Diplomat africa 4

www.DiplomatAfrica.orgAFRICA
Volume 4 • 2012
PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH LEADERSHIP, DIPLOMACY AND TRADE
DIPLOMATAFRICAVolume4•2012•www.DiplomatAfrica.org
BITC:
Introducing the restructured
Botswana Investment & Trade
Centre
African Union:
New era with Dlamini-Zuma
Proudly African Initiative:
Uniting the continent
www.ProudlyAfrican.info

“No man is an island; every man is a piece of a continent”
(John Donne, 1572 – 1631)
The African Century is dawning.
Diplomat Africa has become a documentation of continued African growth
over the past year. We have explored the diversity of the southern African
region and uncovered the unique methods of diplomacy in various countries.
After focussing on Intra-African trade in our last issue, the above quote from
poet John Donne seems hugely relevant to our continent.
Inter-African unity is being solidified through the ushering in of the new
African Union chair, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. This momentous election
is sure to see continental integration. The launch of the Proudly African
Initiative shares the same crest of the Africa unity wave in this new era for
Africanism.
African countries are starting to work together for the greater good of Africa
as a whole. This could not be more timeous as it coincides with the interest
of international capital which has come with worldwide focus on Africa, in
what is dubbed as the “African Century”.
Our four featured countries for this issue of Diplomat Africa are Mauritius,
Seychelles, Lesotho, and Botswana. The two island nations are part of the
exciting Vanilla Islands grouping, which is anticipated to bring huge global
tourist attention to our eastern shores. Lesotho has just ushered in a new
era which is poised to bring economic growth to the mountain kingdom.
Botswana is all set to take advantage of the rise of the African Century,
through the newly restructured Botswana Investment & Trade Centre (BITC)
in association with Brand Botswana. These exciting developments are
positioning Botswana as a diversified economy and showcasing Botswana’s
pride.
In this issue, we are also excited to share an intricate look at the lives of
some of Africa’s prominent icons and diplomats.
With this, our profile of Future Visions in the SADC region which we have
explored in these first four issues, are wrapped up. We look forward to
exploring the endless well of sectors of development in Africa in our next
issues.
We are excited to be sharing all these growth stories with you as they
develop.
Thapelo Letsholo
Publisher
PUBLISHER’S FOREWORD
Main Sponsors
Botswana Investment
& Trade Centre (BITC)
2 | Diplomat Africa

siemens.com/answers
Every day in Africa more and more people are moving to
urban areas. This is creating an urgent demand for the
development of better, more sustainable infrastructures.
Already we’re at work in major cities like Lagos and
Algiers, helping ensure a reliable electricity supply to
power economic growth and infrastructure development.
Our efficient rail technologies in Johannesburg are
transporting commuters safely and keeping the economy
on track. With our water technologies, more people in
Dar es Salaam have access to clean drinking water. And
our medical equipment is providing citizens of Nairobi
with affordable healthcare.
We’re working with African cities today to create answers
that will last for generations to come.
Building cities worth
building a future in.
Siemens provides answers for Africa‘s rapidly growing cities.

CREDITS
ConTaCT DETaIlS
GVPedia Publishing (Pty) Ltd
Po Box 26382 Gaborone, Botswana
Plot 119 Unit 2G Gaborone International Finance Park
Tel: +267 3951363 (Gaborone)
+27 117052097 (Johannesburg)
Email General: info@gvpedia.com
Email Editor: rebecca@gvpedia.com
Website africa: www.Diplomatafrica.org
www.Proudlyafrican.info
Website Global: www.GVPedia.com
THE TEaM
Publisher: Thapelo letsholo
Editor: Rebecca Eb
Project Manager: Gia Bischofberger
Production: GVPedia Communications
Creative Direction: iMedi8 Creative
Printer: Creda Communications
Website Development: liam Dobell
Public Relations: RedPepper PR & Communication
Consultancy (Botswana)
Sales Team: Yvonne Sinclair (South africa),
Tshiamo Mhlanga, Kabo
Garebakwena, Balepeng
Montwedi (Botswana)
International Group Publisher:
Sven Boermeester
Ultimately we look forward to
showcasing and connecting all the
successful governments, companies
and individuals that are spearheading
africa’s incredible growth.
GVPedia Communications:
Managing Director
Gia Bischofberger
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the
information in “Diplomat africa”. neither “Diplomat africa”, Red Pepper PR &
Communication Consultancy nor GVPedia Communications cc assume any
responsibility for errors or omissions.
The editor reserves the right to amend and alter copy and visual material as
deemed necessary.
all rights reserved: no part of this publication shall be reproduced, copied,
transmitted, adapted or modified in any form or by any means. This
publication shall not be stored in whole or in part in any retrieval system.
Proudly African
Boosting inter-trade & cultural
relations across the continent
4 | Diplomat africa

8
8 Botswana well-positioned for dawn of the African
Century
12 Future Visions Mauritius
16 Future Visions Seychelles
20 Future Visions Lesotho
12
16 20
IN THIS ISSUE
FUTURE VISIONS
Diplomat Africa | 5

CHAPTER 1:
FOREIGN POLICY,
DIPLOMACY AND
RELATIONS
26 Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma elected
as African Union Chair
27 Proudly African
28 Lesotho welcomes The Right
Honourable Motsoahae Thomas
Thabane as its new
Prime Minister
29 High Commissioner of India in
South Africa Virendra Gupta
30 Lieutenant General Tebogo Carter
Masire
31 Board Chairperson Mr Victor
Senye Introduces the Botswana
Investment & Trade Centre (BITC)
32 Salif Keita
33 Restructured MBSA appoints new
executive director
34 Legwaila Joseph Manson John
Legwaila
36 Moise Chapwe Katumbi
38 The African Presidential
Roundtable 2012
CHAPTER 2:
TRADE AND
INVESTMENT
42 Botswana Investment and Trade
Centre
44 City of Ekurhuleni, Place of Peace,
enters into own new era
46 Fairscape Precinct, A mixed-use
concept for Fairgrounds
48 Botswana Examinations Council
50 Debswana Jwaneng Mine
CHAPTER 3:
AFRI-INDIA
54 Confederation of Indian Industry in
South Africa
56 INDIALLIA 2012
58 Successful Indian Companies in
South Africa
50 56
IN THIS ISSUE
6 | Diplomat Africa

CHAPTER 4:
TRAVEL AND
HOSPITALITY
62 Hospitality Marketplace Africa
64 Regional Branding and
Communication Strategy for
Southern Africa
66 Introducing the Vanilla Islands – a
tourist’s Indian Ocean dream
68 Rani Resorts
CHAPTER 5:
BUILDING AFRICA
72 Master Builders South Africa
74 African Federation of Construction
Contractors’ Associations (AFCCA)
76 Infrastructure is on South Africa’s
main agenda
78 Lesotho Highlands Water Project
CHAPTER 6:
GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
AFRICA
82 Future of Trade at BRICS Africa
2012
84 NEPAD – Advancing Agriculture
and Food Security in Africa
86 Africa Frontiers Forum
88 PAMRO Conference 2012
90 The Sugar Industry Mauritius
92 Europe, Middle East and Africa
(EMEA) regional meeting held in
Africa 2012
94 BA ISAGO: A University College in
Transition and Transformation
66
78 94
Diplomat Africa | 7

International capital is increasingly flowing
away from developed markets and into
emerging economies. Of the African states
bidding to host this capital, all indicators
point to Botswana as the most strategically
positioned to benefit.
While many believe the country’s journey to this point started
in the late 1960s with the discovery of diamonds in the
Orapa/Letlhakane area, Botswana’s history as an extractive
economy began with gold mining, albeit on a small-scale, in
the late 1800s.
Large-scale extractive activities around diamonds, coal,
soda ash, copper, and nickel were explored in the late
1950s, laying the foundation for the establishment of world-
famous operations such as Jwaneng and Orapa diamond
mines, Morupule Colliery, Botash, and BCL Mine.
The resource boom of the late 1960s and 1970s
allowed extractive industries to outpace agriculture as the
Botswana well-positioned for dawn
of the African Century
8 | Diplomat Africa
FUTURE VISIONS

primary drivers of Botswana’s economy, with government
using the revenues to direct growth mainly to national social
development endeavours such as education, health, and
primary infrastructure.
While Botswana is most well known worldwide for this
resource miracle, a lesser acknowledged but greatly more
significant marvel was the government’s use of economic
policy to carry the momentum of the wealth-boom towards
broader economic development.
While the resource boom exceedingly created
employment, raising incomes and living standards, it was
government policy that ensured this increased demand
resulted in the creation of secondary industry such as
financial services, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism,
aviation, and other sectors.
Economic diversification
Since the 1980s, government’s economic diversification
policy has seen the deployment of the burgeoning mineral
revenues towards the growth and deepening of nationwide
Information Communication Technologies, transport
networks, and more recently, robust efforts towards self-
sufficiency in energy generation.
It is from these efforts that secondary industry has
blossomed and deepened, with the result that the
consumer demand originally built by mineral revenues, has
become complimented by new and transformed economic
pathways.
In addition, these government social development
policies, such as the billions of Pula spent on tertiary
education investment, have transformed consumer demand
towards more complex products, allowing market space for
production of more specialised and modern products and
services.
From the 1980s when the Financial Assistance Policy
first marked government’s attempts at countrywide
industrialisation of the mineral revenues, economic
policy since the millennium has been aimed at providing
supporting infrastructure and policy conducive to the private
sector.
This two-pronged policy has seen the development and
Diplomat Africa | 9
FUTURE VISIONS

