Bursaries secretary Florence Stoneham told BOPA that the two students presented fraudulent medical invoices as claims.

The attempt was foiled "and their scholarships have since been terminated".

Responding to a BOPA enquiry on Friday Stoneham said some students whose medical aid cover was still being processed were abusing the privilege by faking medical treatment and submitting invoices for claims.

BOPA has reliably been informed that some students went to the extent of inserting braces worth over R20 000 on their teeth using government funds, while others spent thousands of South African Rand on leisure trips purported to be educational tours.

Stoneham explained that the Department of Student Placement and Welfare had dealt with occasional cases of serious misconduct in other countries as well, which usually led to cancellation of scholarships.

"However, the few cases of misconduct should not overshadow the vast majority of Botswana students who are doing well in their studies, some of whom have done Botswana proud."

Stoneham said she was not aware of reports that students studying in South Africa were selling Botswana passports to foreigners, among them Nigerians which are consequently reported as lost or stolen.

By February, there were 5 306 government-sponsored Batswana students in South African institutions.

Those living in institutional hostels receive a monthly allowance of R713 while those who live-in self-catering units get R1 283, Stoneham said.

She said though students generally get their allowances on time, there were occasions where some did not receive their stipends on schedule.

"This usually happens at the beginning of the year when new students have to open bank accounts and send their account details to the education attaché."

In most cases, she said, delays were caused by inaccurate account numbers as well as bankers' errors.

According to Stoneham, a large number of students at the University of the North-West did not receive their allowances on time because the education attaché in the country's mission in South Africa was supplied with incomplete student lists.

Stoneham confirmed that the office of the education attaché "is very much understaffed," explaining that plans were afoot to increase the staff of the office.

She however, said the ministry had to work within the government framework for the acquisition of new posts. BOPA

President Mogae, who had just arrived from a three-day Southern African Economic Summit in Durban, South Africa, was given a standing ovation when he led guests of honour on the dance floor as the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) band played the popular Swahili song,"Shauriyako." His dance, which he performed with great skill, added colour to the event.

The President and other VIPs attended the event to support the UB Foundation, a non-profit making Trust intended to engage the private sector and other stakeholders in permanent partnership to enhance the quality and excellence of university education in Botswana.

Guest speaker and CNN's Johannesburg bureau chief Charlayne Hunter-Gault, commended UB for setting up the trust to ensure Batswana students received education of the highest quality.

She said the foundation's mission was not an easy one, observing that it needed much work, dedication and patience.

She said the historical joint move made by Batswana to build themselves a university with a mission to take control of their destiny during the post colonial era, was a commendable move, and a success story reminiscent of how African-Americans struggled to achieve their right to first citizenship in order to be accorded education opportunities in the United States (US).

UB Foundation Board of Trustees' chairman Satar Dada said the foundation was created over a year ago with a view to building community support and developing various programmes and services that "can assure the highest quality of assistance to the youth in areas of business, community and individual development".

He said the board's vision was to see the foundation foster lasting partnership between UB and the private sector to ensure UB has sufficient resources to be an outstanding institution of higher learning in Africa.

Dada said they believed that UB could only be competitive if it had generous investments not only from government but also from all the people in the country.

He observed that "good education is expensive", and as such needed financial support from a broad economic base, including the alumni.

He commended the government, UB council, private sector and the public for assisting the foundation to advance its cause. BOPA

A member of Botswana Primary School Teachers' Association (BOPRITA) Sam Malete, expressed concern over the poor attendance by teachers.

"As teachers, we need to recognise our worth, and take pride in activities like these because it is the time to show society our achievements," Malete said.

He told BOPA that teacher organisations must make a follow-up to find out why many teachers did not attend, adding that there was need for more campaigns to sensitise teachers about the importance of the day so they could become active participants.

"Teachers must also come up with ways of improving the day, like organising activities at school level and then having a day for the show like it is done with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Prisons and Police day celebrations," Malete said.

