Morwaeng’s remuneration of politicians Bill halted
Standing Committee on Remuneration (Members of the National Assembly, councillors, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and Specified Offices) was withdrawn and will be tabled normally in the July sitting.
The Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Kabo Morwaeng first presented the Bill to the general assembly in February 2021 but later withdrawn after facing stiff resistance. On March 31, 2022 Morwaeng yet again tried to table the Bill brought under ‘unclear’ certificate of urgency but it yet again faced resistance in the follow of Parliament. The Bill has not yet reached its maturity as it was re-published in the Government Gazette on March 25, 2022.
One Member of Parliament said the Bill which was first published on February 19, 2021 was withdrawn because clearly the stakeholders were not consulted. “Specified officers were not defined either. The Bill was brought under certificate of urgency without convincing reasons why the Minister would want to deny stakeholders the chance to scrutinise the Bill. The Minister is asking Parliament to pass the Bill as it is urgently but it is not yet matured,” he said.
He added that it is unclear why the Bill is urgency. The legislator asserted: “However the opposition is likely to reject the Bill. Our position is that like other similar committees before it the proposed committee lacks independence. The role of the Minister and its composition makes the committee to be under the tight grip of government”.
Another MP who also did not want to be named said the influence of the Executive on the committee is immense. “Unconfirmed reports suggest that the committee will serve the interest of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in respect of managing their succession plan.
It is said that the party seeks to replace the current Vice President Slumber Tsogwane with a loyalist like Minister Peggy Serame. As such they want to introduce a pension for the position of Vice President and a monthly allowance for the First Lady,” he said.
The object of this Bill which Morwaeng intends to present to the National Assembly is to establish the Standing Committee on Remuneration (Members of the National Assembly, councillors, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and Specified Offices). The committee shall be responsible for assessing the remunerations and conditions of service of members of the National Assembly, councillors, specified offices and members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi.
The committee shall be composed of members appointed by the Minister such as a Chairperson, who shall be a retired Judge or a legal practitioner with at least 10 years of experience. There shall be a person with experience in political matters and a person with experience relating to Bogosi. Other members shall be persons with experience in public administration or human resources, law and financial matters.
Ex-officio members of the committee and shall have the right to vote. These are Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry responsible for Presidential Affairs, Justice and Finance. The Minister responsible for finance shall appoint the secretary for the committee.
“The functions of the committee shall be to assess the remunerations and conditions of service of members of the National Assembly, councillors, specified offices and members of Ntlo Ya Dikgosi and make recommendations to the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance within 30 days after any assessment under Subsection (1) has been made,” read the Bill.
The committee may, in the exercise of its functions, order any public officer or any government entity to provide any information in the possession or under the control of such officer or entity. Subject to the provisions of this Act, the committee shall regulate its own procedure for meetings. “The committee shall have at least two meetings in a year for the discharge of its functions, and such meetings shall be held at such places and times as the Chairperson may determine.
A quorum for a meeting of the committee shall be a simple majority of its members. A member shall be paid such allowances and such travelling, accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred during his or her service on the committee and shall be determined by the Minister.
“If a member appointed under Section 3(2) is present at a meeting of the committee at which any matter in which the member or immediate family member of the member is directly or indirectly interested in a private capacity is the subject of consideration, the member shall as soon as practicable after announcement of the meeting, disclose such interest and shall not, unless the committee, otherwise directs, take part in any consideration or discussion of, or vote on, any question touching on the matter.”
When a member fails to disclose his or her interest in accordance with Subsection (1) and a decision by the committee is made benefitting such a member, or an immediate family member of the member, such member or decision shall be null and void to the extent that it benefits such member of family member. “A member who fails to comply with the provisions of Subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P10, 000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both.”
A member shall observe and preserve the confidentiality of all matters coming before the committee and such confidentiality shall subsist even after the termination of their terms of office or their mandates. Any member or any person to whom confidential information revealed through working with the committee shall not disclose the information to any other person unless he or she is required to do so in terms of any written law or for purposes of any judicial proceedings.
Any member or any other person who contravenes the provisions of this Section commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding P10, 000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.
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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.