Category: Daily News

Tonota District Council is conducting assessment to identify immediate needs of families affected by torrential rainfall, which wreaked havoc in Matsitama on Sunday afternoon.  

According to the district’s acting senior social welfare officer, Mr Basimane Mothoagae, already 39 people had been accommodated at Matsitama Primary School.

He said a number of houses were affected, which prompted the council to do house to house assessments.

Kgosi Reuben Kethobogile of Matsitama said there were no fatalities recorded save for only person, who sustained injuries when the house collapsed on him.

One of the victims, Ms Barulanaye Basekilwe, a teacher at Matsitama Primary School, said her furniture, which included tv, couch and other household items were destroyed.

In a laudable show of calm and peaceful festive season, Chobe National Park has registered no cases of misconduct inside the park. This is the first Christmas holiday since Sedudu-Ngoma gates transit route was officially opened for a 24-hour operation by Minister and of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi in April. In an interview, Department of Wildlife and National Parks acting regional officer- Chobe Dr Karabo Danster said Batswana have embraced the 24-hour operation of the Sedudu and Ngoma gates as an access point to Chobe Enclave from Kasane and vice versa traversing through Chobe National Park. He stated that there were no accidents recorded in the park this festive season which was an indication that road users were vigilant. “Chobe National Park is a high density area where wildlife traverse from the forest for forage down to the river for water and they do pass through the A33 road inside the park,” he said. However, he raised concern about the littering activities inside the park with some motorists disposing plastics and bottles alongside the road. The officer pointed out that the department conducted daily patrols from Ngoma gate covering the riverfront up-to Sedudu gate. Moreover, Dr Danster said there was minimal activity on the Chobe River for boat cruise as this was a tourism off season. He said during the festive season it is mostly Batswana who enjoy visiting Chobe for tourism excursions with their families. He noted that the spirit of calmness was also experienced at the boat cruises as no reports of misconduct were recorded.

Department of Wildlife and National Parks has condemned the retaliatory killing of four lions, a jackal and 12 vultures in Lesoma.In an interview, Principal Veterinary Officer in Chobe, Dr Karabo Danster said the department was treating this case as retaliatory incident of human-wildlife conflict.He stated that the first case was reported beginning of December where two lions, jackal and vultures were found dead.Again, he said on December 24, a passerby reported sighting two dead lions along the A33 road.Dr Danster revealed that the two lions, male and female along the road were covered in wounds, which presumably appeared to have been caused by a sharp object.“We discovered during the postmortem that a gun was used on both the lions, which wounded them hence they succumbed to injuries from a close range shots.”He alleged that preliminary investigations showed that a farmer whose livestock had been killed by lions took the matter into his own hands hence retaliated by poisoning carcasses, which were devoured by these animals.Dr Danster stated that the residual samples were currently at the laboratory for testing to establish, which poison was used.Furthermore, he remarked that DWNP was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to educate the public on how they should take care of their properties.“Most of the livestock in Chobe do not roam round at night but contained in predator proof kraals hence cases of lion attacks are rare unless livestock are left outside kraals and predators prey on them.”The officer said no arrests were made hence appealed to the community to assist them to catch the perpetrators.

Kanye West MP, Mr Victor Phologolo, has stressed that regular dialogue with constituents and stakeholders is key to ensuring legislators effectively fulfil their mandate.Speaking at the Kanye leadership forum recently, Mr Phologolo highlighted the value of such gatherings, saying they should be convened more often to tackle the challenges facing the area and to find solutions. Mr Phologolo also updated attendees on national developments, including the government’s adoption of measures to curb expenditure.The Kanye West MP also informed his constituents about some development progress, noting that the proposed Kanye Hospital was not included in the National Development Plan (NDP)12. However, he assured that the project would be pursued through Public-Private Partnerships.Other projects which were not incorporated in NDP 12, he said included the Selokolela-Lorolwane Road, Segwagwa Road, and the paving of roads leading to farms. Mr Phologolo further acknowledged ongoing challenges in Kanye, including poor school performance particularly in remote areas like Lorolwane as well as social issues such as alcohol and substance abuse, passion killings and defilement.Participants raised concerns about persistent water shortages in Kanye, inadequate internal roads and frequent network failures at Department of Road Transport and Safety offices. They further demanded thorough investigations into the rising cases of killings affecting Kanye and the nation as a whole.Kebotlhokwa Care Centre Coordinator, Ms Boingotlo Gupta, underscored the need for intensified counselling as a means to support victims of gender-based violence and prevent future incidents.Meanwhile, Officer Commanding No. 14 District, Senior Superintendent David Ramoseki, alerted attendees to the alarming rise in scams where fraudsters called some victims announcing competition winners or invoke ‘Know Your Customer’ schemes to defraud Batswana of large sums. Such cases, he said, were on the increase and were a major concern for law enforcement.While acknowledging that entering competitions was not inherently wrong, he advised the public to exercise caution, such as retaining receipts after providing personal details at tills, as these often contained sensitive information like full names and phone numbers that scammers exploited.On stock theft, Senior Superintendent Ramoseki urged farmers to take proactive measures to protect their livestock rather than depending solely on farm workers.In his contribution, Kanye District Council secretary, Mr Joseph Banyatsang, updated participants on Kanye Stadium, stating that Phase I was complete and were awaiting funding for the next phase. He added that Phase II would involve construction of ablution blocks, kiosks and changing rooms.

Christmas Day brought more than festive cheer at Princess Marina Hospital maternity ward, as 21 babies were born.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing Superintendent, Ms Cecilia Mooketsi said the hospital welcomed 12 baby boys and nine girls on the day, making it a memorable Christmas for families and health workers alike.

She praised the commitment of nurses and midwives who worked through out the holidays, noting that while many were celebrating with their families, maternity staff were on duty to safely usher in new life. 

Among the new mothers was Ms Goitseone Baipoledi, who delivered her second child shortly after lunchtime. Holding her newborn, she described the birth as the greatest Christmas gift, saying the moment brought joy and gratitude to her family.

Kgosi Khama IV of Bangwato on Christmas Day gifted children with hampers at his home in Serowe. 

Kgosi Khama, who is also the former president, traditionally donates Christmas gifts to children in Serowe and surrounding villages demonstrating the love for the children. 

The gesture is an annual event that his family has carried on for decades.

Appreciating the gifts, Ms Wame Letlhare, whose children received gifts, commended Kgosi Khama for his continuous efforts in demonstrating love to the children through donations for decades.

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.