FAKE TRADITIONAL DOCTORS EXPOSED

“It works this way. They put a cellphone inside the mound and connect it to a small speaker for amplification. The mound is then covered with thatch. During consultation one of the ‘prophets’ pretends to be consulting with the ancestors while he’s actually communicating with a colleague hiding in another room. The colleague then responds through the hidden phone and in the process the client gets convinced that they are being healed through a higher force and they easily part with their hard earned cash,” Marapo explained.

US, Botswana special forces train together

"The exercise was a fantastic opportunity to share tactics, techniques, and procedures with one of the finest Special Operations Forces in Africa, and the professionalism and proficiency of the BDFSF made the exercise extremely rewarding. While working, training, eating and billeting with our BDFSF partners, we discovered that our organizations and our hardships are quite similar," Swindler said.

Botswana Anti-Poaching

Botswana has plans to scale up war on poaching to protect the country’s endangered species, a senior government official said on Tuesday.

Kitso Mokaila, the minister of environment tourism and wildlife told stakeholders attending the 7^th annual Tourism Pitso that government intend to address the country’s plummeting wildlife population.

“Over the next six months you will see a major shift, we are working on means to control poaching,” said Mokaila.

“We know hunting is a culling tool but they are indications that our wildlife numbers are going down,” he added.

Mokaila said government will invest in buying anti-poaching equipment which includes helicopters to patrol areas prone to poaching.

The minister also revealed that government was already conducting a census on the country’s wildlife population before taking a decision to ban hunting, despite refuting working on the decision before.

Govt prepares for SKA

"This means that Botswana will develop in areas that were not popular in the past like research," said Matoma. She also said the Botswana Innovation Hub is preparing to take charge of the site and conducting research which will benefit the nation once it starts operating. She said Botswana will also be able to invite other countries to come and do research here. Besides the scientific benefits, Motoma said the project is going to create jobs as there will be construction of roads and electricity lines. She said that at the moment, four sites could be used for the project. The four possible areas are in Ngamiland, Kweneng, Tsabong and Ghanzi.

Open learning is cheaper

Mmegi: Tau said recent developments at the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) which saw 3, 000 teachers going for further studies this year is expensive. "Four years down the line this should be relegated to history, MoESD should really explore other options," he said. He said that the education sector has been neglected in Botswana, saying the lack of early childhood education has killed talent as children's academic abilities are not identified and nurtured at an early age.

The end of BMC's monopoly will be the end of BDP

Mmegi: Cattle are central to a great many Batswana. So central that the ruling Botswana Democratic Party even had one of its membership drives titled 'Kgomo ya Motswana'. This is not a mere slogan; it is an equation of the centrality of BDP to Batswana to that of cattle.Liberalising the beef industry might kill the industry as we know it, bring hardship on subsistence farmers and in the process claim the scalp of the BDP in the process as it ever so heavily relies for its electoral fortunes on the rural vote.

Animal road patrols cost govt P20m

"Soon we will be paying contractors based on output rather than input. There will be inspectors to see to it that indeed there is no livestock on roads, gates are closed and potholes are attended to well in time. "Should we notice animals on roads and potholes taking long to be attended to, contractors will not be paid for the work they did not do," he said. However, he applauded animal patrol contractors, saying they have been doing extremely well under very challenging circumstances.

Gaborone is what you make of it

Mmegi: However, I share a different story; I was born in Tonota but I grew up mostly in yet another town Lobatse. I also spent some of my childhood in Gaborone. However, contrary to the general storyline provided to those coming in from the village, as a child I saw my parents finding it hard to make ends meet in the towns. We moved to Gaborone when my father was transferred from Lobatse in 1999, thus the city was introduced to me at the ripe age of 10.Firstly my father often made me fear Gaborone. Yes of course a parent would exaggerate to create fear in their childrenÕs minds to make them more circumspect about a new place, especially a place as big and potentially dangerous as a city. My father achieved this of coarse.I was not even allowed to play outside without parental supervision, as it was feared that there were many crooks that could "steal" me.

Merafhe: A self-made man

Mmegi: But as fate would have it, the security dictates of the times left Seretse with no choice but to succumb to the idea of an army formation. The honour and responsibility of creating the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in 1977 fell on Merafhe's shoulders.

Marumo's job at Bay United secure

Mmegi: After the Zebras' maiden appearance at the AFCON, he only played one game following a misunderstanding with his boss: "In my entire football career, I would rate the just-ended one as my worst ever season.  I struggled with an injury and then afterwards there were hiccups in my relationship with the club chairman," he told Mmegi Sport.Marumo's efforts to mend relations with his club's chairman are yet to bear fruit."I communicated with the chairman, but he has not responded yet.  I hope it will be resolved so we can move forward.  I need clarification from him regarding my contract," he said.  He is now looking looks forward to picking the pieces and returning to top form. "It's just to pick myself up and do what I normally do and be at the top of my game.