roll-out of key agencies such as the Citizen Entrepreneurial
Development Agency, Local Enterprise Authority, Botswana
Export Development and Investment Authority, International
Financial Services Centre, and others.
In the last four years, critical modern economy agencies
such as the Competition Authority, Financial Intelligence
Agency, and the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory
Authority have emerged, closing policy loopholes and
building confidence for investors.
Over the same period, government has embarked
on the most aggressive infrastructure outlay since
Independence, with billions of Pula invested in road
and air infrastructure, dam construction, power station
development and extension of the transmission grid.
In addition, government and the Bank of Botswana have
developed a regular and high value domestic debt issuance
programme chiefly designed to boost the development of
capital markets.
The result of this comprehensive approach by
government over the years, has seen greater Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) with more moving into non-mining sectors,
thus raising non-extractives’ contribution to the economy.
A recent Ernst & Young survey suggested Botswana
attracted approximately US$13.5-billion (P99-billion) in FDI
between 2003 and 2011, placing it among the continent’s
top 15 targets for foreign capital.
While minerals accounted for more than a third of this
FDI (part of the reason being the attendant high capital
costs), foreign capital also targeted financial services,
communications, real estate, hotels, and tourism.
With key infrastructure slowly moving into place and
the safety net of investor and support agencies gradually
commingling, government has lately begun addressing
10 | Diplomat Africa
FUTURE VISIONS

the various factors influencing the country’s global
competitiveness.
Part of the motivation has been that the secondary
economy (manufacturing/industrial economy feeding off
the primary, raw material, activities) is growing rapidly.
Further impetus is required in order to fill the space currently
occupied by imports.
At present, it could be argued that Botswana’s economy
has more elements of primary and tertiary economy and
fewer of secondary economy, with an annual merchandise
import bill estimated at nearly a fifth of the Gross Domestic
Product.
Global competitiveness and relations
The focus on competitiveness, as seen by the establishment
of a select Cabinet committee on the issue, is seeing the
targeting of eight policy areas identified by investors and
enunciated by the World Economic Forum’s annual report,
as problem areas.
Besides these, Botswana as a member of the Southern
African Customs Union (SACU) is also engaged in inter-
regional industrialisation negotiations to ensure greater
domestic capacity building from the value created within the
union.
In addition, the country has penned an interim
Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union
and is in the process of finalising a more comprehensive
arrangement, among the raft of international trade and
tax protocols it has in place to enhance the domestic
economy’s industrial allure.
Indicators already exist that these policies have placed
Botswana at the heart of the African Century.
Already, the Botswana Stock Exchange, the agency
with its pulse on foreign capital flows, has reported heavier
uptake of local counters by foreign companies and
individuals, as global focus shifts to Africa.
The Botswana Stock Exchange was the eighth best
performing market in the world last year and this year, the
local bourse expects to further improve its performance.
Given the goodwill in the highest political offices, the
support of policy and infrastructure as well as the robust
investor agencies, sovereign credit rating, developed
financial services, and skilled labour force – Botswana is
well poised for the African Century.
Diplomat Africa | 11
FUTURE VISIONS

The economic landscape of Mauritius has
undergone a major transformation. It has
changed from an agricultural economy to
an innovation-driven economy focusing
on emerging sectors such as knowledge,
healthcare and life sciences, financial
services, sea-food, logistics, property
development, ICT, and renewable energy in
2012.
The island nation of Mauritius is world renowned as a
tropical holiday destination with crisp white sands and
turquoise warm Indian Ocean waters. The culture, vibrancy,
and tourism infrastructure, make Mauritius one of Africa’s
most beautiful and desirable island destinations. But it took
a strategic economic diversification plan to get Mauritius
to where it is today. Its growth regardless of its diminutive
size, tells one of Africa’s greatest success stories. Mauritian
industry has maintained its strength even in the face of
economic turmoil worldwide – proving there’s a lot more to
this spectacular island than agriculture and tourism.
As proof that Mauritius is an attractive investment
location, the country achieved nearly MUR10-billion in FDI
for the year 2011 amidst growing global uncertainty. In
most sectors of activity, namely financial services, hospitality
and property development, construction, healthcare and
manufacturing, Mauritius has in fact had an increase in the
flow of investments.
Ken Poonoosamy, the Managing Director of Board of
Investment Mauritius, explains this was achieved largely by
adopting a targeted approach to further consolidate existing
markets, the identification and tapping of new and emerging
markets, and a focus on Greenfield projects in order to
boost investments.
The new Repo rate set at 4,9% augurs well for
the economy as a whole and allows a new window
of opportunity for investors. The initiative of the Bank
Future Visions Mauritius
FUTURE VISIONS

of Mauritius offsets prolonged adverse circumstances
that seem to shackle the world market, in particular the
uncertainties in Europe. The lowering of the interest rate
offers a boost to investors’ confidence.
This year, Mauritius celebrated the 44th anniversary
of its independence. To mark the occasion, the Board
of Investment (BOI) in Mauritius looked back over the
economic growth of 40 years, whilst looking to the future
by maintaining their resolve to promote Mauritius as a
Republic of Mauritius
Capital: Port-Louis
Location: Island 500 miles east of Madagascar, in
the Indian Ocean
Area: 2,040 sq. km. (787 sq. mi.)
Population: 1,286,340 (including Rodrigues,
Agalega, and St. Brandon)
Language: Creole (common), French, English
(official), Hindi, Urdu, Hakka, Bhojpuri
Independence: March 12, 1968 (became a republic in
1992)
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Acting President Monique Ohsan
Bellepeau
Prime Minister Navinchandra
Ramgoolam
Currency: Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Terrain: Volcanic island surrounded by coral
reefs and a central plateau rimmed by
mountains
Climate: Tropical; cyclone season mid-
December-April
GDP: $19.276 billion (2011)
Agriculture: 4.5%
Industry: 24%
Services: 71.4%
FUTURE VISIONS

green and sustainable island-State, keeping its ecological
stewardship at heart.
History
Mauritius’ known history extends back over five centuries.
The first historical evidence was on a map by Italian
cartographer Alberto Cantino in 1502. Even though
Mauritius was discovered and visited by the Portuguese
between 1507 and 1513, it was the Dutch who first laid
base there. The legacy the Dutch left, besides eliminating
the Dodo and giant tortoise populations and much of the
ebony heartwood forests, was to lay the foundations of
industry with the introduction of sugarcane in the 1600s.
They also contributed the name of the country after the
main vessel in the fleet which first made landfall.
After the Dutch abandoned their colony in 1710, the
French developed a colony on the island in 1715, leaving
an indelible and lasting mark on the island’s infrastructure
and culture. It was also the French, under Governor Mahé
de La Bourdonnais, who successfully developed the sugar
industry. The island population was slowly grown and
developed through each of the colonies as slaves were
brought over from the mainland and Madagascar, forming
the Creole population today. The impact of sugar on the
population is evident in the indentured labourers brought
over from India. The British took over in 1810 and ruled until
independence in 1968.
Present economic situation
Since independence, Mauritius has worked tirelessly to
build on these foundations through the diversification of
the economy. Currently, Mauritius is striving to add to
its ‘four-pillar’ economy, namely sugar, textile, tourism
and financial services. This is to make it more resilient to
shocks, enhance productivity and competitiveness, and
simultaneously support growth and job creation. The
economy grew at an estimated 4% in 2011 driven by a
resurgent textile industry, and a strong performance by the
financial sector.
In 2011, tourist arrivals were estimated at about
965,000 compared to 871,000 in 2009 and 2011 tourism
earnings were estimated at about MUR43-billion, up from
MUR35.7-billion in 2009. Gross foreign direct investment
(FDI) stood at MUR9.5-billion in 2011, 10.6-billion in 2010
and MUR8.8-billion in 2009. The investment went mainly
to sectors like health, real estate, finance, manufacturing,
aquaculture, and the agro industry.
Apart from infrastructure development, Mauritius is
giving priority to the small and medium enterprise (SME)
sector, which has been the main source of employment
creation during the financial and economic crises. The
government is also increasing its support to export-oriented
industries, especially textile and clothing which have been
under severe stress in the crisis.
Indicators show that primary sector activities, mainly
related to agriculture, grew by 2.5% in 2011. Sugarcane
grew by only 0.6% while “other agriculture activities”
expanded 3.7% in 2011. Mauritian banks are healthy,
profitable, well-capitalised and resilient with an overall
capital adequacy ratio well up with international standards.
FUTURE VISIONS

