THE BOTSWANA GAZEttE WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 PAGE 1 UDC DIVISIONS foRCE NTSIMA TO RESIGN PAGE 2 WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 FREE! “Kitso ke maatla” DCEC CHIEF REPORTS P100BN AUDIO LEAKS TO POLICE • Katlholo confirms reporting to the police • Says he did not consult DPP, DISS • Finger-pointing reportedly continues STORY ON PAGE 3 OVER P40M GOV’T SETS LOST IN P20M ASIDE ALCOHOL FOR JOHNSON EXPIRIES AND JOHNSON PAGE 6 VACCINE PAGE 2 BOTSWANA MINING INDUSTRY POISED FOR GROWTH - REPORT PAGE 17 Win a trolley. Enter the competition Activate and fund the account with a minimum of P250. First 50 clients to complete the above process automatically qualify. Download the SC Mobile App today. PAGE 2 NEWS WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 THE BOTSWANA GAZEttE GOV’T SETS P20M ASIDE FOR JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINE Vaccines to be sourced from Aspen Pharmacare in SA LAONE MOLELO he government has begun the process of obtaining COVID-19 President, VP must be first vaccines from Johnson and Johnson following a recent decision Tby the firm to engage South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare Hold- ings Limited to manufacture the vaccines for delivery in mid-May. to take Covishield vaccine The Botswana Gazette has established that the P20 million is part of P120 million budgeted for procurement of COVID-19 vaccines. Sources say the decision was taken after it became known that the J&J MoH says a draft vaccination programme has been devised vaccine would soon be manufactured in neighbouring South Africa in order for the continent’s most industrialized country to assist other Af- MPHO MATSHEDISO International Relations, Dr Lemogang rican countries, thus “reducing costs associated with buying it from Kwape, says he is not aware of any list Europe”. resident Mokgweetsi Masisi and “Government had initially decided to procure AstraZeneca and Pfizer of the order of vaccination priority. “Who Vice President Slumber Tsogwane generated the list? I think you should get vaccines but there has been a change of mind on Government Enclave,” should be the first to take the Indi- the source said. P in touch with the coordination team,” the The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, an vaccine in order to prove that it is not minister said. Kabelo Ebineng, recently said Botswana was expecting 130 800 doses a dummy, the president of the Botswana Upon being contacted, the Coordinator of COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccines made by AstraZeneca and Patriotic Front (BPF), Biggie Butale, has Pfizer. of the COVID-19 Task Force, Dr Kereng said. Masupu, also relayed The Botswana Ga- Aspen agreed in November last year to produce as many as 300 mil- “The vaccinating should be beamed live lion doses a year at its plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It has been zette on. The Chief Public Relations Of- reported that Aspen’s heft could help a continent with otherwise lim- on TV so as to prove to Batswana that the ficer at the Ministry of Health and Well- ited vaccine manufacturing capacity and alleviate some concerns that vaccine is no placebo,” Butale said in an ness, Doreen Motshegwa, said a draft of poorer nations may be left without supplies due to huge demand from interview. “In Botswana, the truth always the vaccination plan has been put together. richer countries. comes out one way or the other.” Meanwhile, Botswana received a consignment of 30 000 doses of “A draft has been put together but I cannot India’s Covishield vaccine last week, two weeks ahead of the expected Regarding what is being purported as a divulge any information until it has been arrival time of the Covax Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines vaccination plan on social media, Butale finalized,” Motshegwa said. earlier announced by health minister Edwin Dikoloti. said priority should be given to the elderly. The consignment is seen a much-needed intervention to stem the Meanwhile, a source says several high “Everyone with a higher chance of survival ranking government officials may already country’s surging infection rate that stood at 29 000 positive cases and must come after the elderly,” he asserted. a death toll of 350 on Monday this week. have been vaccinated secretly with the Co- Dr Dikoloti recently told Parliament that Botswana is guided by rec- “We must first save our parents, for they vishield vaccine. The verity of this could ommendations of the World Health Organization, the Strategic Advi- are most at risk of not surviving.” not be established at the time of going to sory Group of Experts, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Preven- The Minister of Foreign Affairs and tion in addition to its own due diligence on different vaccines. press. Total