Edition 338 October 27 - November 3, 2006

For readers interested in looking at photos of life in and around Maun, click photos.

It was a very serious moment at the site of the proposed Maun children’s park when the youngster who thought up the scheme, Sohum Mehta, shook hands with President Festus Mogae after the president had laid the foundation stone at the site in Sedie ward.  Hundreds of people, particularly children, were on hand to witness the event. The park is being sponsored by well-wishers in association with A to Z Mica Build hardware group of companies.

ZIM COPS KILL WANTED MAN

A man wanted by police in Maun for questioning in connection with various robberies from private homes here has been shot dead in Zimbabwe. It is understood that Botswana Police were searching for the man when he apparently fled to Zimbabwe.

After enquiries were made there, Zimbabwean police said he had been shot dead but the circumstances leading up to his death have not been divulged. The man – who has not officially been named by the police - was one of three who allegedly entered a Disaneng, Maun, home earlier this year and attacked the occupants who were in their bedroom.

A tug of war ensured when the robbers attempted to drag a woman into an en-suite bathroom but through the combined efforts of the woman and her husband, the robbers were not successful.  At least one of the robbers was believed to have been hurt in the melee.

In the scramble to get away from the premises, one of the men dropped his photograph with his name written on it. The picture was found by the householders the next day and handed to the police by the 911 neighbourhood watch organisation. Police circulated the photograph to police stations throughout the country but refused permission for The Ngami Times to publish it, saying that by doing so investigations would be compromised. Reporters discovered that the man had a girlfriend at Sehitwa and that he had not visited her for a few days. It was also disclosed that there were possibly other girlfriends as well. It was alleged that at the time of the burglary incident, the man had been part of a gang attempting break-ins at many homes in the Disaneng and Boro areas of the town. He was recognised as such by various householders who were shown the photograph.

Two die as vehicle is flattened

Flat as a pancake...  This Maun General Hospital vehicle carrying five people overturned outside the Matshwane Primary School on the Francistown road on Monday evening. Two men were killed and the other four passengers were admitted in critical condition to the hospital

Scenes of horror greeted the first people on the scene at a road smash near Matshwane Primary School this week.Two people died instantly when a Maun General Hospital vehicle carrying five people – four men and a woman - overturned. The vehicle’s cab was squashed flat and the canopy ripped off.

Radio reports that a third person had also died were denied by police this week. The vehicle was enroute from Francistown to Maun and was part of the hospital’s antiretroviral (ARV) unit’s fleet “There were bodies lying all over the place,” said one man who heard the smash from his home about 100 metres away and ran to the scene. He called 911 neighbourhood watch which immediately contacted paramedics.

The Monday evening crash is thought by police to be the result of excessive speed and  investigations into the possible cause are continuing.According to the Maun police station traffic  officer, Bigboy Tiyedze, it is suspected that the driver, 28, may have failed to negotiate a curve. It is surmised he then lost control and swerved off the road before overturning. The driver and a male passenger, 23, died at the scene.

The other passengers sustained serious injuries, and were rushed to hospital. The names of the deceased have been withheld until their next of kin have been notified. The wrecked vehicle drew many spectators to the parking ground opposite Maun police station this week. Meanwhile, 911 members were mobilised this week to help in a night search for a young child who drowned in the Thamalakane River. Car lights were switched on to help police divers locate the body. 

Fence is ‘lions’ killing field’
By Lets Open

MAKGADIKGADI GAME RESERVE – A number of wild animals have been found dead along the Makgadikgadi Pans electrified fence erected to prevent conflict between farmers and wild animals.

Among these are zebras and antelope, and it is said by farmers and conservationists that the annual zebra and wildebeest migration in the area this year may be seriously affected.

However, they believe that the fence itself has killed a minimal number of animals and that the main attrition rate is due to predators such as lions trapping zebra and other plainsgame at the fence.

Sibangani Mosojane, of the Department of Wildlife in Maun, said this week: “It is possible that game die in small numbers along the electric fences while being chased by lions from the two reserves,  Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan. Predators chase zebra and wildebeest to the fence for easy killing but it is not necessary that the fence itself has killed large numbers of game.

“It is not common to see carcases along the fence.” Farmers in the Moremaoto, Khumaga, Tsoi and other Boteti areas said this week: “It is very rare these days for lions, for instance, to kill our livestock due to the effect of the fence.”

One said it was as if the lions, in particular, had pinpointed a weakness for zebras and that the fence has become “a killing field” because the fence traps them. Farmers recalled that for years they had many head of cattle and other livestock killed by wild animals due to the lack of a fence separating their lands from the pans.

Most water holes have been filled by recent soaking rains, farmers added, and this would also have been a deterrent to predators. Tourists have in recent days been able to view animals at the water holes and to watch kills now that the rains have come.

A lovely breakfast with stolen meat!

By Delphin Koma

The crime wave in Maun has concentrated mainly on shops, houses and office break-ins aimed mainly at stealing money and other valuable goods. However, thieves have now resorted to another commodity … meat.

Two men were last week brought before Maun customary court for breaking in and stealing meat from King’s Butchery in Botshabelo. Tlhopho Kefiwamang (26) and Jack Kayange (30) are said to have broken into the butchery and stolen 40 kg of meat valued at P490.

Sergeant Kesetse Tike, of the Local Police, said he was on patrol with soldiers when he received a 2am call on October 16 telling of a break-in at the butchery. They went to the scene and found the back door leading to the cold room had been smashed.

“We followed footprints which led us to a compound in Shashe ward.’’ he said. The patrol entered the yard, and two men came out of the house and tried to run away. ‘’Luckily we managed to catch one of them while the other jumped over the fence and disappeared,” he said.

Tike said they arrested Kefiwamang, who agreed he had “stolen some meat and showed us the remains which he had placed in a bag.” Kefiwamang then took the police officers and soldiers to his partner-in-crime, Kayange, whom they found at home enjoying a breakfast of stolen meat with pap. The court heard he produced more meat, hidden in a bucket, to the police.

Asked by the court what they were using for the break in, they both confessed to having used a spade and an axe to chop down the back door - “we also used the spade to cut the electric cable thinking it was for the alarm,’’ they told the court.

Kings Butchery assistant manager Kebepilwe Lehohe said the damage caused was about P1 000. Kgosi Charles Letsholathebe, who heard the case, told the two men to look for employment for survival.

On the burglary count, they were both sentenced to five strokes on their bare buttocks without any fines, while for theft they were sentenced to six months in jail wholly suspended for a year without committing the same offence.

