Features :: Mmegi Online

Friday, November 15, 2024

The last woman to lead the Ministry of Minerals and Energy was Dr Gaositwe Chiepe back in 1972. On Thursday morning, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, was announced as the second woman to lead to portfolio. SHARON MATHALA caught up with the youthful Minister as she bounced back to Cabinet after five years

Sharon Mathala | 15 November 2024

New broom: Kenewendo has bounced back to Cabinet PIC: KENNEDY RMAOKONE

Wretched of the earth: The country has one of the world’s worst inequality gaps PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Is a human rights approach to the economy what Botswana needs?

The challenges for the Boko administration have technically been set out, before it even thinks of implementing its own economic plans. However, the new administration says it wants to anchor its economic roadmap on human rights. Is this really what Botswana needs, asks Mmegi Staff Writer, TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Lewanika Timothy | 15 November 2024

Seeking pathways: Gaolathe, the new Vice President, has his work cut out for him with the Finance Ministry portfolio PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

Worse than we thought: Gaolathe on first sight of budget numbers

New finance minister, Ndaba Gaolathe, says he and President Duma Boko may have to cut their salaries for at least a year, as his first look at public finances has shown a deeper crisis than expected. MBONGENI MGUNI writes

Mbongeni Mguni | 15 November 2024

History: Quill Hermans hands former president, Sir Seretse Khama, a report on the establishment of the Pula in July 1976

Father of the Pula: Remembering Quill Hermans (1936–2024)

On October 28, 2024, Christopher Lamb "Quill" Hermans passed away. His dedication to Botswana's financial development, as the founding Governor of the Bank of Botswana (BOB), chief architect of our national currency, and pioneer Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), played a central role in laying the foundations of Botswana's post-independence record of sustained economic growth and accompanying social development.

Jeff Ramsay | 15 November 2024

Deep planning: Senior civil servants from various ministries met on Thursday to start the Budget Project Review for the 2025-26 financial year.
According to the Finance Ministry, the Budget Secretary, Boniface Mphetlhe advised the ministries to not consider asking for more money or lapsing on revenue collection PIC: FINANCE MINISTRY FACEBOOK

The possible quick budget wins

Whoever President Duma Boko appoints as his Finance Minister will have the urgent priority of first assessing the true state of public finances, then taking steps to steady the boat. There are quick wins available, but quick does not mean easy, writes MBONGENI MGUNI

Mbongeni Mguni | 08 November 2024

Historic: President Boko being sworn in by Chief Justice Terence Rannowane at the Gaborone High Court PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

Boko transition: Ill-prepared civil servants spill gov't secret

Last week’s unprecedented election result threw the Government Enclave into utter confusion, exposed their ill-preparedness for change of government, and amidst the chaos, it revealed a well-kept government secret, writes THALEFANG CHARLES

08 November 2024

Seat of power: Boko PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Inside the President's office

It was a scene that will be etched into the history of not only Botswana politics, but the African continent.

Sharon Mathala | 11 November 2024

Old friends: Grief notes that when males switch to midlife, they value their friends the most ECUMENICALRETIREMENT.ORG

The challenge of getting men to be friends

It is easy to recall a man’s daily grooming routine. Typically, it is a splash of water; a drop of this; a squeeze of that; a shave of that, a flick of a comb; and a scoop of that (moisturizer) and he would look like a million dollars and then be set for the day. Repeat this as a man for about two generations and, if you are lucky, you may acquire the rarefied status of an icon or in today’s moniker, an influencer! Now try to recall a man’s routine of making and keeping friends. The short answer to that is: recall harder.

Bongi D D M Radipati | 01 November 2024

Tough times: The downturn in diamonds has upended the budget and the ruling party's fortunes PIC: MBONGENI MGUNI

Five years of Sisinomics – The policies, the numbers, the results

The economy, its performance, its future and what it means to ordinary citizens, has become the central issue for voters in this general election. Mmegi Staff Writers, PAULINE DIKUELO, CHAKALISA DUBE, TIMOTHY LEWANIKA & MBONGENI MGUNI look at the Masisi administration’s economic track record in the President’s first term

Pauline Dikuelo,Mbongeni Mguni,Chakalisa Dube,Lewanika Timothy | 25 October 2024

Voices of girls with disabilities

Ensuring equal rights, full engagement and participation for persons with disabilities is a cornerstone of the basic human rights laws and frame works. However, young people with disabilities remain one of the most excluded communities, facing a lot of challenges in their daily lives both at home and beyond. NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE writes

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | 18 October 2024

IMF throws its two cents into savings debate

Mbongeni Mguni | 15 October 2024

The electric car debate and outrage: A reflection

Lewanika Timothy | 11 October 2024

A rare hostile takeover grips the market

Mbongeni Mguni | 11 October 2024

How they remember Seabelo

Larona Makhaiza | 11 October 2024

The Haskins and Mmegi relationship in retrospect

Lesang Maswabi | 04 October 2024

Still in the tunnel: Is there light?

Mbongeni Mguni | 04 October 2024

It's all malice- Norris

The University of Botswana (UB) has of late been hit by allegations of corruption, maladministration and academic dishonesty. The accusations paint the institution in a bad light but Vice Chancellor, Professor David Norris, is of the view that it is all malice from inside the university, writes Mmegi Correspondent LARONA MAKHAIZA

Tight fiscus: Government has been increasingly depending on capital market debt to plug the gap caused by declining mineral revenues PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Bidders squeeze BoB in P55bn debt programme

Bidders participating in government’s P55 billion domestic debt programme are increasingly demanding higher rates of return, resulting in the last four auctions failing to meet their targets, the Bank of Botswana has confirmed.

Nando’s co-founder urges entrepreneurs to focus on long-term goals

Entrepreneurs have been advised to be resilient, adaptable and focus on long-term goals, amid challenges facing businesses across Africa.

Omitted: Magang’s name was not on the list of contestants PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Magang's name 'oddly' omitted for global post

The Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) president Tsoseletso Magang's dream of serving on the World Volleyball Federation (FIVB) board went up in smoke after her name was not included in the list of contestants.

Guiding the market: BSE acting CEO, Kopano Bolokwe. The BSE is the primary platform for the bond market and has introduced several initiatives to boost both listings and secondary market activities

Bond market activity jumps

Activity in the traditionally quiet secondary bond market has ballooned this year, with the Botswana Stock Exchange noting a 66.7% increase in trades to P5 billion in the year to October 31, compared to the same period last year.

Khama IV finally breaks BaNgwato royal jinx

MAHALAPYE: After almost 100 years without a substantive chief on the throne, BaNgwato are frantically preparing for the reinstatement of Kgosi Khama IV to his royal seat at the end of this month.

Tribunal cancels P1.8bn tender

The Public Procurement Tribunal (PPT) has moved to set aside the decision by the then Lands and Water Affairs ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Kekgonne Baipoledi, to award a water tender valued at P1.8 billion to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Pty) Ltd and Zhong Gan Engineering & Construction Corporation (Pty) Ltd (collectively referred to as China Civil).

Is our screening adequate?

Sadly, we live in a society that seems to be losing its moral fibre by the day.When parents take their children to a boarding school they do so to give them a brighter future, not to have some dirty paedophilic predator to prey on them. Sex orientation is a touchy subject and for young minds to be sexualised at a young age by a grown man perpetrating harm on them by cutting through their sphincter muscle to penetrate their anal canal. Anyone can...

The Monitor Editor | 26 November 2024

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