Indiscipline Rocks Zebra's Camp

Indiscipline Rocks Zebra's Camp
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The Botswana national team is currently faced with a mammoth task of at least going all the way to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. ...

1st envoy to Botswana to utilize business skills

1st envoy to Botswana to utilize business skills
The Daily Yomiuri, Japan - 2 hours ago
Still, his diplomatic posting to Botswana at first left him unsure how he would be able to contribute in his new job since the country was unknown to him. ..

Botswana distances itself from Zimbabwe opposition leader

Botswana distances itself from Zimbabwe opposition leader
Daily Nation, Kenya - 57 minutes ago
By KITSEPILE NYATHI, NATION Correspondent and Agencies, HARARE Botswana has moved to quash rumours that it is bankrolling Zimbabwean opposition leader, ...
Xenophobia in SA is shameful Mmegi
Zimbabwe: Mugabe Should Hand Over Power, Says SA Minister AllAfrica.com
South Africa: Mbeki Rejects 'Factory of Lies' On Harare AllAfrica.com

Orange Botswana opens branch in S/Phikwe

Orange Botswana opens branch in S/Phikwe
Mmegi - Gaberones,Botswana
SELEBI-PHIKWE: Orange Botswana became the first mobile phone service provider to open a branch in this mining town last Friday. ...

Hollard launches new insurance in Botswana to assist tourism industry

Hollard launches new insurance in Botswana to assist tourism industry
ITInews - Insurance Times and Investments News - South Africa
At a recent Tourism Conference in Botswana, Hollard Insurance Botswana introduced a new insurance for the hospitality industry to fill an urgent need there. ...

Botswana: Rising From the Ashes

Botswana: Rising From the Ashes
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The lives of an orphaned family whose house was gutted by fire a year ago, was changed forever when First National Bank (FNB) presented them with a house ...

Botswana: Dagga Case Collapses

Botswana: Dagga Case Collapses
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
A man accused of growing marijuana was found not guilty after the police case against him was dismissed. Acting on a tip-off last January, police discovered ...

Botswana: Time to Improve the Service

Botswana: Time to Improve the Service
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
A friend of mine was telling me how he is never able to get his complaints or queries resolved. One thing cropped into my mind, 'he is complaining to the ...

Botswana: Murder Suspect Denied Bail

Botswana: Murder Suspect Denied Bail
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
... of proper travelling documents, the prosecution applied that he be remanded in custody since he did not have any permanent place of abode in Botswana. ...

Botswana: DJ in Court With Stolen Trousers

Botswana: DJ in Court With Stolen Trousers
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
"I've been in Botswana since 2004. Even though I am not working and suffering as a result, it has nothing to do with the situation at home. ...

Botswana: Zebras On a High

Botswana: Zebras On a High
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
The coach's sentiments were shared by Botswana Football Association officials, Technical Director Six Keatlholetswe and Chief Executive Officer, ...

Botswana: The Shrinking Food Basket

Botswana: The Shrinking Food Basket
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Recent increases in food prices in Botswana are a replication of higher commodity prices since 2006. According to the 2007/2008 United Nations Food and ...

Botswana: It's Happy Times With Kabelano

Botswana: It's Happy Times With Kabelano
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Speaking at the draw, Orange Botswana Public Relations Manager, Karabo Tlhabiwe, said that his company, who are the main sponsors of the event, ...

Bus Operators Hike Fares

Bus Operators Hike Fares
Zimbabwe Guardian (London), 20 May 2008
Dyke Sithole
LONG distance bus and commuter omnibus operators have hiked fares for the third time in two weeks citing the current high prices of fuel.

The price of fuel went up from Z$2.5 billion to Z$3.5 billion over the weekend, prompting the operators to increase fares.

Buses plying the Bulawayo-Harare road have increased fares from Z$1.8 billion to Z$3 billion while local commuter operators have raised their fares from Z$100 million to Z$200 million.

Bus conductors who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian at Renkin Bus Terminus in Bulawayo attributed the latest fare increases to the rise in fuel prices on the black market where they are procuring the precious liquid.

Fuel is slowly disappearing from both the black and real market due to tight fuel import requirements announced by neighboring Botswana which is the country's major black market fuel supplier.

