Author: Daily News

Patrons of bar outlets around Gaborone have expressed gratitude to the government for increasing liqour licence trading operating hours over the festive season.

The Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship recently announced an extension of liquor trading hours over the festive season, permitting bars to operate from 10am until 6am, what alcohol clients term ‘lalavoka’ in local parlance.

The Daily News spent the early morning of Christmas Day observing the situation at  outlets in the vicinity of Gaborone and patrons largely expressed positive sentiments.

A patron in Mogoditshane said throughout the Christmas Eve night into the morning of Christmas Day, scores of people had been imbibing and listening to music at the Tsabong complex, in an orderly manner.

Another person said business was likely to boom for bars but expressed the concern that nightclubs might struggle to gain clients over the festive season, as people may prefer to buy liquor at a cheaper price in bars.

Similar sentiments were expressed by bar employees and patrons at Gaborone’s Phase 2, Block 5 and Block 6 precincts. 

They said there had not been any incidents of disorderly conduct often associated with long hours of alcohol consumption.

As the festive travel season reaches its peak, Tlokweng Border Post officials are raising the alarm over a recurring issue of parents attempting to cross the border with children without the required birth certificates or parental affidavits.

According to Immigration administration officer, Mr Emmanuel Lephirimile, a significant surge in movement began the week of December 13, largely driven by families travelling for holiday shopping.

However, many travellers are arriving at the gates unprepared.

Mr Lephirimile explained that a passport alone was not enough for minors.

Under current regulations, any child under the age of 18 must travel with a valid passport and an unabridged birth certificate.

“In the absence of one parent, we require an affidavit from the absent parent, along with a copy of their Omang (identity card), authorising the other parent to travel with the child. Even when a relative, such as an uncle, travels with the child, both parents must provide authorised affidavits granting permission,” he said.

Officials noted that many parents, both mothers and fathers, were found lacking the necessary paperwork.

Many mistakenly believed that their physical presence or verbal confirmation of parenthood would be sufficient to clear immigration.

The documentation rules also apply to birth certificates that do not list a father’s name.

In such cases, the mother is the sole legal guardian, however, if the father intends to travel with the child alone, the mother must still provide an affidavit authorising the trip.

Beyond missing certificates, immigration officers are grappling with a spike in damaged or expired travel documents.

Mr Lephirimile noted that broken pages, water-soaked covers and expired passports were common sights during the holiday rush.

“We often see people reach the border only to realise their passport has already expired,” he said.

While the department may occasionally consider the urgency of travel, they maintain strict standards for those heading beyond neighbouring borders.

Mr Lephirimile reminded citizens that while High Commissions and Embassies can facilitate certain travel documents, they were not always a quick fix for a damaged passport at the border. Travellers are urged to inspect their documents weeks before their departure date to avoid being turned away. 

Some Bakhurutshe women on December 23 came together to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas, spreading joy and warmth to all.

Hosted by Mohumagadi Koontse Radipitse, wife of Kgosi Bokamoso Radipitse, the Christmas party was a vibrant showcase of love, compassion and sisterhood.

Under the theme: Mosadi wa Tsholofelo (Luke 1:45), the women gathered at the Talk of the Village gardens in Tonota, dressed in festive attire and Christmas hats, radiating happiness and hope.

Mohumagadi Radipitse shared that the event aimed to recognise women as pillars of the nation, deserving of love, respect and celebration.

Mohumagadi Radipitse announced that the event would be an annual tradition, with next year’s celebration expected to be even more spectacular.

Motivational speakers, including Ms Kgalalelo Mashane, encouraged the women to support and uplift each other, embracing their inner strength and potential.

“Let us be the women spoken of in Luke 1:45, filled with faith and purpose,” she said. 

Heavy rains on Monday night caused widespread damages in some parts of Francistown following the overflowing of Ntshe and Tati rivers.

In Monarch, a poultry farmer lost 172 chickens while funeral parlour incurred losses due to the flooding.  

