Exercises of the Prerogative of Mercy (Part 1)

I have chosen to write on the subject of the exercise by any President of the Republic of Botswana of his/her powers under the Prerogative of Mercy, in terms of Section 53 of the Constitution of the Republic of Botswana, which issue has been topical following the so-called "pardoning" of the killers of the late John Kalafatis. The writer's purpose in so doing is not to add heat to what is already an emotive issue; but rather to shed some light on the legal nature of such powers, and the conditions for the appropriate exercise of such prerogatives in future by the current and successive holders of the office of President of the Republic of Botswana.

Rebels With a Cause: Botswana's Heavy Metal Heads

A passionate retro scene proudly celebrating its African heritage

While Botswana is perhaps best known for its wildlife reserves, a burgeoning counter-culture is painting a very different image of the small south African country.

Clad in leather, adorned in spikes and topped off with cowboy hats, these are Botswana's heavy metal heads.

CNN's Errol Barnett got up close to the hardcore rockers and discovered a passionate retro scene proudly celebrating its African heritage.

While Western head bangers are most commonly associated with sneakers and band t-shirts, Botswana's fans have carved a unique image reminiscent of the 1970s New Wave British heavy metal scene.

Photographer Frank Marshall captured the rockers in all their Hell's Angels-style glory as part of his Renegades exhibition, on display at the Rooke Gallery in Johannesburg.

"Metal was ceded here by a classic rock band that started in the early 70s. Since then, it's evolved and grown," he said.

"In the last 10 to 20 years, it's come to be visually composed of what it looks like now -- the guys dressed in leather. It started off with classic rock and later on more extreme forms of metals were introduced."

Marshall described a macho scene with unique rituals, adding: "There's a strong sense of camaraderie amongst them. That's the first thing you'll notice about them as an outsider coming in. They've got a very strong bond and friendship with each other.

"They're very physical. At the shows, you don't just shake their hands. They'll grab your hand and shake you around.

"They embody the very aggressive elements of metal. It's an expression of power. Everything is an expression of power for them, from the clothes to the way they speak to the way they walk. They walk with very deliberate lurching strides.

"To them, it's perfectly normal. Maybe for an outside observer, from the west it might seem bizarre or comical but not here. They're respected and revered in some ways as well."

Watch: Gabon's hip-hop culture

With names like Demon and Gunsmoke it would be easy to dismiss the rockers as thugs. But in fact, the titles come with a strong awareness of social responsibility.

"We try to portray a good figure. We're trying to be role models. I know rock used to be a hardcore thing but actually it's something in our heart too," heavy metal head Gunsmoke said.

"It's all about brothers in arms. Brothers in metal -- we're there for each other. That's the way we identify ourselves."

The leather-clad rockers share a similar aesthetic to notorious motorcycle gang the Hell's Angels. But that's where the likeness ends. According to Gunsmoke, the African head bangers are seen as a type of guardian angel, rather than the Hell's variety.

"Kids follow us around. Parents approach us. We're there for a good cause actually. We help people on the streets at night," he said.

And for the hardcore fans, heavy metal is more than just a scene -- it's part of the national identity.

Even the Botswana president Ian Khama is a fan. Or at least that's according to Gunsmoke.

"We want to make him proud. He made us proud with one man like him leading the nation. Why should we be scared when our president is a rocker?" Gunsmoke argued.

"Bots is known as a small country. People used to think it was a province of south Africa.

"But if we can stand tall on this family then we can be known as much as the country was unknown."

Watch: Building music schools in townships

It's a uniquely African movement, and one that celebrates a special spiritual connection to the land.

Gunsmoke pointed to the use of animal horns in fashion, as a representation of Africa.

"Most of us are in a tribe. The totems are animals. We've got the crocodile, lion, hare, rabbit. You name it. It's part of your culture," he added.

African mythology and folklore loom large in the lyrics of Botswana band Skinflint. CNN caught up with lead singer Giuseppe at a gig just outside the capital Gaborone.

"We have a lot of ancestral beliefs - back in the day they used to believe that if someone dies and you touch the dead person then Gauna will come and take your soul," he said.

"Gauna was created on a 7-inch vinyl and it was distributed by Legion of Death Records in France. We're the first ever African heavy metal band to release something on vinyl."

The white singer also pointed to the unifying powers of heavy metal, saying: "The metal nation knows no racial boundaries. We're all one. We all speak one common language and it's called heavy metal.

"Metal is a music about power, independence and freedom. That's what I believe in --fighting for what you believe in no matter the consequences. Standing up for what you believe in and showing individuality."

