Botswana’s food security under threat
The Committee on Agriculture, Lands and Housing has found that in order for Botswana to increase agricultural productivity and gravitate towards food and nutrition security, there is a need to develop and implement an agriculture transformation strategy with immediate effect.
For his foreword, Member of Parliament for Jwaneng-Mabutsane and the Committee Chairman Mephato Reatile noted that; “As a landlocked net importer of most commodities, Botswana finds itself in a rather precarious position especially during crisis times as highlighted by the current Covid-19 pandemic. Time and again we find ourselves exposed to external vulnerabilities as a country through our over-reliance on our neighboring countries for almost everything including food.”
Similarly, Reatile said, Botswana’s vulnerability is further exacerbated by aridness and mostly poor soils. Climate change presents further risks to an already declining sector and without meaningful strategies to harvest, recycle and re-use water to support agriculture production, this sector may never realise its full potential. There is an urgent need to address issues of the national head, nutrition, our agricultural support systems and regulatory framework if we are to achieve food security.
He emphasized on the mandate of the committee saying “it is in our responsibility as a Committee of Parliament, to ensure that Government interventions, where they exist, are done within provisions of the laws, budget and meet the needs of the people and where there are none those immediate efforts are made to rectify the situation and there is accountability.”
The report of the Public Hearings on Botswana’s Food Security and the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Agriculture, Lands and Housing industries has revealed that 100, 007 ha of potential arable land comprising thirty six community cluster farms, and that only 45 000ha is ready for cultivation and 55 000 ha needs to be cleared, the concern is that without a clear strategy, the country continues to miss out on opportunity to attain food security.
The Committee also found that Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) despite its recent modest achievements and turn around, still lacked the capacity to procure all the anticipated local harvest of cereals for the 2019/2020. The Covid-19 movement restrictions also led to crops rotting in farms while farmers struggled with accessing implements and labour to harvest the produce.
Even more disturbing to the Committee was Botswana’s seed import bill of P109 million annually attributed to lack of local seed production. The Committee was concerned that local initiatives such as the Phuduhudu cluster farms for seed production, have not taken off or received support to address this anomaly. It is this Committee’s view that ownership and affordability of seeds are essential to the food security resilience of especially poor farmers and farmers’ right to multiply, use, exchange and sell their own seeds should be protected and developed.
It is also worrying to the committee that despite the impact of climate change on agriculture, there appeared to be slow progress in adopting or financing climate smart agriculture. The beef sector is also on life support and it is evident that the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) has not heeded any of the multi-million Pula expert advice from both locals, regional and international stakeholders.
A major part of this decline is attributed to the lack of incentives to producers together with all the associated inefficiencies of the BMC which has enjoyed a monopoly of the sector from time immemorial. What is even of more concern is the decline of the national herd which has fallen significantly over the years from 3 million to 1.4 million.
According to the report, access to land and security of tenure remains a challenge in Botswana. The Committee learnt that current waiting lists for both State land and Tribal land to Batswana stood at over 600 000 with an average waiting period of over 23 years. This concerns the Committee that investors and local elites involved in land deals continue to access and buy land in both tribal and state land to the detriment of citizens.
To save the country on the downward trend, the committee recommended the implementation of the Cluster Development Strategy with immediate effect accompanied by a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure success.
The committee is of the belief that such a strategy must identify high production zones and put in place tailor made support packages with a priority on land allocation, infrastructure and water development. Existing Commercial clusters of Mosisedi, Tuli, Phuduhudu, Pandamatenga, Kweneng, Borolong and Ngwaketse must be afforded priority.
The committee recommended that in light of Climate Change impacts, the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security must develop incentive packages for new Climate farming, adaptation and mitigation methods.
The report also went on that the National Development Bank (NDB) be transformed into an Agriculture Bank with a mandate to provide support to agriculture development including insurance cover to farmers. This because, the current funding models have not yielded much results in terms of boosting production and ensuring food security.
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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.