number of units at Botswana Housing Corporation Corner Pilane & Queens Roads Plot 5129, Gabs Main Mall Tsholofelo East purchased Tel. 3605100 Email: [email protected] 242 Out of 372 by the youth www.bhc.bw THE BOTSWANA GAZEttE WEDNESDAY 17 MARCH 2021 NEWS PAGE 3 UDC divisions force Ntsima to resign Divisions over who between Boko and Saleshando should lead the UDC coalition have claimed their first prominent scalp in Ntsima DCEC chief reports GAZETTE REPORTER RANCISTOWN: A toxic environment and accusations of espionage levelled against the Umbrella for Democratic Change’s (UDC) 2019 candidate for Fran- Fcistown South in the last general elections, Tiroeaone Ntsima, have forced him P100bn audio leaks to resign from the party, The Botswana Gazette has learnt. The Francistown Region of the BCP has confirmed this. Upon being contacted, its Chairman Elias Mbonini responded: “When I asked him about his decision he said he to police could no longer take the accusations being levelled against him. He said BCP members are accusing him of being Boko’s spy.” Ntsima resigned from UDC partner BCP, and by extension from the opposition coali- • Katlholo confirms reporting to the police tion. This happens amid reports that Ntsima has been recruited by the BDP with an eye on casting him as its candidate in the next general elections in 2024 that the man has • Says he did not consult DPP, DISS dismissed. However, he admits once being approached by the BDP but says it is not the reason he dumped the party that he liked the most. • Finger-pointing reportedly continues Ntsima told this publication this week that he resigned from the BCP because of a toxic environment among UDC partners that he alleges has sparked divisions within the TEFO PHEAGE coalition UDC over who should be its president between the Botswana National Front (BNF) Duma Boko and the president of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) Dumelang he Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC) has confirmed re- Saleshando. porting the recent leaking of an audio recording of a meeting of top prosecutors, Boko is the incumbent president of the UDC but has been mired in controversy after Tinvestigators and DISS agents purportedly to exchange notes and chart a course the coalition’s shambolic performance in the last general elections in 2019. “A dis- to further investigations in the P100 billion case to the police. agreement between members over who should lead the UDC has affected some indi- The leaked audio, which has since been widely reported in mainstream media after go- viduals within the party,” Ntsima said in an interview. “Whenever a debate surfaces, ing viral on social media, also laid bare clefts between DCEC, the Directorate of Public this matter is also ignited.” Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service (DISS) in the He insists that he resigned because whenever he tried to restore calm, he would be high profile matter. accused of taking sides in the issue of leadership. “The matter was reported to the police by myself,” the Director General of DCEC, According to Ntsima, differences over who should lead the UDC between Boko and Tymon Katlholo, told The Botswana Gazette this week. “I think we should all get to the Saleshando have filtered down to individual party members and are causing havoc. He bottom of this because this cannot be allowed at that level. The police will investigate and said the animosity took a nasty personal turn recently when he was accused of being share their findings. I think it is also fair that we should all also contribute to bringing the Boko’s spy and removed from all BCP WhatsApp groups after he attempted to restore culprit to book.” calm. “A debate on why BCP members were not part of the Moono wa Baithuti (a stu- But sources say Katlholo’s pivot to the police has not stopped mutual suspicions among dent faction) lobby list recently ensued,” Ntsima said. the three law enforcement agencies and finger-pointing behind closed doors. Differences “When some BCP members advised the students to go solo, I was against this be- of opinion are said to be so serious that the three parties hardly consult on the P100 billion cause I considered it to be against the logic of an opposition coalition. However, I case. It is probably this state of affairs that nevertheless prompted Katlholo to go to the was accused of being anti-BCP, labelled Boko’s spy and removed from all WhatApp police without consulting the DPP and the DISS. groups. I felt like an outsider, hence my decision to resign. Mind you, this was not the “I did not consult them,” he told The Gazette. “I do not think I should consult to report first time. I was once removed and reinstated after I complained to the leadership.” an illegality to the police. If they wish to report I am certain that they can also do so.