Maele snubs Batlokwa over land dispute
Minister of Lands and Housing Prince Maele
Minister of Lands and Housing Prince Maele is yet to address Batlokwa over the burning issue of land in the area despite several efforts by the tribe and area Member of Parliament Same Bathobakae to organise for the meeting to be held.
Tlokweng has been ensnared in land disputes which have over time been feared would spark tribalism, as the tribe demanded preferential treatment in allocation of residential plots in the area.
Bathobakae told Parliament this week that Tlokweng is faced with a huge challenge of land, which government is aware of but is reluctant to foster a workable solution.
“Government promised to buy farms surrounding Tlokweng and implement the sixty (60) percent quota system for residents to acquire plots, but nothing has been done yet,” she said.
Bathobakae later told this publication that soon after she was elected to Parliament, one of her first tasks was to facilitate a meeting between Minister of Lands and Housing, and Batlokwa, which she said has since proved to be a futile exercise.
The Tlokweng MP said Batlokwa wants to meet with the Minister of Lands and Housing because of the promises which were made by government to avail land to them within a reasonable time through purchasing of privately owned farms which surround the area.
“Other ministers have been to Tlokweng, but the Minister of Lands and Housing has failed to address a kgotla meeting to speak about land issues and government promises with regard to plot allocations in Tlokweng, “she said.
Bathobakae said, even the previous Minister, Lebonaamang Mokalake could not provide the solution because he also avoided having thorough discussion on the matter.
In 2013, Batlokwa tribesmen, supported by the Tlokweng chieftainship halted, through a court order the allocation of about 300 plots in the area through a raffle format. Batlokwa wanted a system which would give priority to the residents and not just be open to everyone.
In the last tenth Parliament, Mokalake tabled the controversial land policy which introduced a quota system for land allocation in peri-urban areas. The policy, which was adopted entailed that, a 60 percent quota should be reserved for residents and the 40 percent would be for non-residents.
An integral part of Bathobakae’s argument is that the quota system policy which was adopted by Parliament, although welcome in Tlokweng, has not benefited the residents as it was believed.
Maele, a backbencher then was a strong critic of the quota system policy. Maele had said the policy was against the idea of nationalism, which Botswana held in high regard since independence. Maele was also of the view that shortage of land was a problem across the whole country not only in cities and peri-urban areas.
Batlokwa conceded a huge chunk of their land to cater for the establishment and expansion of Gaborone city in the 1960s.
Presenting his budget in Parliament this week, Minister Maele did not hint any slight prospects of addressing the land shortage in Tlokweng. Maele revealed a number of key projects in land servicing to be carried out in the coming financial year with none of them being in Tlokweng.
One of the land servicing projects expected this year is of Palapye extension 11 which is expected to deliver 3300 plots when completed. According to Maele the project is expected to be complete by August this year.
Maele further told the house that Public Private Partnership (PPP) strategy in land servicing which was approved by the Government last year is now set to be piloted in four areas namely, Nnyungwe (Kasane), Seuwane (Ramotswa), Kgatleng (Mochudi) and part of Francistown’s Gerald Estates Block 1 and CBD.
The Minister also made startling revelations that there are 1 million applicants in the waiting list as maintained and published by various Land Boards and the Department of Lands. The number is from the country’s total population of slightly over 2 million people.
“The applicants in these waiting lists will continue to be vetted for eligibility for allocation to ensure compliance with the Land Policy provision on equity in distribution of land,” he said.
The Ministry of Lands and Housing has budgeted P338 million for land servicing projects throughout the country in the next financial year.
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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.