BDP MP Candidates on Red alert
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has decided to go to elections without ‘double-dealers’ and focus only on the trustable cadres.
The latest development has seen the party hatching a plan to recall at least three parliamentary candidates before elections. The top hierarchy believes they might jump off the moving train at the eleventh hour. WeekendPost is reliably informed that by now the party could have long recalled three parliamentary candidates on conditions that they are believed to be ‘sleeping with the enemy.’s
The trio of Jwaneng-Mabutsane’s Mephato Reatile, Mmadinare’s Molebatsi Molebatsi and Francistown West’s Ignatius Moswaane are the targets who are likely to be the causalities of the plan. Already there are some who are already waiting in the wings to take over, should the plan materialise. Reports from Tsholetsa House indicate that they are not content with Reatile representing the party in Jwaneng-Mabutsane constituency.
This it is said to be emanating from the cordial relationship the candidate has with the former President Lt Gen Ian Khama who has now metamorphosed into BDP arch-enemy. “The belief is that he is Khama’s ally and it will not be easy to convert him. He is also believed to be some of those that leaks the party strategies with the outsiders, Khama to be precise,” disclosed a highly placed source this week.
Intentions to get rid of Reatile who was brought into parliament by Khama in 2014 as a Specially Elected Member of Parliament has always been thought of but without sufficient grounds to eject him. It is said it was first mooted during the primary elections where the party preferred his rivals. Last week, when he was launched all the party high officials shunned the event until Botlogile Tshireletso intervened.
“Initially he was to be launched by former VP Ponatshego Kedikilwe and Shaw Kgathi but he was told on Friday that they won’t make it on Friday while the launch was on Sunday and he had to run around until he convinced Mma Tshireletso. What puzzles the mind is most of the party officials were from Kgalagadi North and the expectation was one or two could have graced his launch,” said the informant.
For his part Reatile said: “I believe it was just commitment from party elders as VP [Slumber Tsogwane] told me but I am not sure as to whether they want to fire me. For me, we should just respect Khama as our former boss since he can’t return to power anyway, but we should accord him respect.” Meanwhile Molebatsi who won against Minister of Minerals Land and Water Sanitation Kefentse Mzwinila is also teetering on the cliff. The party believes he is aligned to the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) and might cross the floor with their seat after elections.
“Already Tebelelo Seretse (campaigns manager) and Boy Sebetela have visited the constituency informing him that voters don’t want him. Apparently the minister [Mzwinila] has been running a parallel governance in the constituency to discredit Molebatsi because of his relations with BPF,” disclosed an informant. Last week some councillors wrote to their regional leadership saying the working relations with their MP candidate have reached low ebb. It is said while the party has failed to knock him out through technicalities they are still adamant that he might not contest the elections under the BDP ticket.
He is expected to be launched by Kedikilwe this week and already it is predicted that his launch could be a low key vent just like that of Reatile. “There was no good health between councillors and myself but the party through BOMASE representative in the central committee Ngaka Ngaka, Boyce Sebetela and Executive Secretary Ame Makoba reconciled us. So far we are good. In respect to BPF we know each other because they were once BDP members and we do talk to each other since they were in the structures before going there but apart from that there is no any relationship I can talk about,” said Molebatsi when responding to these reports.
Moswaane is also facing the same situation but with a twist. “Not like they don’t want him like the two but the utterances he made about the P900 million tender is the case. For now his future will be determined by the report from the region and delegation sent by the leadership to investigate if there are any external forces influencing him. But they have admitted that it will be difficult to fire him because he is an independent mind,” added a source.
“I am working well with the region as well as the Central Committee and I have not received any communique to recall me. We only met as a constituency after last weekend debacle in respect to ask the Central Committee as to what happened but we were advised to come up with new date for launch which will be on the first and second week of next month,” Moswaane said about possibilities of him being fired from the party.
TK, GOYA, MAKGELEMELE GIVEN MONTH ULTIMATUM
Meanwhile other three BDP MPs in the Central District are in a tricky situation as to whether to continue with their party or join the newly formed BPF. They have been given up to the end of this month to have decided their fate by BPF. Fresh information says Tshekedi Khama could have defected this week but decided to freeze the move until the dissolution of parliament where he is also expecting to get his Ministerial package which he does not want to risk losing by crossing the floor now. As is, he is also left with only two council candidates in his constituency with the rest having joined the BPF.
Palapye’s Master Goya has been approached by constituents including his campaign manager alerting him to open his eyes as most voters are going to BPF, says a source. This has put him under pressure as his constituency is regarded as BPF stronghold with some already lining up to contest under the party should he reject the advice from his inner circle.
This is the same thing that has left Shoshong parliamentary candidate Philip Makgalemele shaking as BPF, should he resist to join them have decided to partner with UDC’s Aubrey Lesaso to oust him. Both Goya and Makgalemele have been given up to the end of this month to have made up their minds.
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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.