"Diesel is in short supply and whenever we get it, it's expensive so we have to pass on the cost to commuters if we are to remain in business. Some of us are, however spending a lot of time looking for fuel instead of being on the road," said a driver with a local business company.

Commuters and passengers who spoke to the Zimbabwe Guardian yesterday expressed concern over the high cost of travelling and commuting to and from work.

"My salary is Z$1 billion per month and I need Z$5 billion for me to come to work every month. In fact, I do not know the reason why I am going to work because I am subsidizing my company," said Mercy Mubako.

Another traveller, Joyce Mbereko urged the government to withdraw permits from those overcharging.

Botswana official calls for more Chinese investment in glass

Botswana official calls for more Chinese investment in glass

Source: Xinhua | 05-20-2008 08:50

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A Botswanian official called for more Chinese companies and entrepreneurs to invest in her country's glass manufacturing industry here on Monday.

"Sino-Botswana trade has been growing steadily. We can look at the industries in Botswana where they have Chinese companies -- initially construction, production industries soon, and they are now looking at the possibility of glass manufacturing," said Dorcas Makgato-Malesu, Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

"Botswana has abundant resources of silicon, which can be used in the glass industry. There will be quite a number of companies that are interested in that," she said.

She said she is very optimistic about the momentum of growing trade between China and Botswana.

"I'm very optimistic. China is an emerging economy ... those who are not in China now looking for opportunities will soon be out of the ball game in the not so distant future," she said.

She said her country has favorable investment policies including tax incentives and holidays and offered training subsidies for investors.

"One thing that is particularly attractive (for the investors) is that when companies come to Botswana, the government will provide 200 percent subsidies for training and provide facilities either to get into or get out of Botswana, such as visas and work permits," she said.

She also emphasized that the country's strong economy and stable democracy make it attractive.

In an earlier interview with Xinhua, Naomi Ellen Majinda, the ambassador of Botswana to China, said Botswana welcomes China's investment in the fields of glass-producing, leather-making, jewellery-polishing and textile processing.

To push forward investment cooperation, Majinda paid visits to 28 Chinese cities in two years, and traveled to Zhejiang Province several times to learn from local businessmen and discuss the cooperation issue.

China and Botswana have witnessed a huge increase in bilateral trade, from the initial 300,000 to 500,000 U.S. dollars in 1982 to62.52 million U.S. dollars in 2005.

Luxury safaris set up camps amid the animals

Luxury safaris set up camps amid the animals
Kentucky.com - Lexington,KY,USA
OKAVANGO DELTA, Botswana — It was a scene straight out of a Hemingway novel. Gin and tonic in one hand and slathered with mosquito repellent, ...

Experts Differ On How To End Africa's AIDS Epidemic

Experts Differ On How To End Africa's AIDS Epidemic
AHN - USA
... and other experts, argued that offering HIV testing and distributing free condoms in Africa doesn't work because if it did countries like Botswana, ...

Fifa lifts Madagascar ban

Fifa lifts Madagascar ban
BBC News - UK
Madagascar are now free to play at Botswana on 31 May - the opening game in their first group stage of qualifying for the 2010 tournament in South Africa. ...

Zimbabwe: Vee Drops Another One

Zimbabwe: Vee Drops Another One
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
A horde of artistes also came to support the pint-sized singer, who has undoubtedly become a brand in Botswana. Among those who performed at the event were ...

Four place gains for Botswana and Andorra

Four place gains for Botswana and Andorra
IRB - Dublin,Ireland
Botswana’s victory over Swaziland in Gaborone on Saturday not only prolonged their Rugby World Cup 2011 dream, but also saw them climb four places to equal ...

Botswana: Bots Fails to Submit Reports to African Rights Commission

Botswana: Bots Fails to Submit Reports to African Rights Commission
AllAfrica.com - Washington,USA
Botswana has not been submitting reports to the African Commission on Human and People's Rights on measures it has taken to effect rights and freedoms under ...

African Copper Considers Additional Notes

African Copper Considers Additional Notes
Mmegi - Gaberones,Botswana
By Wanetsha Mosinyi Base metals exploration company African Copper (Messina Copper) said on Friday that based on discussions with several Botswana ...