Ex-minister castigates government on CEE

"That company was growing the industry, employing people and paying taxes, but totally ignoring that, the BMC decided not to supply them with hides as it could get better prices outside the country," said Moroka.

"That's incoherence in policy and I have always said the first bite of the cake must go to Batswana." Other delegates questioned why citizen companies that were registered under the Economic Diversification Drive (EDD) certificate were losing out to other companies in government tenders. The 437 enterprises registered under the EDD, an import substitution initiative, generally expect preference in the award as the certificate guarantees their existence in Botswana as well as their capacity and quality.

"Some of us have been losing out to briefcase companies (in government tenders)," said a delegate from an EDD certified company at the pitso. "These briefcase companies come from nowhere and because they get their supply from China or elsewhere, are able to out-price us in tenders. "They price better than us who have operations and employees here in Botswana as well as other costs. The tenders should distinguish between suppliers and manufacturers."

Diarrhoea outbreak claims seventeen lives

Gazette: Out of a total of 128 cases of diarrhoea eported in the Ngamiland District, 17 lives have been lost since the outbreak, the Daily News states.North West District Council (NWDC) chairperson Lathang Molonda reportedly said the outbreak has affected mostly children between six and 24 months since it was declared on June 15 .He revealed that out of the children that passed away, six died at home or while on their way to the hospital and 11 died in hospital care.Meanwhile Molonda said a support team had been sent by the Ministry of Health to work with the district staff in bringing the outbreak under control.

Morupule B environmental disaster

Mmegi: This week BPC inadvertently revealed the extent of the crisis at the power station when it published adverts in local newspapers calling for companies who can clear up the mess at the site. The strongly worded ad reveals that BPC is concerned with "the safety and environment record to-date". The advert says a risk manager had been sent to site. "Considering the large number of workers at the site (approximately 2,400), the working hours (seven days a week and in some plant locations there is a day and swing shift) and the safety and environmental record to-date, it is proposed to contract a safety and environmental firm to supplement the BPC Safety, Health and Environment Officer", the ad says in its preamble. BPC therefore seeks "to ensure that health, safety and environmental violations are quickly resolved to the satisfaction of BPC and the relevant authorities".

Palapye split Chinese tender for locals

The Monitor: He said tendering for the renovation of the old police station is yet to be done and priority will be given to local contractors.The new police station was scheduled for completion in May 2011 at P146.5 million.A District Development Committee report delivered to the council by district development officer, Oratile Dintwe says poor performance by the contractor delayed the project, which is now 96 percent complete. The report also attributes the delay in the completion of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology, which is two years behind schedule, to poor performance by the contractor. The revised completion date has been moved to August and mobilisation of materials has been cited as a major impediment.

Readers' reaction on, " statistics indicate decline in poverty"

Onkabetse Moseki -Nkabi Edward Starvation has declined but malnutrition is going to rise because those destitudes ba ja merogo fela the govmnt could hve added a bit of poultry,and by the way poverty nd starvation differ so statistics lie AND our government is fighting hunger and starvation not poverty.

BIUST on a spending spree

Sekolo se a tura bagaetsho! BIUST is giving out much-needed money for free - gratis. Ba tsaya kae madi a a kalo? This in the face of world recession, introduction of fees in schools as cost recovery measures, and the frantic effort to recover more than P11 billion in outstanding scholarship bills from our young graduates?Please also note that the scholarships are a sheer windfall for the applicants as BIUST does not promise to employ these doctoral candidates, but merely educate them for the world. Again, where does BIUST get that money when they are a university that is yet to find its feet and are operating on borrowed time and space?

Mascom launches 4G technology

"We believe that ICT provides a golden opportunity for Batswana to generate income, combat hunger, ill-health and most importantly, enhance literacy," he said."We are pleased to be the first to bring to Botswana the latest generation of mobile technology, the 4GLTE and in fact, also one of the first in the SADC region," said Couceiro. He said this would not only ensure that Mascom remains competitive but that Batswana remain a part of the fast evolving technology world.Mascom  will be the first  to introduce the first 4G LTE pilot in Botswana. MTC of Namibia is the first operator in Africa to commercially roll out the 4GLTE on May 2012.

Dramaboi - Chronicler of township life

Dramaboi has been the talk of the town in the local media following his involvement in a hip-hop competition hosted by HUB Magazine (HUB Music Series) where he proved to be a fan favourite. He took part in the Sprite Urban Expressions show, where he had a face-off with another talented young rapper Bone C.  His first single Godzilla made it to the top charts on both Yarona fm and RB2.  It became one of the most requested songs.  The song was influenced by a movie where the animal Godzilla was the hero as it had the power to overcome all the obstacles put before it, Dramaboi considers himself as the Godzilla child as he sees himself doing the same thing.