They were ordered to pay P500 each for the damage they caused at the butchery. The money is to be paid in three weeks or they go to jail for six months. The remaining meat was given back to them, as it was already old.

Good rains bring relief from heat

Good rains over the weekend have brought much-needed relief to parched areas of northern Botswana. Maun received welcome general rains on Sunday after earlier showers had been more localised.

Rain also fell over the Moremi and Okavango delta area, and it is hoped that vegetation for wild life will now improve. The Thamalakane River continues to flow, and some people say that this is the first time in many years that they have seen the river flow so late in October for a long time. However, it is expected that mostly sunny weather will prevail over the next few days. Forecasters are predicting warm conditions with temperatures into the 40 deg C or higher mark within a few days.

Private company lauded for corporate responsibility
By Bright Kholi

An initiative by 16-year-old Sohum Mehta for a children’s park worth P500 000 to be established in Maun with the support of his father’s company, A to Z Mica Build, is a challenge to the private sector to also start looking at what they can do for the community in which they operate.

Laying the foundation stone of the venture last week, President Festus Mogae said: “This project is a concrete expression of the love that the Mehta family have for the children of Maun, a practical demonstration of their positive human attributes and an outstanding example of corporate responsibility.”

He said the event symbolised “the remarkable human attribute that have inspired the Mehta family to give back something to the community that has hosted their business for the past 16 years.” Although they had no obligation to do so, they felt that as members of the human race and of the same community in particular, “advancing the welfare of Maun children was their business.

“I am particularly pleased that since the Mehta family started their business in Maun in 1990 they have donated generously to various community projects and remained exemplary members of the business community.” Mogae went through a list of donations which A to Z Mica has made, including a P100 000 commitment to the Independence soccer tournament for five years and P75 000 towards a fishing competition at Sepopa for five years

Gymnasium equipment at Thuso Rehabilitation Centre has also been donated by the company as well as P45 000 towards Gumare Primary Hospital, a bus stop and drinking water standpipe in Shakawe and equipment to various schools in Maun, Sehithwa, Nokaneng, Gumare, Sepopa and Shakawe.

“I have chosen to outline these projects because each one of them demonstrates remarkable community spirit on the part of the Mehta family,” Mogae said. “On behalf of Maun residents, the nation and on my own behalf, I commend A to Z Mica Build and members of the Mehta family for their exemplary service to the Maun community.” Mogae mentioned that with the setting up the park, the Mehtas are a step ahead in addressing one of the major challenges society is faced with - that of keeping children away from drinking places in search of entertainment and music.

“If we are to attain our Vision 2016 goal of building a prosperous, productive and innovative nation, we must in partnership with the private sector and parents, channel our children’s boundless energy towards healthy pursuits and lifestyles,” he said

Sohum Mehta, whose father is Subhash Mehta, the president of the sponsoring company, said at the event that he started having the idea to build a children’s park in Maun 11 years ago.He said that was after a friend of his died while playing on a mound of sand which collapsed, burying the friend. This led him to think that had there been a park in Maun where children could play, then his friend would not have died. The Indian High Commissioner to Botswana, Vishnu Hade, also attended the laying of the foundation stone.

BDF hands over library to Mababe community

By Bright Kholi

MABABE - Soldiers are better known as gun wielding personnel, whose main duty is on the battlefield, but the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has proved that soldiers are just like any member of the community with social responsibility.

They proved it over the weekend in Mababe when they handed over to the community a library that they built. Giving an overview of the project, the commander of BDF, Lt General Matshwenyego Fisher, said the project was part of their social responsibility.

He said the first part of the project was initiated by Intake 56, which contributed towards the construction of a recreation centre in the same village, and it was then completed and was officially opened by President Festus Mogae last year.

Fisher said that Intake 57 recruits then contributed towards the construction of the library and the office for the person working in the place. He said the main objective was to pave a smooth learning process for the children of Mababe. He said children needed to be encouraged to adopt the spirit of learning, adding that there is not better tool towards that than having a library in a village like Mababe.

The library project also received support from Collegium Educational Publishers, who donated books worth P40 000 and P10 000 towards organising for the handing over event. Collegium has also promised to pay an employee who will be working at the centre for the next 12 months. Other companies also helped with equipment that is to be used in the library.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Duncan Mlazie, who is also assistant minister of Finance, donated P3 000 towards the project. The managing director of Collegium, Johnson Chengeta, also promised that the Mababe library would receive a copy of every new book that they publish. The guest speaker, Minister of Home Affairs Moeng Pheto said the project exhibited an invaluable aspect of humanity called generosity.

“An important quality is how the BDF has customised by continuously finding ways of adding value to the lives of others in the society,” Pheto said. He said by doing this the BDF have done the country proud by embracing the pillars of Vision 2016.  “The fact that these fine soldiers are actively participating in the realisation of the pillars for Vision 2016 reflects positively on the leadership of the BDF,” he said. Pheto said it is common knowledge that due to scarce resources in terms of funds, the country lacks recreational facilities for the youth.

“Let us not abandon these precious facilities and engage in anti-social activities such as the abuse of alcohol and other forms of intoxicating substances. Remember that the HIV and AIDS scourge has in some instances been closely linked to the abuse of alcohol,” he said. Mlazie urged BDF to continue with the good work Fisher had pioneered and as Fisher leaves the BDF at the end of the month, the nation wanted to see his work continued by those who succeed him.

Work on bridge underway

SHAKAWE – Work has started on the new Mohembo Bridge across the Okavango River.

Drillers from a South African firm of contractors have already sent soil samples for testing and it is understood that more preparatory work is being undertaken. The company is the second to be contracted to do the work following the withdrawal from the scheme of another firm. The 1km long bridge is expected to ease traffic flow from the west to the east banks, currently served by a ferry.

Two held for petrol theft

MOHEMBO – Two men have been arrested by Mohembo police in connection with the theft of petrol from the river ferry.

Theft of petrol from the ferry has been ongoing, according to police, and it is sold to local car owners as there is no fuel filling station in Shakawe. The closest is at Etsha 6. The suspects are in police custody and will be brought before court to answer charges.

Community tourism potential on website

An opportunity for the tourism industry has been opened in Botswana. According to a report in the publication “Botswana Tourism Options” (BTO), “an international window for Maun tourism enterprises is geared to link the splendours of communities through a network of vibrant tourism routes.”

The report adds that this is done in a manner that conserves and nourishes the biodiversity which is the essential resources base. The “once in a lifetime opportunity to be marketed free” throughout the world is being offered through the Open Africa North South Tourism Corridor Project (OANSTC).