SABMiller Against Liquor Abuse

SABMiller Against Liquor Abuse
Mmegi - Gaberones,Botswana
By Brian Benza JOHANNESBURG: Leading brewing company SABMiller supports Botswana government's efforts to curb alcohol abuse though they are unconvinced ...

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS BRIEFS
Mmegi - Gaberones,Botswana
De Beers Botswana CEO Sheila Khama will today conduct a media briefing at their new offices in Orapa House. The briefing will be followed by tours to some ...

Briefs 3-FIFA lifts Madagascar suspension

Briefs 3-FIFA lifts Madagascar suspension
Reuters.uk - UK
... of Madagascar's football association, clearing the national team to play their opening 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Botswana on May 31. ...

Botswana And Cape Verde Join the Ranks of the Real VOIP Legalisers

19 May 2008

By Russell Southwood
London

The Agencia Nacional de Communicacoes of Cape Verde has signalled intention to legalise VoIP. It will licence international VoIP service providers offering cheap calling and offer two classes of numbering. It has also licensed another Triple Play operator which will take advantage of the change in regulation to offer IP-TV, Internet and voice services. It joins the last real legaliser Botswana's BTA which also opened the door to international VoIP service providers at the end of last year. Russell Southwood caught up with these innovative regulators at ITU Telecom Africa 2008.

Cape Verde's Agencia Nacional de Communicacaoes (ANAC) has approved new regulation to legalise VoIP and will licence 2-3 international service operators. There will be new numbers offered for these services and they will come in two classes: fixed and mobile. The new operators will need a simple authorisation from ANAC to start offering service. PC to PC and PC to phone calling will be entirely without any form of regulation.

Taking advantage of this change, European-backed Cabo Com will shortly launch a Triple Play offer with IP-TV, Voice and Internet. Its equipment has recently arrived in Cape Verde and the launch will happen shortly. It will compete with CV Multimedia, the IP-TV subsidiary of Portugal Telecom-owned subsidiary CV Telecom. It has struggled to get a foothold and by the end of last year had only reached 1,600 subscribers. However, it will shortly reduce the price of its broadband connection.

ANAC is also setting the pace in the wireless area as next month it will start a public consultation on Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) where it wants to split the spectrum into 4-5 blocks and then have a public tender based on the highest bidders. It believes this will be the most transparent way of dealing with increased demand for Wi-MAX related spectrum. ANAC is also considering a 3rd licence with 3G as part of the licence package. The islands were promoted to the middle-income country group in January this year and increased tourist trade is drawing operator interest.

As part of its broader liberalisation process, the Botswana Telecommunications Authority (BTA) legalised VoIP at the end of last year and there have been two international VoIP service providers, BBI and OPQ Net. Both offer international calling cards but have not yet made much impact on the market. Perhaps it's no coincidence that BTA is also addressing Wi-MAX spectrum in two ranges 3.5-3.6 and 1785-1805 Ghz. It will be taking a slightly different approach to ANAC and will be offering spectrum at fixed prices on the basis of the business case presented.

ITU Telecom Africa contained the usual number of regulators repeating the mantra:"VoIP is a technology, we are technology neutral and if you have a licence, you can do VoIP." This is true as far as it goes but does not really open up the full disruptive market power of the technology. The questions become: how many international gateways have you licensed? And how many international VoIP service providers are there? If as in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, you have opened the range of people who have access to the international gateway function and international VoIP service providers can interconnect with other operators to offer cheap calling, then you can really say VoIP is legal. It will be the only way to drive down the cost of international calling and increase its volumes. If you're not doing this, you're missing the point....

Tuku's Show disrupted in Botswana

Tuku's Show disrupted in Botswana

BOTSWANA - J&J Promotions, a Botswana promotion company, intends to sue government over their recent jazz festival, which was disrupted by the police.

Tsimba I Tsoka

The festival featured local musicians like Punah Gabasiane, Matsieng, Lister Boleseng, Shanti-Lo, John Selolwane, Maxy and Ndingo Johwa. The foreign artistes were Zimbabwe's Oliver Mtukudzi, Lucas Senyatso and Tshepho Tshola of South Africa.

