Nasha reveals comeback strategy
“I have an elaborate comeback political plan”
Former Speaker of National Assembly Dr. Margaret Nasha has revealed that although she has kept a low profile ever since suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Gladys Kokorwe for the speakership positon, “something big is hatching.”
Apart from hatching a political comeback, Nasha is currently working on a project in partnership with the British High Commission in Gaborone and Westminster Foundation for Democracy aimed at empowering women for serious political positions. Nasha has been chosen as a key local political leader to assist spearhead the project initiated by the United Kingdom ambassadorship in the country.
The project will put together a semblance of women aspiring for political positions including that of legislature, Council and party key positions. The women will be trained, encouraged and assisted anyhow possible to compete effectively with their male counterparts who have advanced widely ever since the first elections in 1965. Apart from the project, in her comeback strategy Nasha said she will re-appear in the political space much stronger and relevant.
She told Weekend Post this week on the sidelines of the women empowerment workshop that she would not say much now on her political move “but would like to catch everyone off-guard.”
The outspoken politician who authored her debut book titled “Madam Speaker, Sir: Breaking the Glass Ceiling, One Woman’s Struggles” broke ranks with her Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) after the party sidelined her in favour of Kokorwe for the position of Speaker of the National Assembly.
Those close to Nasha, who also refer to her as the country’s political iron lady, have said that the country’s first female speaker of parliament may be harboring presidential ambitions. “Her next move is likely to be contestation for the highest office of the Republic,” a source hinted to Weekend Post, a move which Nasha herself alluded to during her interview. “Some have been lobbying me to stand for the presidency but like am saying I won’t say much on this one.”
She asserted to this publication that, “I have an elaborate political plan but not for consumption now.”
Although she was cagey to uncover the plan she said for now, her focus is to work with the British High Commission and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to come up with an action plan of endowing more women to partake in the impending 2018 party primary elections.
The women are drawn from the political divide including BDP, and opposition parties Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP).
“We target 2018 because as you know, if you miss the boat at primary elections then you know you lost it,” Nasha highlighted. She said, “We want to look for serious women who want to stand in Councils and parliamentary seats for all the parties.”
According to Nasha, they are hopeful that the project will have support from the women aspiring politicians and therefore will result in manufacturing a core of women to empower them and make it a continuous program for the future even. “Even if we can train 30 or 40 of them then we will be pretty sure around 10 may make it,” she stressed.
Politics has been a male dominated institution since 1965, with the first woman carrying the banner of BDP entering the national assembly in 1974 in the name of Gaositwe Chiepe. Other women followed suit but the number never exceeded 5 out of the currently 57 constituencies.
The first opposition woman was Botswana Congress Party (BCP)’s Habaudi Hobona who made a short stint following the victory of Francistown West bye election which fell vacant after the death of its MP Tshelang Masisi. BDP which failed to contest the bye election won the constituency back in 2014 general elections represented by Ignatious Moswaane.
In 2009, the parliament saw only two legislators Venson Moitoi and Botlhogile Tshireletso while Dorcas Malesu was brought in through the specially elected dispensation. The trend continued to 2014 with the trio retaining their seats while Unity Dow was specially elected after losing Mochudi West to Gilbert Mangole in the general election.
Bame Bathobakae from UDC also triumphed. The trend is not helped by Botswana’s refusal to sign the Southern African Development Corporation (SADC) Gender Protocol which pushes nations in the region to achieve 30% of women representation at parliament.
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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.