UDC Gov’t might disown international debt created BDP admin
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The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader, Duma Boko has revealed that if his coalition rises to power in the 2019 general election, it retains the option to wash its hands of debt incurred by Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) administration against international lenders as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Boko was speaking in opposition to a P 570 million borrowing that government intends to embark on. The debt will take a period of 19.5 years to service. The loan will be sourced from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) which operates under the World Bank, dishing development aid and poverty reduction loans to middle-income developing countries. The loan is intended to be used to address water and sanitation concerns in the country.
Boko also warned international lenders that when the opposition regime rises to power, under international law as a new government it has the leeway to refuse to acknowledge debts incurred by a corrupt pre-existing regime. Boko blasted off from the floor of parliament this Tuesday: “I want you to appreciate this thing for the following legal reasons now. I want whoever you are dealing with to be listening to me now, whether it is the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), whoever that is going to be giving you these loans and whoever you are buying these military equipment from, I am making this statement for them here. Under Public International Law, there is something called tabula rasa; clean slate.”
He further elaborated: “When we take over in 2019, we have a choice whether we can uphold these agreements or we claim that we are a new dispensation, we are starting on a clean slate and we reject them. We can do that.” Boko warned. Boko who is also the president of the Botswana National Front (BNF) further warned the BDP leadership of prosecution and jail time if they assume power. “I am speaking to you now as a lawyer, as a jurist. I say under Public International Law, there is something we call “clausula rebus sic stantibus”. Write it down so that when I try you someday in the courts, and I tell you about clausula rebus sic stantibus, you will know what I am talking about.”
He further highlighted: “What it means is that conditions in 2019 would have changed so drastically because it would be a new regime; corruption free, transparent and open that will say, we reject all the agreements entered into by that corrupt pre-existing regime that we took over from; clausula rebus sic stantibus. I want you to know this. It is a principle of law. It is not politics. This is what is going to get you behind bars someday.”
Francistown West Member of Parliament, Ignatius Moswaane had earlier stated that in 2019, the new government has to will have to be prepared to accept such debt adding that ‘it is normal practice.’ Francistown South MP Wynter Mmolotsi also stated that when the new government steps in will be hamstrung by massive debt incurred by BDP administration characterizing government’s priorities as misplaced.
Furthermore, Boko accused Minister of Finance, Kenneth Matambo of the seeking to commit the current generation, future ones as well as the successive leadership of the country, to 19 and half years of debt. “ “You are seeking to commit this Government for whatever remains of it, while important funds are being misapplied towards the purchase of Gripen and other military hardware.” he stated.
Boko further advised that Matambo must indicate to parliament the available financing as well as multiple sources where funding is going to be obtained. Boko also stated: What you are trying to do is to sneak in without providing much needed information so that in that state of lack of information, this Parliament merely endorses what you have to say. Commits the country to debts for years, for decades without the benefit of information and what do you try and do to cover up for that monumental failure?
You say, after you have borrowed, after you have committed yourself, when you are entangled in contractual obligations and you cannot extricate yourselves, now you can come to Parliament and make disclosures. You must make these disclosures before so that we know what we are getting ourselves into, what are the exact terms.”
However, minister of Finance, Kenneth Matambo noted, under heavy grilling from parliamentarians that he has not yet singed committed the government or himself in up taking the loan
Matambo clarified: “This is only a proposal at the moment to raise this loan. I have not signed anything with anybody, let alone with the World Bank that we are going to contract this loan. We are here to seek permission to do that. So, I have nothing to extricate myself for, absolutely nothing. I am a free man right now. It is up to you, if you want to reject it, you can reject it and the World Bank would not penalise me for anything because I have not committed this Government to them in that regard,” he said.
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Local tennis team upbeat ahead of Billie Jean King cup
With almost two weeks until the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup, which will be staged in Kenya from June 12-17, 2023, the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) ladies’ team coach, Ernest Seleke, is optimistic about reaching greater heights.
Billie Jean King Cup, or the BJK Cup, is a premier international team competition in women’s tennis, launched as the Federation Cup to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The BJK Cup is the world’s largest annual women’s international team sports competition in terms of the number of nations that compete.
The finals will feature 12 teams (Botswana, Burundi, Ghana, Kenya, Seychelles, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo) competing in the four round-robin groups of three. The four group winners will qualify for the semifinals, and the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup will be crowned after the completion of the knockout phase.
Closer to home, the BW Tennis team is comprised of Thato Madikwe, Leungo Monnayoo, Chelsea Chakanyuka, and Kelebogile Monnayoo. However, according to Seleke, they have not assembled the team yet as some of the players are still engaged.
“At the moment, we are depending on the players and their respective coaches in terms of training. However, I will meet up with Botswana-based players in the coming week, while the United States of America (USA) based player Madikwe will probably meet us in Kenya. Furthermore, Ekua Youri and Naledi Raguin, who are based in Spain and France respectively, will not be joining us as they will be writing their examinations,” said Seleke.