Addressing teachers, Dr Almon Shumba, an Educational Psychology lecturer at the University of Botswana (UB) said quality education could only be achieved through teacher unity, hence the theme, "The teacher Unity for global Technological Challenges for the 21st Century."

"Teachers may go under different banners, but in the end they are concerned with producing well informed citizens with a broad based education. In fact, in diversity lie the seeds of unity," Shumba said.

He further said teachers form an important component of the milieu that has a profound influence on children they teach, and as such the society expects them to have moral standards.

"Despite all these high expectations by the society, teachers face numerous problems in their profession. Some of these problems include poor conditions of service, inadequate accommodation, and lack of incentives," Shumba said.

Shumba also said that as teachers celebrated their day, they needed to be thinking about current and effective methods of improving the quality of their work. BOPA

According to Superintendent Isaiah Makala of Bobonong police, the four men are alleged to have broken into Cooperative Bar in Molalatau and stole goods including a television set, VCR, DSTV decoder, beer as well as soft drinks.

A vehicle stolen in Selebi-Phikwe was used for transporting the goods, Superintendent Makala said. The suspects were arrested at Sesame location in Selebi-Phikwe three days after the incident. BOPA

Councillor Leagajang Kgetse of Moshawana Ward in Mochudi will present the motion in the wake of alleged ritual murders, which have rocked Mochudi in recent years, including that of Segametsi Mogomotsi, a young Radikolo Community Junior Secondary School girl who was found killed and her body parts missing.

The latest alleged ritual murder is that of Brenda Bokole, a Standard Three pupil at Mmusi Primary School, of Mosanta Ward.

And although the Department of Water Affairs plans to abolish standpipes, councillor Joseph Tladi of Makgophana Ward will table a motion asking Water Affairs to install a standpipe in his ward.

If a motion by councillor Teke Sibasa receives the nod, night watchmen at Modipane and Dikwididi primary schools will be spared from the biting winter cold.

The motion seeks to request the KDC to build houses for watchmen at the two schools. Outgoing village development committee (VDC) members might be in line to reap a whooping P2 000 as termination allowance when their two-year term ends if a motion by councillor Daniel Palai of Mabodisa Ward is endorsed.

Also on the agenda will be 13 questions. One of them is that of councillor Victor Motlotle of Mmathubudukwane who wants to know how far the Kgatleng Land Board has gone in enforcing the Communal First Development Area (CFDA) in the Madikwe area.

Is Phuthadikobo museum owned by Bakgatla or the government? That is the question councillor Phiri Legase of Mosanta Ward wants answered.

This question comes in the wake of a wrangle between Bakgatla and the Dutch Reformed Church over the ownership of the Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital (DRMH) in Mochudi.

As a short-term measure, the Ministry of Health has taken over the running of the hospital for a year while the ownership of the hospital is resolved. BOPA

The money was raised through a Miss BIAC pageant. This was not the first donation made by BIAC students to assist the orphans and those affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge.

BIAC SRC vice president, Calvin Ketshabetswe said in March, BIAC students donated P9 000 raised through a sponsored walk to the SOS Children's Village in Tlokweng.

"We have realised that the nation has been attacked and we think that by working together we can overcome the enemy," he said.

GHBC chairperson Boitumelo Leburu has explained that the centre was an organisation of volunteers from different churches formed in 1997.

It was established with the aim of assisting the sick and as time went on they incorporated the orphans.

She said they have been assisted by the Swedish Embassy to build houses. They have finished building the fourth house this year.

The centre would welcome a gift of a motor vehicle because the one they have is in bad shape.

"The vehicle we have is also used to assist patients and transport water to patients as far as Kumakwane.

She said they needed funds to pay for sports, feeding and development fees for orphans. BOPA

He said there was need for intensified research on economic and agricultural fields to enhance trade, food security and provide for solutions to agricultural and environmental problems in the country.

He was officially launching a book entitled " The operations of Multilateral Trade Organisations Towards a policy on Agricultural Trade Within SADC : Focus on Botswana, " at the University of Botswana.

