UDC in Line for Big a Score As Minister Faces Imprisonment
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NEWS: INTRIGUE AND INDEPTH: PRINCE HARRY LAMENTS ‘WRONGS’ PAGE 3 DECEIT IN CMB SAGA PAGE 11 BRITAIN INFLICTED ON COLONIAL BOTSWANA July 12 - 18, 2020 EXCELLENCE IS STANDARD PRACTICE PRICE: P12.50 www.sundaystandard.info @SunStd_bw UK’s Survival UDC in line for big a score as Truckers renews fight planned strike against Minister faces imprisonment to inflame Botswana n Court gives Minister Mokgethi a 30 day ultimatum to have accounted for Botswana’s THOBO MOTLHOKA fuel crisis Claims of human rights violations against dead man’s estate n Judge points out that violation of Administration of Basarwa (Bushmen) by a United Kingdom KHONANI ONTEBETSE based non-governmental organisation are Estate Act is a criminal offence n Judge finds that Mokgethi has been being resurrected in the third presidency of Botswana’s fuel crisis is expected to get Botswana. worse before it gets better as scores of driv- Former President Festus Mogae tried violating the Act for six years n Boko expected to cash in on Mokgethi’s fall ers employed by international freight trans- to fend them off, his successor Ian Khama, portation company, Unitrans threaten to with his presumed conservation credentials, down tools should government fail to ad- somehow survived the fury from Survival dress their grievances. International (SI) but it remains to be seen This comes at a time when Botswana if the incumbent Mokgweetsi Masisi can is facing crippling fuel shortages as a result put up a spirited fight against the NGO. of, among others, COVID-19 protocols im- SI’s long-time director Stephen Cory posed by neighbouring South Africa from has cautioned Masisi to desist from arrest- where the country imports the bulk of its ing Basarwa (Bushmen) over their nostal- fuel. The country continues to witness long gic activities in the Central Kalahari Game queues at fuel stations in Gaborone as some Reserve (CKGR) – an area they regard as ran dry. ancestral land. Sunday Standard can reveal that the dis- In a letter penned by Corry addressed gruntled truck drivers on Monday delivered to Masisi, the organisation reminds the gov- ernment about the 2006 Roy Sesana vs The Attorney General land mark High Court Sunday Standard can ruling that upheld the Basarwa’s right to reveal that the disgruntled hunt in the CKGR. Corry’s warning follows the arrest of truck drivers on Monday five men on charges of unlawful posses- sion of government trophy in May, 2020 delivered a petition to contrary to the Wildlife Conservation and President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s National Parks Act. “The accused persons Tshoganetso Ses- office over what they term ana, Monyaku Modumedi, Lefifi Roy, Tsh- arae Kelebatseand another one before court deficiency of leadership at acting together and in concert on or about the logistics company. 7th day of May 2020 at or near New Xade in the Ghanzi Administrative District of the Republic of Botswana, being persons not a petition to President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s authorised, licenced or exempted under the office over what they term deficiency of Wildlife Conservation and National Parks leadership at the logistics company. This Act unlawfully possessed game meat which publication has learnt that the employees is a government trophy,” the particulars of of Unitrans Botswana demand that Uni- offense reads. trans Botswana should forthwith comply In their response to the arrests Survival with COVID-19 protocols as per the World International said they hoped the arrests Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. and charges have been made by individual According to the petition, a copy of game scouts and court martials who maybe which was intercepted by Sunday Standard, unaware of the 2006 High Court ruling. they also demand that the company should “In March, four Bushmen from Gope comply with an Industrial Court Order. In community in CKGR were detained for MP for Gaborone Bonington North and Minister of Nationality Immigration & Gender Affairs, Annah Mokgethi May this year, Unitrans Botswana truck driv- hunting and subsequently released without ers approached the Industrial Court to chal- lenging the legality of ferrying fuel from charge. In May, four Bushmen from Mola- KHONANI ONTEBETSE With Boko outside parliament, UDC “To day the estate has been under of Deceased Estate of late Abdul Joseph South Africa into Botswana without fol- po community were arrested and remanded vice president and president of the Bo- administration for almost 7 years. It does and shall provide details of all transactions lowing World Health Organization (WHO) in custody in Ghanzi. They have now been otswana Democratic Party tswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang appear to me that 2nd Respondent (Mok- relating to the Estate from the date of is- COVID-19 guidelines. The