It makes use of integrated geographic information services and internet technologies.  This entails the collection of data on tourist attractions along with digital photographs and GPS readings. Information is collated, edited and placed on the system’s website for ease of access by companies or individuals.

A total of 60 routes have so far been established across South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zambia. There are also three routes in the initial stages in Namibia. The network includes 1 614 small micro medium enterprises that support 2 879 full time and 5 536 part-time jobs.

“Communities in Maun will benefit in the development stage of Open Africa,” a spokesman, Mike Scott, said.  These communities can be either rural or urban, and comprise existing and aspirant small and micro enterprises that have identified tourism potential.

Police need to meet global crime challenges

BOSTON, United States - Police commissioner Edwin Batshu says it is crucial to train and capacitate police officers in order to meet globalised crime challenges.

He told the National Organisation of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) here that escalating crime called for an intensified training of police officers to meet the technical demands and complexities of contemporary policing.

He added there was a need to train officers on information technology as this would greatly assist them in investigations of cyber crime. “We are looking at a capacity to deal with issues of fraud, money laundering, human trafficking, child pornography, copyright violations and terrorism,” he said. Batshu told NOBLE that Botswana lacked expert pathologists and that there were only three expatriate pathologists in the whole country.

He said there was a need to build capacity in the Botswana’s forensic laboratory through the training of more forensic scientist, while other priorities included investigations of rape and murder, fingerprint identification and classification, and sniffer and tracker dog handlers. “The challenges of policing require management styles and leadership capabilities commensurate with present policing challenges,” he added.

Didn’t come up smelling of roses!

A 34-year-old Zimbabwean woman’s efforts to smell lovely went all wrong at a local supermarket this week when she was found in possession of a stolen bottle of perfume.

According to evidence led in court,  Alice Moyadiyane entered Choppies supermarket, Maun, on the morning on the October 16, and snatched from a shelf a perfume which she hid under her dress. She was searched at the entrance and the perfume was found.

The police were informed. She was arrested and charged with common theft. She pleaded guilty and agreed to have broken the law. She was sentenced to two months imprisonment suspended up to four months on condition that she does not indulge in the same offence again.

EDITORIAL

Rapes and drugs

There must be many who have read with horror of the prevalence of rape and drugs in Maun and Ngamiland in general.

In this newspaper last week, the police said they were trying hard to stamp out the drugs racket which has taken hold in Maun, while at the same time Women Against Rape (WAR) gave stark facts about the number of rapes committed in Maun, and the fact that Maun had now become Botswana’s “rape capital.”  This town is already known as “crime capital” due to the crime outbreak that occurred here during this year. To also be known as the “rape capital” is unacceptable.

The police and WAR have over the years at various times urged women not to walk out alone at night, to avoid dark places, and to not go to bars by themselves. Unfortunately, the advice appears to fall on deaf ears.

When it comes to drugs, particularly hard drugs such as heroin and its variants, the police have been vigilant. They know there is a problem in Maun, and this has also been highlighted by various court proceedings.

Drug dealers the world over are notorious in that they do not care for the consequences of their actions.  It is known that these people use Botswana as one of the main conduits for drugs coming into southern Africa from Europe and other parts of the world due to our porous borders.

Unhappily, until such time as controls are tightened, drugs will continue to find their way into our cities, towns and villages with devastating results on young people, in particular.

We have to kick the drug habit in Maun but how to do it is the question.

THE MAUN SHUFFLE

President Festus Mogae showed himself to be a real man of the people while visiting Maun last week.

His response to a letter from a former Maun schoolboy, Sohum Mehta - who was instrumental in the establishment of a children’s park in Maun - asking whether he, the President of the Republic of Botswana, could find the time to give the venture his blessing came as a huge surprise.

Not only would he give the project his blessing, but he would be on hand to attend a fund-rising dinner and lay the foundation stone.

And there he was, large as life, in Maun on a night punctuated by power breaks (doesn’t anyone tell BPC their leader is in town?) to be happily photographed with many of the project’s sponsors. The next day, the President went to Sedie ward for the laying of the foundation stone and then flew off to Gaborone to continue with his normal presidency business.

The President didn’t have to come to Maun in his official aircraft. But he did, and if there ever was a signal of faith not only in children but in the children of Maun and in Maun generally, then it was this action.

Shuffle recalls the excitement in this newspaper’s offices when the President wrote to us offering his support for a supplement marking the 90th anniversary of Maun’s proclamation as capital of Ngamiland.

The then-District Commissioner, the chairman of the North West District Council, the chairman of the Tawana Land Board, sundry police and prison chiefs et al all didn’t bother to reply to our letter requesting a message of congratulations for Maun.

The only reply we received was from President Mogae, and for good measure he also congratulated this newspaper on its achievements (thank you again, Mr President). Last week again showed that where there is a will, there’s a way!

Had Sohum not asked the President, things may well have turned out differently, cash-wise, but he had the gumption to do so and for that alone the children’s park would appear to Shuffle to be in good hands. Well done, Sohum!

**

Birds, including owls, in the Matlapaneng and Matshwane bush areas on the outskirts of Maun are finding it more interesting to move into half-completed houses than to bother with making their own nests!

And local residents are so concerned about the trend they have consulted their traditional doctors and spirits to ask why this is happening . . .

It seems from what Montsolopi Kenalomang tells Shuffle that “there is a hell of a smell” in these houses, all because of the birds – and on occasions, monkeys as well forsaking the trees to set up home in the buildings.

Marapo Pelekekae, a traditional doctor, thinks that the strange behaviour is a portent for something odd that is likely to happen soon.

“This is most unusual,” was the wise doctor’s opinion, while a spiritualist believes “we need to pray hard for answers as these acts which could be related to dark forces at work in the spiritual world.”

Residents are now waiting for feedback from their doctors and the spirits. Geographical fact: Maun is situated at the end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley and lies in a seismic zone.

**

A wine auction is to take place in Maun on November 7 in aid of a worthy cause - the Motse wa Tsholofelo orphan care programme run under the auspices of the Maun Counselling Centre.

This newspaper has been running stories on fund raising problems facing the facility, situated in Matshwane, and now Bateman’s Wine & Liquor, a Maun company, and the  Rotary Club of Francistown is hosting a wine tasting, dinner and auction of fine South African Robertson wines at the Sports Bar and Restaurant.

Rotarians have down the years done sterling work in assisting needy communities, so this is one of those that needs to be supported. Even though Francistown is 500km from Maun, the fact that the Rotary Club there has seen fit to raise funds here is an indication of the reach of the spirit and fellowship of Rotary

**

The vets are back. A team of British vets have arrived in Maun to continue with a programme started earlier this year by the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) to improve the lot of our canine population, more particularly the animals that roam our streets.

