Central District Chairperson tours region, presents roadmap
The Chairperson of the Central District Council (CDC) Mr Peter Williams has promised to work hard in his two year tenure to ensure that Boteti achieves the status of a township and is awarded developments the region has been longing for.
Speaking at a Kgotla meeting he addressed in Letlhakane recently, he said he had come to Letlhakane to hear residents’ grievances, exchange views as well as share his ambitions roadmap and developmental plans.
He said this was his first meeting with the residents since he assumed office as Chairperson of the vast and sparsely spread Central District. “Our district is the biggest in Botswana and possibly in Africa with a lot of remote area dwellers, owing to that we are confronted with many challenges as such are I’m here to report to you and seek suggestions on how we can work together to take the region forward” he announced, to a fully packed Letlhakane Kgotla.
He said he is aware of the low levels of developments in Letlhakane and that the village has a sub-standard sewage system, lack of good gravel roads, unreliable water supply, salty and oftentimes unhygienic drinks water and no street lights. He assured the constituents that he had been consulting with relevant authorities to resolve those long standing grievances.
He promised that during his tenure he will lobby all those who wield influence and power to ensure that Letlhakane achieves the status of a township like Orapa and Sowa-Pan “It is about time that this village is converted into a Township that will have an autonomous structure as we see in Sowa-Pan. This is done only to ensure that developments can be delivered timely to residents, I have to admit that this village has lacked behind as compared to other mining zones” he said.
He implored the youth not to rest on their laurels and to fully utilize government programs and initiatives, saying the current government has the best interest of the youth at heart “I arrived here yesterday after addressing Kgotla meeting in Xere and Rakops and I want to tell the youth that one elderly woman complained that you are not fully utilizing the programs we have availed, another elderly lady in Xere even suggested that we should share some of the money allocated towards youth projects with the elderly, as they themselves are ready and willing to work hard to see projects to full fruition, while the youth are lacking behind” he said.
He promised that the CDC will fix internal roads and that the council had recently fixed its machines, he announced that therefore a number of roads in Letlhakane will benefited as they will be upgraded. He said he was committed to small business development in his district and owing to that the Central District Council had recently set up a task force to come up with strategies of improving small businesses as well as create employment for the youth.
He urged the youth to work hard and preserve so that they can create employment for themselves. He also told the residents that he will be touring several select villages and all the seven Sub-districts in the central region to appraise them on developments and seek their views until there is a clear picture of his roadmap and developmental plans, he said this process will continue until the end of August.
He said poverty eradication programs, LIMID, ISPAD as well as the destitute and orphans programs in Boteti have been rolled out successfully and in his assessment were benefitting the intended beneficiaries and recipients. Saying more than 360 orphans enrolled together with over 1000 destitute persons in Letlhakane.
He said the CDC had been awarded over 652 million pula for developmental purpose and he stands ready to ensure that the money is used proficiently, to the enjoyment and enhancement of overall life for the inhabitants of the central district.
He called for delivery and efficient monitoring of government projects. He said CDC will continue to request for more funds from the central government to augment their meager resources needed to cater for the vast district. Boteti Sub-district chairperson said they also stand ready to support Mr Williams in his noble endeavor to better their district, he said all the concerns brought forward by the constituents will be considered at their next sitting.
He said the dilapidated Letlhakane hospital will be getting a facelift courtesy of Debswana mining company and that the hospital will also be revamped to add extra beds.
For their part, residents of Letlhakane thanked the Chairperson for his visit and comprehensive presentation, the majority of those who spoke and asked questions supported the idea of Letlhakane being converted into an independent township and begged for more developments in the village.
One of the residents, Mr Michael Thanke asked that street lights be installed in the village with urgency as many people who had come to ply their trade in the mine have brought with them a lot of unsavory habits and crime, he said the police were inundated with cases of violent crime and theft.
He said Letlhakane can no longer afford to be dark when a lot of the mine employees work night shifts putting their lives in danger. Residents also complained about slow delivery of the SHAA housing scheme, lackadaisical contribution to village development by the mines around the village as well as rampant youth unemployment which they said was a danger to peace and stability.
The chairperson’s tour of the CDC and its constituent sub-districts has taken him to various villages in the central district which included, Xhomo, Sebina, Gweta, Nata, Masunga among others. It will also see him traverse the length and breath of the district addressing residents to lay out his roadmap and seek for guidance during his term in office.
Mr Peter Williams ascended to the leadership of the Central District Council eight month ago taking over from long time CDC chairperson Mr Lesego Raditanka whom he beat by 91 to 81 votes. The CDC has a total of 174 councilors, a few of them had accompanied Mr Williams on his journey, he promised to work diligently together with his team to ensure unhindered delivery of service to Boteti.
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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.