Dikgosi move against north/south political rhetoric
Members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi this week moved swiftly to neutralize the north/south rhetoric threatening to divide the country when electing the leadership of the House.On their first day of the 4th sitting of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi following the country’s recent general elections which almost sliced and diced the country between north and the south which pundits say threaten to disturb the peace and stability known to Botswana, dikgosi clinched to unity.
The elections saw most part of the South rooting for the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the opposition Umbrella for Democratic Party (UDC), Botswana Patriotic Party (BPF) and Alliance for Progressives winning patches of most constituencies in the north part of the country. To move away from such move, dikgosi this week counterbalanced their leadership during the election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson on the opening day whereby they also took oath or affirmation of allegiance.
The Ntlo Ya Dikgosi Chairmanship contest was dominated by Southerners dikgosi being paramount Chiefs: Kgari Sechele of Bakwena; Tlokweng’s Puso Gaborone as well as Malope Gaseitsiwe II of the Bangwaketse. In the election, the members settled for Kgosi Gaborone with a whopping 16 votes’ against Malope’s 11 while Sechele trailed behind with 6 votes – out of the 34 cast.
Following the announcement of the results, Balete paramount Chief Mosadi Seboko stood up to persuade the house to nominate and vote for Kgosi Tshipe Tshipe of Mahalapye region who would later thrash Moeti Monyamane by 18 to 13 votes to secure the Vice Chairmanship position. Previously, both Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship portfolios has been held by Puso Gaborone sand Malope Gaseitsiwe.
Speaking after his election, the new Chairperson of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi Gaborone said Batswana should lick old wounds and move forward. “We wish to work together to unite as a nation. Because we only have one country, one Botswana. So I pray for this leadership to find a common ground,” he stated. He continued to point out that they wish dikgosi should be part of the much talked about constitutional review as there is need for it.
“As Ntlo Ya Dikgosi we want to make contribution on constitutional review and to ensure that bogosi becomes relevant. The government has stated its intention and it seems is committed to the review of the supreme law. The House embraces this exercise. We also wish to take part in the exercise. The review is crucial to modernize our laws to today’s standards and demands,” Gaborone added.
When advocating for changes in the constitution, the Chairman also added that there is need to rope in a Counsel and beef up security in the laws of the House of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi. “Some of the amendments include the inclusion of the Parliamentary Counsel in the rules of procedure as well as security in the Chambers,” he highlighted. According to Gaborone, his new agenda is to enable House to amend the rules to enable the President Mokgweetsi Masisi to address the House annually.
“Part of the amendments include allowing special dignitaries or guests or visiting delegations, to allow this Honourable House,” he added. As part of his new agenda he also explained that they have Committees in Ntlo Ya Dikgosi which must resuscitated. A Political Analyst at the University of Botswana also observed and concurred that during the recent Ntlo Ya Dikgosi election you could see that there was an element of north/south divide which the members tried to counteract.
“The way they chose their Chair from South and their Vice Chair from north was calculative and I commend them,” he emphaised. He said Ntlo Ya Dikgosi is however just a toothless body with no powers since dikgosi moved to politics. “It’s so unfortunate that dikgosi decided to join politics. Then politics suppressed bogosi as their powers were taken. The power of dikgosi to allocate land was very key. It was taken to the Land boards and so they don’t have powers on land and many other things as they used to be,” he stated.
The academic also asserted that other tribes should be recognized. He continued: “it is clear that other tribes have been swallowed by the so called major tribes as prescribed in the constitution and this should be reviewed.” He stated that we need to acknowledge that when the country was established, bogosi was the backbone unlike now.
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Nigerians, Zimbabweans apply for Chema Chema Fund
Fronting activities, where locals are used as a front for foreign-owned businesses, have been a long-standing issue in Botswana. These activities not only undermine the government’s efforts to promote local businesses but also deprive Batswana of opportunities for economic empowerment, officials say. The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned of heavy penalties for those involved in fronting activities especially in relation to the latest popular government initiative dubbed Chema Chema.
