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Botswana warns of dangers in dash for African minerals

Botswana warns of dangers in dash for African minerals

AFRICAN governments must be wary of the risks created by rising global competition for the continent's minerals, Botswana's mines minister said, as world powers seek new sources of metals needed for the transition to a lower carbon economy. "When there is a rush, people come in, take whatever they want to take, and go, leaving gaping holes in Africa," Lefoko Moagi, whose remit also includes energy and "green technology", said in an interview with Reuters. "If you want to push production because there is money that is being dangled, you start compromising on how you legislate, how you do your…
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Botswana’s ex-president Khama asks court to set aside arrest warrant

Botswana’s ex-president Khama asks court to set aside arrest warrant

BOTSWANA'S former president Ian Khama has filed an urgent court application seeking to strike down an arrest warrant issued against him by a magistrate last week. Khama, whose father Seretse Khama was Botswana's founding president, is in a dispute with his successor and incumbent President Mokgweetsi Masisi which resulted in him quitting the ruling Botswana Democratic Party in 2019. The warrant was issued after Khama, who has been living in South Africa since November 2021, failed to turn up in court to answer charges laid against him in April. They include unlawful possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property and…
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Botswana wins bid to host anti-conflict diamond watchdog

Botswana wins bid to host anti-conflict diamond watchdog

BOTSWANA has won its bid to host the permanent secretariat of the Kimberley Process (KP), the grouping that certifies that diamonds are not used to fund rebel groups, but its members remain divided over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The KP, a coalition of governments, the diamond industry and civil society representatives, said in a statement on Monday it had unanimously elected Botswana to host the secretariat, which is expected to become operational by 2024. The body defines conflict diamonds as gems used to fund rebel movements seeking to undermine legitimate governments. Five KP members initially expressed interest to host it…
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‘Diplomats brought Omicron from Europe’

‘Diplomats brought Omicron from Europe’

BOTSWANA’S President Mokgweetsi Masisi said some of the four diplomats who first tested positive for the Omicron coronavirus variant in the country had come from Europe, calling for a reversal of widespread travel bans imposed against southern African countries. Omicron dubbed a variant of concern by the World Health Organization, has prompted many governments to impose curbs on travel from southern Africa and to take other measures to contain it. While it is still not established where Omicron first emerged, on November 25 South Africa, followed by Botswana a day later, announced they had detected a new variant whose mutations…
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Moderna to supply vaccines to Botswana

Moderna to supply vaccines to Botswana

MODERNA Inc has entered a supply agreement with the Botswana government for its COVID-19 vaccine. The Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BMRA) has issued an emergency use authorization for the vaccine, Moderna said. The latest agreement is separate from the 500 million vaccine doses, which Moderna has agreed to supply to the GAVI-led COVAX vaccine sharing scheme, the company said.
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Botswana president in self-quarantine

Botswana president in self-quarantine

BOTSWANA's president will miss a Southern African regional meeting he had been due to chair to discuss recent attacks on Mozambique after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, prompting him to self-quarantine, his office has said. Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique will be attending a summit of a division of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), where they will receive a report on how they can help Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province following Islamic State-linked attacks there. Botswana is the current chair of that division, which is tasked with promoting peace and security in the region. Vice President Slumber…
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Botswana probes vaccine-related deaths

Botswana probes vaccine-related deaths

BOTSWANA is investigating the deaths of two among thousands of people who had been given doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to see if there is any link, the health ministry said. The southern African country has so far administered about 31,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the only vaccine it has started rolling out. India donated 30,000 doses of the vaccine that were manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), and Botswana bought 33,000 doses that were made in South Korea from the global vaccine distribution scheme COVAX. The two people who died had taken the shots made in…
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FIBA and Botswana announce partnership

FIBA and Botswana announce partnership

BOITUMELO RANTAO  THE resurgence of Botswana basketball has begun.  The Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) has announced a partnership with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). The FIBA PLUS Strategy and Planning Program aims to “Empower National Federations” by organizing, professionalizing, and commercializing the Associations basketball activities. After taking steps to understand the current details of BBA’s organization FIBA will assist in developing and implementing strategies for basketball development in Botswana. The initiative will assist in advancing federation growth and progression through sustainable strategic goals. "The Botswana Basketball Association is delighted and honored to have been selected to benefit from the FIBA…
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Botswana secures SA help for prosecution

Botswana secures SA help for prosecution

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER BOTSWANA has enlisted the help of some of South Africa’s top legal minds to assist in the prosecution of that country’s former leading intelligence official, Welheminah Mphoeng Maswabi. AfriForum, a civil society organisation, yesterday announced that its private prosecutions unit has been asked to assist with pre-trial proceedings of Maswabi.  Advocate Gerrie Nel, a former top prosecutor in SA’s National Prosecuting Authority will head the teams that consist of Advocate Phyllis Vorster (prosecutor) and Andrew Leask, chief investigator at the unit, to deal with the pre-trial proceedings in that country’s prosecution of Welheminah Mphoeng Maswabi. According to…
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