Future overall growth will rely in some part on the
capacity of Mauritius to tackle:
• fiscal and current account deficits
• high dependency on traditional export partners
• high import-dependence
Future prospects of the economy
With the lack of visibility on how the international business
scene will be evolving in the future, the Vice Prime Minister
and Minister of Finance and Economic Development,
Honourable Xavier Duval presented a prudently optimistic
budget for 2012 which builds on the momentum created
by bold economic reforms as well as the buoyancy of an
empowered population to pave the way for Mauritius to
emerge as a world class city-State by the 2020s while
playing a significant role in the development of Africa.
It is of paramount importance for Mauritius to gather the
right impetus to fulfil its economic potential whilst creating
and unlocking opportunities.
To achieve its full potential, the key sectors of the
economy such as manufacturing and financial services need
to shift gear to a new level of value addition while emerging
sectors such as education and healthcare need to cement
their role in the development of the economy.
The future prospects of the Mauritian economy seem to
be resistant to the shocks of the world economic scene. A
concrete example is the Mauritian manufacturing sector.
Mauritius has the right combination of factors such as
an increasing industrial capacity, research potential and a
powerful drive for innovation for sectors which are critical
to its future development such as biotechnology, medical
devices, nanotechnology, environmental technology and
energy to play its major role as a manufacturing hub for
Africa.
Other sectors such as ICT are expected to provide new
value-added services, for example cloud computing, while
financial services such as fund management and investment
banking are part of the logical way forward for the financial
industry to position itself as the International Financial
Centre for Africa.
The Government has undertaken broad measures to
ensure an overhaul and upgrade of key infrastructures
of Mauritius. Growth prospects of the economy will be
dependent on the improvement in infrastructure levels
such as high quality of logistics, utilities, connectivity, and
transportation costs capable of supporting the emergence
of a highly modernised country. These improvements,
coupled with the right education system, are key to
ensuring that Mauritius meets its economic prospects and
positions itself as the gateway to Africa.
Board of Investment
Level 10, One Cathedral Square Building
16 Jules Koenig Street
Port Louis
Mauritius
Tel: +230 203 38 00
Fax: +230 208 29 24
Email: contact@investmauritius.com
FUTURE VISIONS

One thousand miles from the African coast
in the western Indian Ocean at the crossroad
of Asia and Africa, the 115 islands of
Seychelles just below the equator, offer a
diverse range of experiences in their white
sandy beaches and verdant mountains and
forests. Seychelles has retained a soulful way
of life which is vibrant and captivating, yet
still authentic.
This archipelago of legendary natural beauty comprises 41
of the oldest mid-oceanic granitic islands on earth, which
together, constitute the Inner Islands. The most prominent
are Mahé (the principal island and home to the capital
Victoria), together with its close neighbours Praslin and La
Digue.
Seychelles has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
‘Aldabra’ the largest raised coral atoll on earth; and Vallée
de Mai where the Coco-de-Mer nut grows on ancient
palms, which once earned Seychelles the reputation for
being the site of the Garden of Eden.
Seychelles’ culture is a melting pot of various ethic
strains of the original European settlers of 1770 and
their retainers – African slaves and Indian and Chinese
migrants who form the well-integrated Seychellois society
of today.
History
It is believed that Austronesian seafarers (and later Maldivian
and Arab traders) were the first to visit the uninhabited
Seychelles. Remains of Maldivian mariner presence from
the 12th century were discovered on Silhouette Island. The
earliest recorded sighting by Europeans took place in 1502
by the Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama, who passed
through the Amirantes and named them after himself
(islands of the Admiral).
A transit point for trade between Africa and Asia, the
Future Visions Seychelles
FUTURE VISIONS

islands were occasionally used by pirates until the French
began to take control in 1756 when a Stone of Possession
was laid by Captain Nicholas Morphey. The islands were
named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, Louis XV’s Minister
of Finance.
Climate
Seychelles enjoys an average of seven hours of sunshine
every day. March and April are the hottest months with
temperatures in the shade rarely exceeding 30°C. During
the cooler months of July and August, the temperature gets
as low as 21°C.
The south-east trade winds blow regularly from May
to October when the temperature is slightly lower and
the atmosphere less humid due to the mild sea-breezes.
The north-west monsoon prevails from December to
March, which is the hottest and wettest time with humidity
averaging 65%.
Economy
Seychelles is one of the smallest independent countries
in the world. The islands of the archipelago are scattered
over one-million square kilometres of sea with a total land
area of only 455 square kilometres (177 square miles). As a
Republic of Seychelles
Capital: Victoria
Location: An island country spanning an
archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian
Ocean, 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east
of mainland Africa, northeast of the
island of Madagascar.
Area: 451 km2 (174 sq mi)
Population: 85,525 (smallest population in Africa)
Language: French, English, Seychellois Creole
Independence: June 29, 1976 (from the United
Kingdom)
Government: Unitary representative presidential
republic
President James Michel
Vice President Danny Faure
Currency: Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Terrain: 115 islands fall under two groups: 43
tall granite Inner Islands; and 72 low-
lying coral cays, atolls and reef Outer
Islands. The Outer Islands are divided
into five groups: Amirantes, Southern
Coral Group, Alphonse Group, Farquhar
Group, and Aldabra Group.
Climate: Equable although quite humid; mostly
lying outside the cyclone belt
GDP: $2.245-billion (2011)
Agriculture: 1.9%
Industry: 18.7%
Services: 79.3%
FUTURE VISIONS

result there is very limited cultivable land as well as no
known mineral resources. Its main resource, is its beauty,
which has been well capitalised on in a successful tourism
industry.
Despite its constraints of limited resources,
the economic situation of Seychelles is one that
many developing countries could envy. Even at US
$2,053,000,000 GDP in 2010, its GDP per capita is the
second highest in Africa, after Equatorial Guinea.
Tourism
The natural beauty and uniqueness of Seychelles has
always attracted vast numbers of tourists, placing the
tourism industry as the biggest sector of the economy.
Factors such as globalisation, competitiveness, and the
economic downturn worldwide have resulted in Seychelles
having to refocus their marketing campaign.
This led to the formation of a highly resourceful tourism
body under the leadership of Minister for Tourism and
Culture, Alain St.Ange. When Prince William and his
new wife, Duchess Catherine, chose Seychelles as their
honeymoon destination, it sparked a worldwide trend. The
Seychelles tourism board were quick to market the country
as the ‘Honeymoon Destination’ of the world. Seychelles is
now understandably one of the first choice destinations for
honeymooners.
The Seychelles International Carnival of Victoria is
an annual celebration which attracts numerous tourists
as well as communities from all over the Indian Ocean.
The Carnival for 2012 became an initiative of the Vanilla
Islands organisation and was jointly hosted by Seychelles
and La Réunion, and was a great success in drawing
attention by celebrating this unique region. The Vanilla
Islands organisation is a joint marketing concept between
Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar, La Réunion, Mauritius,
and Mayotte. Seychelles Tourism Minister Alain St.Ange has
been elected to be the first President of the Vanilla Islands
organisation. This exciting concept has opened up the
region for inter-travel.
Environment
The Seychelles government is finding alternative ways to
sustain themselves. A new energy bill has been passed
which allows sustainable energy producers to sell back their
energy to the main power supply company. Photovoltaic
cells would do very well in Seychelles given the number of
hours of sunshine per day, and are also becoming more
affordable.
Eco capital of the world
Seychelles aims to position itself as the Eco Capital of the
World with standards which will be judged and measured.
Almost 50% of the land area of these 115 islands in the
middle of the Indian Ocean is under strict conservation
and a host of eco-practices were announced as part of the
Seychelles2020 Initiative.
La Digue has been chosen as the repository of this
ambition, but other islands such as Silhouette, North,
Fregate, Conception and Cousin have already got their own
programmes.
Foreign Diplomacy
In foreign relations, Seychelles’ representation is expanding
with plans to cover five continents, namely North America,
South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This is visible
through the opening of new diplomatic missions in Rome,
Beijing, Pretoria and India, in addition to those already in
existence in New York, Paris and Brussels, which all play
a result-oriented role in bilateral, regional and international
affairs.
As a small nation, the government saw the need to gain
more visibility and credibility in the international arena. They
took the unprecedented move of inviting former Diplomats
to Seychelles in a bid to set up an association of “Friends of
Seychelles”.
Key achievements
President James Michel stressed the importance of
diversifying the economy as soon as he took office after
FUTURE VISIONS

