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Dow examines Masisi, Ministers’ interests

Should the President and or his ministers own business entities; and should they trade with Government? Dr Unity Dow, a renowned activist who has served in all arms of government as a legislator, a minister, and a judge has given the business relations between the executive and government a clean bill of health albeit there are gaps that need to be patched to allow Ministers to trade freely with government.

As she prepares to exit the political scene in 2024, Dow says she sees nothing wrong with cabinet ministers entangling themselves in private business. “The answer to the first question is yes, for me. I believe that leaders must be drawn from people who have succeeded at something positive; business, profession etc. I would want to know that ministers that we have entrusted with the running the entire country have done something and succeeded at it,” she reasoned.
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She went further, “I would want to be assured that not only do we have former public servants and academics in cabinet, but we have people who have experienced the pain of it being the 15th of the month and worried about how they were going to make it; people who have experienced the challenges of not depending on the very dependable government or parastatal salary. So, yes, I do believe that the president and his ministers should be allowed have business interests.”

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said members of the executive certainly should not be required to close their businesses or sell their interests, upon taking office. She observes that there is the associated issue of how they should manage and or run their affairs whilst in office, “and I believe that is the conversation that should be having”.

“But the idea that the perfect non-corruptible minister is the one who comes with no business experience and owns nothing is just one I cannot support. If he is 40 years old, has received state funding for his education and has failed to succeed at a personal level, how do you expect him to succeed at running your affairs?” she asked rhetorically.

On the question of whether ministers should be allowed to trade with government, Dow is of the view that the obvious answer may seem to be a no, “but before we get too excited about closing them out, let us examine what we mean by trading. Is selling a cow to BMC trading? Surely we accept that cabinet can influence the price of beef. Is selling cabbage to the local school trading? Surely we do accept that cabinet decides on agriculture subsidies? Is hosting a government seminar at a hotel in which a minister owns 20% shares trading? The decision on who to engage is made by public servants, not ministers. Is offering a house for rent to the Ministry of X trading? Yet another public service decision, not one made by a minister. Is hiring a bus owned by a minister’s private company, a decision made by public servants, not ministers, trading?”

Dow quipped, often people say by trading they mean “tenders”, But what is a tender? “And often we forget that procurement is done by civil servants, not minsters. So, because we are a very small society we need to develop blinded tendering systems to promote fairness and transparency. With modern technology and a little bit of creativity, it should possible to hide the identity of those seeking to trade with government; especially in cases of high value contracts,” she added.

The former Minister pointed out that there is the mistaken conviction that being a minister always opens doors for one. She posits that the inverse is true – the reality is that that is not always so. “There are ministers who will tell you that their business partners want them out precisely because being a minister is a liability. It is also important to bear in mind that there is no pension for ministers and that there are limited job prospects for former ministers. There is a gratuity, of course, which most use for campaigning at the end of their term, any ways,” observes Dow.

PRESIDENT HAS NO POWER BUT PROTECTION

Another narrative that the former Minister and Judge renounced is the held belief that the President of Botswana has too much power, a view held by some quarters of the society. In answering this question, Dow says, “The answer, in my view is no! We often confuse protection with power.”

She said the president has almost 100% protection while in office. No proceedings, civil or criminal, can be brought against him. Dow says this is protection, not power, “if by power we mean the licence to run the country unchecked and as he wishes”.

The former Minister actuated this argument:

“The current President was sworn into office last year, finding in place National Development Plan (NDP) 11, a budget and a plans firmed up years ago. The executive is supposed to run the country, guided by the law (including the national budget, which is a law, by the way). The rigidity of the planning and budgeting system ties up the president’s hands. For example, if NDP11 says a school will be built in village x, the school must be built in that village even if by the time of building, the best place to build it is village y. We need to change our budgeting and planning laws, so that we plan for programs, not projects. As the law stands, we are forced to plan for how many laptops will be bought as opposed to the extent to which tech-literacy will be attained. I know I am simplifying the issue too much, but it is my view that one of the reasons we are stuck in this middle income trap is that we are using old methods to budget for new times. The budget/implementation connection presents a lot of difficulties. If the President had the power that an executive should have he would have delivered on many of the election promises he has made. This is an area that, as we embark on constitutional reforms, we need to look at”.

