alternative sa coal port, page-18

Well, hopefully govt policy in Botswana doesn't go pear-shaped. It seems Gadhafi isn't the only one who's delusional in Africa.

Moswaane wants Mugabe style in Botswana
Written by Sesupo Rantsimako
Tuesday, 01 March 2011 16:00

Calls for more Govt shares in mining

FRANCISTOWN: Councilor for Monarch South Ignatius Moswaane has said he would prefer Robert Mugabe's leadership style when it comes to dealing with mining industry investors. He said Mugabe would ensure that Batswana benefit more from the mining industry.

Most Francistown Councilors believe that lack of competent negotiators has led to the country losing out in the mining sector. They said such negotiators could engage mine owners around Francistown and push for more government shares in the mines. When responding to a presentation by a Research Fellow from Botswana Institute of Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) Dr Margret Sengwatsi, most of the councilors criticized the government for failing to maintain the mines that surround the city.

First to comment was the Botswana Democratic Party Councilor, Moswaane who said that the government has to discuss the beneficiation of local mining activity because foreigners own larger shares and Batswana are given leftovers.

He said that it was time the government stood up and changed its policy on foreign investment in mines so that Batswana can get at least 50%.

�I wish President Robert Mugabe could be the leader of this country because we would have enjoyed our shares and benefits,� he said.

He added that he agreed with many people who said that Mugabe is the answer to African problems because he managed to change the policy so that the government owns 50% or above in his country Zimbabwe.

Another BDP Councilor James Kgalajwe said that if the government could have taken advantage and utilized the mining sector to create investment opportunities the city could be amongst the most developed in this country.

�There are lots of mines around the city but there is not even a single manufacturer which processes the raw materials from the mines, after mining these minerals we have to take them for further processing in other countries. If we were serious about our minerals we could have established a plant that processes raw materials,� said Kgalajwe.

He highlighted the fact that when the Tati Nickel mine started to operate there was a smelter plant that was under construction for processing the nickel but because there were no negotiators the owner of the mine changed and took it to Russia where it has developed the country and created employment opportunities.

Councilor, Professor Lazarus Tlou of Area W criticized the government for being unfocused adding that if it was focused the country could be one of the richest because there are lot of manufactures that could have been established when the mine opened.

�This is disheartening because even now Batswana are not taught these manufacturing skills but instead they export raw materials to be processed by foreigners.

http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8882:moswaane-wants-mugabe-style-in-botswana&catid=19:northcast&Itemid=2