noticing the main challenges for investment in Seychelles
was that focus was solely on the two main sectors of the
economy – tourism and fisheries.
His plan was to try to create more visibility, awareness
and interest in other sectors of the economy, involving other
services to support the industry. He started with a proactive
promotion programme which organised investment forums
in other countries to open up the other sectors. This
publicised the offshore industry of Seychelles and its stable
jurisdiction with favourable tax rates and conditions.
Seychelles has potential for financial services and the
banks are very profitable, with space for more financial
intermediaries. There is also scope for development in
the ICT sector. One of the visions of the country is to
move towards a knowledge economy. The workforce is
highly educated with a 98% literacy rate and the newly
opened University of Seychelles offers a vehicle for this.
The submarine cable is also one of the enablers as the
connection opens many windows of opportunity. Particular
areas of interest include e-commerce and business process
outsourcing.
Seychelles’ social indicators are good by international
standards. The country’s success in improving the social
conditions of its population is partly rooted in the welfare-
state role assumed by the government over the last two
decades. There is a comprehensive social safety net,
whereby the government has sought to minimise income
disparities. This is through subsidised housing, access to
healthcare and education, and minimum income for the
elderly, unemployed and the poor. Life expectancy has
increased and infant mortality rates have been reduced.
Competitive advantages
Seychelles is unique because of its political, social, and
economic stability. Since its reform, the country has had
a strong economy, with inflation contained to single digits
and built up reserves. The legal framework in place allows
security and ease for new businesses and banks.
The Seychelles environment is well placed for corporate
global positioning, with access to networking with the
Middle East, Asia and Africa. The access to Africa is
heightened by Seychelles’ membership with SADC and
COMESA, with direct flights to South Africa, Kenya, and
Ethiopia – making Seychelles the perfect stepping stone.
Vision 2020
President Michel’s vision to transform Seychelles has been
tangibly illustrated to his citizens through the annual ‘Touch
the Future’ 2020 Expo, which highlights how these goals
can become reality. The Vision was conceptualised through
a thorough process of investigation of various sectors of
society and their aspirations. Vision 2020 has been inter-
woven to Aspiration 2013, which focused on the youth, and
Strategy 2017, which focused on developing the economy.
The Vision notes innovation as the key to Seychelles’
success in the future.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seychelles:
www.mfa.gov.sc
Virtual Seychelles: www.virtualseychelles.com
FUTURE VISIONS

Lesotho is a democratic, sovereign and
independent country which is located
in southern Africa. The name Lesotho
translates into “the land of the people who
speak Sotho”.
Formerly a British protectorate until independence in
October 1966, the Kingdom of Lesotho is one of the three
remaining monarchies in Africa.
The country has a land area of approximately 30,355
km², roughly the size of Belgium or Taiwan, or the American
state of Maryland. Located at the southern tip of Africa,
Lesotho is completely outside the tropics and enjoys a cool,
temperate climate. Often referred to as the “Switzerland of
Africa”, it is blessed with a beautiful, often snow-capped
range of mountains, the Maluti. The Kingdom’s central
position in the heart of Africa’s most developed economy -
the Republic of South Africa, is well served by air, rail and
road links to all its major centres.
The capital, Maseru, is only 600 km away from South
Africa’s busiest harbour, Durban, and is one-hour’s drive
from Bloemfontein, a judicial and academic centre. It is
also only 45 minutes by air or four hours by road from
Johannesburg.
Lesotho is home to the largest and most ambitious
civil engineering project in the whole of Africa, the Lesotho
Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which has harnessed and
commercialised her upstream surplus water resources –
often referred to by Basotho as their “White Gold”.
Lesotho enjoys a high literacy rate at 82% that has been
further enhanced by the free primary education program
introduced by the government in 2000. There are over
1200 Primary schools in Lesotho placing every child within
walking distance to a school.
The economy is divided into three sectors: primary,
secondary and tertiary, contributing 12.75%, 29.48% and
57.77% respectively. The manufacturing sector contributes
17.3% to GDP.
Future Visions Lesotho
FUTURE VISIONS

Republic of Mauritius
Capital: Maseru
Location: The only independent state in the world
lying entirely above 1,000 metres in
elevation. It has an altitude of 3,400
metres at its highest, and its lowest
point of 1,400 metres is the highest in
the world. Lesotho is the southernmost
landlocked country in the world and
entirely surrounded by South Africa.
Area: 30,335 sq. km
Population: 2-million
Language: Sesotho & English
Independence: October 4, 1966 (from British
protection)
Government: Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional
Monarchy under King Letsie III and
Prime Minister Tom Thabane.
Currency: Loti, plural Maloti; par with South
African Rand (ZAR).
Terrain: Mountainous highland with plateaus
and hills with abundant water and
grazing lands.
Climate: The high altitude keeps Lesotho cool
throughout the year with most rain
falling in summer thunderstorms.
Temperatures in summer can reach
30ºC in the lowlands and as low as -7ºC
in winter and -18ºC in winter. Snow is
common from May to September.
GDP: $3.672 billion (5.2% 2011)
Agriculture: 7.5%
Industry: 33.1%
Services: 59.4%
FUTURE VISIONS

Development Strategy
The Government of Lesotho has adopted a private sector
driven economic development and an export led industrial
growth strategy. An essential part of the economy is an
industry that comprises diamond mining and quarrying,
construction, manufacturing of textiles, garments and
footwear, assembly of electronics and electrical appliances,
trout breeding and fishing, water bottling and food
processing.
Lesotho’s trade and investment framework provides for
a duty-free and concessionary access of Lesotho made
products into the Southern African Customs Union (SACU),
Southern African Development Community (SADC), the US
under Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and to
the EU under the SADC Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA). Other significant markets include:
• Preferential market access of Lesotho originating
products into the Australian market (22 million
consumers), affording them duty-free access or reduced
rates of duty.
• Duty-free access for a large list of products except for
dairy, poultry and egg products granted by Canada (34
million consumers) under the GSP system.
• A preferential treatment agreement between SACU and
MERCOSUR (comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay,
and Uruguay (385 million consumers) grants trade
preferences on specific products originating from
Lesotho as member of SACU.
• The SACU EFTA gives SACU originating industrial
and fish products duty-free and quota free access to
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
• 99% of Lesotho’s industrial products, including textiles
and clothing can be exported duty- and quota-free to
Japan (127 million consumers).
• Lesotho’s products are eligible for duty-free access to
New Zealand, under a GSP scheme introduced in 1972.
• Turkey provides Lesotho’s industrial products duty free
access under a GSP scheme.
Industries
Lesotho’s main exports to these markets comprise crude
materials (diamonds, wool and mohair), manufactured
goods (garments, electronics and electrical appliances,
footwear) and water (under the Lesotho Highlands Water
Project).
One of the first initiatives undertaken by government
after independence in 1966 was the formation of the
Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC) and
the Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation (LTDC) in
2002. Both institutions are government’s arm to encourage
investment and to assist in the development of tourism,
commerce and industry.
The key responsibility of the LNDC is to contribute to
national economic growth and development by promoting
Lesotho as an attractive and a preferred investment location
to both foreign and local investors. LNDC offers a wide
range of investment supportive services. These include
serviced industrial sites; factory buildings; business support
services; aftercare services; financial assistance to support
joint ventures with local investors; and where possible,
limited equity participation in projects considered to be of
FUTURE VISIONS

strategic importance to the economy.
The LTDC deals with identification and promotion
of investment opportunities in the tourism sector. The
Corporation also plays an advisory role to the private
sector and tourism programs in collaboration with tourism
organisations.
The LNDC and LTDC together with the Government
and the business community of Lesotho are constantly
promoting investments that combine natural resources with
the existing skills. An example of this synergy is Lesotho’s
wool and mohair products including jerseys, scarves,
blankets and tapestries. A lucrative investment opportunity
exists in the establishment of a vertically integrated industry
that can process the abundant wool and mohair to the
more value added stage of yarn.
As is the case with many emerging economies, a
substantial amount of capital has been channelled to labour
intensive activities such as clothing, footwear, tourism,
and electronics assembly. While Lesotho is very strong in
these labour intensive activities with special reference to the
clothing and textile sector, investment opportunities exist in
other activities such as:
• Garment industry integration (knitted fabric mill,
accessories and packaging materials);
• Automotive components;
• Leather and footwear;
• Assembly of consumer electrical and electronic
appliances;
• Food processing and water bottling;
• Mining – resource based projects e.g. sandstone,
ceramic ware and brick making;
• Renewable energy and environmental projects such as
water recycling and solid waste management;
• Pharmaceuticals; and
• Infrastructure development.
Investments in these priority sectors are supported by
a healthy government administered incentive package
including:
• 0% tax on income generated from exporting
manufactured goods outside of the Southern African
Customs Union (SACU);
• A permanent maximum manufacturing tax rate of 10%
on profits;
• Training subsidy allowable at 125% for tax purposes;
and
• No withholding tax on dividends distributed by
manufacturing firms to local or foreign shareholders.
Vision 2020
In 2000 the country took a policy decision to formulate
a vision to provide a long-term perspective within which
national short to medium-term plans could be formulated.
The specific objectives of the Lesotho Vision 2020 are to:
establish a long-term vision for Lesotho by looking beyond
the short-term plans and adjustments; explore the options
for economic, political and human development to the year
2020; identify alternative development strategies suitable
for the Lesotho situation; promote a process of open
dialogue and consultation with socio-economic groups
countrywide; create an environment whereby Basotho
will actively participate in achieving the Vision 2020; and,
develop a focus along the horizon in the direction of which
development plans could be rolled out.
Lesotho’s Vision 2020 document identifies seven
pillars of development. These are democracy, unity, peace,
education and training, economic growth, management
of the environment, and advancement in technology. With
a new government and numerous exciting development
projects in the pipeline, Lesotho is setting its own
development agenda, which looks sure to see the country
rise up to new heights.
For more information contact:
Lesotho National Development Corporation
Block A, Development House
Kingsway Street, Maseru, Lesotho
Private Bag A96, Maseru 100, Lesotho
Tel: (+266) 22 312 012 | Fax: (+266) 22 310 038
Email: info@lndc.org.ls | Website: www.lndc.org.ls
YOUR STRATEGIC PARTNER IN INVESTMENT
FUTURE VISIONS