Sigwele who took up a new post as a Coordinator for the Food , Agriculture and National Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) in Harare, Zimbabwe last week, said Botswana is fraught with economic, trade and agricultural problems such as poverty, high malnutrition, lack of competitiveness and natural resource pollution,which could be solved through research and informed analysis.

He observed that Botswana like other SADC countries, has serious food insecurity, noting that food availability in the country does not necessarily mean nor guarantee accessibility to the majority of the people .

He said as such there is need for strategies that would continuously inform the government on steps to take to solve socio- economic problems.

He noted that the current move to privatise may not necessarily be effective in terms of solving economic, trade and agricultural problems because there seem to be no capacity in the government or high learning institutions such as UB, to analyse privatisation in total.

He also noted that there is trade imbalances in the global market , but hoped that the SADC Trade Protocol will lead to some useful strategies that would solve the problem.

Sigwele who further noted that implementation is weak in the area of research analysis, announced that the FANRPAN has a new programme that is ready to facilitate research in southern Africa, and called research oriented institutions such as the UB to apply for funds to research on policy issues, and consequently enhance capacity building through informed policy decisions.

Welcoming guests during the launch, the Executive Assistant to the deputy Vice Chancellor of UB (Academic Affairs ), Solly Moate said the book that was being launched reviews multilateral trade organisations that are operational in southern Africa.

He said it will be a good teaching material for students at the UB, would also serve as a handy tool for economic planners , political scientists , historians and others involved broadly in the development issues of Botswana and the region.

He also said the launch of the book is a product of collaboration between the University of Botswana and the government. He commended the Research and Development Unit and Ministry of Agriculture for the initiative which has resulted in the book.

Giving a vote of thanks, the Executive Officer of the Botswana Agricultural Union , Boweditswe Masilo, said if policies have to be meaningful, they have to be based on well researched information .

He said researchers should not only concentrate much on the government, but should look at how best could farmers be improved and made competitive in the regional and global market.

He said P33 million had already been approved with the balance expected to be authorised in the near future.

Addressing a Kgalagadi District Council meeting last week, Leburu said funds for the construction of the Tshabong Stadium had been secured.

The commissioning meeting for the project was held last month while the design would be reviewed with a view to incorporating stakeholders' input.

Leburu, who is also councillor for Tshane, said construction of the long awaited Tshabong Technical College would start next year.

He said it was all systems go for the 2001 sentinel surveillance on HIV/AIDS in the Kgalagadi District.

Data would be obtained from expectant women attending ante-natal clinic and men treated for sexually transmitted diseases (STD), he said.

"Surveillance of HIV/AIDS prevalence is critically important for monitoring the course of HIV/AIDS epidemic and planning appropriate public health responses," he said.

Leburu told councillors to stop requesting projects not included in the development plan. Commenting, Councillor Milton Moseru of Hukuntsi West said they should be allowed to bring motions about project ideas otherwise they would be lost.

Other councillors criticised the chairman for leaving out of his speech essential issues such as the Macheng water master plan and the recent camel deaths.

Lokgwabe councillor, Keagalemang Leshope, said he had expected Leburu to inform them when the Minister of Trade, Industry, Wildlife and Tourism would come to address the council.

He said lions were destroying livestock and it was therefore vital for the minister to address councillors about the ban imposed on the killing of the predators.

Most councillors complained about the council's maintenance department, saying it needed close supervision.

"Most times they abandon maintenance works," Councillor Joel Kavari said.

Middlepits councillor Dick Kotokwe said officers in the department preferred to work outside Tshabong to earn subsistence allowance. BOPA

Speaking at Motokwe during a Letlhakeng Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) branch congress, he said it was incumbent upon MPs and councillors to deliver what they had promised the electorate through hard work.

Mokgothu said BDP was retained in power because Batswana had faith, trust and confidence in the party.

He castigated some democrats who collaborated with opposition parties to weaken the BDP. Mokgothu said that in wards the opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) won, Batswana were promised "paradise" and such juicy promises should be fulfilled otherwise they were made to win votes.

