TAUTONA TIMES no 33 of 2005
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Let me express the particular concern that some developing countries
that have made progress towards realizing the MDGs through good
governance and the pursuit of sound macro-economic policies, are at
times disadvantaged because they are deemed to have attained the status
of being middle income countries. Efforts should be made to assist
countries such as my own, which are still in the process of
consolidating their economic gains."
- President Mogae [D 2]
"Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties we face in confronting the
virus is fact that its defeat depends on us as individuals. Government
can not defeat virus. Neither can civil society organisations nor our
friends in the international community. In the end we all must assume
personal responsibility."
- President Mogae [D 3]
"We work in a global economy and exchange rates play a crucial part in
our industry. Our industry is a [US] Dollar based industry. Last year
the high rate of the Pula created real problems. All the hard work that
had been done by us and the staff to get this factory out of the red was
lost due to constant appreciation of the Pula. The devaluation this year
helped us and we in the manufacturing business community are very happy
about it."
- Mr. S. Parikh of TMC [F 7]
CONTENTS
A. No comment
B. Press Schedule
C. The week that was
D. Statements by H.E. the President at the:
1) High Level Plenary of the UN General Assembly (14/9/05)
2) High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development (14/9/05)
3) Opening of the National HIV Conference (20/9/05)
4) Teemane Diamond Manufacturing Company (22/9/05)
E. Statements by the Hon. Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public
Administration at:
1) A dinner to welcome the High Commissioner of Zambia and bid farewell
to the UNDP Resident Representative (16/9/05).
2) Setlalekgosi CJSS (16/9/05)
3) The Opening of the IDEA Seminar on Electoral Design (22/9/05)
F. OP Press Office Forwarding:
1) President Mogae closes the New York Stock Exchange (13/9/05)
2) DWNP #1: Assault on Wildlife Staff in CKGR (14/9/05)
3) DWNP #2: All Livestock to be removed from CKGR (14/9/05)
4) Videos of President Mogae's UN statements online (14/9/05)
5) President Mogae in New York 15-16/9/05 (16/9/05)
6) Leatile Dambe appointed Director of Public Prosecutions (22/9/05).
7) Diarough Director praises Pula devaluation (22/9/05)
8) DWNP #3: Response to FPK statement (23/9/05)
9) President Mogae willing to meet Adamson and Steinem (23/9/05)
10) Additional notes and forwarding.
A. No comment
Welcome to this week's bumper edition, which given its length and
diversity does not require a further comment from the editor. Our next
edition will be our annual special Botswana Day edition. - Dr. Jeff
Ramsay, Press Secretary to the President (24/9/05)
Contacts: Office Telephone: (267) 3975154 & Facsimile: (267) 3902795.
Cell: (267) 71318598. E-mail: jramsay@gov.bw.
B. Press Schedule:
As always the events listed below, which represent only those parts of
H.E. the President's schedule open in whole or part to press coverage,
are subject to change. When possible and necessary, updates will be
forwarded. Members of the Press are also encouraged to contact the
sponsors of the various events listed below for further programme
details and possible updates.
Monday (26/9/05): In the morning, at 9:00, H.E. the President is to give
an exclusive interview to Mr. Pavel Myltsev, Regional Chief of ITAR-TASS
Russian Information Agency, who will be accompanied by Mr. Vladimir
Lebedev of the Russian Gazette newspaper, at the Office of the
President. As of going to press there is no confirmation as to whether
Gloria Steinem and others will actually take up H.E. the President's
offer to meet with them as per their request [F 6].
Tuesday (27/9/05): During the afternoon, from 15:00, H.E. the President
will receive the credentials of the incoming Ambassadors of the Kingdom
of Thailand, Ukraine and the United States of America, and the High
Commissioner of Kenya, at State House.
Wednesday (28/9/05): In the afternoon, from 14:00, H.E. the President
will attend and give the Keynote Address at the University the Symposium
on 40 Years of Democracy in Botswana, to be held at the GICC.
Thursday (29/9/05): In the morning, at 10:00 am, H.E. the President will
give an exclusive interview for a special programme on Botswana being
produced for Austrian National Television. In the evening, from 19:30,
H.E. the President will take part in the annual Independence Eve
programme at the National Stadium.
Friday (30/9/05): Botswana Day, In the morning, from 9:00 am, H.E. the
President will take part in the activities at the National Stadium,
including the conferring of Presidential Honours. Thereafter he will
host the annual reception, which this year will be held at Boipuso Hall
rather than State House.
Thursday (6/10/05): In the morning, from 8:30 am, H.E. the President
will be at the unveiling of the Monument to Dikgosi Bathoen I, Sebele I
and Khama III, at the CBD.
Friday (7/10/05): In the morning (ttbc) H.E. the President will travel
to Maun for the opening of the Boyeyi Primary School for the Deaf Unit.
In the evening, from 19:00, he will attend the My African Dream Talent
Show at the GICC.
Saturday (8/10/05): In the morning H.E. the President will attend the
annual joint University of Botswana & Botswana College of Agriculture
Graduation Ceremony. In the evening he will attend the Junior
Achievement Botswana National Best Competition.
C. OP Press opportunities for the two week period ending 23/9/05:
Sunday (11/9/05): In the afternoon, H.E. the President departed for New
York, to take part in the United Nations High Level Plenary Meetings of
the 60th General Assembly the launching of the Clinton Global Initiative
[D1, D2, F1, F4].
Tuesday (20/9/05): H.E. the President returned to Botswana in the
morning, landing at Francistown, where he officially opened the National
HIV Prevention Conference [D3].
Wednesday (21/9/05): In the afternoon, H.E. the President received a
take leave call from the Ambassador designate to the United Nations, Mr.
Sam Outlule.
Thursday (22/9/05): During the day, H.E. the President visited the
Teemane Manufacturing Factory in Serowe [D4, F 7]
D. STATEMENTS:
D 1) STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. FESTUS G. MOGAE, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF
BOTSWANA, AT THE HIGH-LEVEL PLENARY MEETING OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
(14/9/05)
1. Co-Presidents, Mr. Secretary General, five years ago we convened
here in New York to usher in a new millennium. With great enthusiasm and
hope we then resolved to tackle the key challenges facing our world. In
particular, we committed ourselves to fight extreme poverty, preventable
diseases, human conflict, environmental degradation and global warming.
2. The resulting Millennium Declaration that was adopted has become
the framework by which we have set ourselves targets to ensure that we
take action to build a better world for all our people. In our
collective commitment as the member states of this body - rich and poor,
large and small, weak and strong alike- we recognised an obligation to
work together in order to create a more just and equitable global order.
3. We also then realized that, due to its universality, the United
Nations remains the only vehicle through which we can realize our
universal aspirations.
4. Mr. President, the challenges facing the UN today are daunting.
If anything they have become more complex and demanding then those of
sixty years ago. Botswana believes that to enhance the role and
relevance of the United Nations and equip it to respond to the evolving
challenges of the 21st Century, this Summit must move forward in key
areas, namely the:
* Implementation of previously agreed international development goals,
* Overcoming threats to international peace and security,
* Ensuring the enhanced respect for human rights and the rule of law,
and
* Achieving long sought institutional reform.
5. Botswana is convinced that through collective measures we can
overcome these challenges. In this regard, the Monterrey Consensus
provides a framework for the global community to mobilize financial
resources. Progress will also be enhanced if the commitments made at the
recent G8 Summit in Scotland are fully and expeditiously implemented.
We here welcome the commitment by a number of developed countries to
increase their development expenditure to 0.7% of the GNI between now
and 2015.
6. With respect to trade, Botswana encourages accelerated progress
in the current Doha Round negotiations, which could pave the way for the
Round itself to be concluded next year.
7. Your Excellencies, the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons has
re-confirmed the inter-relationship between development, human rights,
peace and security. It is our responsibility to find further consensus
on these issues in the context of the new threats and opportunities that
face us all in this globalised world.
8. We in Botswana condemn terrorism in all its manifestations. We
believe that the international community should be able to agree on a
comprehensive convention on terrorism on the basis of a common
definition and understanding of what constitutes terrorist acts. This
session should endeavour to reach agreement on these two related issues.
9. Conflicts on our own continent are naturally of particular
concern to us. Currently a number of African countries are under
Security Council consideration and also account for a significant
portion of the UN peacekeeping budget.