CHAPTER 1:
FOREIGN POLICY, DIPLOMACY
AND RELATIONS

Southern Africa celebrated on 15 July
2012 as South African politician Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was elected as
the new Chairperson of the African Union
Commission (AU) at its 19th session, in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The victory came after three rounds of voting in which
Dlamini-Zuma received 60% of the votes against outgoing
chair since 2008, Jean Ping of Gabon. The momentous
result means that Dlamini-Zuma becomes the first woman
to lead the organisation.
Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma was born on 27
January, 1949 in Kwa-Zulu Natal and fought in the struggle
against Apartheid. Dlamini-Zuma received honorary Doctor
of Law degrees from the University of Natal (1995) and the
University of Bristol (1996).
She served as democratic South Africa’s Minister of
Health from 1994 to 1999 as well as the Minister of Foreign
Affairs from 1999 to 2009. She then became Minister of
Home Affairs in 2009 – having served four Presidents in
total: Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Molanthe
(interim), and ex-husband Jacob Zuma.
The first election for the AU Chair in January 2012
resulted in a deadlock with neither opponent able to secure
the necessary two-thirds majority, meaning that Ping’s
term was extended by six months. Throughout the voting
process, Dlamini-Zuma has maintained that her stance as
leader would not be determined by her region as she hopes
to avoid polarisation on the continent in order to maintain
global credibility for the whole of Africa.
Many believe that her history as a freedom fighter bides
well for the organisation, which will ensure that the best
interests of African democracy will always be first priority
and remain unhindered by bureaucracy.
Dlamini-Zuma’s appointment brings a peaceful end
to the succession battle, preserving the AU’s unity. What
South Africa hopes to achieve after its active pursuit of this
position, is empowerment for the AU through finding African
solutions for African problems. Dlamini-Zuma aims to chair
as an inclusive leader and avoid division at all costs. Her
competency in her ministerial roles have spoken volumes for
her ability at the helm of the organisation.
Memorable achievements include Dlamini-Zuma’s
shuttle diplomacy in ending the war in the Democratic
Republic of Congo as Minister of Foreign Affairs, introducing
legislation which gave equal access to free basic care as
Minister of Health, and turning around a troubled Home
Affairs ministry which then received its first clean audit in 16
years. Through her leadership and managerial efficiency,
Dlamini-Zuma has promised to make the AU a more
effective organisation, as she aims to consult all regions in
implementation of programmes.
As the new AU chair, Dlamini-Zuma is expected to
stress economic growth and development, and women’s
rights. This includes setting priorities for improving and
building infrastructure, peace building, greater involvement
of women in politics, and strengthened relations between
North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
elected as African Union Chair
FOREIGN POLICY, DIPLOMACY AND RELATIONS

Proudly African is an initiative
of Global Village Africa
which is a marketing and
business platform geared
towards showcasing
and harmonising Africa’s
development, trade and
cultural diversity to a global
audience.
This is where the BEST OF AFRICA
in business, government and non-
profit organisations unite, promoting
their vision and best practice in
order to find the right customers,
partnerships and joint ventures
- in order to grow alongside the
continent’s indisputable economic
potential.
The initiative has an unstoppable
magnetic presence with its ever
growing country and sectoral window
already in over 20 African states.
We invite all leaders in business
and government across Africa to
showcase and integrate their visions
and activities so as to promote
inter-Africa trade, investment and
technology transfer from around the
globe.
We also invite all Africa’s media,
trade exhibitions, conferences and
business chambers to use the
platform to gain mutually beneficial
exposure.
Fully unlocking Africa’s promise
requires greater continent-wide
economic integration and inter-trade;
such as in Europe, where integration
has enabled the continent to become
the world’s single biggest market.
Integration and inter-trade is not only
urgent, but also indispensable to
unlock economies of scale and propel
Africa’s competitiveness in the global
economy, thus aligning the continent
with the global flows of trade and
finance as an equal partner.
Africa’s massive economic potential
still lies largely untapped - but not for
much longer. The world is coming
and so is the dream of a more united
Africa. We need to make sure we
maximise on the growth for the benefit
of all of Africa and its people.
Proudly African
Boosting Trade, Development and
Cultural Relations across Africa
Thapelo Letsholo, Proudly African
Proudly African
Boosting inter-trade & cultural
relations across the continent

For the first time in 14 years, Lesotho
welcomed a new Prime Minister to govern the
mountain kingdom, as Motsoahae Thomas
Thabane was sworn in on 8 June, 2012.
Born as the eldest in a family of eight in Maseru on May
28, 1939, Thabane’s parents Isaiah and Malekhooa Grace
Nkoya wanted their children to acquire the best education.
Thabane has a BA degree in Political Science and English
from Puis VII University and a PH from Morija Teacher
Training College.
As a young man, he was determined to graduate
university at all costs and marry the girl of his dreams,
Judith Fobo. Succeeding against all odds, Thabane’s
culture of resilience, honesty and optimism was nurtured.
He is now not only the father of five children, but the new
father of a nation.
Having been in government employment in various
roles since 1965, Thabane’s recent prolific political career
saw him serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1998 to
2003, Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety from 2003
to 2005, and Minister of Communications, Science and
Technology from 2005 to 2006.
He also served as the Chairman of Council of Ministers
in the Organisation of African Union, before it became the
African Union. In the 1990s he led the negotiating team that
aided the return of political exiles that fled the country in
1970.
Thabane’s achievements include winning the
2006 Best ICT Minister in Africa Award, chairing the
Committee of Ministers in the East African Submarine
Cable System Project, pioneering the expansion of rural
telecommunications networks in rural Lesotho, chairing
the National Refugee Committee, chairing the National
Democratisation Committee, and part-time consulting for
the World Health Organisation on Primary Health Care
Implementation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Thabane’s resignation from Lesotho Congress for
Democracy (LCD) on 9 October, 2006 to form his All
Basotho Convention (ABC) party was driven by his desire to
unite all Basotho. It was seen by many as the start of a new
political dawn to lead Lesotho into economic development.
The momentous transition of power from Mosisili to
Thabane marked the first time in Lesotho’s history that
the vote brought about a change in regime. The legislative
election of May 26 saw Mosisili’s LCD fail to secure the
majority. Thabane’s ABC then teamed up to share power
with LCD and the Basotho National Party, thereby ousting
Mosisili.
Thabane’s appointment received wide support, with the
governments of South Africa and France extending their
congratulations. France lauded it as a “sign of Lesotho’s
exemplary system of alternating political power”.
Thabane believes being Prime Minister requires using
one’s power and influence to help the citizens to push for
the country’s wholesome development. Seen as the ‘man
of all seasons’, it is hoped that Thabane’s term will see a
better life for every one of Lesotho’s citizens.
Lesotho welcomes The Right
Honourable Motsoahae Thomas
Thabane as its new Prime Minister

Mr Virendra Gupta is also concurrently accredited to the
Kingdom of Lesotho. Born on August 19 1954, he obtained
his Masters degree in Physics from the University of
Allahabad. After briefly working at the State Bank of India,
he joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977.
He has served as Director General, Indian Council for
Cultural Relations, New Delhi. He was also posted at
Indian Missions in Kathmandu, Lagos, New York (where
he served as Rapporteur of the UN Special Committee
against Apartheid), Permanent Mission of India to the United
Nations, as well as Tel Aviv and Cairo in various capacities.
He then served as High Commissioner of India in Dar-es-
Salaam (1998-2001) and Port of Spain (2001-2005).
In his capacity as High Commissioner of India in South
Africa, he has dealt with wide-ranging issues including
international security, southern Africa, disarmament, trade
and investment promotion, energy security, and multilateral
affairs.
Under his guidance, the Indian High Commission in South
Africa launched a new website to promote bilateral relations.
Through this, High Commissioner Gupta expressed his
belief that South Africa and India’s trade relationship is to
be defined by economic growth in the next few years, and
that job creation, value addition and government policy on
beneficiation will further influence this relationship.
He is married and has two children. His hobbies include
Golf and Bridge.
India is South Africa’s sixth largest trading partner with
bilateral trade between the two countries reaching $10-
billion a year. An increase of $5-billion has been targeted
for 2014. High Commissioner Gupta also feels that South
Africa serves as India’s anchor on the African continent.
This central status of South Africa in India’s policy in Africa
arose from the countries’ shared position on the cusp of
becoming developed countries.
The bilateral relationship between India and South Africa
has a strong base through the hand of peace first extended
by the iconic ‘Father of the Nation’, Mohandas ‘Mahatma’
Gandhi. This relationship has been continually upheld by the
significant South African Indian community.
High Commission of India, Pretoria
852, Schoeman Street
Cnr of Schoeman Street and Eastwood Street
Arcadia – 0083
Telephone: +27 12 342 5392
Facsimile: +27 12 342 5310
www.indiainsouthafrica.com
High Commissioner of India in
South Africa, Mr Virendra Gupta

