PALAPYE - The re-burial of 15 human remains exhumed from the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) site, has been completed.

The re-burial took place at the Mmaphula cemetery .

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake speaking at the kgotla, applauded Palapye residents for their cooperation and understanding.

Mr Mokalake said that the cooperation shown by Palapye, Lecheng and Malaka residents indicated that the principle of consultation or therisanyo which is an integral part of democracy prevails within the communities.

"We are grateful of your cooperation. It made everything relating to the process very smooth.

If it was in some other countries, the issue could have been explosive. Your cooperation shows that you really appreciate this university." He added that the spirit shown by Palapye residents was exemplary and [continue reading]

GABORONE - Botswana has emerged again in position four in the 2008 Ibrahim Index of African Governance.

The index published on Monday by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation indicates that Botswana improved its overall score to 74 out of 100 between 2005 and 2006, but this did not elevate it to a higher position, as it remained in fourth.

A total of 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa went through the Ibrahim Index's comprehensive measures of governance performance, and Botswana has improved marginally in three of the categories.

These are participation and human rights in which it scored 87.4 from the previous 86.7 in 1997, sustainable economic opportunity at 58.2 from 57.3 and human development at 68 from 67.7.

All these are out of 100.

The score for the country did not change in [continue reading]

Botswana has been ranked third in a list of 10 top countries with the least risk for resource sector investment.

The ranking has been done by leading resources publication, RESOURCESTOCKS' 2008 World Risk Survey.

The survey covered 74 countries in the world with Botswana and Namibia as the only African nations in the top 10. Other African nations that did well in the survey include Ghana, Malawi and Madagascar, while Somalia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Burundi fared badly.

Finland was ranked first followed by Canada and Botswana and Australia. The Northern Territory, New South Wales and Tasmania were fifth, sixth and seventh. United States was eighth followed by [continue reading]

PALAPYE - FC Palapye, has secured sponsorship deals from two leading companies in the area.

The club has received P25 676 sponsorship from Makoro Brick, a brick making company on the outskirts of Palapye.

The team, which is campaigning in the North First Division, will be transported to official games in Letlhakane, Orapa, Francistown, Sua, Maun and Selibe Phikwe at a cost of P10 400.

The team has also received two playing kits, tracksuits and soccer boots worth P15 276.

The secretary of FC Palapye, Mr Brown Kgobe, said the sponsorship came at the right time and will help them to improve their performance in the league. "We are very happy about the sponsorship,' he said.

An official of Makoro Brick, Mr Ronnie Hough, said they decided to sponsor the team as part of their social responsibility programme, adding that they are [continue reading]

The era of struggling to penetrate global markets by Botswana's tourism sector may be over after an Internet product aiming to improve global distribution of Botswana tourism products was launched this week.

The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) and E-tourism International (ETI) on Tuesday launched what they term "an exciting project to implement Botswana's first E-tourism initiative".

Dubbed 'Simply Botswana', the product was officially launched at a glittering ceremony at Phakalane with tens of tourism businesses attending. Medical company MedRescue has also become a partner in the newly launched product.

Developers of Simply Botswana have hailed the product as a truly a 'one-stop shop' for tourists and travellers alike. It has been in the offing for the last seven years, according to [continue reading]

In a desperate effort to win the liquor war, the Office of the President (OP) has reportedly ordered the state media to run stories and programmes emphasising the negative effects of alcohol.

The directive orders the state electronic and print media to depict alcohol as socially unacceptable and destructive to society.

Reliable sources say the anti-alcohol directive was issued this week. Government attempts to introduce a punitive 70 percent levy on the sale of alcohol to control excessive drinking has been hobbled after a strong resistance from brewers and other stakeholders in the industry. Even after the levy was reduced to 30 percent, the government found no respite after a court stopped the introduction of the tax pending the outcome of a case filed by stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi has claimed ignorance of [continue reading]

The Ministry of Education says in its Pastoral Policy that schools should distinguish between punishment and discipline.

The policy says that discipline should be viewed as a process of attaining self-mastery and self-control. It explains that students, who have learnt to be accountable for their actions are much more likely to be well behaved.

The policy views students' involvement in school governance as an integral part of an effective pastoral programme. This is because a school exists for students.

"They are the key customers and should be involved in decision making in order to enhance ownership, accountability and responsibility. Students' representations in School Pastoral Council (SPC), various committees and the existence of both within the [continue reading]

Daniel Pearl (October 10, 1963 – February 1, 2002) was an American journalist who was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi, Pakistan. ...

The Daniel Pearl Foundation promotes cross- cultural understanding through journalism,music and innovative communications.

In his memory, the Pearl family has established Daniel Pearl Music Day. His mother, commentator Ruth Pearl, recalls her son's love of music and shares family recordings of Daniel playing the violin.