10. The resolution of these conflicts can go a long way to ensuring
the economic and social development of the wider African region, as well
as the affected countries themselves. To this end, there is need for
greater cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union to
strengthen conflict prevention and peace-keeping mechanisms.
11. Mr. President, the debate on UN reform has been going on for a
long time. After 12 years of negotiation on Security Council reform the
time is now ripe to move forward. In its 60 years of existence, the
membership of the United Nations has grown from 51 to 191 countries.
This underscores the need to transform this critical organ in order to
make it more representative of our world today, through increased
membership and improved working methods.
12. Admittedly, this Summit faces difficult decisions on the reform
of the Security Council. But, the recommendations made by the High Level
Panel provide us with a guide for consensus. In this respect no position
should be embraced as if it were dogma, for the status quo is not in our
collective interest. For our part Botswana is prepared to be flexible in
negotiations conducted in good faith.
13. A consensus has now emerged on the need to revitalize the
General Assembly in its role as the deliberative, policy making and
representative organ of the United Nations. In this regard, Botswana
shares the view that the role and authority of the Assembly must be
re-asserted and its President should play a greater leadership role in
refocusing its agenda.
14. Botswana has, over the years, demonstrated commitment to the
principles of democracy, social justice, human rights and the rule of
law. These very principles continue to motivate our commitment in
ensuring that human rights issues receive prominence in our global
agenda. We therefore support measures that are intended to strengthen
the focus on human rights issues, including the creation of a new Human
Rights Council. Guaranteeing the full enjoyment of human rights and
fundamental freedoms is one aspect of the UN's broader mandate to
protect our populations. In this day and age, we can no longer afford to
stand back if a country fails to protect its citizens against grave
human rights abuses. In this respect, we embrace the concept of
"responsibility to protect."
15. Mr. President, another welcome initiative that Botswana supports
is the establishment of a Peace-Building Commission. We are convinced
that this important post-conflict recovery mechanism can create the
opportunity for millions of people to achieve sustainable development
where before there was turmoil and despair.
16. Botswana commends the Secretary General for his ongoing efforts
to implement management reform of the U.N. To better facilitate the
mandates we entrust to him, the Secretary-General will require not only
adequate resources, but also greater authority so as to ensure that the
Organisation is able to rapidly respond to evolving priorities.
17. In conclusion, Mr. President, this Summit provides all of us
with an historic opportunity for us to make far reaching decisions on
the reform of this Organisation. Botswana's view is that reform is
imperative if the United Nations is to have the ability to respond to
the critical challenges of the 21st Century. I thank you.
D 2) STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FESTUS G. MOGAE, PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, SPEAKING IN HIS CAPACITY AS CHAIRMAN SADC AT THE
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DIALOGUEON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
(14/9/05)
1. Mr. President, two years after our historic Summit, at which we
agreed on the Millennium Development Goals we met at Monterrey to
address the challenges of financing development. This resulted in the
Monterrey Consensus, which re-affirmed the urgent need to eradicate
poverty while achieving sustainable growth and development.
2. Of special significance was the recognition that increased
official development assistance flows and the removal of trade barriers
were necessary if developing countries were to ever achieve their
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
3. Recent reports on the implementation of the Millennium
Declaration, indicate that there has been only limited progress in the
achievement of the MDGs, especially on the African Continent. In this
respect major hurdles that were identified five years ago persist.
4. Programmes to address major health challenges in Africa, such as
the scourge of HIV and AIDS and high maternal mortality, are under
funded. The number of people living in extreme poverty remains high.
5. Mr. President, the experience of the Southern African
Development Community (SADC) is not an exception to that of the rest of
Africa and the developing world. While we have managed to reduce gender
disparities in education and succeeded in improving access to sanitation
and other basic facilities, great disparities remain in the levels of
development both within and between our countries.
6. It is now well known that our region is the hardest hit by the
spread of HIV/AIDS. The virus has contributed to a deterioration of our
human development indices over the last few years. Other challenges
facing our region include high levels of poverty and income
inequalities, persistent food and emerging water shortages, both largely
due to drought, environmental degradation as well as institutional,
policy and resource constraints.
7. Mr. President, an area where SADC needs to continue to make
progress is in working towards policy reforms at both the national and
international levels, such as through the NEPAD initiative. At national
level, this should include institutional capacity building, the
integration of the MDGs into country owned long-term development
strategies, and effective and transparent management of natural
resources. All of this can be achieved through continued commitment to
good governance and partnership-building with all stakeholders.
8. At the international level, the SADC member states will continue
to join with others in seeking a fairer international trading system,
broad based debt relief and the financing of new commitments through
grants. These are some of the steps by which we can realize the
Monterrey Consensus.
9. We recognise that developing countries, including the SADC
members, have a role to play towards implementing the Monterrey
Consensus by mobilizing their own resources. But, given the challenges
that face us, there is a need for others to also do more between now and
2015. In this context, we take this opportunity to once more call for
the fulfilment of the commitment by the more advanced countries to
ensure the allocation of 0.7% of the Gross National Income as official
development assistance.
10. We are happy to acknowledge and welcome recent efforts aimed at
releasing resources for development in the developing countries, such as
debt relief and improved market access for our products. We here applaud
the UK Government for spearheading the
International Finance Facility to support immediate front-loading of ODA
to achieve the 0.7% not later than 2015. We further recognize with
appreciation those EU Member States who have either already met the ODA
target or who have set timetables to achieve it.
11. It is necessary to make progress on the Doha Development Round.
While one appreciates pledges for more aid and recent declarations for
debt write-offs, more than anything else, many more developing countries
need to be able to also enjoy the benefit of greater export led growth.
12. While some of our countries have benefited from debt relief
strategies, including the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative,
this has not as yet resulted in debt sustainability in the region. This
underscores the need for the cancellation of debts that cannot be
serviced without placing a burden on impoverished people in the region.
13. Mr. President, let me express the particular concern that some
developing countries that have made progress towards realizing the MDGs
through good governance and the pursuit of sound macro-economic
policies, are at times disadvantaged because they are deemed to have
attained the status of being middle income countries. Efforts should be
made to assist countries such as my own, which are still in the process
of consolidating their economic gains.
14. Mr. President, let me conclude, by reiterating that the SADC
region remains united in its commitment to work towards the collective
achievement of he Millennium Development Goals through partnership among
its own members and the wider world. I thank you.
D 3) OPENING REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FESTUS G. MOGAE, PRESIDENT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, AT THE NATIONAL HIV PREVENTION CONFERENCE
(22/9/05):
[Salutations]... Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. Good afternoon! At gatherings such as this it is customary for
the principal speaker to express how happy or pleased she or he is to be
gracing the occasion.
2. But, in all honesty, there is nothing pleasant about the task
that has drawn us here today. The spread of the virus remains a constant
source of sorrow. That is why I saw the need to be with you today. None
of us shall find comfort until the goal of this conference - towards
zero new HIV infections - is transformed from wish to reality.
3. To achieve this goal we must be frank in our discourse. The
virus is not as of yet under control, much less conquered. But, we do
have grounds for hoping that it soon can be. We certainly now have the
capacity to overcome the scourge. The key question is do we also have
sufficient will?
4. While it is true that the virus knows no borders, its defeat in
this country must come from within. I have today just returned from New
York, where I participated in the Untied Nation's 60th Anniversary
Summit and the launching of the Clinton Global Initiative. At both
events, as well as at the recent International AIDS Society Conference
in Rio de Janeiro, there was much talk about the Global Challenge of
HIV/AIDS. But, ultimately the spread of the virus in Botswana is a
challenge for Batswana. I therefore trust that this national gathering
will focus on our own efforts.
5. Over the next three days I expect you shall be probing into
where we are failing and why? What is it that we are doing right, but
need to do better? Are we sure that a given initiative is really making
a positive contribution to our overall efforts? People in this country,
and indeed around the world, will be interested in your answers.
6. Let us also recognize that this conference is taking place at a
critical time in our struggle against the scourge. I believe that we
have reached a crossroads in which there is genuine opportunity to begin
to move towards significant and sustainable reduction in new HIV
infections. But, people will first have to embrace this prospect in
their own lives.