Lieutenant General Masire, the 4th Commander of the
Botswana Defence Force, graduated from the East African
School of Aviation, in 1975 and the US Airforce Command
and Staff College in 1988. He also holds a BSc Degree
from Troy State University and an MBA from University of
Southern Queensland.
He first worked at the Department of Civil Aviation as an
Air Traffic Controller before joining the Military in 1977, when
the Botswana Defence Force was formed. He holds the
record of being the only member of the first intake of 1977
still in the BDF thirty-five years on.
During his 35 years of an illustrious military career,
Lt. Gen. Masire has held various operational, staff and
command appointments: one of them being the Chief VIP
Pilot. He has the honour and privilege of being the only BDF
Pilot to have flown all the four Presidents of the Republic
of Botswana to over thirty countries. The General was the
longest serving Air Arm Commander starting in 1989 until
2006. He has over 4000 flying hours and was inducted into
the International Honour Roll by the US Air University in
1993.
Lt. Gen. Masire reached the pinnacle of his career in
2006, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant
General and appointed the Commander, BDF in the same
year. Some of the major developments and highlights of
his command in the BDF include: the induction of the
first female officers into the Defence Force in 2007; and
the construction and completion of the premier Defence
Command and Staff College which is scheduled for official
opening on 26 July 2012 – the eve of his retirement.
Furthermore, in his wisdom and foresight, he pioneered the
restructuring of the Defence Force Formations to enhance
the force’s capability to meet new challenges posed by
operations such as international peacekeeping and peace
support as well as developments in technology.
He is a decorated General, who has been bestowed
with the Duty Code Oder (DCO), Distinguished Service
Medal (DSM) and Grand Officer of Meritorious Order of the
International Military Sports Council (GOM).
General Masire was born in Kanye. He did his primary
education in Mochudi and moved to Gaborone in 1968
where he completed his secondary education at Gaborone
Secondary School. He married Orefitlhetse in 1984 and they
are blessed with three daughters: Phatsimo, Tuduetso and
Magadi.
In his spare time the General is a keen football fan and a
part-time farmer.
Lieutenant General Tebogo Masire

Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority
(BEDIA) and Botswana International Financial Services
Centre (IFSC) were merged on the 1st April, 2012 to
become a single entity – the Botswana Investment and
Trade Centre (BITC).
I am pleased to note that the transition process is
progressing well. We continue to receive support from the
Ministry of Trade and Industry who are our principals and
implementing partners. We are also grateful for the business
community’s understanding during this transition period.
Special mention goes to the BITC staff that have
been at the core of the process of change. I urge them
to continue being diligent and endeavour to make BITC
the best Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) in the region.
Keeping in mind that with change comes the opportunity to
become more efficient, agile and competitive.
As the Board of Directors we have resolved to hold
monthly meetings to ensure we expedite the migration
process in a timely manner. In order to minimise disruption
to business, the two former entities will continue to function
as normal and be accommodated as they are until suitable
accommodation for the BITC is secured.
The process of systems and process integration is being
systematically managed to ensure that by the 1st October,
2012 the basic systems and processes are in place and are
fully functional.
The recruitment process involved implementing the
BITC CEO and populating the BITC organisational structure
with employees thereafter. An appropriate, fair and
transparent recruitment process was followed to ensure
that the right employees with the required competencies are
selected and placed in the right jobs.
We anticipate that due to the merger there will be
shorter turn-around times, more targeted investment
promotion initiatives leading to improved service delivery.
Our objective as the Board of Directors is that the BITC
should be best placed to stimulate both local and foreign
investment as well as position Botswana as a destination
of choice for investment. I would like to urge all of you
to partner with us as we endeavour in this journey that
will diversify our economy, create jobs for Batswana and
contribute towards the realisation of Botswana’s Vision
2016.
In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity to assure all
BITC stakeholders that services provided by former BEDIA
and IFSC will continue to be rendered to them accordingly.
We urge you all to feel free to contact us if you require
clarity or further details about the change we are currently
embarking on.
Contact Person: Ms W. Makwinja
Title: BITC Care Taker Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +267 3601435
Fax: +267 3971539
Email: wmakwinja@yahoo.com
Board Chairperson Mr Victor
Senye Introduces the Botswana
Investment & Trade Centre (BITC)

Salif Keita was born in the
village of Djoliba in Mali on
the 25th of August, 1949.
He is an afro-pop singer-
songwriter uniquely known
for his reputation as the
“Golden Voice of Africa” as
well as his albinism. He is
also a direct descendant
of the founder of the Mali
Empire, Sundiata Keita.
Keita’s music is a combination
of traditional West African music
styles with European and American
influences. His overall style is Islamic
using instruments such as Balafons,
djembes, guitars, koras, organs,
saxophones, and synthesisers.
Early life
Keita was cast out by his family and
community because his albinism
was seen as a sign of bad luck in
Mandinka culture. He began his
musical career in 1967 when he left for
Bamako and joined the government
sponsored Super Rail Band de
Bamako. He then joined the group Les
Ambassadeurs in 1973. Together, the
group fled to Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire
during the mid-1970’s political unrest
in Mali. They changed their name to
“Les Ambassadeurs Internationaux”.
Their reputation achieved international
status. Keita received a National Order
award from the president of Guinea in
1977.
Career
Keita moved to Paris in 1984. He
found success in Europe as an African
star of world music. He returned to
Bamako in Mali to live and record
in the early 2000s. His 2002 album
Moffou was hailed as his best album
in many years. He built a recording
studio in Bamako where he recorded
M’Bemba, in 2005. In 2004, he was
named United Nations Ambassador
for Music and Sports and dedicated
himself to causes like Malaria, AIDS
and the plight of Albinos in Mali and
around the world.
Keita’s album, La Différence,
was produced in 2009 and recorded
between Bamako, Beirut, Paris,
and Los Angeles. He dedicated it
to the struggle of the world albino
community, for whom Keita has
always championed. La Difference
won Keita the Best World Music 2010
at the Victoires de la musique.
Salif Keita’s first major US
mainstream breakthrough was a
feature on the soundtrack to Will
Smith’s movie Ali. In 2010, Keita
became Peace Ambassador for the
African Union to end fighting in conflict
zones and raise awareness about the
plight of the African Albino.
Keita has received multiple
Grammy Award nominations. He has
released a total of 19 albums since
1982.
The Salif Keita Global Foundation
With an Olympic medal winning albino
niece, an albino child, and having
lost his albino sister to skin cancer,
Keita founded The Salif Keita Global
Foundation in 2005 to raise awareness
and money for free healthcare and
educational services, for the care and
integration, for Albinos in Africa. The
foundation brings media attention
to the global plight of people with
albinism and advocates their rights
and social integration. The organisation
is headed by Keita’s Malian-American
wife, journalist and activist, Coumba
Makalou.
www.salifkeita.us
Salif Keita

Itumeleng ‘Tumi’ Dlamini has been appointed executive
director of Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) – the first
woman, and first black person, to become executive head
of MBSA in its 108 year history.
She joined MBSA on 1 March, 2012 as part of
MBSA’s new strategic restructuring plan which involves
the appointment of an executive director as the executive
head of the organisation, and the creation of the new post
of operations director, which will be filled by Pierre Fourie,
former CEO of MBSA.
Tumi Dlamini holds a BSoc Sci degree with majors in
Industrial Sociology and African Politics as well as an LLB
degree, both from the University of Cape Town. She joins
MBSA with an impressive and diverse career history. She
is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa
and was the first black female partner at international law
firm, Bowman Gilfillan, where she practiced corporate and
commercial law.
After 10 years in legal practice which included time at
the firm’s London offices, she joined the 2010 FIFA World
Cup Organising Committee South Africa. There she held
various key senior positions, including Manager in the Office
of the CEO where she was responsible for organisational
and executive management, as well as operational planning.
She later served as the Head of African Legacy
and Strategic Stakeholders, also part of the 2010 FIFA
Soccer World Cup project and, in this position, engaged,
networked and negotiated with key national and provincial
government leaders, as well as business leaders in South
Africa and Africa. She was also responsible for facilitating
private and public partnerships for the delivery of the 2010
FIFA Soccer World Cup Legacy projects, one of which
was the development of SMMEs to unlock and apply
participation by SMMEs in the procurement spend of the
World Cup projects.
Master Builders South Africa President Danie Hattingh
comments: “We are delighted about Tumi Dlamini’s
appointment to our organisation. Her appointment
marks the implementation of the next phase of Master
Builders South Africa’s strategic plan and will strengthen
the organisation’s liaison with Government and industry
stakeholders. She will be responsible for implementing the
new growth strategy adopted by the MBSA Board.”
“Over and above her leadership and executive
management role, Tumi’s main focus will be to cultivate
and strengthen strategic relationships with national and
provincial governments, as well as key industry role players,
to unlock investment and development within the building
industry.”
The new MBSA executive director says she is
looking forward to working with Master Builders South
Africa and achieving its strategic goals. “I will use my
accumulated experience to lead the organisation towards
the advancement of its priorities for the greater good of the
industry,” she added.
Restructured MBSA appoints new
executive director