He criticised the BNF for always claiming to have better developmental projects while infact they were in most cases done by BDP.

On other issues, Mokgothu cautioned fellow democrats aspiring for positions not to use abusive language against their opponents. He said doing so could result in the aspirant losing a chance to run for office.

The congress was called to elect a branch committee of 18 to replace the old one elected in May 1999.

It was also to prepare for the coming Palapye BDP congress to be held over the President's holidays.

However, during the handover, things nearly went sour as the old committee failed to produce a written report and financial status of the branch.

Most members from the old committee were re-elected. The chairman is Lee Bakae, Ernest Maribe (vice chairman), Maxwell Motowane (secretary), Mighty Segwagwa (vice secretary), Tuduetso Tlhalefang (treasurer) and Mpolokang Tlhotsa (vice treasurer).

There are 12 additional members. BOPA

Italian Andrea Longo, a Sydney Olympic finalist, followed by Algerian Said Guerni both at 1:44.55 won the Milan race, which was a photo finish.

The feat by Dube follows the Monday race in the Netherlands where he came first in a personal best time of 1:44.69, beating Nels Schumann of Germany who won the Sydney Olympics 800m race.

In an interview, Botswana Amateur Athletics Association president Derek James described Dube as "terrific and a good man" who needs support.

James said in the Netherlands race Dube pocketed about P 70 000 after taxes and in Milan last night about P 5 000 appearance fee. Dube, who shares a house with South Africa's Hezekial Sepeng, was out when contacted for comment.

Dube's racing schedule for this year is as follows: June 14, Helsinki, Finland.June 17, Numberg, Germany.

June 29, Rome, Italy. July 4, Lausanne, Switzerland (not yet confirmed). July 6, Paris, France (not yet confirmed). July 13, Oslo, Norway. July 17, Stockholm, Sweden, which is a 1000m race July 20, Monaco August 2-12 Edmonton, Canada (World Championships) Because of Dube's hectic schedule he will return in September after the World Championships in Canada.

He is a versatile artist and was able to move through all the jazz genres with ease and it was evident that those who ventured onto the dance floor had a tough time returning to their seats because the music was simply great.

Lunga went on to play township jazz, blues and underground jazz which included Kenny Burrel's, My Little Swede Shoes which was a request piece from one of the jazz lovers.

He made a dramatic appearance on stage on Saturday as he emerged from the crowd blowing Otis Reading's When a man loves a woman.

The women seemed to love it a lot more when he went around the audience softly blowing tunes to their ears, giving them that ticklish sensation.

"I feel good when I perform for people who understand what I am doing, it makes it easy for me to give off my best because I know they appreciate what I am doing", Lunga said.

He said musical genres would come and go but jazz would always be there because it has deeper roots and is original."Jazz has a history and it is music based on human suffering and as long as there is human suffering, jazz will always be there because it is about the people's feelings and their routines".

He said when people suffered, they never forgot the misery and what they went through, "that is a major building block for jazz".

Just Friends, with Lister Boleseng on saxophone, Emmanuel Sesupo on rhythm guitar, Enock Mbewe on drums, Brian Chirenga and Lekofi Sejeso on keyboards provided the back up team for Lunga on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday, the flamboyant and talented Jonathan Moalosi brought along his percussion to add a new dimension to the whole show, which many said would go down as one of the best that Mogo Club has hosted this year.

Boleseng and Lunga made an excellent combination with their horns and tended to compliment one another as if they had been playing together for years.

He said it was expensive to travel with a full band and that was why he could not bring it along, but added that it is always exciting to work with a new outfit. "I would be doing the same when I record my new album, which is going to be released in the States". BOPA

Fighters beat TASC 1-0 to win the league for the second time in two years and thus denying fellow soldiers BDF XI, the chance to lay their hands on the trophy.

But Fighters' consistency must be a lesson to the other teams that a team with sound management and committed players is always a winning team.

And for those who have always doubted Major David Bright's capabilities should think otherwise as he continues to be successful with Fighters, save for African competitions where none of the local teams have done well.

