Why Botswana varsities are ranked low
In a major disappointment for Botswana’s education system, no Botswana institution of higher learning has made it to the top 100 in the Times Higher Education World Reputation rankings and that too for the fifth continuous year.
Botswana has five universities namely University of Botswana (UB), Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Botswana University of Agriculture and National Resources (BUAN) formerly Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA), Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) and Botho University (BU). In addition the country has several university colleges and technical colleges.
According to the rankings published by the British magazine this week, universities from United States continue to dominate with Harvard at the top spot. The US is leading with 43 institutions followed by United Kingdom with ten.
Why poor performance by local institutions?
Dr. Sethunya Mosime of UB told this publication in an interview that local tertiary institutions will continue to perform poorly in international rankings as they enroll a small number of post graduates who could be leading in research.
“I speculate that this could be linked to funding constraints in Botswana which hampers universities in their drive to improve especially in research; and also government’s lack of commitment to excellence in higher education,” she said.
Mosime added that at UB, the research grant is insufficient hence the research output is generally unsatisfactory.
According to the university website, as of 2014, there were 1 227 publications of which only three per cent were books, 12 per cent were chapters in books, 14 per cent were refereed conference proceedings, 52 per cent were refereed journal articles and the rest from other publications.
Mosime recommended that the government increase subvention fund to UB so that funds can be availed to carry on research. Government’s subvention to UB is P703 million which translate to 46 per cent of the institution’s revenue.
She observed that failure to attract international students and leading researchers remains a challenge to local universities. UB has an enrolment of 18 176 students of which 96% are Batswana.
Another academic at the institution, Dr. Kaelo Molefhe stated that academic freedom in the country is under siege hence most professors, especially expatriates exercise caution on what they publish.
“Professors are not at liberty to publish their work as they fear deportation, censorship and repression from government and university management,” he explained.
He added that unfriendly immigration laws, especially Visa requirement and work permits continue to make it difficult for the university to realize its vision of being a leading academic centre of excellence in Africa and the world.
In the past, Caesar Zvayi who lectured in the Department of Media Studies at UB was deported for political reasons. Zvayi who is now the Editor of Zimbabwe’s leading daily newspaper – The Herald was deported after being added to the European Union sanctions and publicly declaring his unwavering support for President Robert Mugabe.
Australia’s Professor Kenneth Good was also shown the door during the presidency of Festus Mogae. Prof. Good was said to be a threat to national security after he described Botswana diamonds –the country’s key exports as ‘blood diamonds.
Another academic who did not wish to be quoted told this publication that only when institutions do more research then they will attract better students and scholars and that on its own will boost their reputation.
Furthermore, he opined that the parameters that measure global reputation were not helping local universities as they stressed much on global diversity and research intensity.
He said it was going to take decades for local institutions to transform from teaching universities to research intensive institutions. He also observed that most programs offered by local universities were not accredited by international accrediting bodies such as ABET.
He reiterated that local universities must consider forging international partnerships with leading universities like Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge for benchmarking purposes.
At the time of going to print, BIUST and UB spokespersons, Keoagile Rafifing and Mhitshane Reetsang had not responded to a questionnaire from this publication on how their institutions intend to improve their international rankings and the root cause of unsatisfactory performance.
Methodology
According to the British magazine website, the rankings were based on surveys of more than 10 000 senior academics in 133 countries. The survey targeted only experienced and published scholars who offered their views on excellence in research and teaching within their disciplines.
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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.