The President was in the recent past embroiled in a debate that borders on conflict of interest after he successfully bid for Banyana farms, a government asset. Asked to share her views on the President’s acquisition of Banyana Farms, Dow acknowledged that it is a tough one.

“Tough one. I am one person who believes that if an issue is causing debate and chatter, it is too important to ignore. I believe is it important to re-examine the procedures employed in that tender/award process and ask ourselves how transparency can be promoted to ensure that next time we do not have the same level of noise. This may have been a special board, but next time it will be a land board or some other authority whose decision is causing debate. We could consider a law that regulates the handling of contracts of a certain value if the potential beneficiary is the president, a cabinet minister, an MP etc,” she says.

However she reiterated her stance that, “It is possible to blind the system so that the decision makers do not know who the participants are. I suggest this because no matter what the evidence says, there will always be doubt as to whether there was fairness.”

ON SOPE AND TENDERS

On the State of Emergency, Dow said it would have been irresponsible not to support. The former Minister said the SOPE has nothing to do with tenders and channeling them to certain individuals or entities. “Our Constitution is very clear. You cannot give the power to take away personal liberties to a civil servant. Those who argue that parliament should surrender its responsibilities to the Director of Health Services are either playing cheap politics or are being totally …I don’t know what.”

Dow says If SOPE had not been extended, there would be nothing to regulate the wearing of masks, social distancing, limiting trading hours, zoning of the country etc. “The debate should never have been whether or not to extend SOPE. The debate should have been about what regulations should apply. Should churches be restricted to 50 people or should the guide be social distancing within the church? Should we continue to prohibit the service of food at funerals and weddings? Should retrenchments be prohibited? What should trigger a national lock down? These are the nuts and bolts that should have been debated.”

I DON’T SUPPORT SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR INDIGENOUS BATSWANA

Dow says Batswana must be prepared to make mistakes. She opines that Batswana are too cautious, at both a personal and government level. “Still on this topic, I must add that by Batswana I mean all Batswana. I personally to do support the notion that there should be special programs for “indigenous” Batswana. That is a dangerous track to go down. I do support the notion that programs can and should be targeted, as appropriate to “old rural folks (Batswana ba sekei – or Batswana who have spanned cattle)”, “youth”, “women”, “traditionally underserved communities”, “first entrants to business” etc. But suggesting that a Botswana citizen with roots in Zimbabwe, South Africa, China, Tanzania or India is less of a citizen than one with roots in Mahalapye does not sit well with me. In parliament alone I can count more than 10 citizens who would be cut out by this “indigenous” label. This is the kind of discriminatory language that would get an MP thrown out of his/her position in any truly democratic country in the world.”

The mistakes she sees in both government and private lives, she speaks to them in this fashion: “I advise everyone to look around them and ask themselves, where is the waste? Why am I collecting tsabana when I do not need it? Why am I buying milk when I have 4 cows and 4 calves? Why am I not starting a bakery in my back yard? Why have I not cleared my field as yet? At the government level, we have to ask the difficult questions: where are the financial outflows? How can we stem them? I am not talking about illegal financial outflows, although those are important. I am talking about supporting local educational, agricultural and health businesses so that citizens do not have to go to neighboring countries to get services or products, with the result that money leaves the Botswana. I mean supporting local data banking businesses so that our data is not exported for storing. I mean ensuring that we do not continue to have about 20% of the country closed out to local tourism entrepreneurs. Investment in tourism, health services, education and agriculture are what will take this country out of the rut it is in, is my view. One of the values that has brought us where we are is caution and frugality. These are great values. But we need to be brave and bold, to move forward.”

BANK OF BOTSWANA FRAUD CASE

Because of her legal background and as a former Judge, the issue relating to the controversial Bank of Botswana fraud case was put before her. There has been a lot said, with BoB distancing itself, while last week the new DCEC Director General, Tymon Katlholo almost rubbished the case as lacking evidence. But Dow is worried about the naming or tagging of the case as ‘Bank of Botswana fraud case’.

