Duma Boko is right, Botswana needs both Saleshando and Motswaledi in parly Crossroads   |  Lawrence Ookeditse With the political silly season officially on, what President Duma Boko of the Botswana National Front (BNF) has been cited in the local media as having said about Gaborone Central, to me, is the most sensible statement I have heard from a politician this year: Botswana needs both Dumelang Saleshand... Posted on: Wednesday, 22 May, 2013

Hang on, defilement laws haven’t changed! Talking HIV and Human Rights  |  Uyapo Ndadi I was struck by social media posts yesterday, particularly Facebook, announcing the arrival and sudden existence of a new defilement law. In fact, 90% or more of the status updates were about the issue. Apparently all under 18 persons are henceforth prohibited from having lawful sex. Posted on: Tuesday, 21 May, 2013

We live in a society that glorifies promiscuity among males Issues  |  Ferdinand Berkhof We are living in a great country. I have said it before and know that not everyone who reads this agrees with it. I have been called many names for saying it but I will keep saying it. A great country, but still a country with one of the highest HIV infection rates on this planet. Why is that? We ha... Posted on: Friday, 17 May, 2013

Is our leadership intolerant or unaccountable? Talking HIV and Human Rights  |  Uyapo Ndadi It is no secret that BONELA last year went all out to show its disdain for the Public Health Bill, more particularly its provisions dealing with HIV and AIDS. BONELA aggressively lobbied Members of Parliament to reject the bill for lack of consultation with Batswana and relevant stakeholders. Posted on: Thursday, 16 May, 2013

Botswana opposition parties eating out of BDP’s palm Ruffling Feathers  |  Kealeboga Dihutso Unsurprisingly Opposition parties are at each other’s throats again over unsubstantiated reports. Allegations that the Saleshandos are business associates of the Khamas and that Duma Boko borrowed some money from close associates of the president have opposition activists fighting each other over th... Posted on: Saturday, 11 May, 2013

Tradition, religion holding back Africa’s progress Issues  |  Ferdinand Berkhof We live in a traditional society. Before I go any further, let me make a very clear distinction between ‘tradition’ and ‘culture’. Culture is a living thing and changes all the time. It is the way in which we speak, eat, dress, make music, the way we dance, act and live in general. Tradition on the... Posted on: Friday, 10 May, 2013

Botswana is number one! Issues  |  Ferdinand Berkhof The first time I sat foot on African soil was in 1969. In those days, it was not possible to fly non-stop from Western Europe to Southern Africa, and the first African soil I ever touched was in either Brazzaville or Kinshasa, I don’t remember which, but it was one of those two where we landed to re... Posted on: Thursday, 02 May, 2013

Number 16 is my queen Talking HIV and Human Rights  |  Uyapo Ndadi I had to watch the Miss Botswana, grudgingly because I had wanted to watch something else on the television but my wife’s wishes prevailed. I don’t however regret watching it. The hallmark of the event was the remarks by Sharon Seno Mathers, famously known as Number 16. When asked what are the chall... Posted on: Thursday, 02 May, 2013

The Saleshando saga and BCP Ruffling Feathers  |  Kealeboga Dihutso This week BCP president called a press conference to deal with allegations that he was in bed with BDP functionaries. The response was delivered in a very stern manner with a healthy dose of media bashing thrown in. The issue is not the veracity of the statement. At this point it is immaterial wheth... Posted on: Thursday, 02 May, 2013

Is it our business what Saleshando and family choose to do? Crossroads   |  Lawrence Ookeditse Things in politics are intriguing; often no one really speaks the truth. So pre-occupied with either defending one’s organization and leaders or slandering other organizations and their leaders are people that what comes out in the end are hugely whimsical statements that give the outsider very litt... Posted on: Tuesday, 30 April, 2013