The team will be here for two weeks and hopefully will be followed in the New Year by others as MAWS gets to grips with the animal situation.

**

Big Brother will be watching and listening to you in even greater detail one of these days.

Police chiefs meeting in the United States have recommended that parliaments, internet access and service providers as well as telecommunications providers develop what is quaintly called “appropriate data retention mandates.”

This simply means everything we say or read on e-mails, telephone calls, the internet etc will be retained for what the police chiefs describe as “a minimum specified reasonable period of time.”

Botswana, like 99% of other countries, already has an eavesdropping system in place. If a caller activates what is known as a “key word”, alarms are sounded and a quick check is made to ensure the caller is not involved in some or other activity not in the interests of the state.

Of course, most countries – including the Americans until they were forced to admit it - deny they snoop on their people but it is a fact of life that in this age of terrorism this has to be the norm. There is no such thing as a perfect world!

SPORTS

History repeats itself in 2nd final
By Cobrie Kgaodi

 
Here we go again! History is to repeat itself on Saturday as the town’s two soccer giants clash for the second time in a cup final at Maun Sports Complex. They clash in the Cosmos Top 8 final, and the last time the two met was to decide the fate of the Independence Cup, which was won by Makgabisa 3-1.

Makgabisanaga is tipped to scoop yet more silverware judging by the team’s performance. Terrors struggled to reach the final of this tournament, despite playing against lowly-placed sides.

It seems all is not well in the Terrors camp as they have failed to build a strong squad that performed well in the relegation games. Terrors recent display leaves much to be desired and whether they will get revenge against Makgabisa is not certain.

It has been their rather unpredictable performances that have got them to the finals by luck, winning all the games on penalties, which is not a fair result for a team which was once dubbed the “Real Madrid of Maun.” 

Makgabisa produced a sterling display last weekend to reach the final when they humiliated arch-rivals Maun Tigers 4-1 despite playing without two of their influential players, hard tackling Jama Tsaompe Mokumbi and the ever shining dribbling wizard Mumbush Moatshe.

Makgabisa were in full control of the game as they managed to find the back of the net through free scoring Kabelo Dunga Seemeka after Tigers defender Selelo Casalis deflected a shot from midfielder maestro Kuda Butale, and Dunga made no mistake to register the goal.

While Tigers were still shocked and trying to rectify their errors, Makgabisa were back again through a move initiated by Russell Wellio and Zola Dinonyane (2-0).
Tigers got their solo goal from a powerful strike by Obakeng Raboyane, a ball that left Makgabisa goalie, “Spider” Kanyetu rooted to the ground (2-1).

Before the end of the first half, Tigers – perhaps sensing more trouble - made the first change of the game when they brought on Itumeleng Mothetho for Peter Phiri, a move that didn’t help as Makgabisa made it 3-1 through Seemelo after a nice cross by Dinonyane who sent a long ball that went over their goal keeper and defenders who jumped high in a vain attempt to head it away.

Tigers striking duo of Tshepo Simon and Welcome Patrick were held back by Makgabisa’s captain, Paster Kgosietsile, who was assisted by Andrew Sakwape.
Seemeko put things beyond reach when he hammered in the final nail on Tigers coffin to make it 4-1 after a pass from Kentshitswe.

Sankuyo Bucks, which had the largest number of supporters at the game, left the ground very angry and swearing at referee Dickson Moyambo for having given Terrors a penalty that they said was not legitimate.

Score Kasale scored first for Bucks with a good shot after a poor communication between Terrors’ defender Oba Kebaitse and B Matlhare.  Terrors equalised from the controversial penalty through Fredrick Motukwa. Bucks were denied a goal in the second half from their scoring poacher who received a pass from Modisa Dodo who had dribbled past Banks Namane.

The final this Saturday kicks off at 3pm and members of the public are asked to converge at the Cosmos shop in the Old Mall at 1230pm for a motorcade to the stadium.  Tickets for P10 can be purchased at Cosmos shop, and a raffle will be carried out at the end of the game which will enable entrants to win prizes which include T-shirts and a cell phones.

Companies respond with support for football

911 Neighbourhood Watch chairman Patrick Penstone hands over the sponsored football kit to Maun United chairman Rebaone Ryder Seabelo.

Companies and other organisations are making efforts to support and improve football of the country and in the region.

Clubs are making efforts of getting sponsorship from companies around Maun. Makgabisa are getting sporting equipment from the German Embassy and this includes soccer balls, nets, training boots and a complete football kit.

Maun’s 911 Neighbourhood Watch donated a full kit and soccer balls to Maun United. The equipment, which cost close to P3 000, was handed over to the team’s chairman, Rebaone Ryder Seabelo, by Neighbourhood chairman Patrick Penstone. Seabelo said the club had been running short of equipment, which came to them at the right time as the team was preparing for the new season.  He also said that he appreciated the support they are getting from the community and that the donation would motivate and keep youngsters away from drug and alcohol abuse.

“We are also looking forward to other business organisations to support not only us but the region as well,” he added.  Elsewhere in the region, A to Z Mica Build hardware stores came up with a 5-year deal in  sponsoring the Independence Cup, and also gave the Nhabe Regional League P20 000. Cosmos Group has donated P17 000 towards the Cosmos Top 8 Cup tournament which reaches its final stage this weekend.

Spectacular fire draws onlookers

Hundreds of people thronged the road outside the Archein hardware property on Tsheko Tsheko Road last Saturday when bitumen-coated poles caught fire. The spectacular fire roared through the property, causing the evacuation of some nearby residents. The pall of smoke was seen for many kilometres. The 911 neighbourhood watch fire-fighting vehicle was on the scene soon after the alarm was raised, followed by the Department of Civil Aviation’s fire tender stationed at Maun airport. Foam and water was poured onto the blaze as anxious staff and friends quickly moved gas bottles and other inflammable goods close by the blaze.                (Picture: Nico van Heerden)

‘CUT BACK ON ELEPHANTS’

By Bright Kholi

SERONGA - The President of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), Valli Moosa, says something needs to be done to reduce the Botswana elephant population. Moosa was addressing the Okavango Polers Trust board in Seronga at the weekend Saturday as part of a visit he made to the Okavango Delta.

His statement was in response to a plea from the village chief for something to be done about the elephants. Moosa said IUCN experts that were part of his delegation will be in a position “to boldly say” to the Botswana government: “Reduce the elephants”.