Court ordered charged with ‘unlawful possession of gov- (BDP) leadership is hoping for Saleshando is now the official leader of gethi) thought she could selectively report sue of the Letters of Administration up to the company to comply with such health ernment trophy’ and are due in court in Au- the best and bracing for the opposition. assets to the Master. This cannot be so as the date of accounting and shall provide protocols. gust. We understand that several Bushmen worst as party Member of Par- Identified in court records as Annah executor is obliged to account for the es- an updated an accurate inventory of the In their current petition which will be from Xere have also been harassed recently liament for Gaborone Boning- Motlhagodi, the minister was cited for fail- tate and all its assets including newly dis- Estate.” delivered to Masisi’s office on Monday, the for hunting in the CKGR,” Corry’s let- ton North and Minister of Nationality Im- ing to account for the Estate of one Abdul covered assets,” said the judge. The Court also among other things employees and truck drivers also call for the ter listed several incidents of ‘harassment’ Bmigration & Gender Affairs Annah Mok- Joseph who died in 2012. Mokgethi who Justice Nthomiwa said it was not in ordered Mokgethi to: “Provide details of immediate resignations of Moses Sebolai against Basarwa. He described the reports gethi faces possible imprisonment follow- was a practicing attorney before ascending dispute that the inventory provided by trades or transactions in respect of any and Mike Schelin who are apparently some as disturbing. ing suspicions that she stole from a dead to Cabinet is the Executrix of Abdul Jo- Mokgethi was “inaccurate in a significant securities or shares forming part of the of the top executives of the company. The organisation also alluded to reports man. seph’s estate. way. She admitted so and undertook to Estate from the date of the issuing of the They also demand immediate payment that Basarwa have been stopped from plant- Mokgethi’s imprisonment would send Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa of the correct it which she has not done notwith- letters of administration to the date of the of subsistence allowances as per a 2015 col- ing melons and other foods in the CKGR Botswana politics into a tailspin. It would High Court found that Minister Mokgethi standing the requirements of the law.” accounting, together with copies all sup- lective wage agreement. The employees also saying they hope the it is not government give Umbrella for Democratic Change has been violating the Administration of The judge ruled that Mokgethi should porting by vouchers.” demand immediate payment of risk allow- policy to deny Basarwa the opportunity. (UDC) President Duma Boko another Estate Act for more than six years. within 30 days “of the granting of this Or- The late Abdul’s granddaugh- shot at a parliamentary seat and possibly The judge stopped shot of accusing der furnish the Master of the Court and ter Dawn Mpho Masenya had CONTINUES ON PG 3 rock the power dynamics inside the oppo- the minister of trying to hide the deceased the Applicant a full and current account- CONTINUES ON PG 3 sition coalition. man’s assets. ing in respect of the assets and liabilities CONTINUES ON PG 2 WEATHER WEATHER SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY SUNDAY STANDARD IS A MEMBER OF THE PHYSICAL ADDRESS: PHYSICAL ADDRESS FORECAST Max: 19°C Max: 23°C Max: 20°C BOTSWANA PRESS COUNCIL AND SUBSCRIBES Commerce Park, Plot 104, Rowland, Ngilichi House (Meriting Spar) Unit 6, Francistown GABORONE Min: 01°C Min: 03°C Min: 01°C TO THE BOTSWANA MEDIA CODE OF ETHICS Unit 21. Gaborone TEL: 3188784 FAX: 3188795 TEL: 2412319 FAX: 2412310 & INFO Source: www.weather.com www.mascom.bw Top-up your data for less with the NEW MyMeg Postpaid Data Bundles Dial *123# or visit https://www.online.mascom.bw to subscribe or check your balance MyMeg 500MB P10 1 Day MyMeg 2GB P45 7 Days MyMeg 1GB P39 7 Days MyMeg 8GB P149 30 Days Terms and conditions apply. E&OE. 2 Behind the News July 12 - 18, 2020 Reviewing ISIPAAD Masisi and Mogae’s different In one week, approaches to insurgent talk police charge When the movement devoted to the political philosophy of Karl Marx, 167 for failure would amount Friedrich Engels, Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin (MELS) made loose talk about “going to the bush”, the govern- to wear ment of President Festus Mogae just ignored it. In private conversation, a masks to more wastage of senior Tsholetsa House would explain that public criticism of such talk or The chief spokesperson of the Botswana punitive action would have legitimised Police Service, Dipheko Motube, says that what was mere gimmickry. At freedom the police charged 167 people across the square level, what MELS had said was country for failure to wear face masks be- public resources reduced to a joke, with one speaker at tween June 22 and 27.