“I have only one comment: can we please stop referring to this case as the “Bank of Botswana fraud case”? While I cannot comment on a case before the courts, I know it is NOT a Bank of Botswana fraud case because if it were, the persons charged would be the then governor of the bank and/or the minister of finance. I just wish we would all stop degrading our respected central bank by calling this case “the Bank of Botswana Fraud case”. Whatever the case is, it is not, from what we can gather from public records, a Bank of Botswana Fraud case. I am not commenting on the strength or otherwise of the case against the accused persons, but I am commenting on the mislabeling of a case with the potential of ruining reputations of persons and that of a respected institution.”

KHAMA SAID POLITICS IS A DIRTY GAME

On the relationship between former President Dr Ian Khama and the Government, whether he is being targeted or persecuted? Or maybe an architect of his own problems? Dow shared this opinion, “Khama has famously said that politics is a dirty game. One wonders why, after retiring, he wants to go back and play in the mud! Targeted? No. Khama is great at playing victim with the consequence that people line on both sides of the divide he creates; some for him and others against him. He doesn’t care how long the line behind him is, it is enough there is a line. “Push and disrupt” is his simple strategy. To what end?”
She declined to proffer an opinion on whether this case shall remain a standoff between the State and the accused persons, “I must decline offering a view”.

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BOMU, DBS roadshow partners in crime

18th March 2024

The Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) roadshow has found and trusted the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) as a companion it could trust in empowering and facilitating the creative sector, in particular, performing artists and musicians.

BOMU exits to ensure that musicians in Botswana are supported by all platforms and services that are aligned to what they do, which at most times is the production of music.

In 2023, the Union put together grand music awards prized at a whooping P3 million. Indeed, the man working behind the awards, Seabelo Modibe of Total Music Group understood the assignment. For the very first time, BOMU awards left an impressive mark, leaving people murmuring.

With that said and done, BOMU became a very important stakeholder in the on-going DBS roadshow. The relationship started in 2022 when the project was initiated. In this massive project, BOMU plays a role of mobilizing and registering new artists.

In the previous years, the Union has been clouded by dispute and back-and-forth. It was accused of being bungling, purposeless and served no interests of its members (artists). Following the effective execution of the eleventh music awards, artists progressively joined BOMU and the DBS roadshow added cherry on top.

Some of the artists who made it to the Top 30 of the DBS roadshows much-admired the platform, saying it played a major part in changing their lives. Some of them started getting booked, changed their mindsets and consider music as a business entity.

These are some of the few nuggets of wisdom they raked from the man behind the roadshow, Thato Sikwane. He is known as DJ Fresh in the music sector and his company, Big Dawg Productions is the brainchild behind the DBS roadshow.

Matter of fact, DJ Fresh and Modibe worked on this concept together with an aim of unearthing new talent in as much as music is concerned. In order to achieve this goal, the duo had to engage BOMU to allow for the artists to have a body that governs them.

When speaking in an interview with WeekendLife, BOMU Secretary General Rasina Rasina said the roadshow is actually a blessing in disguise, as it was initially considered a tall show.

“This is a much-needed platform for a sector that has been deteriorating over the years. We believe it is here to resurrect the music industry. The DBS roadshow cultivate talent from scratch and nurtures it. This will help us as a Union to have a solid foundation and as BOMU, as we are highly appreciative.”

Rasina said BOMU is very much aware of Season One challenges, adding that they too experienced them. “As BOMU, we therefore appreciate that it was the beginning. Naturally, beginnings have challenges but we are optimistic that everything will be in order as together as a team, we can work to solve all pressing matters that delay the progress of artists in Botswana.”

Successful artists during the DBS roadshow will reap from what they sow. BOMU has been allocated a budget to help artists access the roadshow. Rasina has however refused to divulge the total amount but specified that they ensure artist participation and mobilization, as well as feeding.

“We have learnt from past challenges. We do not pay artists but we assist them with transportation funds to mobilize them to attend the roadshow and showcase. What we offer them is not payment. We ensure their participation, transport mobilization and feeding. They compete, showcase and get the platform they need. We partner with them to deliver a product. Essentially, there is a car, a record deal, airtime deal and cohesion.”

