Olopeng jump starts ‘Millionaires Club’
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng is keeping good to his promise of producing at least five millionaires by the end of his tenure as minister. He recently launched the ‘Millionaires’ Club’ in Gaborone.
This week the Minister confirmed that he recently launched the Club and the target still stands at 5 millionaires to be produced during his tenure as the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development. “I have officially launched the club and it consists of 15 members from different sectors. I am currently overwhelmed with hundreds of requests from other young people who want to be part of this club; unfortunately I can only mentor a few. These young people are, upon hitting the target, expected to mentor other young people to rise to their ranks,” said Olopeng.
Some names that appear in Minister Olopeng’s list include those from the arts, film, agriculture, information and technology, engineering and other sectors. Johnson Otlaadisa, a television production and arts enthusiast; Molefhi Nkwete, a clothing and label apparel businessman; Thabang Palai, who is into property development; Malebogo Marumoagae, a former beauty queen, now business lady is also in the mix; and so is Gadzanani Makopola, another businessman, are some of the young people the Minister is mentoring to become millionaires by value.
Explaining the objective of this club, Minister Olopeng said among other reasons, he intends to provide members of the Club with business and professional mentorship. Furthermore he intends to bring renowned local and foreign entrepreneurs to educate these young people and change their mindset to become successful entrepreneurs.
“They will be taught to see challenges as opportunities for them to succeed. For example, most Silicon Valley entrepreneurs started from their garages and our young people need to know how they can navigate around obstacles to run successful enterprises. They shouldn’t see physical space and lack of capital to operate their businesses as an obstacle,” opined Olopeng. The Minister said he is very passionate about the Millionaires Club because it has the potential to be a spring board for a number of great things such as employment creation, “which obviously pushes the economy in the right direction.”
In Parliament recently, Minister Olopeng observed that the majority of the Botswana population consists of young people and therefore if the government does not invest in them, it runs the risk of having an elderly population that is unable to support itself owing to missed opportunities. Olopeng said it is imperative that all efforts are made to tap into the energy and creativity of the young people and to further develop them into model citizens to enhance their competitiveness globally.
Still on the Millionaires Club, Olopeng said in addition to mentorship, he also wants members of the Club to have access to a network of local and foreign entrepreneurs, in order for them to expand their current network. “I believe that business can only grow to a great success if the network is right and if the entrepreneur has access to a successful mentor. Among other things, the club will provide members with investment opportunities, which will see them growing their portfolios. I believe that through sound investments, our young people will enlarge their portfolios and grow into millionaires and billionaires,” he said.
Olopeng explained his version of millionaires; he said he believes that millionaires are not determined by the amount of cash in their bank accounts or how much they can spend in shops and restaurants. He subscribes to the view point that Millionaires are determined by the value of their assets. “That’s why we are talking about investment portfolios and opportunities. I want members of this club to be financially disciplined and above all, to preserve their integrity.”
The Minister is worried by a nagging trend among young people, “One of the challenges facing young people is that after winning a P1 million, they rush to become flamboyant, and want to be seen driving expensive cars and living large. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, but I want to teach members of my club to know what to do with their money,” said Olopeng.
His Ministry already has programmes meant to empower young people, but over the years the Ministry has observed high defaulter rate with the Young Development Fund and other similar initiatives. In some instances young people are given money to start worthy causes only for them to diver the money to flashy lifestyles – which has always proved to be a temporary thing. With the Millionaires Club, Olopeng said he is determined to provide dedicated mentoring that will instill both business and social ethos to the group of 15 and ultimately raise the targeted five millionaires.
Olopeng vows to increase mentees
According to the Minister, in the near future, he wants to increase the number of the Millionaires Club members to 30 in order to provide this opportunity to others who will also be assisted up the ladder. He said the current ratio of members is more men than women – this increase should see more women coming into the club.
“Members of this club are very excited to be part of it, and they are looking forward to providing solutions to their challenges. They have expressed readiness to rise to occasion. As I said earlier, members are taught to look at challenges as opportunities, and not to see them as stumbling blocks,” he said.
Olopeng said he is very excited to work with this group of young people. He is of the view that they have positive characters, amazing energy and the right attitude to succeed and grow. He said he also determined to help them grow beyond their actual potential.
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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.