How 28.5% became a pass mark

The report notes that the three bidders were requested to submit refreshed bids after the initial documents handed in last June.However, All Kasi did not heed this call and therefore the adjudicators had to use the company's initial bid. All Kasi was quickly off the blocks, amassing a healthy lead through 'soft points' when they got 5marks for being citizen owned, while the other two received none. The local company was to further surge ahead when it surpassed the tender equipment requirement. The local company provided 10, 249 units (of varied equipment), or 978 above BFA's expectation of 9,271. Umbro had 6,909 units, 2,362 less than what the mother body required, while Puma scored zero after it failed to indicate its quantities. (See EQUIPMENT table below) In the financial evaluation, Puma made progress, but some how hit a brick wall in the final analysis when BFA made its calculations. The association had indicated in the tender requirements that the successful company should be able to provide 150,000 Euros (approx. P1,5 million) per season for three years. While Puma promised to fulfil the requirement, the company made a proposal that BFA should purchase replica jerseys or an assortment of sporting goods worth R4.65million every year. The total Puma sponsorship was P2, 389 million, which would have left the BFA with a deficit of around P2, 261million (if the association had agreed to the proposal), which did not make business sense.

Demolition friday

The Monitor: "Are we not Batswana?" she asks, "Are we not Batswana to be treated like this? Even foreigners are never treated like this. They are asked nicely to get into trucks and driven to their countries". Moagi relates that the demolition has affected her three-year-old child, who was present on the day. She says since that day, the little boy talks about their house being razed down and cries whenever he sees a yellow monster or a big truck driving past.
Moagi, her partner and her children have since moved back to her parents' home, where they live in a hut previously used as a kitchen.

Minister denies 'sabotaging' tourism

Mmegi: The soft spoken Mokaila said he was shocked to hear that and rubbished this as "blue lies". "You know I don't like petty issues particularly concerning my ministry. You know me, even in parliament, I don't participate in petty issues and that is why most of the time I don't participate in debates," he said. Mokaila said if people are concerned about something concerning him or his ministry, "they should come forward. "All the doors in my ministry are always open, rather than running to the papers and run serious allegations about me and my ministry as well", he stated.

Air Botswana drivers demand overtime pay

Mmegi: She further said the airline followed the arbitration ruling to recalculate all overtime using the prescribed method and arrived at figures that were "at variance" with the drivers' claim. "Naturally Air Botswana, through its lawyers, then wrote to the lawyers representing the drivers to request clarity on how to handle the differences. Proof of payments made by Air Botswana was made available and currently Air Botswana awaits formal response from the drivers' lawyers on the issue," she said.

MoH re-employs lay counsellors

Mmegi: "We demand immediate removal of the unbearable working conditions extended to the re-employed workers," the petition letter reads.BOFEPUSU further demanded reimbursement of re-employed nurses who were transferred from their duty stations but were denied transport contrary to the Directorate of Public Service Management's (DPSM) policy. MoH had not responded to Mmegi's request for confirmation of the re-employment of the lay counsellors.

As I see it

Mmegi Online: He could have been depicting Khama's Five-Ds! President Ian Khama took over the reins of power on April Fools Day 2008, bristling with macho determination to steer the ship of state forward-ho with gusto of a worthy successor of his predecessors. Making his inaugural speech a short distance from his late father's statue which hitherto had faced East, but had now turned around to face West, whether to ensure the father watched him deliver a renewal of his vow to guide the young republic to prosperity or whether it was to protest that his father's image had been distorted and falsified by making him face East when his gaze was always westward, we will never know!

BotswanaPost to sell electricity

The Botswana Gazette: “A total of 24 organisations, including BotswanaPost, submitted bids for the tender, and six were approved as preferred bidders. We are still at different stages of negotiations with the preferred bidders so names can only be disclosed after negotiations,” said Moreri.

Kalahari Desert Sands An Important, Forgotten Storehouse of Carbon Dioxide

ScienceDaily (Apr. 1, 2008) — The sands of the desert are an important and forgotten storehouse of carbon dioxide taken from the world's atmosphere, scientists heard April 2, 2008 at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting.

"Desert soils are unusual because the sand grains at the surface are bound together into a crust by bacteria, reducing wind erosion and adding nutrients to the soil. Deserts cover over one third of the world's land surface and yet our understanding of their contribution to the atmospheric carbon dioxide balance is poor", says Dr Andrew Thomas of Manchester Metropolitan University.

