While supporters of President Mokgweetsi Masisi are waxing lyrical about the president “fixing the country”, his predecessor, former president, Dr. Ian Khama is defending some of the decisions he made while at State House. Amongst the decisions he is defending is the closure of the BCL mine. When Khama made the heavily critised decision to close the mine, Masisi was his deputy. Currently Masisi’s government is exploring ways of re-opening the mine.
He revealed that government could have spent that or even more over BCL because the state of the mine itself and the commodity prices have been so low. The mine has not been able to generate enough revenue to sustain itself for development and recurrent expenditures hence government continuously had to bail them out, he said.
“That is why other people who were involved as shareholders saw the writing on the wall, not that we did, but we kept the mining going because we knew that if BCL was ever to be closed the impact of Phikwe and the surrounding areas would be quite significant,”Khama said, adding that they got to a stage where it was no longer justifiable to be “using public funds trying to keep something afloat which was never going to come out”.
According to him a lot of money was needed to modernise the mine as it was getting deeper and deeper and the life of the mine was getting shorter and shorter. Said Khama, “So the writing was on the wall we had to take a decision. I can tell you as long as I was in government we knew that the mine was going to close one day”.
Khama says for him it would be interesting to see if anybody can walk in there and take over the Phikwe operation as we know it today. “They are going to put in a lot of money and they want their money back, the only way you get the money back is by selling the commodity and if the commodity price is depressed you are also going to make losses.
“So we looked at other things, there was the smelter because you can smelter for other mining corporations and that could be quite a viable thing to undertake, so there are different aspects that can probably be taken over but that needed a lot of money,” he said.
On why the Arabs who looked promising changed heart at the last minute, Khama said when you are not on the ground and you hear about something and you do preliminary investigations, you will think maybe there is an opportunity.
“But, when you then come and do a more detailed survey of what it is you want to take over, it hits you and you realise that this is going to be a big undertaking, what the benefits are, because everybody wants to make profit. So when you do the sums and you realise it is not going to work you obviously pull out.
On other issues Khama denied accusations that he is involved in active politics. “I am not involved in partisan politics, when I went to Bobirwa, no one was wearing red and I was not too. It was not a political event, there were no BDP slogans, and we only spoke about the launch,” he argued, adding that parties do not launch trusts.
He said when it comes to politics he was invited to attend the rally of Reverend Mpho Moruakgomo during the Kgatleng East by- elections. However Khama argued that he is still a member of the BDP and members have obligations and one of them is to support the party come elections. Asked about his relationship with President Masisi, Khama simply said he has no comment. “You just asked a question which I think the answer is obvious,” he said.
Pressed further on the issue Khama said, “I do not want to rush, that is a very important question and it needs a serious and maybe a bit of a lengthy answer. I do not want to rush it and maybe say a wrong thing or you write the wrong thing. I would rather just take my time and explain.” Khama flatly refused to give a comment on Masisi’s presidency.
“I do not know even if I had time, I want to answer that question because one way or the other whatever one thinks, should I be commenting on his running of the country, is that a nice thing to do?” he protested.Among his many government caps, Khama is the Vision 2036 Champion, the Tourism Ambassador and the Patron of the Arts and Culture.
The unpleasing educational results in the Kgatleng district have compelled Bakgatla royals to intervene as community leaders in order to restore the situation to normalcy.The royalty led by the regent, Kgosi Bana Sekai were roped in following a request from the Morafe and some parents who approached Sekai and asked him to intervene as they believe that their children at Molefi Senior Secondary School are not being sufficiently prepared for their final examinations.
Kgosi Sekai confirmed that indeed he met and had a meeting with the Education leadership in Kgatleng where the issue of non-performance and poor results in the district was raised. “Our meeting was prompted by the fact that I was approached by parents whose children are attending school at Molefi.
At the meeting we decided that we should come up with a road map that addresses all issues to help improve the results. Our agreed ideas are likely to be implemented at beginning of next year,” he said. Kereng Koko, Regional Education Officer also confirmed meeting Kgosi Sekai. “He (Sekai) called me to alert me of the situation. I did meet with the school head and his deputy alerted them of the parents’ complaints and or concerns.
I asked them to improve their supervision and we are still monitoring whether there will be any improvements,” said Koko.Meanwhile BG News has reliably learnt that the Molefi Secondary School principal has since written to his employers informing them of his intention to retire. Molefi parents are the second within the Bakgatla tribe to show concern over poor students’ results as well as demand that action be taken for those responsible.
Early this year the parents of Sedibelo Junior Secondary took the war directly to the education ministry succeeding in one instance to force the removal of a junior secondary school head teacher for non-performance.