Caretaker at Masego Industries poultry production, Ms Chendzimu Kgari, reported that some farm houses were waterlogged and had relocated some of their broilers to safer areas.

Francistown District Commissioner and chairperson of the Disaster Management Committee, Ms Chabongwa Matseka reported that Gerald Estate was also affected, with a homestead submerged in water.

She said the disaster team had been working since 3am to help the affected.

She further warned residents living near the rivers to be vigilant, as more rains were expected.

The Ntimbale dam near Masingwaneng is overflowing, contributing to the flooding downstream.

The Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC) and the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) have partnered to enhance productivity across SEZA-supported investor projects, starting with a diagnostic review at the Selebi Phikwe Citrus (SPC) project.The collaboration follows SEZA inspections that identified productivity gaps, particularly in skills among local workers. Already, Selebi Phikwe Citrus project is bedeviled with a challenge of unskilled fruit pickers, which reportedly cost the project P9 million.In an interview, SEZA acting deputy chief executive officer, Ms Tapiwa Masie emphasised the need for skilled labour to help investors meet international contractual obligations and achieve targets for investment and profitability.She noted that SEZA’s licensing prioritises employment creation for Batswana, making productivity issues a key concern.Ms Masie further explained that SEZA and BNPC partnership aimed to build requisite skills, not only at SPC, but across all SEZA investors to support production and export goals.For her part, BNPC’s acting executive director, Ms Matlho Seitshiro described the centre’s mandate to champion productivity at individual, firm, and sectoral levels. She highlighted consultancy services, policy advisory roles, and productivity measurements, including upcoming launches of agricultural productivity statistics in January 2026 and a five-year national productivity data with projections in February 2026.Ms Seitshiro acknowledged national challenges, citing a drop in labour productivity from 2.2 per cent in 2023 to 0.4 per cent in 2024, and total factor productivity declining from -2 percent to -3.6 percent.She attributed labour productivity challenges to work ethic issues, worker motivation and performance management application as seen in the citrus project where there were observable differences in output between local and foreign worker and broader societal factors.To address this, she said BNPC had launched a nationwide campaign to sensitise citizens on productivity’s importance.Ms Seitshiro noted Botswana ranked 68 out of 69 middle-income countries in worker motivation, stressing the urgency for improved self-motivation and competitiveness.

Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe, on December 22, joined Sehithwa senior citizens and People with Disabilities to celebrate early Christmas lunch courtesy of Kgosi Keokeditswe Dithapo and his wife, Gaongalelwe.

The event was meant to bring the residents together to share a meal, laughter and the spirit of Christmas.

Speaking at the event, Mr Gaolathe appreciated the family for demonstrating love and care toward the elderly persons and People with Disabilities.

He said the senior citizens deserved better as they had contributed a lot toward the development of the country.

He said they had laid a strong foundation, which all had to maintain to take the country to greater heights.

He also described the elderly as pillars of families, saying they instilled values, taught responsibilities and fostered learning and resilience.

Maun West MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama also thanked the Dithapo family for recognizing senior citizens and People with Disabilities.

He acknowledged that the elderly were the pillars of homes.

To People with Disabilities, he said their resilience and presence inspired all noting that the celebration was a testament that all in the constituency were valued.  

As torrential rains continue to pound the city, residents living near the Tati and Ntshe rivers have been urged to be vigilant, following warnings of potential flooding. 

“Those staying on the banks of these two rivers should always be on the alert,” Ms Matseka 

District Commissioner and chairperson of the Francistown Disaster Management Committee, Ms Chabongwa Matseka warned. 

With the Ntimbale Dam overflowing, she also said the Tati River was likely to follow suit, posing a significant threat to nearby communities.

Motorists are also being advised to exercise extreme caution, particularly on the A3 (Francistown/Nata/Maun road), which is currently under construction. 

“Be extra vigilant and keep a safe distance to avoid hitting each other behind due to slippery roads,” Ms Matseka cautioned. 

She encouraged the public to report any flood-related incidents to the Office of the District Commissioner or the Office of the City Clerk.