7. We are already at a stage where most of us are aware of both the
consequences of the virus and the "A, B, C" of preventing its spread.
8. We also, moreover, have in place our Prevention of Mother to
Child Transmission or "PMTC" programme. This initiative offers expectant
mothers who are HIV positive the opportunity to get treatment so as to
prolong their own lives and dramatically reduce the chance of their
babies being born with the virus.
9. While I appreciate reports that the PMTC uptake has
significantly increased over the past 24 months, I am concerned that
about a fifth of the women in ante-natal care are still refusing to be
tested.
10. What I find even more inexplicable is the fact that a
significant number of the women who do opt to be tested are,
nonetheless, refusing treatment. Between January and March of this the
year almost a quarter of the mothers known to be HIV positive turned
their backs on PMTC. Perhaps this conference can help us to better
understand why this is the case and what should be done about it.
11. Another disturbing statistic is the growing number of mothers
who were apparently on anti-retroviral therapy at the time they fell
pregnant. In other words they had engaged in unprotected sex while
knowing that they were HIV positive. While individual circumstances may
differ, the overall pattern is evidence that far too many are failing to
take responsibility for the welfare of themselves and others.
12. It is by now well known that we have also put in place both
"routine" and "voluntary" testing to encourage and facilitate the goal
of having all Batswana know their HIV status. This remains a
prerequisite for halting its spread. It is only through self-knowledge
that people are truly empowered to either:
* Live positively with the virus, accessing available treatment for
themselves, while avoiding behaviour that risks the wellbeing of others;
or
* Live in such a way as to ensure that they and those closest to them,
remain virus free.
13. By now these facts should be obvious to all. As I said earlier,
we now have both the knowledge and capacity to overcome the scourge.
But, do we also possess the necessary will?
14. One fact that should also be obvious, but perhaps is not as yet
to everyone, is that there is still no known cure for the virus. We have
successfully rolled out anti-retroviral treatment to an increasing
number of people, which is having a positive effect on their wellbeing.
But, it must be recognised that such people are still infected, and thus
can still infect others.
15. Besides continuing to avoid unprotected sex, those on therapy
should also realise that there is no alternative but for them to stay on
treatment. Various homeopathic remedies, such as Canova, are not ARV
substitutes. They are, at best, only supplementary treatments.
16. In our efforts to prevent the spread of the virus we will,
moreover, remain open minded. But, let us not become sidetracked into
being less than firm in our commitment to our "A, B, C" or "D" message.
Discussion about such issues as the possible benefits of circumcision
should not suggest that there is a panacea that allows individuals to
avoid the need for self-responsibility.
17. Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties we face in confronting
the virus is fact that its defeat depends on us as individuals.
Government can not defeat virus. Neither can civil society organisations
nor our friends in the international community. In the end we all must
assume personal responsibility.
18. And so I believe that we have now reached a crossroads. Each of
us must decide whether we are either going to be part of the problem, or
its solution.
19. Director of Ceremony, in calling on individuals to choose life,
we do continue to appreciate that our collective efforts to promote
behavioural change must also take into account the complexity of sexual
relations within our society, which raises issues of culture, power and
status, such as the existence of unequal relationships between men and
women.
20. The effectiveness of any strategy or intervention in the
struggle must also be measured against reliable data. It is for this
reason that last year we undertook the most comprehensive study yet of
behavioural patterns and HIV prevalence in our general population.
21. The 2004 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey, or BIAS II, targeted a
sample of 8292 households from all over the country, of which 7612, or
92%, were successfully interviewed. It covered such areas as knowledge
of HIV transmission and prevention, beliefs and misconceptions about
HIV, behaviour, practices, care and support.
22. In addition, HIV tests were conducted on a sample population of
just over 14,000, which confirmed an overall national prevalence rate of
17% in the general population aged 18 months to 64 years. This
composite, however, masks significant variations with respect to age,
gender and residence. Among 30-34 year olds the HIV prevalence rate
peaks at 40%. The figures for 15-19 year olds and 20-24 year olds, by
way of contrast, were 6% and 19% respectively.
23. The importance of increasing our efforts to prevent mother to
child transmission is reflected in the fact that that the percentage of
18 month to 4 year old living with the virus was found to be virtually
the same as those falling in the 15-19 year old category.
24. In terms of gender, the sharpest differences were recorded among
those between 15 and 29, with 10% of the females and only 3% of the
males aged between 15-19 being HIV positive.
25. Not unexpectedly, the prevalence rates in the urban centres were
relatively higher than in the rural areas, though in many cases less so
than we might have expected. For example, the prevalence rate for
Gaborone was 19%, just 2% above the national average.
26. For an optimist what is more encouraging, but also perhaps more
open to debate, was the Survey's findings with respect to knowledge and
behaviour. Among the 15-49 year olds 89% were able to correctly identify
at least three ways of HIV prevention. Interestingly, the researchers
found no significant differences between the genders or age cohorts in
this finding.
27. The percentage of people between 15-49 years who believed women
can negotiate safer sex was 83%, 82% for men and 84% for women. The
figure for males was a significant improvement over a 2001 survey that
showed only about two-thirds of the males agreeing that women should be
allowed to negotiate safer sex.
28. In terms of behaviour, the percentage of people between 15-49
years old who reported having sex with more than one partner over the
last 12 months was 6%, with only negligible variations between the age
sub-groups. If true, this finding challenges popular assumptions about
current levels of promiscuity.
29. In terms of the use of condoms the Survey reported a significant
increase among those in the 15-24 year age group. Whereas a similar
survey conducted in the year 2000 showed only 16% reporting their use,
the figure for 2004 was 72%, with 86% in the same group reporting that
they had used condoms with non-regular partners. By contrast condom use
for 25-49 year olds was 49%.
30. One should not derive too much comfort from the numbers I
have just reported, especially given the continued existence of high HIV
prevalence rates among our adult population. But, they do at least
suggest that the immense efforts and resources that have so far been
directed in our fight against the virus have not been in vain. The
opportunity for the great majority of our young people to remain free of
the virus clearly exists.
31. It has been said that "vision is the art of seeing things
invisible to others". It is my hope that the experts and activists that
have been assembled here will help us see those things that have not
been apparent to us. This should help us to further refine our
prevention strategies towards realising zero new HIV infections. The
twentieth century columnist Max Lerner once wrote:
"The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the
core of strength within you that survives all hurt."
32. I am here today with the hope that this conference will prove to
be a turning point in our own struggle against the virus. Let us as
Batswana discover our internal strength, our own ability to slay
Goliath.
33. Director of Ceremony, Ladies and Gentlemen, lest I unduly delay
your important deliberations let me conclude my remarks by declaring
this National Conference on HIV Prevention officially open. I thank you.
PULA!
D 4) REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY MR. FESTUS G. MOGAE, PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, ON HIS VISIT TO THE TEEMANE MANUFACTURING COMPANY
IN SEROWE (22/9/05)
[Salutations]... Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. It is only a year ago since some of you were at this factory, to
join Diarough in celebrating its first anniversary of owning Teemane
Manufacturing Company. I was then not able to come because of other
national duties. It is therefore my pleasure to celebrate with you
today, yet another milestone in Diarough's short history in Botswana.
The introduction of such an impressive world class facility into your
operations, is a clear sign that your company is one of the leaders in
the diamond business.
2. I wish to congratulate the Diarough management for the
impressive performance the company has registered thus far. In the short
time since the company bought Teemane Company, it has raised its
production four fold from 2,000 to over 8,000 carats per month. In
addition, we are informed, the company has increased its workforce from
200 to 320 workers, and perhaps more importantly, is on the verge of
making a profit. That record is by any standards a very impressive one
indeed.
3. The facilities I have just seen at the training school and the
company's commitment to train its personnel on the latest skills and
technology, are a clear demonstration that Teemane Company is determined
to back its pronouncements with actual investment and commitment. We
are confident that with facilities such as this one, Botswana will soon
compete effectively with the best in the world.
4. Your decision to set up in Botswana is to us a very clear sign
of confidence in not only the future of the Botswana diamond industry,
but that of our country as well. For our part as a nation and your
hosts, we can assure you that we will do our best to ensure that
companies such as yours are given full support in their operations. In
that respect, let me ask the people of Serowe to regard your company's
success as their own success. I ask all the Serowe residents to know
that if they look after your company, more companies and therefore more
jobs will come to their village.