Botswana is still debating a workable elephant management plan while ecologists say the country is overstocked with the animals which cause “a serious ecological concern that needs to be addressed.”

In New York last week, President Festus Mogae told former United States ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, that Botswana has donated elephants to other countries and was working with CITES to reduce the growing numbers of the animals – now estimated at 125 000.

Moosa promised that at the IUCN’s next general meeting he will, in his report, table a recommendation that the IUCN should support measures to reduce the elephant population in Botswana.

Chief Maeze Maeze said residents have a serious problem as the number of elephants had reached unbearable levels in that they have even become more dangerous to human lives. “Just yesterday we were burying a resident who was killed by an elephant when he was looking for his cattle,” Maeze said.

He also said that for the people to survive, the Okavango delta was a source of livelihood to them through tourism activities, which are conservation-based, and as such they needed technical expertise and support on how to better conserve the system. The camp manager of Mbiroba Camp - which is run by the Okavango Polers Trust - Osimilwe Tshubelo said in an overview of the Trust’s operations that what was paramount to its success is that the Trust operates without any outside or government funding like other community trusts, yet the Trust has managed to directly benefit more than 150 families.

There was also a concern voice over lack of services especially electricity, a good water supply and accessibility as the road is in a very bad condition. Moosa expressed his gratitude for having been able to visit Seronga and especially the Okavango Polers Trust, which he applauded  for its community based initiative which also benefits residents.

He said IUCN was responsible for the conservation of nature across the globe, adding that his visit to the delta was because it is “the most important place in the world . . . this is a unique place, where a big river empties itself into a desert to form a delta.”

Moosa said in protecting the delta and other  natural resources found within it, it is important  not to forget people living within it - “it is very painful to see rich people flying into the delta, paying a lot of money and people living in the delta without benefiting anything.”

The IUCN was working with the government to finalise the Okavango Delta Management Plan. “The wish is for the plan to ensure that revenues accrued from the delta through tourism do reach the communities within the delta,” which he said did not happen with many safari camps and lodges.

Drug habit taking hold in Ngamiland
By Golang Raditsela

Drug taking – particularly of dagga – has become a major problem in Ngamiland and Maun. Galeitsiwe Sebele, the officer in charge of the Diamond and Narcotics Squad in Maun, says they are “very concerned”.

In an interview with The Ngami Times the week, Sebele said some people have made it a habit to involve themselves in drug dealing, particularly of dagga.The practice has now gone over to selling such drugs to students.  “These people should know that they are destroying these children’s future”, he said, adding that in the past three months, 38 cases of dagga, with a weight of 2088.7 grams, were recorded. This followed two incidents of illegal possession of a green substance suspected to be dagga reported through tip-offs from the public.  In one incident, a 52-year-old man of Boseja, Obusitswe Keogotitse was found with the substance kept in his house and in another, a 38-year-old woman Onkemetse Motswanageng, together with her 33-year-old male friend, Taolo Santudu, were found keeping about 60g of a similar substance in their house.

Meanwhile, a Gumare man, Merafe Opadile (50) was found in possession of four large elephant tusks. The tusks were discovered by the police during a search after they were informed by a reliable source. The tusks are still to be analysed by the wildlife biologist in Maun.

‘Don’t pay the ferryman until you reach the other side’
By Bright Kholi

MOHEMBO - The words of the hit song “Don’t pay the ferryman until you reach the other side” became a reality on the river here at the weekend. An employee working for a project in the Okavango sub-district was driving to Seronga from Maun for an official event and on arrival at the Okavango River ferry waited for it to cross over from the other side of the river. When the ferry finally arrived, the vehicles on it were disembarked together with the passengers. Our Maun man then engaged his vehicle and onto the ferry he went. Little did he know that the crew of the ferry had taken a break and were not on board.

The ferry, which was not anchored, began drifting, eventually floating to the middle of the river. By this time the driver of the vehicle realised that the ferry was not under anyone’s command and people on the banks were shouting, “Pantoon e tsamaile ka motho” (the ferry is going away with the person).

Panic ensued, with the ferry dangerously heading the wrong way. It was then that the ferrymen realised they had to do something – and fast! They commandeered a small boat and followed the ferry, which by then had floated more than 100 metres from the river bank.

They managed to clamber aboard and take control, much to the relief of the man who was finally safely taken across to the other side for his drive to Seronga. The driver, who is a good friend to this reporter, could not stop talking about his experience. The following day he was still talking about how the ferry could have taken him to Namibia!

He did not look so scared when he narrated his story, which was probably all very well as he still had to negotiate the terrible road from Mohembo to Seronga after his experience - and then back the following day.  Next time, motorists, check whether the ferrymen are aboard before driving onto the vessel or you, too, might float all the way to Rundu!

‘More attention’ by parents is required
By Edwin Morolong

RAKOPS - School prize-givings in the district have been characterised by calls from principals and guest speakers for more attention to be paid by parents to the educational well-being of their children. At Rakops Junior Secondary School, the school head Keithome Masusu urged pupils to work hard to achieve a 75% pass rate, adding that obtaining high marks was an opportunity for them to boost future performance.

She pointed out that teaching was not merely only an activity for teachers but that parents had to take a role as well. She called on stakeholders to “form a link for the realisation of strategic goals for education.” Orapa and Letlhakane Mines company secretary Walter Libinda said at the prize giving event at Mmadikola Primary school  that students should not relax too much “since the end is still very far – sustain your hard work and commitment.” Libinda urged students to concentrate on their studies.

More than P294 000 was raised on Wednesday night for the Maun children’s park at a glittering dinner attended by President Festus Mogae at Maun Lodge. Businesses and individuals from Botswana and South Africa donated money ranging from P1 000 to P30 000 for the establishment of the facility in Sedie ward.  In this picture, President Mogae holds the cheque with Subhash Mehta, president of the sponsors, A to Z Mica Build Group (centre), and Mehta’s son, Sohum, who devised the project. On Thursday, Mogae unveiled the foundation stone. Sohum Mehta, 16, who was educated in Maun and Canada, took the initiative of writing to the President to ask for his attendance at this week’s events

Police search scrap metal cargo

This truck, loaded with scrap metal, was stopped in Maun at the weekend and escorted by police to the police station where it was off-loaded in a search for stolen goods. (Picture: Bright Kholi)

 By Golang Raditsela

Police pulled off the road at the weekend a truck packed with scrap metal to search the vehicle for stolen goods believed to be hidden among the cargo. It is understood the police were specifically hunting for dozens of missing water pumps allegedly stolen from the Department of Water Affairs, copper wire and other equipment allegedly taken from Botswana Power Corporation, and vehicle parts taken during a recent robbery at a Thito, Maun, garage. The truck and trailer is believed to be owned by a company based in Boseja, Maun, and was apparently enroute to Francistown with a cargo of metal, car parts, water meters and cylinder head gaskets for recycling. According to CID officer-in-charge Stale Phuthego, the police received several reports  about house breakings and theft from local garages and other shops which sell different vehicle parts. The Department of Water Affairs is also said to have reported missing items.

