Botswana : News

News : Botswana : News

ZANZIBAR Thursday, April 02, 2009 (IRIN) - Is there a time when mediators should not even try to get warring parties round a peace table? The answer is probably not, but timing does seem key to a successful long-term outcome to negotiations. (irinnews.org)

Hana Mining Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has completed the non-brokered private placement announced on June 26, 2009 for proceeds of $500,000. The private placement consisted of 2,000,000 units at a price of $0.25 per Unit.

Statistics from the Department of Geological Services (DGS) indicate that 111 Chinese private entities currently hold exploration licences in Botswana, up from nearly zero four years ago. (AllAfrica)

In the mature democracies of the world, the citizenry generally has a sense of what the government stands for. (AllAfrica)

Debswana has secured a P750 million loan facility from local financial institutions to help it sail through a cash drought brought about by the sharp decline in diamond sales.

Australia-based A-Cap Resources is hoping to commission its uranium project in Letlhakane in 2011 at a time when a growing number of countries accept the use of the silver-grey mineral for power generation and are downscaling their proliferation policies, propelling its price up.

The National Off-Road Racing series has reached the halfway mark with the Toyota Desert Race that took place near Gaborone in Botswana.

In yesterday's edition, Mmegi carried the story of our photographer based in our Francistown office, Moreri Sejakgomo.

Lack of coordination between urban and rural land authorities hampers land management in Botswana, according to a Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis study that has been gathering dust on office shelves since it was released some years ago.

Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Security, Robert Molefhabangwe, has suggested that Selebi-Phikwe should be given special dispensation.

The University of Iowa Alumni Association will present Distinguished Alumni Awards to 12 notable alumni and friends of the University of Iowa at a luncheon to be held from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 13, in the UI's Levitt Center.

Debswana, the joint venture between De Beers and the Botswana government, reopened three of its four mines, including the Orapa Mine pictured here, in mid April following a 50-day hiatus in production.

Botswana's trade deficit has started to ease-off as diamond sales pick-up on the back of renewed hopes of an economic recovery. (AllAfrica)

The department of teacher training and development will not send 72 teachers for training in external institutions even though they were nominated for further training to upgrade their qualifications. (AllAfrica)

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Dikgakgamatso Seretse told Parliament on Tuesday that there is no need to set up an independent inquiry to investigate the extra-judicial killings by state security forces. (AllAfrica)

It is reassuring to learn that the two institutions overseeing tertiary institutions in Botswana, the Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) and the Tertiary Education Council (TEC) will soon merge into one institution, with the appointment of a transitional council, the Human Resource Development Advisory Council now imminent. (AllAfrica)

Thirty children, aged between three and 12 years, were left stranded in rented school premises at the Gaborone English Medium Education Centre (GEMEC) after the school officials ran away when Ministry of Education, Skills and Development officials arrived on Friday morning. (AllAfrica)

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) in Nkange was thrown into a tumult after one of the council candidates withdrew from the race. (AllAfrica)

Department of Broadcasting Services director, Mogomotsi Kaboeamodimo, has dismissed allegations that Botswana television has been sucked up into the intra-party fighting in the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). (AllAfrica)

Member of Parliament for Kgatleng East, Isaac Mabiletsa, has described the local government amendment bill as 'disgusting, ridiculous, irrelevant and provoking'. (AllAfrica)

Zambia and Angola are the only countries that are still to confirm their participation at the eighth annual Zone VI championships to be held at Ditshupo Hall on Saturday. The tournament, which was to be hosted by Angola, was moved to Botswana because Angola is preparing to host the Africa Cup of Nations soccer tournament in 2010. (AllAfrica)

Team management of Nico United has been rapped by coach Luke Masomere for 'lack of ambition' as the club hovers just above relegation to a lower category. (AllAfrica)

Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) director, Andrew Paxinos is disappointed at the slow progress in the ongoing Powerade Senior Schools League. (AllAfrica)

He stepped into the ring to wild cheers from the crowd at Masunga Community Hall for the national Inter-Club Boxing tournament last Saturday. Finally, the Masunga community had the opportunity to witness their son, Lentswe Zwinila pummeling an opponent in the ring. (AllAfrica)

Botswana has the lowest civil aviation charges in the region because it has not reviewed the levies for over a decade, senior aviation officials have said. (AllAfrica)

The coordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Reginald Bakwena, has urged journalists from both print and electronic media to support the visual arts by giving them all the necessary exposure. Speaking to Mmegi, Bakwena said yesterday that the media is a vital cog in the promotion of the arts. (AllAfrica)

One of the popular Botswana Hip-hop musicians Zeus, has just signed a licensing deal with leading cellular network provider, Mascom. (AllAfrica)

Veteran artist Peter Kuhlman, who is also a qualified potter, is offering basic pottery lessons that include throwing the potter's wheel, centering, pulling a cylinder, shaping, turning, coiling, slab work, sculpturing and decorating at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre in Gaborone. (AllAfrica)

The national soccer team's preparations for the Sunday international friendly against Iran has suffered a setback after two goalkeepers - Barolong Lemmenyane and Botlhe Moralo - dropped out due to injuries. (AllAfrica)

The Zimbabwe Open University has signed agreements with a Botswana college and four local institutions that will see the colleges offering ZOU-accredited degrees and diplomas. (AllAfrica)

JOHANNESBURG Friday, May 15, 2009 (IRIN) - More floods should be expected in Botswana, the Red Cross has warned. Almost 4,000 people were displaced in March 2009 by some of the worst flooding ever seen in the northwest, prompting criticism of the country's early warning system. (irinnews.org)