They were recently kicked out of the Mandela Cup by the Seychelles' Sunshine FC. This can mean only one thing. While Bright was well supported by Fighters management, his bosses at national level were not that supportive.

Hopefully Bright and his boys will prepare hard for the African Champions League and bring something home next season and certainly the whole nation will be behind them including those who hate "institutional teams" as they will be representing the whole nation.

But as is always the case, while some were celebrating others were and are still shedding the tears of narrowly losing the title but some are left with relegation nightmares and are already wondering if they will be able to win promotion back to the elite league.

BDF XI were obviously hoping to take this one and their consistency this season can justify that more especially because they were in contention right to the end.

But there had to be only one winner and Stanley Tshoswane should not be that bitter since the trophy is still "inside" the BDF camp. One cannot stop imagining the agony faced by BMC and Satmos after disastrous seasons.

BMC's pain however, started before the season could even start when they lost one of their lethal strikers Collin Zulu in a car accident before that tragic evening when two of their players Themba Raditau and Rider Jobe died in a car crash during the victory celebrations after they beat Black Peril in Lobatse and what was supposed to be a good night quickly turned into a nightmare.

Then came the infamous Gaborone United (GU) High Court case, which nearly saw "Ezinkomo" sent straight back to the First division after they were declared improperly registered.

Clever Hunda's boys had since the start of the season failed to find the rhythm and their stay in the Super League was more than disastrous, losing game after game.

As for Satmos, their boss Sam Sono should be a bitter man not necessarily because the side has been relegated but because the same team, which won the league was "responsible for weakening his team" when they recruited two of his most valuable players - Kagiso Tshelametsi and Tiroyamodimo Mohambi.

No wonder he is not in favour of '"nstitutional teams" which he argues that they have an unfair advantage over other teams because of the resources at their disposal.

The transfer of Tshelametsi especially created a tug-of-war between Satmos and Fighters. Sono tried everything in his power to keep the lanky goalkeeper but all in vain.

Sono's frustrations are however understandable because he has made many sacrifices to build his team. Satmos were the first team to be run on semi-professional lines with the introduction of player's monthly salaries.

However, all that happened during the past season is history and the big question now is: Will the two teams be able to win promotion back to the elite league and will they be able to keep their top players?

Players like BMC's sharp shooting Eric Molebatsi and rock hard defender Patrick Thatoetsile are most unlikely to go down with the team.

Once again, Extension Gunners have managed to hold onto their reputation as the best "relegation dodgers". More than any other team "Mapantsula" were the relegation favourites in the first few months of the season but, as usual, managed to keep their ship afloat and dance their way out of trouble.

However there were more downs than ups this season with the big guns Chiefs, Notwane and Rollers inconsistent throughout the season and winning some of their games by sheer luck. The three are not even in the top four.

Early pacesetters - Jwaneng Comets - once again let it slip through their fingers when almost everybody thought they would be champions but at - least ended in the top eight of the 12-team league.

We all can't stop hoping that Gunners make good preparations for next season and reclaim their spot as one of the league's and country's big guns while at the same time it is hoped that both Satmos and BMC will manage to win promotion back to the Super League. BOPA

While the government has conquered most of the sandy and rugged terrein, roads leading in and out of major centres like Gaborone and Francistown are choking with traffic everyday. Here the war is far from being won.

Gaborone, the main government and business centre, attracts more traffic. A combined population of the big centres within a radius of 100 kilometres of Gaborone adds up to over 275 000. And with a 2001 projected population of 224 286, Gaborone's population and its surrounds adds up to 500 000.

It is a nerve wrecking nightmare driving in Gaborone at peak hours. Negligent and bully drivers add to the misery. Discourteous taxi and combi drivers either find an excuse to stop anywhere or cause havoc by forcing their way into any lane no matter how slim the chance may seem.

Many people commute to Gaborone from Mochudi, Kanye, Lobatse, Molepolole and the surrounding small villages every morning and head back in the evenings.