The police received a tip-off over the weekend about the truck, which was then traced and found, taken to the police station and off loaded. Two truck occupants and the driver were questioned and claimed to have bought the items at a scrap yard in Thito. The police doubted the information but remanded the two in custody for further investigations.

Police station commander Moitaly Thokweng disclosed that some of the items in the truck were confirmed to have been stolen. The vehicle has been impounded, and police are appealing to the public who buy scrap metal to always enquire from where the material emanates and also demand buyers’ IDs, contacts numbers and physical addresses for security reasons. The public is also being urged to identify goods they suspect may have been on the vehicle.

Lioness kills man in the Savuti
By Bright Kholi

A man has been killed by a lion in the Savuti area. The man is said to have been killed by a female lion early on Monday apparently while walking to switch on a generator.

Maun police station commander Moitaly Thokweng confirmed the death of the unidentified 56-year-old Seronga man.A spokesperson for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks in Kasane confirmed to The Ngami Times this week that they were investigating the incident.

Police this week said the lioness had been destroyed. Thokweng appealed to camp operators to provide a more secure environment for their employees. “They should make sure their employees are working and living in a safe working environment”, he said. In case of any movement, Thokweng said it must be done by a vehicle to avoid exposure to dangerous animals.

No decrease in anthrax mortalities
By Bright Kholi

There has been no decrease in the deaths of animals through anthrax in Chobe National Park since the outbreak of the disease early this month.

This has been said by Dr Cyril Taolo, of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, in an interview with The Ngami Times this week. Taolo said there had by last Friday been 185 deaths in various parts of the park located close to the Chobe River. The most affected animals are buffaloes followed by zebras.

As part of measures to contain the disease, carcasses were being disposed of while also trying to bring the situation under control. Taolo said the there was no sign that the disease was spreading.

 
Police crime statistics

The number of people who have died in road accidents in Botswana so far this year has reached 324 – one less than for the corresponding period in 2005. Police headquarters in Gaborone said this week that there were 247 accidents recorded by police in the week ending October 15.

A total of 1 019 motorists were also charged for over-speeding, with a breathalyser test for alcohol conducted on 144 of them. Seven were subsequently charged with drunken driving. A further 28 motorists were also arrested for driving while using hand-held cellphones.

Rape continued to be a problem for police, with 25 cases reported in the week, for which 11 suspects were arrested. This being the number of rapes reported since January 1 to 1 049 compared to 1 068 during the same period last year. Forty-two armed robberies took place in which cash totalling more than P56 000 and property valued at P114 000 was taken. Six suspects were arrested.

EDITORIAL

Fire tenders needed

The scenario is familiar. Fire consumes property, and there is nothing that Maun can do about it unless the community gets together and fights the blaze. The Department of Civil Aviation has at its disposal a fire tender but that, understandably, is not always available because of airport considerations. The 911 neighbourhood watch organisation now has fire-fighting equipment which is adequate to a point but what Maun really needs is a fire station and, of course, the trained manpower,  fire tenders and other equipment to go with it..

The big fire at a hardware store on Saturday must surely alert the authorities to this woeful lack of such an amenity in a booming town. It is time for them to take steps to do something about it and not to keep on saying that there is no funding. 

Expats and their licences

The sudden campaign to rid the roads of expatriate motorists who do not have Botswana driver’s licences comes as a surprise. It appears that many people with residence and work permits have no idea that they cannot drive on the roads if they have not obtained a local driver’s licence within 90 days of arrival. There also seems to be some confusion here as well, as the Botswana Police says it is 90 days and the Department of Transport and Road Safety is adamant it is 180 days.

Many of the people who now have to find other means of getting to their workplaces are fed-up with the police action, considering that they have never been stopped previously at our numerous road blocks for this alleged offence.

Some holders of the now-invalid SADC licences (in Botswana) have asked their home countries for proof that the licences they hold are not forged so that they will be able to obtain a Botswana licence, but this process could take up to six months or longer particularly if the motorist is a national of South Africa, New Zealand or such countries. 

Surely the authorities could have issued a general warning of impending action so that motorists could have received confirmation from their home countries that their licences were not forgeries.

What this has done, in the main, is to turn every expatriate with a foreign drivers licence into a criminal – because if the police think he or she has a forged licence, one is regarded as guilty until proven otherwise.

THE MAUN SHUFFLE

It can only happen in Maun.... We got into trouble recently for having drawn attention to a speech made by North West District Council chairman John Benn about the slow pace of work by the contractors on the Disaneng road.

Well, at the risk of again being turned into chop suey, we can now bring you the intriguing story of the trees that occupy the middle of the temporary road carved out of the bush by the contractors while they get on with the main job – tarring the gravel road.

Shuffle went along the temporary road only to find the way blocked by trees that are most certainly traffic hazards. Yes, some of the trees had signs right next to the trunks saying “keep left” or ”keep right” or whatever, but the point is why weren’t the trees avoided altogether in the carving out of a temporary road?

We know the contractors were also earlier rapped for having wiped out the vegetation where there had been no need to do so, and no doubt this time thought “we’ll show them!”

Well, they certainly have – and now we sit back and wait for the first Disaneng resident to wrap his car around a tree in the middle of the road. It has to happen sooner or later on one of those dark, rainy nights that lie ahead!

**

Remember the story of the Kalahari Desert mouse that stole a hearing aid? Well, the hearing aid has been found, but the culprit is nowhere to be seen!

It appears that the owner of the hearing aid recently had to spend a night in the hut from where it was originally removed and noticed while rummaging around that there was a hole in an almost inaccessible spot.

He asked for the hole to be widened and, voila!, there was his hearing aid resting nicely on a bit of vegetation. It had been well and truly chewed up but at least it was found!

**

Government public relations offices are, Shuffle fervently believes, supposed to tell the public what is going on – but it doesn’t appear as if the theory has been put into practice in Gaborone.

Maun’s legion of expatriate motorists found this out to their cost when at police roadblocks they were bluntly told their driver’s licences, and particularly those issued by SADC countries, were invalid in Botswana. Fines of P300 were levied and the driver’s licence confiscated.