Legwaila was born in a little village called
Mathathane in North-Eastern Botswana on
2 February, 1937. The fifth child of
Morongwa and Madome Legwaila, he was
named in honour of the Legwaila Clan.
His professional career started fifty-four years ago as a
teacher. In 1968, Legwaila was offered a scholarship to
study in Canada. As he was doing a teacher’s course at
Serowe Teachers Training College, his sponsors expected
him to pursue a degree in education – which he did for
one year at the University of Calgary in Canada. He then
decided to change to History and Political Science. His
appetite for international diplomacy was whetted when this
course at the University of Alberta in Canada paid special
emphasis on the study of international organisations, and
he began to envision a career with the United Nations.
In his final year, he received an unsolicited job offer in
the Office of President Sir Seretse Khama. On returning
to Botswana he was placed in the Department of External
Affairs as an Assistant External Affairs Officer. In 1974 he
was appointed Private Secretary to the President – sealing
his fate as a diplomat.
In 1980 Legwaila was appointed by President Sir
Seretse Khama to represent Botswana at the United
Nations in New York as Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative.
Concurrently, he was also accredited to Jamaica and
Guyana as High Commissioner and Cuba as Ambassador.
His work at the United Nations did not go unnoticed
by the Secretaries General of the world body. In 1989 he
was appointed by the Secretary General Peres de Cuellar
to serve as his Deputy Special Representative in Namibia
to assist in the implementation of the United Nations Plan
leading to the independence of Namibia.
His stint in Namibia as a peace-keeper and peace-
maker was the beginning of a new career in the international
arena assisted by continued service in New York as
Legwaila Joseph Manson
John Legwaila

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Botswana
to the United Nations.
On his return to New York in early 1990 at the
conclusion of the U.N. Mission in Namibia, Legwaila looked
forward to resuming his duties as permanent representative
and the government decided to keep him in New York.
In 1992 he was borrowed once again, by the Secretary
General of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), to
lead the OAU Mission in South Africa during the country’s
transition from Apartheid to a non-racial democracy. This
included observing the CODESA negotiations for a new
South Africa, which took place at the International Trade
Centre in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
As the representative of the OAU it was Legwaila’s
responsibility to serve as a conduit between the South
African liberation movement and the Headquarters of the
OAU, and as the eyes and ears of the OAU Secretary
General and the Chairman of the Organisation. Under his
leadership more than one hundred election observers from
all over Africa (including Botswana) monitored the electoral
process, which culminated in the election of Mr Nelson
Mandela as the first democratically elected President of
South Africa in April 1994.
Botswana had bid for membership of the UN Security
Council for 1995-1996 and Legwaila was to remain in
his post at the Mission in New York to lead Botswana’s
delegation on the Security Council. Longing to return to
Botswana, he remained in New York even after officially
retiring from the Civil Service in 1997.
In November 2000 Legwaila was again borrowed
by the UN Secretary General to serve as his Special
Representative in Ethiopia and Eritrea where he headed the
United Nations Mission (UNMEE) for five and a half years,
whose mandate was to monitor a ceasefire between the
two East African nations after a war over the border.
He was then requested to return to Headquarters in
New York, to take an assignment as Special Advisor on
Africa for Secretary General Kofi Annan in the last year of
his stewardship of the U.N. This prominent assignment
provided the most fitting way to wrap up an eventful career
as a diplomat in the service of both his beloved country and
the United Nations.
He was touched to have seen Namibians and South
Africans taste freedom after centuries of suffering and
hopelessness; and witnessing war ravaged villages in
Ethiopia and Eritrea and having to dodge mine fields, made
Legwaila realise the fortune of coming from a peaceful
country like Botswana.
His twenty-year stint at the world body was his most
fulfilling and he was honoured to represent his country
and people at a global body such as the United Nations.
Legwaila sees no comparable profession as fulfilling, as
ennobling and as exciting as diplomacy – particularly the
aspect of it which involves peacekeeping and peacemaking.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Botswana

When Moise Chapwe Katumbi announced he was quitting
his position as Katanga province governor in October 2011,
seas of people poured into the streets of the mineral rich
city of Lubumbashi to protest the decision.
His popularity at home and abroad has impressively soared
placing the 47-year-old businessman high in the echelon
of the political history of DR Congo which is now on the
path to recovery. Children, women, youths and the general
populous in DR Congo adore Katumbi.
His appearance in public is greeted with chants of “Moise!
Moise! Moise!”.
Moise is the Swahili name for Moses and as a result,
his loyalists say in their native Swahili ‘Uyu ni Moise wa
mubible’ [This is the Moise of the bible], to draw parallels
between his leadership of the vast mineral endowed
country after decades of war, poverty and civil strife – and
the biblical Moses. Coincidentally, his father was an Israeli
immigrant to DR Congo.
Katumbi has endeared himself with the people partly
because of their shared passion of football. Katumbi’s
affection for Congolese giants TP Mazembe football club,
a team he has lifted out of oblivion, has further endeared
the charming politician to the masses beyond his territorial
boundary.
That is why when invisible political pressure was thrust on
him to exit his position last year, Katanga virtually came to
a standstill. In fact, at the time, he said he was quitting so
he could concentrate on his businesses and his beloved
TP Mazembe, Africa’s four-time continental champions
and the first club from African soil to reach the finals of the
prestigious FIFA World Club championships.
As president of TP Mazembe, Katumbi has expanded to
give Katanga their sporting prestige by investing in the
white-and-black shirted men revered as the ‘Crocodile’ of
the region. His presence at the team was immediately felt.
After just two-years in charge, Mazembe was back on the
continental scene winning back-to-back CAF Champions
League titles in 2009 and 2010. Mazembe went a step
further to become the continent’s first side to reach the FIFA
Club World Cup final losing to the Italian side in Abu Dhabi.
Stade de Kibassa Maliba, the current home of Mazembe,
is filled to capacity whenever the Lubumbashi outfit is in
action. Katumbi’s presence in his traditional white apparel
and a black cowboy hat creates wild cheers from the fans.
Under Katumbi, Mazembe’s brand new home-ground is
near completion with an investment of over US $20-million;
and he has further bought two planes for the team and for
the fans to transport them to matches within and outside
DR Congo.
A snap-shot of the activities of October 10, 2011 when a
solidarity march demanded Katumbi stay in office, attests
to the incredible popularity built around his leadership since
Moise Chapwe Katumbi

2007 when he became governor. The protesting multitudes
told Katumbi he was going nowhere. His role was to repair
the rattled image Katanga had endured in decades of war.
Katumbi promised to re-think his decision following the
immense show of solidarity from his people.
Since February 2007 when he returned from exile to be
elected governor of the country’s southern region, Katumbi
has dedicated his service to bettering the lives of his people.
The road network, schools and factories are back to life and
Katumbi has overseen a rapid and steady economic activity.
The electrification of major parts of Katanga has also been
rapid, the township road network, has been Katumbi’s
passion too. The majority of Congolese people appreciated
Katumbi’s commitment to lift not only Katanga, but the rest
of the country out of its dark state.
The densely populated townships of Kenya, Katuba,
Kalubwe Kamalondo and upmarket areas like Golf and
Carrefour have all received attention. Kolwezi and Likasi,
other than Lubumbashi, are some cities in which Katumbi’s
supervised projects are slowly but surely sprouting.
His immediate policies upon taking over political office –
including the ban on exporting raw ore, the ban on
unnecessary dismissals in mining companies, and
developing the energy sector – are credited for the revival
of Katanga. Further, Katumbi has identified agriculture as
one of the country’s other sectors that could support the
country’s economy, instead of relying on mining.
He discourages his compatriots from relying on imported
maize, whose flour forms part of the country’s stable food,
particularly in Katanga. To lead by example, Katumbi has
himself engaged heavily in farming.
Katumbi’s popularity is sometimes equalled to that of Moise
Tshombe, the leader of Katanga in the early 60s; and
Laurent Desire Kabila – the man who rescued DR Congo
from Mobutu Sese Seko’s 30-year dictatorial rule; as well as
the great Patrice Emery Lumumba.