The beautiful Karabo Winnie Moalosi has been endorsed with a new title, Miss Africa Botswana, of which she will represent Botswana in Jo’burg on November 24th.She is not new to pageantry and modelling, but holds a few titles under her name. The 22 year old Moalosi told BG Style that her dream is to bring the coveted crown home and therefore needs everyone’s support on this.
The beauty queen says that this has been good news to her ears and she is doing all in her power to raise money for her transport to Joburg where the grand finale will be held. This endorsement is actually a dream come true for Moalosi. “I have always wondered how other ladies do it, to reach the greatest heights, but now I am a testimony of a higher title.
I have always had a one million dollar question on my mind if I will reach that far but God just did it for me and I am so excited about it”. Moalosi told BG Style in an interview.She is ready to face other contestants from across Africa, as she has been on international stages before. Just last year, Moalosi was crowned Miss Botswana Bikini model and she was also crowned the Face of Summer 2018, in March in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
She says the secret behind her success as a mode and a beauty queen is believing in herself.She is thankful to the famous faces of pageantry and modelling in Botswana, Mpule Kwelagobe and KaoneKario, who she says have inspired her journey in this industry. “I have always looked up to these two beautiful ladies from a tender age and with my slim body I have always believed that I would make it one day.
I looked up to Kario as a model and Mpule as a beauty queen and now I have the two in me and I am forever proud of these ladies,” explains Moalosi.Moalosi will host a models seminar on November 3rd, as part of raising funds for her trip to Joburg. This seminar she says will feature some international models like Ben Chest from Zimbabwe and Arcacia Molatudi from South Africa. The seminar is also a call to all aspiring models and beauty queens.
Chest is an award winning international male model, actor, king presenter and businessman while Molatudi is an international female model and an experienced beauty queen.Moalosi is confident that local aspiring models will learn something from these two models as they boast lots of experience in the field. The seminar was also inspired by the feedback that she gets from the public.
“I always receive messages from people asking me to mentor their kids and friends on modelling, so I found it worth to do that through this seminar because I felt it would be easier to guide, advise and provide all the relevant information that they need about modelling and pageantry.
“Some people wanted me to coach them, so I thought this seminar would be beneficial to a group of people who need it,” she said. Moalosi is in need of $300 or P3000.00 for registration fee before October 10th, and has to work hard to find it, since the ministry can’t fund her. She welcomes any form of support to represent Botswana.
Terrafou is Botswana’s hidden secret in the middle of the African bush. The lodge is Botswana-owned and located right on the banks of the mighty Limpopo River at the Tuli Block.It boasts lovely woods, all green landscape, well-kept self-catering chalets, decent food and hospitable staff. The place was indeed home away from home.
I went there with my family where we enjoyed our two day-stay during Independence. It is well kept and the staff was very helpful and taking good care of us. The chalets are convenient as they cater for children as well. According to the manager Priscah Makgwathana, the place has been in existence for over 30 years.
At first, it was a holiday home for a Denmark fellow who has since sold it to other shareholders. It would later be turned into a hunting area and later a place for tourists. The lodge is surrounded by tranquil lawns, lush gardens and the reviving breath of air.
We went on a game drive with the zealous guide Freeman Kaisara Lephole. He explained a game drive as rather ‘the beauty of nature and not just seeing wild animals.’ The refreshing sight of the bush was in itself therapeutic.
Terrafou lodge covers an area of approximately 4300 hectares consisting of a mix between bush veldt and hillocks. In the river we saw hippos and crocodiles. A variety of antelope can be found roaming the area including kubu, elephant, lions, impala, waterbuck, steen buck, duiker and gemsbok. Other animals include zebra, wildebeest, hartebeest, warthog and an abundance of different bird species.
Hunters’ Camp consists of 3 double houses each housing two double rooms. All rooms have private facilities and air-conditioning. The camp itself has an outdoor covered dining area, splash pool and a platform stretching out onto the river from where we enjoyed a sundowner and the beautiful nature.
Middle Camp consists of three double houses each housing two double rooms. All rooms have private facilities and air-conditioning. The camp itself has an outdoor covered dining area, splash pool.
Old camp is a little bit more primitive but has a lovely atmosphere. This camp also consists of two double houses with two double rooms in each. Each house share a bathroom. The camp itself has an outdoor covered dining area as well as a splash pool.
The food was also tasty and credit should go to KabeloMabelebele and his gifted team for delicious cuisine, especially those herb-spread dumplings and chicken stew. We are definitely going there again soon. The peace and quiet and the enthralling beauty make it worth another visit.