SADC is supposed to be a union of 14 countries with uniform rules – but not it seems when it comes to the implementing of traffic regulations. Apparently some of the nations say that if a motorist lives in a country for longer than 90 days, they have to change their licence to that of the country in which they live.

The difficulty for South Africans, it seems, is that a letter declaring the existing licence is not a forgery has to be obtained – and that is a mission all on its own considering that South Africa appears to have the highest number of forged licences of any of the SADC countries!

The fear in Botswana appears to be that SADC licences may be forgeries, but how does one forge such a licence card? There are fingerprints, bar codes, photographs and a million other bits of information on the card! Botswana of course also has its share of such forgeries.

Well-meaning telephone calls to the South African/Zimbabwe/Zambian/Namibian high commissions in Gaborone elicited the following: “We don’t know. Talk to Pretoria/Harare/Lusaka/Windhoek”. If anything, Pretoria government departments for instance are long known for being unhelpful – both in the days of previous governments and the current administration.

However, all was not lost. One of the civil servants there realised that the caller was from Botswana and needed assistance, particularly when told that there is no South African consular representative in Maun (with a large South African population) and that the Gaborone high commission appeared to be disinterested or it was too close to lunch time! (The time has surely come for South Africa to follow the lead of its British, American, French and Germany counterparts by appointing an honorary Consul in Maun).

SADC needs to improve its so-called Protocols which bind all countries to the same standards (well, that’s the idea, Shuffle thinks) so that innocent people are not caught up in bureaucratic machinery.

Shuffle realises that as far as governments are concerned, the electorate is fodder but fodder too needs to be nurtured for the day when politicians want their votes.
As noted at the top of this column, maybe public relations officers need to be pushed a little harder . . .

**

The Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) is hard at it right now raising money or the visit by a second group of foreign vets to help spay the town’s thousands of dogs.

The last visit earlier this year was a huge success and it is hoped that the tour from October 24 will be just as successful, providing local residents with the chance of having quiet nights instead of hearing barking dogs hell-bent on finding mates for the night! There are also fewer dead dogs on our streets, a sign that the spaying operation worked well and dogs were now staying home rather than roaming. MAWS says it has been receiving many donations but still needs more assistance.

One fund-raising event planned is an Oriental evening at The Sports Bar on November 4. It should be a roaring success, as on the programme are belly dancers and lots of other fun. Oh, yes. You can dress up in Oriental/Middle Eastern garb as well or just come as you are (well, keep it decent, boys and girls!)

The earlier visit, organised by Virginia and Jan along with other members of MAWS – right down to Jan driving to Johannesburg to collect the vets as they came off the aircraft – concentrated largely on Maun but now an appeal is being made to outlying villages to also become involved. Any dog owners who wish to have their dogs spayed can contact Mervyn on 71651131.

As MAWS says, “We can make a difference!”

**

The last weekend was once again filled with activity in Maun and surrounding areas.There was the Top 8 soccer competition, an Arabian Extravaganza “belly dancing” show and the annual Okavango River raft race. It was good to see a cross-section of the community at all three, as this is what our town needs.

The rain held off for all three, although the blistering heat (in some parts it reached 38 deg C, by the way) took its toll, along with the jungle juice, on spectators at some events!

What interests Shuffle is the number of people who turn out at these events. There are people whom one never sees on a normal day, and it makes one wonder where they live or work!

Parents urged to pay up
By Golang Raditsela

Only a third of the students at a Maun school have paid their school fees for 2006 and parents had not made any effort to do so. The parents of children at Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School have again been encouraged to keep their promise. This was said by school’s senior teacher Thaelo Karume when delivering a speech at the prize-giving ceremony at the school.

He said the government had introduced a cost sharing procedure in 2006 which entailed paying school fees but said parents were reluctant to cover their share, describing their effort as “far from satisfactory”.

Karume added that out of the 1 009 enrolled students, only 360 have paid their fees. This according to Karume means the school is owed P186 000 from 620 students. A total of 29 students are exempted from paying.

The sad part of this issue is that these parents do not make any effort to come forward and discuss reasons of the defaults with the school management, he said. Parents were reminded that they have entered into a contract with the government and should therefore have to live up to its terms and conditions.

Other challenges that the school is facing include a high mortality rate of manpower, shortage of facilities, low private sector involvement, HIV/AIDS infection and affection among students and staff, which Karume referred to as “reflections of the disorder in the society that overspills into the school”.

The challenges are also attributed to the dwindling performance levels. Guest speaker, District AIDS Coordinator Wililani Goitsemang, emphasised the need to guide children, especially on the parental side. He said parents take more time with their children and know them better and therefore should play a pivotal role in their children’s development, but they are failing to do so.

Parents were also advised to revert to the old days where their main duty was to educate children through telling stories and folk tales. Goitsemang appealed to students to refrain from sexual activities and be fully aware of HIV and AIDS as it already affected the school.  A total of 53 students have left the school due to pregnancy and for other reasons, which he said is a clear evidence of students’ involvement in sexual activities.

New Shakawe school on the cards
By Murundu Diwanga

SHAKAWE – The district has been assured that construction of a senior secondary school in Shakawe would begin soon. The promise has come from the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, A Bakgothi, when he addressed a recent kgotla meeting here.

He said the school had been planned as a unified senior secondary which would mean local students would no longer have to undergo their secondary school education in Maun and Ghanzi. Construction would have started during the 1997-2003 period but due to a lack of money and other incomplete projects, it had been postponed.

‘Hire graduates’ is plea

GABORONE – A plea for businesses to hire graduates from the University of Botswana irrespective of whether or not they have experience in a particular field has been made by the attorney-general, Athalia Molokomme. She said at the university’s annual graduation day that claims that the graduates were in most cases not sufficiently prepared for the world of work was unfair.

The government newspaper, daily News, reports she said that “no university degree, no matter how practical, can ever design a tailor-made employee who knows exactly what to do on day one of work.” Molokomme said competition for jobs was increasing and have advised those who have not secured jobs to be creative and take calculated risks instead of simply. She said an entrepreneurial spirit needed to be developed.

Tsodilo honours students on a high note
By Basadi Morokotso

Tsodilo Junior Secondary School’s prize giving was on a high note after two students - Terrence Kgwarae and Lesego Morolong - featured in the “My African Dream” talent competition finals in Gaborone recently. Kgwarae brought honour to the school and the town by winning the junior section category.

