top striker Kabelo Ramosweu punished Sankuyo when he equalised through a stunning cross from just outside the box but the equaliser did not scare Sankuyo, who meant business, with Tema, Gabo and Bahenyi combining well to give the Rollers defence a hard time.

Bahenyi came back again, this time after out-pacing his marker, and unleashed a shot to put his team on the lead again before the half time. Rollers came back from the break supercharged, attacking from all angles and getting an equaliser through Oteng Moswela who unleashed a hot shot that left the Sankuyo ‘keeper a lot of problems.

Vol 7 No. 290 November 4 - 11, 2005

Argument Over Heritage Sites
By Calistus Bosaletswe

The scientific community is at odds over the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site and the propoded Okavango Delta heritage site.

A world Heritage Convention proposal to list the Okavango Delta as Botswana's second world heritage site is expected to include Tsodilo Hills, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001. The Delta currently is a Ramsar site.

There were fears that a conflict of interest might arise as the Okavango Delta site's boundary run parallel to that of Tsodilo Hills. This was revealed during a sub-regional workshop for World Heritage and natural site managers in Maun.

Tsodilo Hills' manager Jeff Matlapeng had wanted to know why the Okavango Delta boundary included the pre-historic Tsodilo Hills. He asked why the IUCN and OCOMOS organizations had gone to the extent of including Tsodilo Hills and he wondered if conflict of interest could arise from both carrying the same weight.

Comfort Molosiwa, a delegate, said the move would strengthen the two connections in terms of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. He said the Okavango Delta, which was declared a Ramsar site in 1997, included the Tsodilo Hills in terms of Okavango Delta Management Plan (ODMP) survey this year. Molosiwa said Tsodilo Hills would bebefit from US$ 7-million aside from ODMP.

He said the Tsodilo management plan would be streamlined within the ODMP and if the sites were managed collectively, it was likely to increase the benefits of the host community through natural resources-based heritage in the area.




Amantle (left) pictured with her friend Maria at the fundraising dinner.

The Ngami Times editor, Norman Chandler, said in a message read by Bose Sethupa that efforts taken by the organizers to help Amantle could not go unnoticed - "To lose one's possessions in a burning house is devastating. To lose valued medals won on the athletics track is a catastrophe, and our hearts go out to Amantle on her double lose," he said.

North West District Council secretary Paulos Nkono presented Amantle with a cheque of P500 on behalf of The Ngami Times. Funds are still being collected and will be handed to Amantle.


Problems Beset Top Local School
By Onkabetse Tsaro

Concerns being expressed about the academic and financial situation at Maun Senior Secondary School have been largely refuted by the headmaster, Galesengwe Mohube. He said in written answers to questions provided by The Ngami Times that although there have been shortcomings financially, all creditors had now been paid and that generally the academic aspect of the school was better than over the past two years.

The questions arose following a chaotic Form Five farewell party last month. The party was delayed for two hours, students were seated on the floor, and the public address system did not function. The school garden was also said to be closed and recently kitchen staff went on strike due to salary cuts.

Vol. 7 No. 289 Oct. 28-Nov. 4, Maun, Botswana

Prison of Fear
By Calistus Kolantsho

Prisoners at Maun Prison claim they have been threatened with death and refused the right to go to the toilet or to consult a doctor. One prisoner said he had been told he would be killed in his cell.

The Maun Magistrate's court has heard how a prison warder, identified as a Sergeant Fanyana, had this week allegedly threatened to kill Kemmonye Oduetse, whi is facing a murder charge. Oduetse told magistrate Nsikelelo Mafa Moyo that Fanyana had assaulted him with his fists and had also used a knobkerrie to hit him. He had run away for his own safety and the warder then threatened him, telling him that he would kill him in the prison cell.

"I do not fell safe antmore in prison," he told the court. Moyo said the court would do anything possible to help Oduetse and would take the matter up with prison officers.