Thus far and during the Season 2 roadshow, BOMU has registered an average of five hundred (500) members. In the process, it has managed to rebuild an average of ten BOMU District chapters nationwide.

Rasina commended the government for coming up with a project that caters for the welfare of artists and creative minds in Botswana.

“Our expectations from the next season is that it will be bigger and better. We appreciate the contribution of DBS and the recent focus towards the creative industry by government. Importantly, it is important to note that the creative industry should never be treated from a blanket approach view. Every region, district, village or town has its own talent. The heritage of Botswana is defined by the creative industry talent.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Report links child poverty to disability

12th March 2024

Child poverty is a pressing issue that affects millions of children around the world, and the link between child poverty and disability is a particularly concerning aspect of this problem. The recent research paper published by the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) sheds light on the stark reality that children with disabilities are more likely to be living in poverty compared to their non-disabled peers.

The findings of the research paper reveal that children with disabilities face higher levels of deprivation in basic capabilities such as education and health. This means that they are often excluded from essential services and opportunities that are necessary for their well-being and development. The wider gap in education outcomes between children with disabilities and their non-disabled peers highlights the systemic barriers that prevent children with disabilities from accessing quality education.

Moreover, the higher rates of deprivation in health and food security among children with disabilities further exacerbate their vulnerability to illness and malnutrition. This not only impacts their physical well-being but also hinders their overall development and potential. The research paper also highlights the economic disparities faced by children with disabilities, indicating that they are more likely to experience poverty across demographic and economic variables.

The implications of these findings are profound and call for urgent action to address the inequalities faced by children with disabilities. Affirmative action is needed to ensure that policies and interventions are specifically targeted towards addressing the unique needs of children with disabilities. It is crucial to prioritize the inclusion and empowerment of children with disabilities in all aspects of society to ensure that they have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed.

In conclusion, the link between child poverty and disability is a critical issue that requires immediate attention and action. It is essential for policymakers, stakeholders, and communities to come together to create a more inclusive and equitable society where all children, regardless of their abilities, have the opportunity to reach their full potential. By addressing the root causes of poverty and discrimination faced by children with disabilities, we can work towards building a more just and compassionate world for all.

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Botswana’s internet rated the second fastest in Africa

8th March 2024

Botswana continues to make significant strides in its digital trasnformation aspirations, as it secures its position among the top-ranking African countries for mobile internet speed. Based on statistics from the Speedtest Global Index, Botswana has been rated the second fastest mobile internet speed in the continent, with an impressive 43.79Mbps, according to a recent study by Business Insider Africa.

This accomplishment demonstrates Botswana’s dedication to improving the quality of broadband internet in the country; and re-affirms its position as a leader in Africa’s telecommunications and ICT services. “The acknowledgment of Botswana’s internet as the 2nd fastest in Africa reflects our commitment to cultivating a digitally inclusive society,” remarked Mr. Keabetswe Segole, Acting CEO of Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet). “This achievement highlights our ongoing endeavors to enable all citizens to participate in the digital economy.” BoFiNet, the leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure in Botswana, has been instrumental in shaping the nation’s digital landscape.

Reflecting on BoFiNet’s contribution to Botswana’s digital connectivity, the Acting CEO stated:”BoFiNet takes pride in its role in securing Botswana’s position as the 2nd fastest country in Africa for mobile internet. Our robust fibre optic and microwave network has been pivotal in delivering high-speed connectivity to both urban and rural areas, ensuring access to reliable internet services for all citizens. We remain committed to fostering innovation and digital inclusion, thereby paving the way for a prosperous digital future in Botswana.” Through the recently launched SmartBots Village Connectivity project, 1,138 premises across 144 villages in different Botswana districts are able to connect to this fast internet.

Botswana’s population is utilising connectivity creatively as a result of a boom in mobile penetration, which is advancing the nation’s digitalisation. Rapid advancements in mobile high-speed internet are causing a digital revolution in Africa, bringing about changes in areas including the economy, education, healthcare, and empowerment.

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