Daniel Pearl's WORLD MUSIC DAY

Samantha Robichaud, an award-winning Canadian violinist and recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin in 2005.

Seventh Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days Set For October 1-31, 2008

Da, daca supravietuiesc bataliilor cu diversele "sisteme" (sistemul de plati al angajatorului norvegian nu ma agrea, sistemul de online banking al bancii din Romania unde am conturi este "temporar indisponibil. Ne cerem scuze pentru eventualele incoveniente, vă rugăm să reveniţi"), infatisarii de la judecatorie si revederii cu parintii mei, am de gand sa plec intr-o vacanta - probabil de vara - in Pula. Mi se pare o urmare cat se poate de fireasca dupa ce am locuit vreme de o luna si jumatate in Sola, localitate norvegiana al carei nume se pronunta fix asa: "Su:la"(*). Cu u lung, adica. Pentru realizarea acestui deziderat ma voi stradui sa fac niste economii. Dar, la cum imi merg toate, presimt ca voi strange banii de vacanta in moneda statului Botswana!

(*) Inchipuiti-va cum am reactionat in prima zi petrecuta in Norvegia - 16 mai 2008 - cand am fost intrebat "How do you feel in Sola?"!!!

This advice comes in the wake of reports that an unknown highly infectious disease has been identified in South Africa. In a press release the ministry also implores people who sought medical attention in that country's province's health facilities since the same date (September 12th) to report to the nearest health facility here in Botswana.

In a press release yesterday permanent secretary Newman Kahiya advised health facilities and members of the public to "postpone seeking all non-emergency medical attention in Gauteng province until further notice".

Three cases of this disease have been reported and all the three patients have died.

(Snip)

Blood samples from all three patients were taken and the results were reported as inconclusive of any particular disease, including the viral hemorrhagic fevers," says Kahiya.

Rest of story

http://allafrica.com/stories/200810090138.html

Botswana does not own most of the land along its borders with Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia, it emerged yesterday at the ongoing three-day National Security Strategy Review seminar in Gaborone.

Highly placed government officials revealed that this makes it difficult for security forces and government agencies like the immigration department to access the farms mainly owned by white Batswana of South African origin.

The farms are fenced along the borderline and this, they said, poses a security threat to the country.

The objectives of the seminar is to widen security sector reform literacy in readiness for cross government implementation of a new national strategy; to communicate the national security strategy review concept to wider critical civil society and NGO stakeholders in a way that fosters common understanding.

The other objectives are to [continue reading]

Never before, has Botswana been ravaged by unrelenting wild fires that have left protected areas such as the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR), Chobe National Park, Moremi Game Reserve and Tsodilo Hills utterly desolate.

With about 60 percent of the country's protected and heritage sites wiped out, the tourism industry is bound to be in the doldrums.

It goes without saying that there could have been some cancellations of bookings to the affected tourist destinations, especially in the acclaimed Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve. Although the cost of destruction has not been determined, there is a fear that it could run into millions of Pula as it involves loss of property and wildlife with a rippling effect on the eco-system of Africa's only surviving wilderness.

Concern has been expressed about measures to be taken to manage, rather than fighting, the fires. While we appreciate the [continue reading]

The Ministry of Health has advised all health facilities - public, mission and private, to follow up all patients who have been referred to Gauteng province in South Africa for medical attention since September 12.

This advice comes in the wake of reports that an unknown highly infectious disease has been identified in South Africa. In a press release the ministry also implores people who sought medical attention in that country's province's health facilities since the same date (September 12th) to report to the nearest health facility here in Botswana.

In a press release yesterday permanent secretary Newman Kahiya advised health facilities and members of the public to "postpone seeking all non-emergency medical attention in Gauteng province until further notice".

Three cases of this disease have been reported and all the three patients have died.

Kahiya notes that the first patient was [continue reading]

Diamond mining and exploration company, Firestone, is accelerating a development decision on the new BK11 diamond mine near Orapa, the chief executive officer, Philip Kenny said on Monday.

Kenny told MiningWeekly online that the BK11 mine might be advanced to the first quarter of next year and production to 2010.Drilling and bulk sampling at BK11 is ahead of schedule, with results now expected before year-end.

The Aim-quoted Firestone built a new diamond recovery facility in Gaborone this year and plans to start drilling and bulk sampling at BK16 this month.

The company found its first macro-diamonds at Tsabong, where bulk sample plant modifications were completed on schedule in August 2008, while work is continuing on another 79 kimberlites.

