Get ready for Prof Lumumba’s useful oratory
Having attracted two hundred and fifty participants in its inaugural event last year, the Career Elevation Seminar is hoping to double the number of participants this year. In a historic turn of events, the event organisers revealed that the second annual event this year will be headlined by Kenyan School of Law Chief Executive Officer, Professor PLO Lumumba.
The Career Elevation Seminar continues to be the only career event for ambitious professionals and organisations that are keen to develop talent in Botswana. This year’s theme, “Inspiring top talent to greater heights; rise into your destiny,” reflects their desire to inspire excellence in the workplace and they guarantee a great conferencing and networking experience in the industry.
The event organizer, Chief Executive Officer at Progressive Institute Mmoloki Mmolotsi said one of the greatest challenges within the modern workplace is the retention of premium talent in the increasingly competitive global economy which has moved power from employers to employees, turning talent into a seller’s market and making the workforce a core strategic concern for the c- suite. This means that companies are fierce competition for top- talent that will innovate and provide a customer- centric experience.
Mmolotsi says the Career Elevation Seminar inspires people to be superior leaders and achieve amazing results. “Transforming organisations into great enterprises is a process driven by the heart and the head”. The event should be attended by Directors, Managers, Supervisors and Team Leaders. The second Career Elevation Seminar is billed for October 18th at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) and tickets are sold for P3, 500. 00 per delegate. “It gives your fast- rising employees and high- potential executives the momentum to significantly boost their performance. It also gives leading organisations the ability to attract, develop and retain premium talent in order to continue improve market position,” Mmolotsi.
Keynote Speaker, who is Prof Lumumba?
The Kenyan School of Law Chief Executive Officer Professor Lumumba is known as a leading thought leader and Pan- Africanist of our time. Intellectually fearless and a perennial visionary he is perhaps the foremost economic, social, environmental and political thinker in Africa today. He has delivered several powerful speeches which have attracted several thousands of views on YouTube alluding to or about African solutions to African problems across the globe and also remembered for his emotion laden and energetic speech at the third Anti- Corruption Convention in Uganda in 2013, The Tragedy of Africa.
Born July 17, 1962 in Kenya Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba served as the Director of Kenya Anti- Corruption Commission from September 2010 to August 2011 and is currently the Director of the Kenyan School of Laws since the year 2014. An eloquent lawyer, he holds a PhD in Laws of the sea from the University of Ghent in Belgium. He is also a staunch Pan- Africanist and has delivered several powerful speeches alluding to or about African solutions to African problems. He is one of the trustees and the Executive Director of African Institute of Leaders and Leadership.
He is the admirer of Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara, the deceased revolutionary leaders of the DR Congo and the Burkina Faso, respectively. He is also remembered for his motion laden speech at the third Anti- Corruption Convention in Uganda in 2013, The Tragedy of Africa. He has referred to and quoted them several times in his speeches which have thousands views on YouTube. On August 28, 2015 the PAV Ansah Foundation invited him to speak at the 2015 PAVA Forum on Good Governance, Whither Africa? At the lecture, he expressed serious concern over how African leaders had allowed the energy crises to reach such a devastating stage. Lumumba encouraged African leaders to rise up to the challenge of changing the fortunes of the continent. In 2017 gave a moving speech to youths in Kenya on importance of making bold choices at the Fearless conference 2017.
“There are two ways to be at the dinner of civilization. Its either you are at the dinner or the waitress. Choose now”- Prof PLO Lumumba
Local speakers who will take centre stage at this year’s event include Dr Kopano Mpuang- Allmon, Executive Director at The Pacific Institute. Mpuang- Allmon is a captivating transformational speaker who has helped audiences around Botswana to create winning minds in the workplace. Her brilliant way of storytelling and orating as well as her uncanny ability makes complicated ideas easy to understand. She is a woman on a mission to help leaders, future leaders and organisations all over the country become the best they can be.
Another speaker is Thapelo Tsheole, Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Stock Exchange. Tsheole is acknowledged as an authority on financial markets with an intuitive ability to make the complex simple. As one of the most inspirational leaders around, Tsheole is among the most sought after speakers in Botswana. In his usual provocative and entertaining sessions, he will discuss why behaviour and motivation are simple not enough hence professionals should develop and implement career road maps to outperformeand excel in the workplace. Other speakers include Deputy Executive Director, Botswana Accountancy College, Head of HR De Beers Malebogo Mpugwa and Regional Director Institute of Development Management (IDM) Richard Malikongwa.
Testimony
“I attended the Career Elevation Seminar last year and left the conference feeling rejuvenated and with a wealth of knowledge. Attending this platform is the perfect way to stay ahead of the game as a professional and come up with proactive career plane,” Njalakangwa Modie IT Manager- Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board.
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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.