5. Some of the guests at today's function are public officers who
in their individual capacities, have been charged with the
responsibility of providing various services to the residents of Serowe.
I ask all those concerned to appreciate that a facility of this
sophistication and magnitude has to be kept running smoothly at all
times. Please make sure that the smooth operation of the company becomes
one of your most important job priorities. Remember that every single
job that has been created at this factory supports several family
members.
6. Let me at this juncture congratulate the TMC workers for being
associated with this world class facility. I would also like to take
this opportunity to remind them that they are the company's most
important resource. If they work hard and productively, TMC and
therefore their own future, will be secure. I encourage all the workers
to be loyal first and foremost to the company and to resolve differences
within the company amicably.
7. Whilst it is the workers' democratic right to belong to trade
unions of their choice, it is also true that they have a direct
relationship with the company that has employed them. By resorting to
our national culture of consultation whenever they have differences with
the management, a lot of differences that might arise from time to
time, will be resolved amicably and in the best interest of all
concerned.
8. For its part, the management too will no doubt adopt work
practices that are conducive to a harmonious and motivating work
environment. Above all, I am confident that the company will train its
workforce to achieve the highest standards of performance in its highly
sophisticated operation. I have no doubt that if you do so, your
employees will rise to the occasion and perform above your expectations.
9. Let me also at this juncture commend the TMC management for
recognizing the need to give support to its employees through AIDS
counselling and provision of medication. Your company's initiative is a
good example of social responsibility and good corporate citizenship.
The fight against HIV/AIDS is a responsibility that we all have to
accept. There is no doubt that we all stand to benefit enormously from
the ultimate defeat of the disease.
10. I wish to take this opportunity to assure the Teemane company
management that the government of Botswana considers the private sector
to be a very important development partner. On its own, the government
can not develop the country and provide jobs to the ever growing number
of job seekers. We also fully recognize that companies such as yours
expect to gain profits from their investment, hence our determination to
ensure that TMC becomes a profitable venture.
11. Over the years since our independence, we have developed
Botswana into a credible investment destination by creating conditions
that we believe are of vital importance to the success of the private
sector. As you are no doubt aware, our country has received outstanding
international ratings for its prudent financial management, credit
worthiness, good governance, stability and for its positive attitude
towards the private sector, to mention but a few.
12. We are determined to maintain this positive track record because
the success of the private sector is our success. Every job that your
company has created by setting up this operation, will, for example,
supports not only the workers involved, but also many members of their
families. We are therefore confident that you will join hands with your
employees and build your company from strength to strength.
13. Let me conclude by thanking the Parikh family for their confidence
in Botswana and all the directors and staff for hosting us today. I
extend to you our best wishes for the future and look forward to hearing
even more about the success of your outstanding enterprise. PULA!
E. Statements by the Hon. Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public
Administration:
E 1) Statement by the Hon. Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public
Administration welcoming the High Commissioner of Zambia and biding
farewell to the UNDP Resident Representative (16/9/05).
[Salutations]... Ladies and Gentlemen;
1. I am very honoured to have been asked to host this dinner to
welcome the new High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia and at the
same time to bid farewell to the United Nations Resident Coordinator and
United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative.
2. It is the norm in the diplomatic world, as it is in other
vocations, that we should have occasions such as these. What is
important is that there should be continuity and improvement on the
achievements of those that are taking leave of us.
3. I have no doubt that this objective will continue to guide our
relations and inspire us to endeavour to reach even greater heights in
our cooperation with the Republic of Zambia and the United Nations.
4. Your Excellency, the High Commissioner; the Republic of Zambia
and Botswana enjoy the most cordial of relations characterized by
exchanges at all levels.
5. Your appointment, so soon after the departure of your
predecessor, Ambassador Cecil Holmes, bears testimony to these cordial
and mutually beneficial relations and the importance that your
Government attaches to them. It is therefore a great pleasure for me to
extend to you a very hearty welcome indeed. I am confident that you
will work tirelessly to take our relations to even greater heights. On
our part, we are more than ready to work with you to advance our
relations for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples.
6. Your Excellency, Botswana and Zambia are united by a shared
cultural and historical heritage as well as a commonality of interests
which have served as a rock solid foundation upon which our relations
are built.
7. We also have in place mechanisms such as the Joint Permanent
Commission for Cooperation as well as the Joint Permanent Commission on
Defence and Security which have served us well as vehicles for enhancing
our relations.
8. Botswana is host to a few diplomatic missions. I am sure Your
Excellency, you will discover that small is beautiful, for the size of
the diplomatic community here provides a conducive environment not only
for greater interaction within the diplomatic community but also with
the community at large.
9. In your case, your stay here will be made even more comfortable
by the presence of a significant number of your compatriots who live and
work among our people in various capacities. I am sure, Your
Excellency, that this fact will go a long way to facilitating your
interaction with the Botswana community.
10. Given this, Your Excellency, I am sure you will find it
imperative to quickly arrange programmes which will take you to various
parts of Botswana with a view to exploring opportunities that could
further enhance our cooperation. I wish you and your family a pleasant
stay with us.
12. Finally, Your Excellency, we encourage you to travel the length
and breadth of Botswana.
13. Your Excellency, Mr Bjoern Foerde; may I now take this
opportunity on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of
Botswana to bid you farewell. Even though it's sad that you are leaving
us so soon, it is gratifying that you leave behind significant
achievements upon which your successors, in collaboration with us, will
build on.
14. Thanks to your zeal for perfection and commitment to whatever
you set out to do, a lot was achieved in various areas on which we
worked with your office.
15. Significant among these are the various capacity building
programmes you are associated with which benefited not only the
Government but also the wider community as well. That support included
funding some workshops as well as active participation in the technical
committees set up to deal with the various United Nations treaties on
international humanitarian law.
16. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular benefited from
your invaluable support in developing capacity for producing national
reports on human rights instruments. As a result, two National Reports,
i.e. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as
the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
have been completed. You leave at a time when the Ministry of Labour
and Home Affairs is in the process of producing, with the support of
your office, the National Report on the Convention on the Elimination of
Discrimination Against Women.
17. During your tenure here, you traversed this country, interacting
with Batswana from all walks of life thus bringing the United Nations to
their doorstep. Amongst other things, in your endeavour to reach out to
the people, you took the celebration of United Nations Day to other
places other than the capital, the last of which was Ramotswa.
18. You were always willing to use every opportunity to address the
public in different parts of Botswana on various themes and issues such
as the Millennium Development Goals, HIV and AIDS, the environment to
name but just a few. Thanks to these initiatives, more of our people
have a better appreciation of the United Nations and what it stands for.
19. You will be remembered by many for your frankness and direct
approach to issues, attributes which distinguished you as an action -
oriented person.
20. As we bid you farewell, let me take this opportunity to wish you
success in your next appointment, which I understand will be Director of
the Governance Centre in Oslo, Norway. I have no doubt that you will
execute your responsibilities with the same measure of diligence and
commitment that was the hallmark of your tenure with the United Nations
here in Botswana.
21. Both yourself and your spouse leave many friends in this country
who will no doubt miss you. I believe that Botswana can count on you to
continue to promote its interests wherever you will be. We thank you
once again.
22. With these few remarks, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now ask you
to rise and to join me in drinking a toast to;
* The continued good health of His Excellency Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, SC
President of the Republic of Zambia and Mr Kofi Annan, the Secretary
General of the United Nations;
* To the continued friendship and cooperation between the people of
Botswana with Zambia and the United Nations respectively; and to
international peace and security. PULA!!
E 2) Statement by the Hon. Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public
Administration at Setlalekgosi CJSS (16/9/05)
[Salutations]... Ladies and Gentlemen
1. It is a great pleasure and honour to be with you on this
occasion when Setlalekgosi Community Junior Secondary School has decided
to open its doors to members of the public to celebrate the school's
success in last year's Junior Certificate final examinations and also
honour those of its staff and students who have distinguished themselves
in various activities of the school. I am reliably informed that the
school got position one in the North Region and position ten in the
whole country. This is a great achievement and I would like to invite
you to join me in congratulating them. Congratulations!