Music, Pool ban 'to stay'
By Calistus Bosaletswe

There's no going back by the North West District Council (NWDC) on its decision to ban music and pool tables from bars. "We are confident that any legal battle will be won by us," said Council Secretary Paulos Nkoni after hearing that bar owners had engaged a local firm of attorneys to fight the issue. The NWDC has been given 21 days to change its mind.

In terms of the bye-laws, any activities other than the selling of liquor is not allowed in Bars. Playing of music and the provision of pool tables are regarded as additional businesses, for which licences are required.

Chief declares Letsema

Even though the country is a declared drought stricken area, Kgosi Mathiba Moremi III of the Batawana has called for letsema - ploughing time.

The Senior Chief's Representative, Charles Letsholathebe, said this week: "Kgosi Mathiba this week declared ploughing season and urged all his tribespeople to go to the fields and to start tending their fields while they wait."

Letsholathebe also said all civil cases at the Customary Court have been halted with immediate affect till February 2006 due to the ploughing season.

Vol. 7 No. 288 October 21-28, Maun, Botswana

Women Held In Drugs Bust
By Bright Kholi

Maun police may have intercepted a criminal syndicate dealing in contraband drugs trafficking. They arrested two Zimbabwean women carrying boxes of pills, which are now being tested at the government forensic laboratories in Gaborone.

The women were arrested at the Makalamabedi veterinary gate, 54 km from Maun, after the police searched their vehicle and found the consignment. The women were enroute to Maun. According to CID Chief Mookami Kame, the two, aged 31 and 45, were arrested on Monday. The police found 3,100 tablets.

Crime Bosses Target Maun

International crime syndicates have targetted Maun, the tourism capital of Botswana. Vice-President Ian Khama says that the status of the town as administrative centre of the North West District, as well as the hub of tourism, has led to an escalating crime situation.

He was officially opening the P13 million Maun Magistrate's Court complex  at the weekend. "Maun has attracted undisirable elements who have contributed to the escalation of crime, including offences hitherto uncommon in Botswana, with international criminal syndicate connections." Khama said these syndicates were "an unwelcome by-product of fast economic and social development which poses a serious challenge to the nation.

Helping Star Athlete Get Back On Her Feet

A concerted effort is being made by the community to assist top international athlete Amantle Montsho, who recently lost all her possessions (as well as medals won at world championships) when fire gutted her home in Mabudutsa. A fundraising campaign is on the go at the moment to help her, and The Ngami Times is assisting the Youth Action Network Organization in the activities.

A bid fundraising weekend is planned and any assistance for her would be appreciated.

Vol. 7 No. 287 October 14-21, Maun, Botswana

BAR MUSIC, POOL BANNED

Owners angry over Council's 'tragic' decision.

By Calistus Bosaletswe

Maun's popular bars are falling silent today as music and pool tables are now banned.

It's all because the North West District Council (NWDC) is enforcing legislation relating to "other businesses" being carried on in pubs - such as the playing of music and pool. The ruling has shocked restaurant and bar owners and their patrons, already faced with a looming ban on smoking in confined places.

They are calling it "tragic" and a "blunder", with one asking "what's the point of going out for a night's entertainment if these killjoys take away simple pleasures,"

The NWDC claims numerous complaints had been received of excessive noise emanating from bars and that residents had asked for the ban to be enforced.

Major water project to start soon
By Bright Kholi

Maun can expect to be involved in a huge upheaval when the P500-million water and sanitation project commences early next year.

There will be "holes everywhere" as construction starts, warns the Department of Water Affairs, Maun Coordinator, Jonathan Ramosalagadi.

He said that funds have been approved by the Minister of Finance and that tenders will follow immediately.

Baptised man drowns in the river
By Calistus Kolantsho

A baptism in the Thamalakane River over the weekend by the Glory Christian Centre Church turned into sadness when a 25-year-old Tutume man drowned after the event.