When the police stopped the festival at midnight, Mtukudzi had only played three songs. Boleseng and Tshola were amongst the artistes who had not performed.

The promoters' attorney, Gabriel Kanjabanga wrote to the Attorney General last week, informing the state about their intention to institute legal proceedings. Kanjabanga said his clients have instructed the law firm to demand an undertaking from the state that in future, the police would not unlawfully disrupt their festivals.

If the Attorney General does not make this undertaking within 30 days, they are going to institute legal proceedings against the government.

The attorney said if the Attorney General insists that that the police conduct was lawful, in terms of the liquor regulations, they are going to challenge the constitutionality of the Liquor Act.
The promoters are also intending to challenge the constitutional validity of the trading hours that restricts the sale of liquor from noon to midnight.

He contended that there is no law that stipulates that festivals should stop at midnight.
He submitted that if the police acted on account of the new regulations under the Liquor Act, then they acted unlawfully. "Whilst it is accepted that the new liquor regulations restrict the sale of liquor between 12 noon and midnight, the same cannot be said of a music festival which is different from the sale of liquor."

He said as a result of police's unlawful acts, his clients have incurred losses and reputation in the sum of P500,000, adding that they even paid artistes who did not perform.

The attorney stated that in organising the festival, their clients went through all the legal processes required. He said they were granted a temporary liquor licence to sell liquor from midday until midnight during the festival.

"Our clients were also granted public entertainment and work permit exemptions in respect of the international artists they brought into the country, especially members of both Tshepho Tshola and Oliver Mtukudzi's musical groups.

Clients were further granted a temporary closure of the road leading to the landfill and dump site, off Machel Drive, as a way of ensuring revellers' easy access to the venue of the festival, the lawyer wrote.

Kanjabanga stated that his clients were also given a copy of a letter, which was written by the deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Urban Police station commander. He said the letter stated that the police had to liaise with his clients on how the provisions of the Liquor Act were to be complied with especially over the observance of the sale of liquor from noon to midnight.

The attorney noted that the festival began after 4pm and there was only one outlet, which was selling beer. He said there was no other outlet from which alcohol was sold and in fact most of the revellers had brought in their own drinks.

He added that during the festival, the MC continuously announced that the beer outlet was going to be closed at midnight.

Kanjabanga said his clients revealed that when the music festival started, the police were present throughout. He said his clients were happy with their presence. To them it was a sign that safety and security of the festival attendants was guaranteed but little did they know that in fact their presence was intended to disrupt and cut the music show.

The lawyer further indicates that his clients said during the festival, there was never any incident of unruly conduct from the crowd. "The attendants were peaceful people who were mainly concerned and interested in entertaining themselves and enjoying their music." He said his clients indicated that during the course of the festival, no police officer ever approached them and warned them to stop operating at midnight. Neither did the police tell them that anyone complained that the festival was a nuisance.

"Our clients say that they were extremely shocked, embarrassed and their reputation, as a promotions company, was shattered and discredited when a contingent of police armed with riot vehicles and equipment arrived at around 12.15 am whilst the music festival was in session and ordered that the festival must stop.

Our client says that they were very much surprised and stunned by the unlawful and improper conduct of the police more so that prior to the festival, they had a number of meetings with the station commander of Urban Police Station and at no point did the police mention that the festival was to stop at midnight."

Kanjabanga said when the police were closing the festival, they refused to look at the documentation, which showed that the festival was legal. They ignored his clients' plea and proceeded to close the festival.

The attorney further submits that the festival was stopped at a time when many revellers were paying to gain entrance to the show and owing to the abrupt stoppage, the majority of them had to be refunded.

Mugabe Opponent Cancels Return to Zimbabwe

Mugabe Opponent Cancels Return to Zimbabwe
New York Times - United States
... assassination plot had prompted Mr. Tsvangirai, a former trade union leader, to flee Zimbabwe for Botswana in the wee hours of the morning on April 8. ...

Botswana mines adopt water-saving technologies

Botswana mines adopt water-saving technologies
Africa Science News Service - Nairobi,Kenya
Officially opening the 11th international seminar on paste and thickened tailings Kedikilwe, said rhere should be a sustainable balance between water ...