According to the Ministry, the Industrial Development Act of 2019 clearly outlines the consequences of engaging in fronting activities. The fines of up to P50,000 for first-time offenders and P20,000 plus a two-year jail term for repeat offenders send a strong message that the government is serious about cracking down on this illegal practice. These penalties are meant to deter individuals from participating in fronting activities and to protect the integrity of local industries.
“It is disheartening to hear reports of collaboration between foreigners and locals to exploit government initiatives such as the Chema Chema Fund. This fund, administered by CEDA and LEA, is meant to support informal traders and low-income earners in Botswana. However, when fronting activities come into play, the intended beneficiaries are sidelined, and the funds are misused for personal gain.” It has been discovered that foreign nationals predominantly of Zimbabwean and Nigerian origin use unsuspecting Batswana to attempt to access the Chema Chema Fund. It is understood that they approach these Batswana under the guise of drafting business plans for them or simply coming up with ‘bankable business ideas that qualify for Chema Chema.’
Observers say the Chema Chema Fund has the potential to uplift the lives of many Batswana who are struggling to make ends meet. They argue that it is crucial that these funds are used for their intended purpose and not siphoned off through illegal activities such as fronting. The Ministry says the warning it issued serves as a reminder to all stakeholders involved in the administration of these funds to ensure transparency and accountability in their disbursement.
One local commentator said it is important to highlight the impact of fronting activities on the local economy and the livelihoods of Batswana. He said by using locals as a front for foreign-owned businesses, opportunities for local entrepreneurs are stifled, and the economic empowerment of Batswana is hindered. The Ministry’s warning of heavy penalties is a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to eliminate fronting activities and promote a level playing field for local businesses.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s warning of heavy penalties for fronting activities is a necessary step to protect the integrity of local industries and promote economic empowerment for Batswana. “It is imperative that all stakeholders comply with regulations and work towards a transparent and accountable business environment. By upholding the law and cracking down on illegal activities, we can ensure a fair and prosperous future for all Batswana.”
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Merck Foundation and African First Ladies mark World Health Day 2024
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of MerckFoundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*. “For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej. Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities. “I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej. “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
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Interpol fugitive escapes from Botswana
John Isaak Ndovi, a Tanzanian national embroiled in controversy and pursued under a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), has mysteriously vanished, bypassing a scheduled bail hearing at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Previously apprehended by Botswana law enforcement at the Tlokweng border post several months earlier, his escape has ignited serious concerns.
Accused of pilfering assets worth in excess of P1 million, an amount translating to roughly 30,000 Omani Riyals, Ndovi has become a figure of paramount interest, especially to the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the far reaches of Asia.
The unsettling news of his disappearance surfaced following his failure to present himself at the Extension 2 Magistrate Court the preceding week. Speculation abounds that Ndovi may have sought refuge in South Africa in a bid to elude capture, prompting a widespread mobilization of law enforcement agencies to ascertain his current location.
In an official communiqué, Detective Senior Assistant Police Commissioner Selebatso Mokgosi of Interpol Gaborone disclosed Ndovi’s apprehension last September at the Tlokweng border, a capture made possible through the vigilant issuance of the Interpol red notice.
At 36, Ndovi is implicated in a case of alleged home invasion in Oman. Despite the non-existence of an extradition treaty between Botswana and Oman, Nomsa Moatswi, the Director of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), emphasized that the lack of formal extradition agreements does not hinder her office’s ability to entertain extradition requests. She highlighted the adoption of international cooperation norms, advocating for collaboration through the lenses of international comity and reciprocity.
Moatswi disclosed the intensified effort by law enforcement to locate Ndovi following his no-show in court, and pointed to Botswana’s track record of extraditing two international fugitives from France and Zimbabwe in the previous year as evidence of the country’s relentless pursuit of legal integrity.
When probed about the potential implications of Ndovi’s case on Botswana’s forthcoming evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Moatswi reserved her speculations. She acknowledged the criticality of steering clear of blacklisting, suggesting that this singular case is unlikely to feature prominently in the FATF’s assessment criteria.