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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.