2. Ladies and Gentlemen, the theme for this celebration is
"Recognising Achievement towards Globalisation". I think the theme is
very appropriate. We are here to honour this school's success in 2004
Junior Certificate examinations where it scooped position 10 in the
whole country with a 92.4% pass rate. We are also here to recognise the
teachers' hard work and sterling performance by the current students and
the rest of the school staff throughout the entire school life
considering its humble beginnings.
3. It is scarcely necessary to remind this gathering about the
origins of Setlalekgosi CJSS in the late 1960's. Indeed it has grown in
leaps and bounds. All of you have significantly contributed to this
growth in various ways including building up the image of the school
notwithstanding immense odds the school had to overcome. A number of
challenges have been cited which further shows the selfless effort put
in order to sustain the previous year's achievement. I wish to invite
all of you to celebrate the achievement of the present students whose
efforts have been identified in different subjects and co-curricular
activities. This occasion includes the 2005 prize giving ceremony.
4. Bagaetsho, I hope you have all heard the expression "we are
living in a global village". This means that people and countries no
longer operate in isolation. One may ask what a school's success has to
do with globalization. Education is a global issue because we cannot
expect to compete meaningfully with the rest of the world without proper
education and training.
5. The success of a school is indicative of the fact that the whole
school community namely parents, teachers, ancillary staff and students
are making a concerted effort to achieve quality education. It is
gratifying to note that Setlalekgosi students continually meet the
requirements for progression to Botswana General Certificate of
Secondary Education and hopefully go on to tertiary institutions, thus
becoming competitive in the global village. Successful students are not
only those who after Junior Certificate go to Form IV but also those who
go into tertiary institutions like brigades, get employed or make a
living out of the skills they learnt at school. It is therefore clear
that achievement is not limited to academic excellence. The graduates
themselves should display acceptable social behaviour as stated in
VISION 2016. Education without "BOTHO" is worthless. It therefore
behoves all of us to ensure that in the education process of our
children we inculcate the tenet "Botho" in addition to being informed,
productive, innovative compassionate, accountable and tolerant citizens
of this country.
6. Director of Ceremonies, for a school to produce good results it
takes more than the efforts of teachers and students alone. It is
definitely a result of active participation by other important players
like cooks, grounds staff, cleaners, typists, Administration Assistants,
maintenance workers and messengers within the school without whom there
would be no smooth delivery of the teaching and learning processes. We
have heard of students striking in some institutions because of poor
quality meals or poor health standards which proves that these men and
women play an important role in the smooth running of the system. I
should not forget to mention parents who ensure discipline and monitor
the students' performance as well as encourage them to work harder. In
addition parents provide necessities like uniform, stationery and love.
Parents also work hand in hand with teachers to achieve school goals.
Where there is a strong and active PTA, and commitment by all
stakeholders, the results of the school no doubt should show
improvement.
7. The performance we are here to celebrate today is eloquent
testimony of that improvement. I sincerely believe that celebrating an
event like this one is not a waste of time and money. People should
learn to look back and evaluate what they have done. But if not much
has been achieved, they should not be discouraged but plan on how they
can improve. If objectives have been achieved they should rejoice but
still plan to sustain and improve further on what they did. They must
also find new ways of tackling some of the problems they face in their
work. Achievement is worth celebrating because that keeps the team
together, focused and motivated. It makes the team goal or results
oriented.
8. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Botswana Government has introduced
Performance Management System (PMS) and Performance Based Reward System
(PBRS). The whole purpose for the introduction of these innovations is
to ensure that organizations such as schools and other institutions
become result oriented. They should plan ahead of time for results they
would like to achieve using the limited resources they have and work
towards achieving their set goals. We should encourage students to do
the same. Those who successfully achieve their goals would be rewarded.
Therefore this celebration is a reward from the school for your
successful performance.
9. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are at a time when our country is
facing a mammoth problem of losing capable and able bodied people due to
the HIV and AIDS pandemic. We should encourage our children in everyway
to aim at successfully playing their role in combating the scourge. Let
us encourage students to desist from any behaviour that could expose
them to the disease. To the students, I encourage you to behave
responsibly as leaders of tomorrow.
10. It is also worth noting that with effect from January, 2006 some
parents will be required to contribute towards the education of their
children. This cost sharing was accepted by government following the
National Commission on Education of 1993 which culminated in the Revised
National Policy on Education (RNPE) of 1994. Provision will however be
made for deserving students whose parents cannot afford to pay fees to
get assistance through the existing social safety nets. I urge parents
to be even more involved next year because as customers or clients they
should play a visible role in getting value for the services they would
be paying for. They should work hand in hand with the school to ensure
that their children get quality education.
11. I hope that in future the school, students, parents and staff
will aim even higher than the 92.4% achieved lat year. We are gathered
here to encourage you so that next year we would all be here again to
celebrate another successful year. With these few words I wish to
congratulate the class of 2004 for a job well done and the present
students who are going to receive prizes for their achievement. Even
those who will not get prizes should not give up but they should work
even harder for their efforts to bear fruit, "Phiri o rile ga bose
gangwe". You too should continue to strive hard and at the same time be
generous and applaud the achievements of those of your peers who will
get the coveted prizes.
12. Director of Ceremonies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and
Gentlemen, in conclusion, it is now my singular honour and pleasure to
declare the celebrations officially open. Have a good day and enjoy the
celebration. PULA!
E 3) Statement by the Hon. Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public
Administration at the opening of the IDEA Seminar on Electoral Design
(22/9/05)
1. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the
Government and people of Botswana to this important regional Seminar. It
is not usually the case that one finds Secretaries General and Chief
Whips of political parties in the same room talking about the same
issues with Chairpersons and Directors of Elections, together with the
media, leaders of civil society organisations that are in the business
of election observation and monitoring.
2. Many a time, the relationship between Electoral Commissions and
civil society organisations is a tense one - with the latter accusing
the former of inefficiency and in some cases of rigging elections. On
their part, some civil society organisations hold the view that
political parties always strive to take or retain power by all and any
means necessary. Some political parties especially within the opposition
ranks view electoral commissions with suspicion, accusing them of being
biased and acting on behalf of and in favour of ruling parties.
3. These tense and suspicious relations do not augur well for
democratic consolidation and nation building. Whereas it may be true
that is some cases electoral commissions may fail to conduct elections
efficiently and beyond reproach, one usually finds that electoral
commissions only operate within the given legislative fiat, which is not
their creation, but that of the legislature. The buck stops with us the
legislators to ensure that we bring about legislative and policy
environments that easily lend themselves to the realisation of a
democratic dispensation.
4. In the final analysis, all of us, whether we belong to the
governing party, the opposition, electoral commissions or the media have
a role to play in building and strengthening good governance, democracy,
transparency and economic development.
5. It is in this context that I would like to congratulate and thank
the organisers of this important Seminar for bringing us all together,
to collectively examine one of the key processes that underpin an
enduring democracy - electoral systems design.
6. I am informed that in November 2003, the SADC Parliamentary Forum
organised a similar seminar in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Seminar, which was
held under the theme, Towards Norms and Standards for Elections in the
SADC Region was attended by Chief Whips and Chairpersons of women's
parliamentary caucuses of some of the parliaments whose countries held
elections in 2004, namely Botswana, Malawi, Namibia and South Africa.
One of the recommendations that came out of the Seminar was the
following:
'In view of the problems associated with the First Past The Post (FPTP)
constituency-based electoral system with respect to gender equality,
participation and representation of disadvantaged social groups and
minorities in the democratic process, SADC member states should
seriously consider reviewing their electoral systems, practices and laws
with the view to adopting a Mixed Member Proportional System.'
7. Whether this recommendation will be carried forward by this
Seminar is another matter. What is clear though is that in a number of
our countries, there is spirited debate around electoral system design.
To the extent that electoral systems are the medium through which
political power is distributed and public participation and influence on
public policy is entrenched, I suspect that these debates will continue
unabated for the foreseeable future. Our peoples' yearning for
participation and inclusivity cannot be mitigated. If anything, we the
elected representatives must promote it. It therefore behoves all us to
continuously seek and find ways and means of responding to the evolving
political and economic imperatives of our times. The continuous opening
up of democratic space is an imperative that we cannot avoid. To this
end, experience within our region and elsewhere has shown that the
failure of an electoral system to deliver a result that is desired by
the majority or a very large section of the population could lead to
disastrous consequences on peace and stability not only within the
country concerned but also throughout the region.