The widening of the main roads leading in and out of Gaborone and those within has not helped the situation. The growth of Gaborone seems to overwhelm development plans.

Motorists blame the Council for what they call "catch-up planning" which fails to manage traffic jams.

Kudumatse, Gaborone-Rasesa, Kaunda, Nyerere Drive, Molepolole, Nelson Mandela, P.G Matante, New Lobatse and President's Drive are some of the roads which motorists cannot go beyond 20km at peak hours.

Although some of these roads have been widened into dual carriageways the situation has not improved. Motorists predict a worse nightmare the day the new Gaborone Central Business District (CBD) would be complete.

According to Senior Roads Engineer, Obusitswe Keitheile, the Roads Department is aware of the congestion on roads leading into and out of Gaborone.

The department undertook a study in 1994 to determine the most appropriate strategy for upgrading trunk roads up to dual carriageway standard. The study was also meant to evaluate a number of bypass proposals.

This was intended to produce the most cost effective and prioritised solutions for providing and improving trunk roads into and around Gaborone to facilitate movements of both passing and local traffic," he says.

As a result of the study, the department compiled a prioritised implementation programme. This started with the construction of the Gaborone-Rasesa road and Kudumatse Drive to dual carriageway standard and these ranked highest, in the prioritised list.

Government is spending P59m to widen the 35km Gaborone-Rasesa portion of the Gaborone-Francistown A1 road starting from the Sir Seretse Khama Airport and is expected to be completed by January next year.

Kudumatse Drive, which starts near Old Naledi from the Old Lobatse Road, is being provided with a flyover across the railway line. The project costing P50, covers 8.7km into the Gaborone-Gabane road and will be completed in September this year.

Keitheile says preparatory work is ongoing to commence the design of the Tlokweng bypass to run to the south of Tlokweng Village.

A re-assessment of the 1994 study findings and recommendations is to be undertaken, to reprioritise the remaining trunk roads.

"Other potential projects to be considered for improvement during the National Development Plan 9 are Gaborone-Boatle section of the Gaborone-Lobatse road, Mogoditshane-Gabane road, Mogoditshane-Metsimotlhabe section of the Gaborone-Molepolole road."

Keitheile however explains that the re-assessment exercise "is likely to change the current plans for road improvement as dynamic developments in Gaborone and the peri-urban areas may dictate priorities". As to the criterion used to determine whether a road qualifies for expansion, Keitheile mentions a number of factors - traffic volume and levels of accidents.

"Traffic volume is the most considered factor in determining whether or not a particular road should be expanded to dual carriageway, which is also a measure of the level of service offered by a specific vehicular traffic, and as such has a high potential or probability for an accident to occur."

Can a traffic volume of at least 3 000 vehicles per day qualify a road for dual carriageway? Keitheile explains: "As the capacity of a road and the service it offers is a function of the amount or level of traffic it can carry, there is a level at which a specific road cannot cope with the prevailing traffic."

He says this is a process of an analysis, which takes into account many factors including the development potential in the vicinity of the road and the surrounding.

"A combination of the relevant factors will determine the traffic volume which will render the road in question congested and offering a poor service, hence illegible for expansion.

"Yes, 3 000 vehicles per day might be a cut-off point, but it is not fixed, as the actual figure is a result of an analysis process."

Keitheile doubts that no matter how much of the plans for the major cities were undertaken, "the most appropriate solution will not be achieved as long as these are done by different authorities in isolation.

"An appropriate and collective transport planning and effective traffic management supported by land use plan, are required to ensure that travel into and out of Gaborone is both efficient and safe, and that the upgrading of roads is appropriate and cost effective", he urges.

He says departments responsible for land use developments and road infrastructure should have a common understanding of the demands for both building infrastructure and roads, in order to adequately determine the timings for upgrading through appropriate projections of growth.

The envisaged planning, he feels, will contribute to many benefits, such as improvement to public transport which would in-turn attract most road users and ensure that private vehicles were reduced from the road, hence reduced vehicular interaction and congestion.