Colorado State Anthropologist Finds Fossil Treasures In Africa

Science Blog
The vast collection of fossils is one of the few uncovered in Botswana and contains well-preserved specimens of small mammals that may have roamed the earth sometime between 100,000 and 3 million years ago. Most likely used by owls and other mammals to eat their prey, the cave is so rich with fossils it's called Bone Cave.
Waddle and the other researchers believe the find can help fill the gap in the fossil record of Botswana, an area that has not been a major focus for anthropologists or archaeologists in recent years. Although there are numerous sites containing stone tools in Botswana, the only human or primate remains from Botswana are less than 10,000 years old and are fully modern. Other fossils found in Botswana have been from the Middle Stone Age, roughly 100,000 years and earlier.
"This is a great find because of the wealth of fossils in the cave," Waddle said. "It's particularly important because Botswana has virtually no fossil sites of this kind and there really is no fossil record of primates at all. Many fossil sites may only produce a few fossils.

When natives become homeless

"Ao! they even demolish our house while we are still gathering our stuff ... bring that radio... ntela kiriba hoo (bring me a wheelbarrow)," a woman says, racing against time. She hands a small wireless set to a young woman carrying a small child. A sense of urgency permeates the atmosphere in this Mmamashia settlement. It surely is no normal Friday morning for Ikanyeng Linchwe. The unscheduled meeting with the 'yellow monster' has her hurredly packing her belongings. The sudden visit is big in a big way. It has attracted the attention of Botswana Television (Btv) cameras. As she gathers her pots, dishes and other things in the ramshackle house, camera shutters make a symphony of noise. "Banna ba mmuso, le re gakaletse (government officers, you have no mercy)," she says, directing her gaze to Kgatleng Landboard officers for emphasis.

Umbro beats Puma to Zebras deal

Mmegi: English sportswear giant, Umbro is the new Zebras technical sponsor, beating Puma to the deal, while All Kasi was out of the reckoning after proposing a partnership with the Botswana Football Association (BFA), Mmegi Sport has learnt.

Montsho sets new 200M national record

The Monitor: "World beater, Amantle Montsho continued to inscribe her name in history books when she broke the Botswana 200 metre women's record, clocking 22.89 seconds in Japan last Thursday. Running in her first competitive event of the year, the reigning 400 metre-world champion smashed her previous record of 22.94 seconds by 0.05 seconds to set a new national 200 metre record."

Infraco plans giant network overhaul

TechCentral
Broadband Infraco currently has capacity to provide backhaul to Johannesburg from Cape Town and is supplying this service to cellular operator Vodacom. MTN is trialling it. Maharaj says Infraco also intends to provide backhaul access for landlocked sub-Saharan African countries and is developing links to Botswana.  — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media

GBCHealth Recognizes Leading Businesses for Their Work Addressing Pressing Global Health Challenges During Annual Conference on May 14th and 15th

"Winner: Partnership/Collective Action – HP: The Disease Surveillance and Mapping Project is a public-private partnership between HP, Positive Innovation for the Next Generation (PING), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Mascom and the Botswana Ministry of Health (MoH). Before the project, the process of tracking notifiable diseases in Botswana was manual and slow. The PING program uses smartphones to collect data on malaria activity to streamline data collection and analysis to improve the quality of disease surveillance. By the end of the pilot, 93% of facilities were reporting on time (compared to 20% beforehand), and MoH officials had been notified of 19 potential malaria outbreaks to which they were able to respond immediately. The pilot was so successful that the MoH plans to expand PING’s mobile platform to track all notifiable diseases in Botswana."

Primary school heads upgraded to D3 salary scale

Mmegi: He said that the new salary structures would come into effect either in April or May depending on how soon the teachers are notified of the changes. Asked why secondary school heads are left out, he said the Headmasters Association did not sign the agreement arguing that some of the duties included in their job description were not theirs.

BONELA gets private sector funding

Mmegi: Private sector entities responded positively to a call by the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) for them to be more actively involved in funding HIV/AIDS and human rights in the country, at a groundbreaking donor engagement forum held in Gaborone today.


"It thus needs to revise its funding strategy and pilot the investment approach that is based on activities that are evidence-based and have been scientifically proven to have a direct impact on reducing HIV transmission, morbidity and mortality.

BNF petitions ministry over Liquor Act

Mmegi Online: ""They are much advanced in the economic diversification drive initiative which the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has paid lip- service to," the petition reads. The petition says that by selling liquor at their homes, the sellers are able to provide for most, if not all, of their family needs such as housing, food, water and electricity.

Blind students receive specialised computers

Mmegi Online: "Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) received the computers on behalf of: Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, the University of Botswana, the Institute of Development Management, the Institute of Health Sciences, ABM College as well as Ba Isago University College.
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