"We continue to be excited about BK11, where we believe we are close to confirming its economic potential. Our primary focus in [continue reading]

Best Laptops Under $500
By Nick Mokey, Digital Trends

Lenovo ThinkPad R61e
$487.69

Although ThinkPads have a reputation for being pricier premium notebooks intended for business travelers, a little smart shopping can land you this budget model on a shoestring. It's not as fast as the flagship T-series, or as light as the X-series, but the R61 has been reviewed favorably in its price range and includes many of the same features Lenovo rolls into those pricier ThinkPads. When ordering, make sure to choose the second-from-cheapest model to get an Intel Dual Core processor rather than a Celeron M (a bargain upgrade for only $32 more tacked onto the final price). Also make sure to select the cheapest Windows Vista option to sneak in under the $500 mark. The coupon code USP3PAYPAL will take an extra 15 percent off when ordering from Lenovo, lowering the notebook to $487.69.

More from Digital Trends

Online Video Services Compared

Music Services Compared

Organize Your MP3s Like a Pro

Dell Vostro 1000
$399.99

Dell's bottom-of-the-line notebook won't turn any heads, or win any head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but its $399 starting price makes it impossible to ignore. Since this isn't from a sale, mark-down or coupon, you're also free to add the options you really need. For instance, laying out $25 for the Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor instead of the Sempron would be wise. But travelers beware: A starting weight of 6.26 pounds makes it heavy by modern standards, and the AMD's heat output will also make it a battery killer, so you may wish to look elsewhere if you'll be taking it anywhere besides around the home and office.

Acer Aspire AS4315-2535
$459.90

Looking for something a little smaller than the 15.4-inch notebooks that normally seem to hit the bargain bin? This Acer falls one notch down on the size and weight scale, making it a little more portable for the on-the-go user. However, in exchange for the 14.1-inch screen and 5.7 pound weight, you'll sacrifice some performance by moving to a single-core Intel Celeron processor. If you're the type of person who imagines using a laptop to surf the Web in a coffee shop or tap out documents on a plane, you probably won't notice much of a difference, though, and may favor the portability.

Gateway T-6815
$499.99

The priciest notebook in our roundup may be refurbished, but that's the only thing
moving this otherwise well-equipped notebook into the sub-$500 category. It gets the fastest processor, Intel's vaunted Core 2 Duo, and the largest hard drive, 160GB. With a 14.1-inch screen and weight of only 5.55 pounds, you're also looking at the lightest machine on our list. Individual opinions on refurbished items vary, but if you're willing to trust Gateway's recertification team, you can land a laptop comparable to far pricier units for much less cash. Just remember: the manufacturer's warranty lasts 90 days, so be sure to put it through its paces before you run out of time to discover potential problems.

Compaq C700T
$479.99

Compaq's cheapest notebook doesn't stand out too far from the crowd, but it makes a nice option for those who don't want to be bothered filling out rebates, using coupons, or chasing sales. You get a no-nonsense machine with a 1.73GHz Intel Dual-Core Processor, 1GB of RAM, and an 80GB hard drive. Spectacular? Not really, but you can snag one any time, and Compaq will allow you to round it out with whatever options you need. The only drawback would be the machine's 6.4-pound weight, which makes it even more of a desk anchor than Dell's cheaper (and slower) Vostro 1000.

GABORONE - The youth of Botswana have been encouraged to have an enterprising mindset in order to make their educational skills work for them in the workplace.

Various speakers at the Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) Career Fair 2008 held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre hammered home this message.

According to Mr Alan Boshwaen, the head of IFSC, the fair is meant to help provide a linkage between tertiary education and the workplace environment.

"This is entirely a private sector led initiative, which is complementing the Government's own internship initiative that is championed by the President.

This is due to the need to create an environment where learners can acquire practical work skills.

We need to equip ourselves with the necessary skills to encourage innovation," Mr Boshwaen said.

The keynote speaker, Mr Percy Raditladi, recounted his [continue reading]

SELEBI-PHIKWE: Police have seized probably the largest consignment of suspected stolen copper cables in the mining town following a raid at one of the scrap metal dealers.

Selebi-Phikwe Police Station commander Superintendent Victor Nlebesi, said officers raided a scrap metal yard on Friday and found 15 tonnes of copper cables stacked in sacks in the storeroom. Nlebesi said the value of the copper cables could not be ascertained, but could be worth more than P2 million.

The owner of the scrap yard was briefly detained on Friday and is now assisting the police with investigations.

Nlebesi said the 46-year-old Selebi-Phikwe businessman would not be identified until formally charged.

He said the suspect was helping police identify people who sold him the copper cables. "The businessman is assisting us to locate people who delivered the copper cables to him. In turn, these people will tell us where they [continue reading]

FRANCISTOWN - Media houses have been asked to be ethical as well as display a high level of professionalism in their reporting to earn trust and confidence from the public they serve.

Speaking on the occasion of the Mmegi/Monitor fifth anniversary of the launch of their Francistown office, Tati Nickel Mining Company public relations officer(PRO) said the media plays an important role in areas of politics, economy and social dynamics. The Mmegi group opened its news office in Francistown in 2003. The anniversary of the launch of the office was held over the weekend.