8. The design of an electoral system is, in my view, more than just a
technical process. It is a serious political process. The architecture
of an electoral system is essentially an act of balancing competing
political views and interests. Whereas there can be no perfect electoral
system, as much as there can be no perfect constitution in the sense
that there will always be those who desire something else; it is
important that stakeholders should work together to develop an electoral
model that ensures continuity, peace and stability, in addition to
addressing their historical, political and socio-economic circumstances.
In my view, a near-perfect electoral system is one that seeks to include
as many political, racial and ethnic shades as possible. A near perfect
electoral system must necessarily seek to ensure the equal
representation of all citizens, protect the rights of the minorities,
the youth, and any other disadvantaged groups.
9. I notice that some of the objectives that have been set for this
Seminar are as follows:
(i) promoting deeper understanding and insight in how electoral systems
impact on representation, participation and democratic governance;
(ii) fostering dialogue on electoral system reform in the sub region in
general, and in countries that are contemplating electoral system
reforms;
(iii) sharing electoral system experiences among SADC countries as a way
of promoting mutual learning and fostering the adoption of 'best'
practices in electoral system design; and
(iv) promoting inclusive dialogue for re-designing electoral systems.
10. I cannot agree more with the organisers on the importance of the
programme you have embarked on. Africa in general and the SADC region in
particular are presently going through very exciting yet challenging
times in terms of political, economic and social transformation. There
is an urgent clarion call to all of us, politicians and other citizens
alike, to integrate and get closer in an era of globalisation and the
information age. The 14-member SADC family of nations, to which we all
belong, has agreed on the need to evolve common political values,
systems and institutions and the achievement of complementarily between
national and regional strategies and programmes, among other objectives.
This Seminar is one such effort, from a parliamentary perspective.
11. The coming into being last year of the SADC Principles and
Guidelines for Democratic Elections is one way in which this region is
seeking to bring about convergence in the manner in which we organise
and hold elections. I am aware that in 2001, borne out lessons learned
and experience gained in observing elections within our region, the SADC
Parliamentary Forum became probably the first organisation on our
continent to develop and adopt Norms and Standards for Elections in the
SADC Region as a blue print for constitutional and electoral reforms to
promote free, fair and transparent elections. This is ample testimony of
the commitment of the elected representatives of the peoples of SADC to
improve the environment within which elections are conducted for the
sake of peace, stability, democracy and sustainable development. There
can be no sustainable development where the precious little resources
and time is wasted in prolonged court cases and in trying to resolve
election-related conflicts that could otherwise be averted through
all-inclusive electoral systems and processes.
12. I am aware that over the past seven years, parliamentarians from
Botswana have joined their counterparts from other countries in the
region to either lead or participate in election observation missions
organised by the SADC Parliamentary Forum. I urge the SADC Parliamentary
Forum to continue observing elections throughout our region.
13. Regarding the existing regional instruments for election
observation, I believe there is ample scope for convergence between the
SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections and the Norms
and Standards for Elections in the SADC Region. It is clear that there
is consensus between the Executive and Legislature on the need to set
benchmarks on the basis of which the quality of our elections will be
assessed. Elections should be more than an exercise of transfer or
retention of power by one party or the other. Elections are about
participation and good governance. Elections are about fairness and
justice ensuring that the will of the people is done.
14. Let me conclude by reiterating my government's commitment to free
and fair elections, a tradition which we have consistently upheld since
our independence in 1965. We recognise though that there is scope to
learn from the experiences of other countries. I urge all of you to put
your heads together over the next two days and come up with concrete
recommendations that will enrich our electoral systems and processes.
15. As the leaders and gatekeepers of your respective political
parties parliamentary caucuses, you need to take it upon yourselves to
take the lead in advocating for the principles, guidelines and
recommendations contained in the regional instruments referred to above
to be domesticated in your respective countries' constitutional and
legal frameworks.
16. It only remains for me to declare this Regional Seminar on
Electoral System Design officially open. I wish you fruitful
deliberations.
F. OP Press Office Forwarding:
F 1) 13/9/05: Mogae at the NYSE: a) Mogae closes Wall Street; b) NYSE
Press Release: Botswana President H.E. Festus G. Mogae to Ring The
Closing Bell(tm) at NYSE; and c) Corporate Council for Africa Press
Release: "Growing Africa's Trade - Botswana President Rings NYSE Bell"
This is to inform members of the Press that this afternoon H.E. the
President was given the honour of ringing the closing bell at the New
York Stock Exchange (NYSE). A live global television audience of an
estimated 137 million (figure supplied by NYSE media liaison) watched
the event. Pictures of His Excellency and additional information on the
NYSE can be found at www.nyse.com . Press Releases to follow [below].
a) "Mogae closes Wall Street"
Botswana flags flew alongside those of the United States inside the New
York Stock Exchange today, as H.E. President Mogae was given the honour
of ringing the closing bell on today's trading. The event was televised
live to an estimated global television audience of 137 million.
Outside of the world famous NYSE headquarters on Wall Street, another
large Botswana flag was hoisted at half mast as a mark of respect for
the loss of life due to Hurricane Katrina, which recently devastated the
Gulf Coast region of the United States, resulting in the flooding and
evacuation of the city of New Orleans.
Before proceeding to the trading floor to ring the bell, President Mogae
met with the NYSE Managing Director George Sierant, who expressed his
personnel and institutional appreciation for Botswana's prudent and
progressive economic approach, which was described as a benchmark for
others. In this respect Mr. Sierant was familiar with the country's
positive credit ratings, and economic freedom and competitiveness
rankings. He further expressed his conviction that in today's global
marketplace even small developing countries could benefit from the
global trading in shares as a means of raising capital.
For his part President Mogae thanked his host for his hospitality. In
addition to his own officials the President was joined by the former US
Ambassador to Botswana, Joseph Huggins and leading Wall Street trader,
Harold Doley. The first African-American to have a seat at the NYSE, Mr.
Doley paid a working visit to Botswana last year.
[The picture of President Mogae ringing the closing bell posted on the
NYSE website shows from l-r former US Ambassador to Botswana Mr. Joseph
Huggins, Botswana's Ambassador to the US, Mr. Lapolang Lekgoa, NYSE
Managing Director Mr. George Sierant, President Mogae, Mr. Harold Doley,
and Botswana's Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Alfred Dube.]
The NYSE is recognised the world's leading and most technologically
advanced equities market. A broad spectrum of market participants,
including listed companies worth just under USD $ 20 trillion (USD
$19,800,000,000,000 as of 31/12/04) create the NYSE market.
In terms of value about 1/3 of the world's total listed capital assets
are traded as shares on the NYSE. On an average day, 1.46 billion
shares, valued at $46.1 billion, are actually traded.
Tonight President Mogae, along with the First Lady, is attending a
reception host by the US President George W. Bush.
Tomorrow (Wednesday 14/9/05) Mogae will attend the opening session of
the 60th Session of the UN General Assembly.
Also during the day the President will separately address both the
Assembly and (on behalf of SADC)a high Level Plenary meeting on
Financing for Development.
b) NYSE Press Release: Botswana President H.E. Festus G. Mogae to Ring
the Closing Bell(tm) at NYSE:
A new emphasis on private sector-led economic growth and building
globally competitive industries is shaping the developing agenda of most
countries in Africa, which is attracting the attention of global
investors. Botswana has the highest sovereign credit rating in Africa.
His Excellency became the third President of the Republic of Botswana in
1998. Prior to his presidency, he was appointed Minister of Finance and
Development Planning in 1989 and became Vice President in 1992.
As Vice President, he was also Leader of the House for Botswana National
Assembly. President Mogae was an active member of the Botswana
Democratic Party and served on various committees including: member of
the Botswana Democratic Party Central Committee and Chairman of its
Finance and Economic Committee, and member of the Central Committee
responsible for the Letswapo Region.
President Mogae is currently involved in various community
organizations. He is president of the Botswana Society and the Botswana
Society for the Deaf. He is patron of the Junior Achievement Botswana
and Chairman of the National Aids Council. President Mogae is also
involved with the Kalahari Conservation Society and the Lions Club of
Palapye.
