Mmolotsi: Pilane has kidnapped BMD
BMD Vice President of the Gaolathe led faction, Wynter Mmolotsi says Advocate Sydney Pilane has emerged as the covert third force behind the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD)’s turbulence in the run up to the National Congress in Bobonong.
Pilane is said to have made sure that the mediation meeting held at Bobonong Police Station to map a way forward following the violence that erupted at Matshekge Hill Secondary School bears no fruit, leaving Gaolathe’s faction with no option but to hold a parallel congress at Bobonong Junior Secondary School (JSS).
Addressing the media after delivering a closing speech at their congress at Bobonong JSS, Mmolotsi revealed that while they expected the infamous triple M(Module, Mangole and Mmatli) at the mediation meeting at the police station, instead arrived Sydney Pilane who vehemently pointed out that nothing can be done except for proceeding with the election. While at the meeting, Modubule remained at Matshekge busy with the preparations for the election, making the mediation efforts worthless.
Mmolotsi says it is then that they realised that Pilane was all along the undercover hand secretly twisting the arms of the infamous “triple m” to skew the axis in his favour. Mmolotsi says Pilane is a high profile learned Advocate who however deliberately misinterpreted the constitution to favour his intention to abduct the movement from the people.
Mmolotsi says theirs was a legitimate congress as it involved all the relevant structures and delegates as per the BMD constitution as opposed to the Matshekge congress where the delegates were “hired from Gaborone and divided into groups of twelve as delegates of different branches.” He posits that the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) will recognise them as the legitimate committee as what the other faction did has all the hallmarks of criminality and therefore it will be irrational for Pilane’s led committee to be legitimised. He also pointed out that Pilane cannot possibly lead the BMD as his membership is still contentious, and therefore not a member of the BMD in good standing. Admittedly, Pilane’s membership is one of the items that will make the agenda of the committee when it starts executing its duties.
He says their aim is to open a new office at an affluent area where the vast majority of the BMD can easily have to access to. He further says their immediate action plan is to put into place functional structures of the BMD to ensure the smooth running of the movement in preparation for the 2019 General Election under the UDC. The emphasised the need for expediting the appointment of Disciplinary Committee as they foresee a lot of indiscipline following the congress. He says the Pilane faction members are still members of the BMD as they are still card carrying members of the movement.
Pilane on the other hand has claimed legitimacy, pointing out that the national congress of the BMD is organised under the auspices of the National Executive committee (NEC). He emphasised that the congress was not an opportunity for the suspended members to launch an appeal or negotiate terms of inclusion. Like Mmolotsi, Pilane accused Gaolathe’s faction to have hired delegates in order to stage a separate congress, something that he described as power hungry tactics.
He stated that the mediation meeting with the police did not bear any fruit as the Gaolatlhe faction demanded the appointment of a new electoral board that would verify the voters roll yet the congress is called by the NEC which deals with all the preparations including verifying the voter’s roll. Pilane says that they are open for reconciliation but they are tired of begging Gaolathe’s faction to come to the table for reconciliation. He says the reports that vilifies his candidature for the BMD presidency are ill-advised as the BMD presidency does not belong to any particular individual but open to all members of the movement who express interest in the position.
BMD’s Liberal Constitution
Pilane who is reported to be the architect of the BMD liberal constitution told his followers at Matshekge that when they crafted the constitution, they were wary of centralising executive powers on the president as in the constitution of their former political home, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). He says theirs was carefully fashioned to avoid the fate that befell them at the hands of President Khama at BDP. In hindsight, Pilane says they had to make sure that the president is not too powerful as they knew that they might encounter a similar problem if the presidency falls on the wrong hands. In BMD, Pilane says the more powers are entrusted on the Chairperson and the structures of the party but not the president.
Modubule/Mangole NEC
The triple m faction led by Nehemiah Modubule, Gilbert Mangole and Dr Tlamelo Mmatli elected Advocate Sydney Pilane as President with Dr Mmatli as the Vice President. Modubule and Mangole retained the position of Chairman and Secretary General respectively. Tseleng Botlhole deputises Mangole as Deputy Secretary General. Percy Bakwena was elected Treasurer General deputised by Simon Zingu while Freddy Ramodise and Christine Ramakgobo were elected National Organising Secretary and National Policy Director respectively. Nineteen (19) additional members were also elected. All positions were unopposed. Pilane has also requested the members to go nominate five more additional members who will be women.
When voting commenced, due diligence was not conducted to ensure that the delegates in the hall met a quorum. Pilane said there was no doubt the people on the hall formed a quorum, explaining that the quorum is only confirmed at the beginning of the congress and not when the voting commences.
Gaolathe/Mmolotsi NEC
The Gaolatlhe faction held their separate congress at Bobonong JSS where all suspensions were reversed to allow the expelled leaders to contest for positions in the NEC. The faction also rescind the decision to derecognise the BMD Youth League which the Modublue/Mangole faction had described as an unlawful gathering. It was moved that the election continue despite the absence of the NEC’s chairman and the secretariat. The new electoral board was endorsed with Dr Margaret Nasha being the election officer.
Ndaba Gaolatlhe retained the presidency together with Wynter Mmolotsi as Vice President. Major General Pius Mokgware was elected party chairman while Dr Phenyo Butale bagged the position of Secretary General assisted by Moalosi Sebati as deputy secretary general. The position Treasurer went to Rassie Oarabile Tshenyego with Vasco Tathego as Deputy Treasurer while Kabelo Mahupe and Fedric Kololo were elected policy director and national organiser respectively.
The committee has 15 additional members and additional five women that include Dr Margaret Nasha. These women, Mmolotsi referred to as national appointees. Unlike at Matshekge, Gaolathe’s faction confirmed the numbers of delegates from all relevant structures in the voters roll prior to voting. It had 40 branches with total number of delegates of 415 which included the four members of parliament and 30 councillors.
News
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.”
News
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.
News
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.