Mr Tebogo Rapitsenyane reminded Mmegi/Monitor staff not to be biased in their reporting as that could negatively impact on their work, advising them to refrain from being influenced by personal agendas in their coverage of news.

Mr Rapitsenyane urged the media to avoid providing misleading information to the public as that could undermine their integrity in as far as the readers are concerned. They should always ensure that what they give to the public is correctly applied.

Mr Rapitsenyane urged the media to [continue reading]

FRANCISTOWN: Mmegi Francistown bureau celebrated its fifth anniversary in style over the weekend.

At a colourful event that was packed with clients, fellow media houses, the newspapers' avid readers and Mmegi staff from Gaborone, Francistown and Selebi-Phikwe, Mmegi Northern Bureau, which is one of the Dikgang Publishing Company (DPC) branches, observed the five years of business with a great sense of fulfilment.

The party was held at the up market Tati Nickel Mining Club House in

Molapo Estate because Tati Nickel Mining Company (TNMC) was one of the main sponsors.

The serenity of the event could be [continue reading]

GABORONE - The Botswana Land Information System (BLIS) has been phased out and replaced with the State Land Integrated Management System (SLIMS).

The phasing out of the old system was prompted by the fact that the latter did not have some essential functionalities needed for land allocation.

Speaking in an interview, the Principal Information and Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Mr Phindi Rampete said BLIS did not enjoy linkage to revenue for the payment of plots.

He also said the old system was not linked to other stake holders' databases.

Unlike BLIS, Mr Rampete said SLIMS was able to operate efficiently due to its critical aspects. "SLIMS is an integrated land management solution with linkages to the revenue services for the payment of plots.

It is also linked to other stakeholders such as the Lands Division, the Deeds Registry and the valuation of plots", he said.

He said the new system had an interface with civil registration system to validate the Omang details of the applicants.

It is also capable of capturing the citizen and home ownership details.

However, Mr Rampete said their challenge was [continue reading]

The new African National Congress (ANC) leadership has given assurances that South Africa will continue supplying power to Botswana until 2013. The Botswana Minister for Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, said he was given the assurances when he met with the new ANC top brass early this year to discuss power supply problems to Botswana.

The minister was addressing the press yesterday on the power supply constraints expected to hit Botswana from today until end of November. By 2012, Botswana is expected to be an exporter of power when its Mmamabula project starts operating.

Currently, Botswana gets its supplies from its Morupule Power Station (120mw) and imports from South Africa's Eskom (327mw) and Mozambique (85mw).

"The above supply sources give a total combined supply of 532mw. Due to an on going statutory overhaul on one of the generating units, Morupule Power Station's output has been reduced to 90mw. The overhaul is planned for completion at the end of November 2008. In addition to the Morupule shortfall, Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is not able to [continue reading]

Botswana has said that South Africa's deposed president, Thabo Mbeki should intervene to break the deadlock over the sharing of cabinet posts in Zimbabwe. Mbeki mediated the Zimbabwe power-sharing deal.

Botswana has expressed concern over the current cabinet posts-sharing impasse between ZANU-PF, MDC-Tsvangirai and MDC-Mutambara in the Zimbabwean government of national unity.

The Botswana Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement yesterday expressing concern over the delay in forming a Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the warring parties a month ago.

"The parties committed themselves to [continue reading]

GABORONE - Botswana has expressed concern over lack of progress in the formation of a government in neighbouring Zimbabwe.

A press release from the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation says the reported deadlock over the sharing of cabinet posts among the three political parties comprising the coalition government was disturbing and ' in our view can not be ignored.' The country calls on the parties to 'genuinely' work towards seeking solutions to their differences and set Zimbabwe on a path of national reconciliation, economic reconstruction and recovery.

According to the statement, the delay in forming a government and implementing an agreement entered into by the three parties can only increase the plight of the people of Zimbabwe.

"Botswana further calls on the urgent intervention of the mediator to assist the parties to break the deadlock,' the [continue reading]

The air support branch of the Botswana Police will start operating in January, immediately after the delivery of helicopters from France, Deputy Commissioner, Ikwatlhaeng Bagopi has confirmed.

He said the helicopter pilots who were trained in South Africa in the past two years will return home this month. In the meantime, they will practice at Botswana Defence Force (BDF).

Bagopi revealed that the manufacturers were two weeks behind schedule. This will not affect the operation of the air arm in Botswana. Pilots, technicians, mechanics and other required human resources are ready to start working, he added.

Only police vehicles will be required to have their registration numbers printed on the roofs for easy communication. Meanwhile, the case in which 23 police officers from the forensic laboratory are [continue reading]