C) Corporate Council for Africa: Growing Africa's Trade - Botswana
President Rings NYSE Bell
The Corporate Council on Africa's (CCA) aggressive promotion of more
than a dozen African countries as attractive investment destinations is
bearing fruit.
"There are projects in African countries worth financing", says Stephen
Hayes, president of CCA. "There are countless untapped investment
opportunities in a country such as Botswana which has a democratic
government that has been stable for nearly 40 years.
Botswana has an A+ credit rating from both Standard & Poor's and Moody's
rating services," says Hayes.
In recognition of this fact, Botswana's president, Festus G. Mogae, has
been granted the honour by the New York Stock Exchange of ringing the
closing bell tomorrow. Botswana is a shining example of the New Africa.
According to the IMF, Africa offers the highest return on investment
(ROI) in the world. At 144% ROI, Ghana's Stock Exchange has the highest
return on investment in the world for a stock market... [Edited for
space]
F 2) 14/9/05: FW: Department of Wildlife and National Parks Press
Release (DWNP) Press Release #1: "Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Residents Assault Wildlife Staff"
A number of additional staff from the Department of Wildlife and
National Parks (DWNP) and police officers have been stationed in the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in order to prevent illegal
activities such as poaching, further entry of livestock and people.
Several of these officers were assaulted last week by people that have
illegally resettled in the CKGR after they had initially relocated and
for which they received generous compensation. The assault occurred when
the officers wanted to enter the compound of one of the witnesses in the
CKGR court case, Mr Matsipane Mosetlhenyane, to investigate a poaching
incident.
Despite several requests to search the compound, Mr. Mosetlhenyane and
his relatives refused the officers entry and displayed threatening
behaviour to prevent the officers from entering. When attempting to
enter the compound the following day to confiscate the illegally
acquired game meat that had been seen, Mr
Mosetlhenyane and his relatives attacked the officers throwing spears
and sticks and attempting to set government vehicles on fire. During
this attack one officer from DWNP was repeatedly hit on the head and
body with spears and sticks, fell on the ground and sustained several
injuries. This situation forced another officer to retrieve a rifle from
one of the vehicles and shoot in the air in order to prevent further
injuries being inflicted on the besieged officer by the enraged family.
The attackers thereafter retreated and the injured officer was
subsequently taken to Salajwe for medical treatment and is in a
satisfactory condition. Further staff have been dispatched to the site
of the incident in order to arrest the culprits.
NB: Journalists seeking official information and comment on the
circumstances surrounding the voluntary resettlement of Botswana citizen
outside of the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) are once more
advised in the first instance to contact the Director of the Public
Relations, Research and Information Division of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. Cliff Maribe, at Tel: (267)
3600763 or e-mail: csmaribe@gov.bw
F 3) 14/9/05: DWNP Release #2: All Livestock to be removed from Central
Kalahari Game Reserve
The Department of Animal Health and Production has completed its second
treatment of goats infected with sarcoptic mange in the Central Kalahari
Game Reserve (CKGR). In order to prevent further disease transmission
between domestic animals and wildlife and contamination of the wildlife
gene pool by crossbreeding, those resident in the CKGR have been given
notice to remove all their domestic animals from the Reserve within 14
days. This is in line with the stipulations of the National Parks and
Game Reserves Regulations and the Diseases of Animals Act, which
prohibit the presence of domestic animals in the Reserve.
All the animals currently in the Reserve have been imported from
Kaudwane, New Xade or Xere settlements. Many of these animals (goats,
sheep, horses and donkeys in particular) were either part of the
compensation packages for people relocated in 2002 and earlier or have
been acquired with money received from the compensation for relocating.
Any animals remaining in the Reserve after 14 days will be removed or
destroyed if they cannot be moved for whatever reason.
F 4) 14/9/05: Videos of President Mogae's statements at the UN available
online:
Members of the press are advised that this morning's statement on behalf
of SADC at the meeting on financing development at the UN by H.E. the
President is available in video form at:
www.un.org/webcast/summit2005/statements.html
It is further expected that his afternoon statement at the General
Assembly will soon be available as video. Both statements were earlier
webcast live.
F 5) 16/9/05: Mogae in New York: 15-16/9/05
The following is a summary of H.E. the President's schedule for
Thursday-Friday:
Yesterday, Thursday morning, H.E. the President began his working day at
the United Nations at a breakfast meeting co-hosted by the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the Prime Minister of Barbados, and
good friend of Botswana, the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur. In percapita terms
Barbados is one of the highest net contributors to the Global Fund.
Thereafter H.E. the President participated in the Summit's Round-table 2
discussions. This was followed by a reception hosted by the President of
the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Thabo Mbeki. H.E. the President then
proceeded to the launch of the Clinton Global Initiative.
In the late afternoon H.E. the President met with the U.S. Deputy
Secretary of State for Africa, Dr. Jendayi Fraser. The two traded
perspectives on a number of bilateral and international issues were
discussed. During the meeting there was consensus that the needs of
lower middle income countries such as Botswana should not be neglected
in international assistance efforts to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals. In the evening President Mogae attended former US
President Bill Clinton's reception, where guests were also welcomed by
the Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg.
Today's (Friday's) morning schedule:
H.E. the President is expected to start the morning as a participant on
the Clinton Global Initiative Panel discussion on eliminating poverty.
Later in the morning he will meet with the President of Madagascar, H.E.
Marc Ravglomanan, followed by the Deputy Prime Minster of Singapore,
Prof. S. Jayakumar, who have both requested audiences. In the afternoon
H.E. is expected to return to the United Nations for the close of the
Plenary.
F 6) 22/9/05: Mrs. Leatile Dambe appointed Director of Public
Prosecutions.
With reference to the above, the public is hereby informed that H.E. the
President, Mr. Festus G. Mogae, has been pleased to appoint Mrs. Leatile
Isabella Dambe to the newly created post of Director of Public
Prosecutions, with effect from the 1st of October 2005.
The above appointment in line with the recently passed Constitutional
Amendment Act, which also provides for the appointment of a Senior
Parliamentary Counsel to serve as the legal advisor to Parliament in
place of the Attorney-General, who will, however, remain as the
principal legal advisor to H.E the president and Cabinet. The post of
Senior Parliamentary Counsel is currently being advertised.
Mrs. Dambe holds both a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB) and a Maters of
Law (LLM) in Banking and Finance. The latter degree was completed at
Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. She also brings
to the post just over two decades of experience in prosecution. She has
most recently been serving in the post of Deputy Attorney General
(Prosecutions).
F 7) 22/9/05: Speech by Mr. S. Parikh, Director of Diarough and Teemane
Manufacturing Company at today's official opening by H.E. the President
of the Teemane Manufacturing Company Training School and Laser Operation
in Serowe.
1. Good morning distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. On
behalf of the Parikh family and the entire team at Teemane Manufacturing
Company, it gives me great pleasure to welcome His Excellency President
Mogae, the Honoured Ministers and guests here today.
2. As an international company we have branches in many countries
around the world and Botswana ranks as the most pleasant and efficient
to invest and work in.
3. Right from the beginning we have enjoyed close cooperation from
all the government departments and ministries with which we work. Their
staff are helpful, well briefed and offer constructive, positive advice
and assistance. Without their backing it would have been impossible to
make this factory the success it is now in such a short period of time.
I want to especially thank the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water
Resources, and the Ministry of finance and Development Planning for
their support.
4. The factory could not function without an infrastructure like
power supply, roads, water and telecommunications that have been put
into place over the years. Much of this as been paid for by income from
the diamond mines. This is an example for the whole world of how a
country should and can spend the gains from their natural resources in a
way that profits the whole country and its citizens. At the same time
you have created an environment where industries can invest and create
business opportunities and more employment for Batswana.
5. I hope that our factory will also contribute, in its own way, to
a brighter future for Botswana. But, a prosperous future is not only
built by the physical infrastructure - in the first place it's the human
infrastructure. The factory would not exist without a well trained and
motivated workforce.
6. From the beginning when we took over the factory in 2003 from
Debswana, it has always been our intention to make this a commercial
operation that stands on its own. We started with 200 workers and have
spent much of the last two years working hard in training, re-organising
and investing in our own infrastructure in order to increase
productivity and decrease overhead costs.
9. We see our presence in Botswana as an important part of our
global business and we have invested steadily in new equipment,
technology and training in order to obtain maximum benefit.
