Masisi slams Mogae, Masire
Masisi says Batswana will propose changes when they want them
Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi has said the continual criticism of the current administration, led by President Lt Gen Ian Khama by former presidents is unfair and sometimes uninformed.
The Vice President directed most of his fury at former President Dr Festus Mogae, who he accused of playing to the gallery only after leaving office. Mogae, a well-respected voice on the African continent has used several platforms to bash the Khama administration, directly or indirectly.
As things stand, Masisi is the heir apparent to the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) throne and many observers are of the view that he wants to start coming onto the stage, especially after a Mmadinare congress gave him a boost with a chairmanship triumph over fierce rivals.
Speaking during a press briefing this week, Masisi said though they welcome criticism, it is also worth noting that some of the remarks made by the former heads of state are opportunistic. Masisi took a jab at Mogae for criticising countries which are anti-gay among them Botswana, which is yet to legalise homosexuality.
Masisi expressed disappointment that Mogae has the audacity to suggest adoption of such laws and policies while he did not do so during his presidency. The Vice President who doubles up as chairman of the ruling party said the fact that Mogae came out publicly to state that he could not legalise homosexuality during his presidency because he feared losing elections means that the subject remain unpopular among Batswana.
“We also do not want to lose elections. We are a democratic country. We cannot legalise something which we know people do not want,” emphasised Masisi.
Masisi, who is also the Moshupa-Mmanyana legislator said even opposition parties have not come out publicly to state whether they support homosexuality or not because the subject remains sensitive. The Vice President said it is therefore unfair for the former president to expect his immediate successor to adopt a law which he himself could not adopt.
In a rare turn of events, Masisi showered praises on Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe’s stance on homosexuality. Mugabe recently told a United Nations gathering that “Africans are not gays.”
The Vice President also mentioned countries like Kenya and Uguanda who had said no to homosexuality. Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly told United States President in his recent visit to the country that homosexuality in a ‘non-issue’ in his nation.
Former president Mogae recently told the UN gathering that African countries should start viewing homosexuality issues as human right and therefore being an entitlement to those who are homosexuals.
“The smallest, most vulnerable, most disenfranchised, most excluded, most discriminated sectors of the population should remain highest in a leader’s priority and must be protected,” he said.
“Same sex sexual activity, the most basic right, is now legal in 25 countries in Africa. For the rest of our countries it is punishable by imprisonment of differing periods up to life and going as far as the death penalty,” Mogae had said.
Masisi also slays Masire
Masisi also responded to former president Sir Ketumile Masire’s criticism that governance standards in Africa are going down. Masire who is a board member of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation said bad governance and corruption do not only undermine service delivery, but also impose heavy costs on the economy.
Masisi said although they welcome criticism and are always looking for improvements, the ex-president is possibly being misinformed. He said Masire might not be familiar with modern day service delivery methods as compared to what the former president is accustomed to.
Masisi stated that the Botswana government has introduced major changes in the offering of services to citizens, most of them which are totally different to what government used to do in the past.
“The way in which government offers service delivery also constitutes governance,” said Masisi.
“The old may not be used to the methods which government is using today but the Botswana government is doing its utmost best to deliver services to the people in an efficient manner.”
Mogae also made similar remarks last year on the state of governance in Botswana. Speaking at African Leadership Forum in Tanzania, Mogae stated that Botswana was regressing because of lack of respect of rule of law and deportation of foreign nationals.
The 2015 Mo Ibrahim Index registers that Botswana has since 2011 shown an overall governance deterioration of -1.8 points. The report states that Botswana is among the top ten biggest fallers during this period in Africa. According to the report, the weakening in performance is driven by deterioration in some of the pillars including, safety and rule of law, Participation and human rights, as well as Sustainable Economic Opportunity.
Former President Mogae is a recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Award, while former President Masire is a Board member.
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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.