He adds that an appropriate designation of developments resulting in high vehicle attraction will be adequately determined, "thus redistributing journeys to work over the attraction points or areas".

If the current rate of growth can be sustained, Gaborone is expected to be a different place in the next 10 years. As the servicing of the CBD takes shape Gaborone residents are anxiously looking forward to the day the virgin land will be home to modern shops and high rise office blocks.

Two flyovers are planned for access into the CBD from the Government Enclave and Independence Avenue. Khama Crescent will be extended over Nelson Mandela Drive and rail through CBD to P.G. Matante Road.

The Independence Avenue will be bridged over the rail into the CBD terminating at P.G. Matante Road. Whether these developments will solve traffic jams remains to be seen.

The problems include a condition by the majority of Muslim shop-owners that chickens be slaughtered according to Halaal requirements - a ritual they cannot afford.

Only Tswana Pride and few other large-scale producers have access to such facilities. The former also buys from small farmers and does the killing so that the product may meet the market requirement, but reportedly do not pay growers well.

For meat to be halaal a Muslim priest is hired to slaughter the chickens at costs some small-scale farmers said they could not afford.

As a result, farmers such as Timothy Mosikare with no arrangement with Tswana Pride or unable to hire the imams face tough conditions in marketing chickens on their own.

A BOPA team, which visited Mosikare's farm this week, was greeted by a pathetic situation whereby about 2 500 chickens that were ready for slaughter, fed on each other's flesh (cannibalism) for lack of proper feed.

"There is nowhere to sell them and as such no money to buy food for them. This is the second batch of chickens which were fed on food bought by money from the 2 000 chickens I first owned."

According to owners of Boikanyo Poultry, which has about 20 000 chicks, they used to face similar marketing problems and as a result lost many chickens either through death or non-payment by people who bought on credit.

"We used to sell to people in the village on credit but they never paid us. We even reported to the village chief who advised us never to sell on credit," he said.

Under an arrangement with Tswana Pride, farmers receive day-old chicks, feed and medicine on credit from the company. When the chicks are fully grown and ready for slaughter, Tswana Pride buys them at P4. 55 per kilogram from which all costs of chicks, feeds, medicine and transport are deducted, and the balance given to growers.

Boikanyo Poultry owners said that their situation improved after they learnt about service offered by Tswana Pride.

They said that the marketing arrangement they have since entered into with Tswana Pride "is beneficial and far better" than the one at the time they used to sell for themselves because at least now "they are able to sell, pay employees and improve their living standards".

But Mogobane Food Enterprises owner, Lesedi Motlhankane, though also appreciative of the benefit derived from the arrangement with Tswana Pride, says he is not happy with the P4. 55 per kg offer, which he feels, is too small.

Motlhankane says that chicken feed is expensive and that he spends about 80 per cent of his income on feeds only.

Nevertheless "we have no option but to keep our relationship with Tswana Pride because the majority of shop owners are Muslims and want Halaal".

Motlhankane said he once approached an Asian shop owner in Mogobane who insisted only on Halaal. The shop owner further informed him that a permit worth P5 000 per year is needed for one to be allowed to engage a priest to perform the Halaal ritual.

For those who cannot afford a priest, Tswana Pride broiler farms manager Kganetso Motswasele confirmed that contracts are on offer, but only with farmers who are within a 60 km radius of Gaborone. This contract entitles growers to free chicks, feed, medicine and management assistance.

Motswasele said the arrangement came about on the realisation that small farmers found it hard to find a market and lacked facilities such as freezers and abattoirs.

However, he said that because many people were attracted to their scheme, the market is already saturated and as such new farmers wanting to join cannot be assisted.

Poultry association chairperson Peter Kirby of Richmark Poultry disclosed that they all had marketing problems but it was unfortunate that small farmers, who cannot supply constantly to supermarkets, suffered the most.

Kirby says they have suggested to the Ministry of Agriculture to set up communal abattoirs and co-operatives to assist small farmers but the ministry was not keen.