Seleke further highlighted the significance of this competition and how competitive it is. “It is a massive platform for our players to showcase their talent in tennis, and it is very competitive as countries target to get promoted to the world categories where they get to face big nations such as Spain, France, USA, and Italy. Though we are going to this tournament as underdogs because it is our second time participating, I’m confident that the girls will put in a good showing and emerge with results despite the odds,” highlighted Seleke.
Quizzed about their debut performance at the BJK Cup, he said, “I think our performance was fair considering the fact that we were newbies. We came third in our group after losing to North Macedonia and South Africa. We went on to beat Uganda, then Kenya in the playoffs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t play Burundi due to heavy rainfall and settled for the position 9/10,” he said.
For her part, team representative Leungo Monnayoo said they are working hard as they aim to do well at the tourney. “The preparations for the tourney have long begun because we practice each and every day. We want to do well, hence we need to be motivated. Furthermore, I believe in my team as we have set ourselves a big target of coming home with the trophy,” she said.
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Pep Stores donates sanitary towels to Popagano JSS
The Guidance and Counseling unit at Popagano Junior Secondary School received a donation of 790 sanitary towels from Pep stores on Thursday.
When presenting the donation, Mareledi Thebeng, the Dinokaneng Area Manager, highlighted their belief in giving back to the community, as their existence depends on the communities they serve. Thebeng pointed out that research indicates one in four girls miss school every day due to the lack of basic necessities like sanitary towels. Therefore, as a company, they strive to assist in alleviating this situation. She expressed hope that this donation would help ensure uninterrupted learning for girls.
Upon receiving the donation on behalf of the students, Charity Sambire, the President of the Student Representative Council, expressed her gratitude. Sambire specifically thanked Pep Store for their generous gift, speaking on behalf of the students, especially the girl child.
She conveyed their sincere appreciation for Pep Store’s compassion and quoted the adage, “Blessed is the hand that gives.” Sambire expressed the students’ hope for Pep Stores’ prosperity, enabling them to continue supporting the students. As a gesture of gratitude, the students pledged to excel academically.
During her speech, Motlalepula Madome, the Senior Teacher in Guidance and Counseling, highlighted that many students at the school come from disadvantaged backgrounds where parents struggle to provide basic necessities. Consequently, some students miss school when they experience menstruation due to this lack.
Madome emphasized the significance of the donation in preventing the girl child from missing lessons and its potential to improve the school’s overall results. She expressed the school’s gratitude and expressed a desire for continued support from Pep Stores.
Popagano Junior Secondary School, situated in the Okavango District, holds the second position academically in the North West region. Despite its location, the school has been dedicated to achieving excellence since 2017
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Botswana misses out critical PAP committee meeting
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) committee on gender, family, youth and people with disability in its sitting considered, adopted and recommended to the plenary session the preliminary report on the framework for the model law on gender equality.
According to the last week’s media release from PAP which is sitting with its various committees until June 2nd, the committee is following up the PAP initiative to draw up a model law on gender equality to enable national governments to harmonize, modernize and standardize their legislations to address local needs is set to be discussed in Plenary.
However, what is concerning is the fact that Botswana which is a member state missed the deliberations. Kgosi Mosadi Seboko who sat in the committee representing Botswana has since been ejected by parliament and this is a huge blow for a nation that is still battling equity and gender balance.
“Although PAP has no legislative powers it makes model laws for member states to adopt. PAP also develops protocols to be ratified by countries. The input of countries at Committee state is extremely critical. It now means the voice of Botswana is missing the discussions leading up to development of protocols or model laws,” said one of Botswana’s representative at PAP Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang who is attending the current session.
While Botswana is missing, the committee meeting took place on the sidelines of the Sixth PAP second ordinary Session being held under the African Union Theme of the Year for 2023, “The Year of AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area” in Midrand, South Africa and will run up to 2 June 2023. Chairperson of the Committee, Hon Mariam Dao-Gabala expressed satisfaction with preliminary processes undertaken so far towards the formulation of the Model Law,” a release from the PAP website reads.
“The law should be suitable to all countries whatever the predominant culture or religion is. The aim is to give an opportunity to women to participate in the economic, political and social development of the continent. Women are not well positioned and face a lot of obstacles. We are introducing the idea of equity in the Law because we cannot talk about equality without equity,” said Hon Mariam Dao-Gabala in the press statement.
The release has stated that among issues to be covered by the Model Law is the migratory movements of women. The Committee proffered that this has to be addressed at the continental level to ensure that migrant women enjoy all their rights and live with dignity in their destination country. The members of the Gender Committee undertook consultations to consolidate the contributions of the various stakeholders that will be the logical framework format for the Model Law.