10. Training is the key to unlocking the potential of our workforce.
This is why we were all delighted when His Excellency agreed to open our
Training School this morning. Our training is both theoretical and
practical so that our workers understand what they are doing and why
they are doing it. This will increase their efficiency and we expect to
gain from their input on how on how to improve our operation even
further.
11. The only way to compete against the leading factories based in
India and China, who are our main competitors, is to use advantage of
scale rather than having a cottage industry. We do not expect subsidies
and certainly would not advocate their use. We believe that for and
industry to prosper it must be self-sufficient. This is the proper way
forward for the diamond industry in Botswana; to monitor the development
of the existing operations, each one to be leader in investment,
productivity innovation and technology. This will increase employment
gradually, but in a sustainable way.
12. We understand and appreciate the importance of local
beneficiation - but it has to make economic sense. Small factories will
eventually need subsidies in one form or another - scale is important in
a competitive industry.
13. In 2003 we set ourselves some targets:
* Firstly, increase employment. Currently we employ 320 workers, an
increase of 60% over the past two years. We not only expanded the
existing polishing operation, but we have installed a new department for
preparing of rough prior to polishing.
* Secondly, today companies can only prosper by continued investment and
by staying abreast of the lasted technologies. His Excellency has just
opened our new laser department, which is the first of its hind in
Botswana and is the most modern anywhere in the world. The department
will cost in excess of US $ 1 million. I repeat myself it is important
to stress how government has created the right environment with the
resources they have to attract even high-tech investments.
* Thirdly, fixed cost in other cutting centres is less than 20% of total
operational expenses. When we took over TMC, fixed costs were 60% of
total costs - I am delighted to say that we have achieved one of our key
operational targets and now our fixed costs are under 40% of overall
cost.
14. Looking to the future, our aim is to continue our steady growth
with our next milestone being 500 workers by the end of 2006. With this
in mind, our fixed operational expenses will become equivalent to other
major factories and we will be able to compete in the global economy.
15. We work in a global economy and exchange rates play a crucial
part in our industry. Our industry is a [US] Dollar based industry. Last
year the high rate of the Pula created real problems. All the hard work
that had been done by us and the staff to get this factory out of the
red was lost due to constant appreciation of the Pula. The devaluation
this year helped us and we in the manufacturing business community are
very happy about it.
16. Of course a factory cannot work without rough supply. To be able
to build a large profitable operation, a steady and consistent and long
term supply of suitable rough is needed. The DTC has been extremely
cooperative and has always endeavoured to help in any way possible and
we thank them for that.
17. When we came to Botswana we made a long-term commitment to the
country, our staff, and our factory.
18. HIV is an ongoing issue and we will continue to play our part in
fighting the disease and helping those who suffer from it - both in
treatment where ewe fund the total cost and in prevention, where we have
professionals come to the plant and regularly talk to everyone here. We
recently sponsored an AIDS Day walk through the village, which was
attended by all our staff.
19. Education is the key to future prosperity, both for our factory
and for our employees. Not only technical education as demonstrated in
our training school but in more general terms. We are setting up
internet, excel and word training courses to introduce our workers to
the world of computers and teach them the opportunities it holds.
20. If we did not enjoy ourselves we would be a very sad group so I
am pleased that we sponsored the Botswana football team and we all wish
them success in the future.
21. For those who are less energetic, we also provide entertainment
in the form of a movie house for our staff and their families.
22. We are also one of the Founder Members of Botswana Diamond
Manufacturers Association, which we started because we believe in the
future of our company and the future of the diamond manufacturing
industry in Botswana.
23. Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe a short speech is a good speech.
Once again I would like to thank His Excellency, and all of you, for
coming here today. We are proud of what the Teemane Manufacturing Team
has achieved here in Botswana by working together and Your Excellency's
presence here is something that honours us all.
24. In Botswana you have the world's largest, most efficient and
productive diamond mines. This is an example that I think of when I plan
to develop this factory. Large, efficient, and world class. I thank you.
F 8) 23/9/05: DWNP Release #3: Response to First People of the Kalahari
Statement
The judges in the court case on the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR)
recently ordered an adjournment of the court case in order to allow the
First People of the Kalahari (FPK) and others to raise more funds to
continue the case. As predicted by the Government's lead counsel in the
matter, Mr Sidney Pilane, FPK has embarked on their fund raising
campaign by slandering Government. They have done so through their
recent press release dated 13th September 2005 and a recent (23rd
September 2005) item on an international news channel. In both cases one
of the representatives of FPK Mr Jumanda Gakelebone and others tell
outright lies concerning the situation in the CKGR.
There is a law enforcement operation ongoing in the CKGR consisting of a
total of 55 wildlife staff and police officers. These have been deployed
at strategic places to prevent illegal entry into the Reserve and combat
the poaching that was taking place. All but 10 of the people currently
residing in the CKGR had earlier relocated to either Kaudwane, Xere or
New Xade and received ample compensation for this. At the instigation of
FPK and Roy Sesana they have pre-empted the judgement in the CKGR court
case and have returned to the Reserve with their livestock and other
properties acquired from compensation funds. These people therefore
reside in the Reserve illegally. It is these residents that are at fault
and pre-empting a court decision and not the Government as stated in
FPK's press release.
As per the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act and the Diseases
of Animals Act it is illegal to have livestock in a Game Reserve. For
this reason, the fact that there has been an outbreak of sarcoptic
mange, potential future disease outbreaks and crossbreeding with
wildlife species, Government, through the District Commissioner in
Ghanzi has informed the residents of the CKGR that it will enforce these
laws and that they are required to remove all livestock from the Reserve
within 14 days.
It is patently untrue that Government is "seriously evicting and
fighting the bushmen of the CKGR" as claimed by FPK. As reported earlier
there has been one incident at Mothomelo, where government officials
were attacked by the Matsipane family, during which one wildlife officer
was wounded. This violence was perpetrated by the CKGR residents and not
any of the law enforcement officers. The culprits have, in the mean
time, been arrested and will be charged with assault and causing
grievous bodily harm. The remaining Mothomelo residents have since
requested Government to assist them to move back to Kaudwane and this
will be facilitated. Again it is patently untrue that "the army has been
there fighting them (the Mothomelo residents) for two weeks" as claimed
by FPK.
FPK's campaign is continuing and Government is aware that the
organization is attempting to organize a demonstration in New Xade on
Saturday 24th September 2005. It is clear that this demonstration is
part of FPK's fundraising drive and it is likely that various foreign
personalities and press have been invited to both participate and cover
the event to generate maximum publicity abroad.
While the Government of Botswana recognises the rights of individuals to
stage demonstrations in accordance wit laid down procedures, Government
will not allow any incident meant to break the law in pursuit of
whatever cause.
F 9) 23/9/05: H.E. President Mogae willing to meet with Ms. Adamson and
Steinem
From: Dr. Jeff Ramsay, Private and Press Secretary
To: Ms. Rebecca L. Adamson, First Nations Development Institute &
Ms. Gloria Steinem, "Journalist and Author"
Re: Your request to meet with H.E. the President
We have tried to reach you today to no avail so I hope your mail contact
is at least working.
With reference to your faxed letter on the above request, dated 16/9/05
but unfortunately received only today, this is to inform you that H.E.
the President would be willing to meet with you and other members of
your party on Monday morning at 11:00 hours at the Office of the
President in Gaborone.
It has further come this Office's attention that you were unable to meet
with our senior officials this morning as had been arranged for you as
per your request via the U.S. Embassy. In this context, we could try to
arrange a new appointment with them when you come to Gaborone.
As you are of course aware H.E. the President was out of the country
attending the UN Summit in New York, otherwise we would have been happy
to have accommodated you sooner.
F 10) Additional notices and forwarding from 11-24/9/05:
* 15/9/05: President Mogae joins other African leaders in urging greater
representation on Security Council.
* 16/9/05: Sir Ketumile Masire attends conference on Millennium
Development Goals.
* 16/9/05: Ramp planned for Tati Nickel.
* 16/9/05: "Cheers go to Botswana".
* 21/9/05: Sir Ketumile Masire visits Talladega College.
* 23/9/05: "Gem-rich Botswana turns to that other carbon material -
coal".
* 24/9/05: "Former African leaders cautious about democratic progress"
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