"We also know of Halaal requirements by most shops and it is unfortunate that things seem to be going the way of Muslims," he said.

Kirby said they assist farmers by offering them training on how to market and profitably run their businesses.

On the P4.55 per kg paid to farmers by Tswana Pride, Kirby said he could not comment because he did not have figures to verify costs.

Vocational Education and Training director Marianne Nganunu was officially opening the P14.5 million Mosetse Brigade Development Trust, some 114 km west of Francistown recently.

Nganunu said other brigades board of trustees together with the co-ordinators were in the habit of misappropriating funds entrusted to them, noting that the stealing of money had become prevalent in many brigades and several of them were under investigation by the police and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC).

She said in some brigades, trustees remained in office for three years but never provided feedback to the communities that elected them.

The brigades, she explained, were run by the communities through the board of trustees elected at the kgotla and should therefore report back to the community at least once a year.

Nganunu briefed the community on the government's intention to do a comprehensive evaluation of the brigades, covering issues such as the legal instruments to bridge staff salaries.

She advised Mosetse residents to speak freely when the evaluators visited their village or make written submissions.

The director said many brigade board members were finding it impossible to run a brigade because of too much competition from other companies, difficulty in managing a profitable production unit and inadequate funds to pay staff salaries as they were not enough to attract top notch tutors to the brigades.

On staff salaries, she said the National Brigades Co-operating Committee (NBCC) had requested government to take over and increase the financial support to the brigades.

The government had also observed deficiencies in brigades such as difficulties in understanding the business and audit reports by some board members and lack of knowledge in the running of a modern technical training institution, Nganunu said.

She advised the board of trustees to run evening and part-time courses at a fee to cover teachers' salaries and cost of materials.

The community was also briefed on the newly developed Botswana Technical Education Programme (BTEP) offering courses in construction.

The students would also learn numerical, communication skills, entrepreneurial and computer skills and if one performed well could qualify for entry into higher institutions of learning.

She informed the audience about e-learning where students could access learning using computers, adding that government's plan was to build a learning resources centre next to each technical college and several brigades during the next two to three years.

Giving an historical background of brigade, the board chairman, Herbert Kgwarae said the Mosetse catchment areas included Dukwi, Lepashe and Kutamogoree and each parent contributed P150 towards its building.

Kgwarae appealed to parents to discipline their children at all times, noting that property had been destroyed in some schools by students for no apparent reason.

For his part, regional brigade's chairperson Mbako Mongwa said some brigades in the region were partially developed while others were not such as the Borolong Brigade.

Mongwa said brigades, as engines of economic growth needed to be developed, with the provision of better equipment to uplift the standard of training.

Giving a vote of thanks, MP for the area Oliphant Mfa called on the graduates of Mosetse Brigade to group themselves and venture into income generating projects.

He advised the students to take education seriously and protect themselves against the HIV/AIDS pandemic to ensure they complete their studies. BOPA

Answering a question on behalf of lands, housing and environment minister, health minister Joy Phumaphi said it was impossible to implement the act without any regulations. The legislation will enable people to buy units in blocks of flats.

The regulations, she said, would specify how the act should be implemented and administered.

Kgosi Oarabile Kalaben had wanted to know the cause of delays in implementing the act and whether the minister would consider making it possible for interested tenants to buy units in flats using the Tenant Purchase Scheme.

Phumaphi explained that the delays in finalising the regulations were due to shortage of staff, especially in the draughting section.

On the sale of units, the minister said it was impossible to sell the units in flats while measures to implement the law were not yet in place.

The sale should be guided and facilitated by regulations, she said. BOPA

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the occasion, the deputy director of Teaching Service Management, Tiroentle Pheto urged parents, teachers and pupils to maintain the spirit of togetherness which saw the school grabbing first position in the cleanest school competition.

He encouraged teachers, parents and pupils not to clean only for the purposes of winning but for keeping the environment clean at all times to avoid diseases which could be brought about by dirt.

The school won a floating trophy donated by the owner of Mochudi Bookshop and Stationary, Batho Mphothwe.