Parliament cleans out pro-Nasha group?
Nasha’s alleged supporters transferred, fired
The office of the President and the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM) have dropped the hammer on a number of Parliamentary staff allegedly as a mission to clean up the Parliament offices of supporters of the immediate former Speaker of the house, Dr Margaret Nasha.
The Parliament management has denied that the staff movement was politically motivated. Weekend Post established this week that the exercise which has been ongoing for the past few weeks has seen senior officers transferred to other departments on short notice and one dismissed from work.
As of Thursday this week, the deputy clerk had been removed from office after her contract was not renewed. The Senior Manager Corporate Services had also been removed by way of transfer to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development as District Commissioner.
Further, two secretaries, secretary to the Clerk and that of the Speaker were moved from Parliament to other government departments. Their transfers were urgent. One was moved to the Ministry of Agriculture and the other to the Ministry of labour and Home Affairs.
“The transfer of the Manager was urgent and immediate. However she pleaded with the authorities to keep her in Gaborone for a while. She was therefore moved to a different Government office in Gaborone,” an insider told this publication.
The alleged conspiracy theory is that some of the staff members are “Nasha’s people” and therefore were pushed out together with their ideologies of supporting the independence of Parliament. Nasha attempted to make Parliament more independent from the DPSM and OP during her tenure that ended abruptly last year when she was ousted by majority vote of the ruling party Members of Parliament after the 2014 general elections. She was replaced by Gladys Kokorwe after the 2014 general elections.
Nasha had wanted to table bills before Parliament that would reduce the President’s powers and make Parliament independent. In the exercise she naturally worked with Parliament staff including secretaries, clerks and the Parliament legal counsel and now sources close to the top alleges that one of the quick decisions taken by the top echelon of the administration was to prevent any of its officials taking decisions that could realise Nasha’s dream during the life of the eleventh Parliament.
“One of the victims of this exercise was the former Parliament Counsel whose secondment from the Attorney General Chambers was terminated,” the source further explained.
However the Principal Public Relations officer, Karabo Marumo maintains that the transfers were never forced and have nothing to do with the end of tenure of the former Speaker’s, Margaret Nasha.
“The immediate former Parliamentary Legal Counsel’s secondment was never cancelled, rather he was redeployed back to the Attorney General’s Chambers on the 30th November, 2014 as it is practice across the Public Service,” Marumo responded to this week’s questionnaire.
The General elections were held in October, 2014 and the new Speaker was elected in a November, 2014.
Nonetheless, Marumo contends that the transfers of all the staff were “with immediate effect to address the exigencies of the Public Service.”
The Parliament’s Public Relations office is also said to be very vulnerable and could be scattered to other government Ministries to “address the exigencies” in the public service as well.
“The Secretaries were transferred because they were suspected to have leaked confidential information to Nasha and the Principal Public Relations Officer is vilified because he is Nasha’s homeboy,” another insider spilled the beans on the alleged Parliament drama.
While Parliament staff morale is said to have hit rock bottom, questions are being asked as to who could be behind all this confusion.
“Of all the staff members, who have access to the Speaker’s Office, who can tell who Nasha’s people are? If the Director of DPSM wants to make transfers who advices him because he does not work in Parliament? The unfortunate thing is that the rest of the employees are never given the chance to speak for themselves,” another source rhetorically chipped in.
The source further stated that it was an open secret that “all those who ever worked closely with Nasha are likely to be cleaned. Parliament staff is not happy because they are vilified. They are constantly threatened with transfers or that their contracts would not be renewed.”
Some of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party Members of Parliament in particular who have adjudged the staff to have fouled their party’s interest are said to have publicly told the staff that they would be cleaned out.
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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.