In her welcoming remarks, school head Gladys Motshidisi lamented that the school has recently had problems, the worst being students choosing to desert school for no apparent reasons while at the same time the school lost a total of seven girls due to pregnancy. In addition, they have also had 21cases within the school that included dodging of classes, crime and drug abuse.

She also expressed her worry that some students still have not paid their school fees, and blamed parents and guardians. Motshidisi said this should be a challenge to them and that they should collaborate with teachers to mould and create a better future for their children, rather than waiting for the consequences.

She, however, said besides all these, the school can boast of achievements by Kgwarae and Morolong, saying these students had made the school proud and flew its flag high. Guest speaker business development officer at Letshego (Maun Branch), Joseph Batsalelwang, urged students to keep up their good work and build relations with the teaching staff.  He said students are in most cases rewarded for their outstanding performance both academically and non-academically and are encouraged to excel and achieve in order to be recognised.  “Success does not come by accident, in fact it goes hand in hand with dedication, commitment, team spirit and hard work,” he said. “I have no doubt this school has brilliant and potential students who will be future leaders.”

He said government is doing its best to offer education for all even though some social ills such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS are proving difficult. Batsalelwang urged students to stop unbecoming behavior as it will do them no good but drive them to doom, and could even end up with them “knocking on prison doors at an early age.”

He encouraged parents to get involved in the affairs and well being of their children for their development.  A member of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA), Gaetime Bikitshane, urged parents to feel free to confront school management if they are not happy with matters and grievances concerning their children, and said their low turn out at PTA meetings is worrisome.

Where has all the AIDS money gone?

GABORONE – Doubts are being raised here about what has happened to money received for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Members of parliament and social workers have been quoted extensively in weekly newspapers saying that millions of pula from international foundations and other organisations is not reaching deserving people.

The government says it is in the current financial year spending P600-million on HIV/AIDS programmes, including the ARV programme.  A non-governmental organisation (NGO) was, according to the auditor-general, provided with P29.7-million for AIDS and “there has not been accounting of any description.”

The auditor-general’s report says “the most significant finding was that there was serious lack of control . . . it was noted that funds were issued to NGOs, including some that did not qualify for participation in these programmes.

In one newspaper, three stories have been published decrying the situation. The first story dealt with the alleged stopping of food rations to victims, a second on how providing anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to people without food in their stomachs is not acceptable, and the third that beneficiaries of HIV/AIDS are allegedly being “sidelined.”

The worst hit, according to most reports, appears to be home-based care groups, who have literally been left to fend for themselves.  According to one report, the government has apparently told AIDS suffers they cannot exist on handouts and must therefore look for work.

That report specifically mentions Gaborone, Oodi, Otse and Ramotswa as being among the centres where this is apparently taking place. No confirmation of similar instructions having been issued in the Ngamiland area – the worst hit HIV/AIDS district in the country – could be obtained at the time of going to press.

The executive secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Augusto Tomaz Salaosima, says it is pointless providing ARVs to people with an empty stomach. He described this as a challenge that had to be met.

SPORTS

Row, row, row down the river on a Sunday morning - and beat the rest!

There was huge excitement on the banks of the Thamalakane River on Sunday when 14 “built-on-the-spot” rafts took to the water in the annual raft race. Young Angus Huebsch took first prize paddling his “Silver Bullet” (pictured) followed home by “HMS Long Drop” – complete with toilet! – and third was “Front Runners.” Then came “Bad Girls”, “The Blues”, “Wobbles” and “Speedy Hippos” to fill the first six places. Prizes were sponsored by Custro’s Safaris, Crocodile Camp, Sports Bar and Restaurant, French Connection Restaurant, Ron’s Fresh Produce, Bateman’s Fine Wines, Gunn’s Camp, Spar supermarkets and Power Serve. Proceeds from the entry fees went to the Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS).                 (Picture: Bose Sethupa)

Sankoyo through to Top 8 quarterfinals
By Cobrie Kgaodi

Much improved Sankoyo village-based Bush Bucks shocked many soccer lovers when they came from behind to beat CTO 4 -2 in a Cosmos Top 8 soccer game played at Maun sports complex last weekend.

The first 20 minutes of the game looked tough for the only team in the tournament which comes from outside Maun as CTO strikers took control by visiting the Sankoyo goal area frequently.

CTO scored first a minute into the game through Gaepone Ntongwane, and Bucks equalised from a goal by Letso Dick two minutes later.  CTO looked destined to victory when they took the lead of the game with a marvellous header from Okitso Masoko after a well taken corner kick. CTO continued to pile on pressure and were awarded a penalty after Dick handled the ball inside the box and an over-excited Kennedy  Mmereki sent the ball wide.

In the second half, the complexion of the game changed completely as fatigue seemed to affect CTO, and Bucks capitalised to steal an equaliser from the lethal boot of scorer Kasale who connected from a rebound ball that hit the cross bar after an initial shot from Dick.

Kabo Bayei made it 3-2 after a long-range pass from substitute Kasale, who had earlier missed scoring. There were ululations from Bucks supporters, who came in large numbers to rally behind their team, when Kasale put the tie beyond doubt  and made sure his team advanced to the semi-finals with a 4th goal after outrunning CTO’s Elijah Lefatshe before unleashing a grass-cutter. CTO could not hide their pain when the final whistle was blown. Bucks meet Terrors in the semi finals on Sunday (3pm).

Terrors advanced to the next round after beating BMC 5-4 in a penalty shootout after both teams settled for a 3-3 draw in a tough contest that could have gone either way.

BMC were the first to draw blood from a goal by Menson Mompati five minutes into the game. BMC made it two in a row from Mompati with a well-planned free kick 12 minutes later. Terrors played without their inspirational midfielder Ronald Sebako and industrious midfielder maestro Siza Alfred Ndawila.

It was not long before Ngale Diphatheletso corrected his errors when he scored the first goal for Terrors in the 26th minute. Pelontle Dimbo levelled the score four minutes before the half-time whistle. After the break, Terrors took control of the situation.

Business Boenyane put his side ahead from a penalty kick after a BMC defender handled the ball inside the box. BMC came back as they fought hard to equalise through a well taken free kick by Olorato Phasego. Makgabisa sent Moeti packing with a 5-0 win and will battle it out with Maun Tigers in the semi finals.

Tigers progressed to the semis with a 6-2 drubbing of North West United. The opening games of the tournament, sponsored by the Cosmos Group of Companies, was attended by the Member of Parliament for Okavango, Vista Moruti, who was guest speaker at the opening ceremony. He thanked the sponsors for leading by example as Vice President Ian Khama called for companies to improve the lives of Batswana through sport.