The African Presidential Roundtable 2012:
A 21st Century Energy Agenda for Africa
was held from May 23-25, at the University
of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
South Africa. The Roundtable was a multi-
continental conversation involving former
African heads of state and government,
diplomats, industry leaders, international
dignitaries, and students and faculty from the
United States, Europe, and Africa.
The Roundtable marked the 10th Anniversary of the African
Presidential Roundtable and coincided with the University of
Witwatersrand’s 90th Year Celebrations. It was a follow-
up to the Balaclava Summit held in Mauritius in 2011,
which also focused on energy security in Africa. The focus
of this meeting was the charge received in Balaclava to
reconvene to refine the recommendations and expand the
stakeholders in the conversation.
The Roundtable deliberations were lead by experts in
the public and private sector, from institutions such as the
World Energy Council, USAID, CAMAC Energy, the Energy
Power Group, Uranium One, the World Bank, the Ministries
of Energy of Niger, South Africa, and Mozambique; Boston
University and the University of the Witwatersrand.
The African Presidential Roundtable 2012
Witwatersrand Communiqué: A 21st Century Energy
Agenda for Africa
(L-R): Ambassador Charles R. Stith, Director, African Presidential Center; His Excellency Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo, former
President of Benin; His Excellency Amani Abeid Karume, former President of Zanzibar; His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi,
former President of Tanzania; His Excellency Thabo Mbeki, former President of South Africa; His Excellency Olusegun
Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria; His Excellency Pedro Pires, former President of Cape Verde; His Excellency Benjamin
Mkapa, former President of Tanzania; His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda, former President of Zambia.

Over 200 public and private sector leaders participated
in the deliberations, forums, and functions.
The following Heads of State and Government were
co-conveners of the Roundtable:
• His Excellency Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo former
President of the Republic of Benin,
• His Excellency Pedro Pires former President of Cape
Verde,
• His Excellency Joaquim Chissano former President of
the Republic of Mozambique,
• His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo former President of
the Republic of Nigeria,
• His Excellency Thabo Mbeki former President of the
Republic of South Africa,
• His Excellency Benjamin Mkapa former President of the
Republic of Tanzania,
• His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi former President of
the Republic of Tanzania,
• His Excellency Rupiah Banda former President of the
Republic of Zambia, and
• His Excellency Amani Abeid Karume former President of
Zanzibar.
This year’s African Presidential Roundtable focused on
how governments, institutions, and individuals can aid in
bringing Africa closer to achieving energy security. If the
challenge of achieving energy security for Africa is solved,
it has the potential to drive development on the continent
to unprecedented levels. This year’s African Presidential
Roundtable focused on how governments, institutions, and
individuals can aid in bringing Africa closer to achieving a
resolution to this pressing dilemma.
The deliberations explored ways to maximise the
value/potential of Africa’s renewable, non-renewable,
and sustainable energy resources; and the importance
of mobilising its human resources in order to reach its
potential. The Roundtable discussions also addressed
the demand for qualified energy-sector personnel on the
continent to meet the demands of Africa’s energy needs for
the next fifty years, and stressed the importance of more
young people committing to scientific courses of study so
as to contribute to the solution of this pressing problem.
Africa is becoming the next World Energy Hub because
it is strategically situated and has a wealth of natural
resources. Africa has at least an 8-10% share of the
proven global world oil and gas reserves, and has already
overtaken the Middle East as the major oil supplier to the
U.S.
Africa’s ability to attain energy security rests on
political leadership, policy, and its people. The Roundtable
encouraged political leaders at every level to lead the
necessary country and continental dialogue, which must
take place if energy security is going to get the sustained
attention it needs to be achieved.
The uniqueness of the Roundtable is the contrast of
past African leaders exchanging and sharing information
with future leaders – such as the students in attendance. A
surprising outcome of this however, was that the information
was shared both ways. This is a positive indication of the
independent and analytical thinking being nurtured in such
high-level institutions.
The tangible benefits of engaging past leaders are that
they have call power, they impact on public opinion due to
their profiles, and they have vast wisdom and experience.
There was also mention of valuing African resources
for controlled usage. This concept of natural capital was
also one of the focuses of The Summit for Sustainability
in Africa held in Gaborone Botswana from 24 – 25 May.
Natural Capital prescribes to the notion that everything in
our ecosystem is given a value so as to ensure economic
growth does not damage the environment and similarly, that
the protection of the environment is not to the detriment of
the economy. This is especially important in Africa where
resources are needed to pull populations out of poverty.
Such key discussions are leading the way to defining
this delicate balance of growing Africa sustainably.
Photos courtesy of Thabane Maja of Maja Entertainment.
(L) Dr Malcolm McCulloch and (R) His Excellency Nicéphore
Dieudonné Soglo, former President of Benin
(R-L): 1. Dr Latsoucabé Fall, Regional Manager, Africa,
World Energy Council, 2. Ambassador Charles R. Stith,
Director of the African Presidential Center, 3. His Excellency
Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former President of Tanzania, 4. His
Excellency Amani Abeid Karume, former President of
Zanzibar, 5. His Excellency Nicéphore Dieudonné Soglo,
former President of Benin, 6. His Excellency Pedro Pires,
former President of Cape Verde, 7. Verity Norman, Program
Development Manager, African Presidential Center, 8.
(obscured) Dr Linda Heywood, Director, African-American
Studies, Boston University, 9. Ambassador Robin R.
Sanders, former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria.

The perfect farm takes
dedication, passion and AFGRI
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www.afgri.co.za

CHAPTER 2:
TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Situated in the heart of the Gauteng province,
South Africa, the City of Ekurhuleni is poised
to become the first Aerotropolis in Africa.
An Aerotropolis is a type of urban form comprising aviation-
intensive businesses and related enterprises extending
outward from major airports. It has an Airport City at its
core and is surrounded by clusters of aviation-related
enterprises. It is similar in form and function to a traditional
metropolis, which hosts commuter-linked suburbs.
From December 1991 to November 1992, South African
political leaders met at the World Trade Centre in Kempton
Park for the negotiation of a new South African nation,
known as the Conference for a Democratic South Africa
(CODESA).
It is a fitting tribute that the place in which South Africa’s
future was decided would be incorporated into one of only
six metropolitan municipalities at the time, serving high
density population areas in South Africa. Today there are
eight metropolitan municipalities across the country.
On 5 December 2000, seven years after the historic
CODESA negotiations, the local government authorities of
the nine cities and towns east of Gauteng entered their own
new era with the formation of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan
Municipality.
The municipality
The region of Ekurhuleni, formerly known as the East
Rand, was home to a number of good sized towns that
had developed around the mines, and whose charters
dated back nearly a century. Nine local administrations
amalgamated to form Ekurhuleni – Alberton, Benoni,
Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale, Germiston, Kempton
Park/Tembisa, Nigel, and Springs – along with two other
councils, the Khayalami Metropolitan Council and the
Eastern Gauteng Services Council.
Economy
The economy of the Ekurhuleni region is larger and more
diverse than that of many countries in Africa. It accounts for
nearly a quarter of the Gauteng province’s economy which,
in turn, contributes over one third of the national Gross
Domestic Product.
Ekurhuleni contributes about 7% to the country’s
spending power and another 6.2% to its production. In the
majority of indicators of economic activity, namely per capita
income, unemployment, poverty, average wages, as well as
other indicators of human development, it is similar to the
rest of Gauteng.
It has the largest concentration in Africa of industry
for the production of goods and commodities; which is
why Ekurhuleni is often referred to as ‘Africa’s workshop’.
Manufacturing in Ekurhuleni accounts for 32% of its total
production output, and 26% of the GDP of Gauteng.
Infrastructure
The network of roads, airports, rail lines, telephones,
City of Ekurhuleni, Place of Peace,
enters into own new era
City of
Ekurhuleni

electricity grids and telecommunications, rivals that of many
cities in developed Europe and America. This infrastructure
supports a well established industrial and commercial
complex.
South Africa’s largest railway hub is located in
Germiston and this links the city to all the major population
centres and ports in the southern African region. Many of
the country’s modern freeways and expressways crisscross
one or other part of Ekurhuleni, connecting it to virtually all
provinces, and many of the country’s major cities.
The Maputo Corridor development, South Africa’s
most advanced spatial development initiative, connects
Ekurhuleni with Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. It is
also linked directly via rail, road and air to Durban, South
Africa’s biggest and busiest port.
Why Ekurhuleni?
• Ekurhuleni is home to OR Tambo International Airport
which is used by most of the world’s leading airlines and
services most of the African continent.
• The Albertina Sisulu Corridor is a prime investment
and development location. Lying on the R21 freeway
which runs through Ekurhuleni, the corridor links
Johannesburg, OR Tambo International Airport, and
Pretoria (Tshwane).
• Investment opportunities lie in a wide range of sectors
including telecommunications, business outsourcing,
import, export, manufacturing, processing, transport
services, office and retail space, agriculture, and eco-
tourism and conservation industries.
• The municipality has devised an urban development
structure that creates investment opportunities for
business while also contributing to social development
and upliftment.
• Roads, railways and airports service Ekurhuleni well as it
has a well developed network of infrastructure as well as
strong telecommunications infrastructure and powerful
electricity grids.
• A modern road network system reaches every part
of the municipality and connects all the major towns,
offering conveniences and a seamless travel experience.
• Roads are well maintained and more than capable
of handling the city’s increasing commercial traffic.
The N3 from Johannesburg to Durban, the N12 from
Johannesburg to Witbank and the R21 highway, which
joins OR Tambo International Airport to the rest of the
province, all meet at Gillooly’s Interchange at the heart of
Ekurhuleni.
• More than a quarter of Africa’s railway tracks are
situated in South Africa and at the heart of this hub is
Ekurhuleni.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
Tel: +27 11 820 4321
Fax: +27 11 820 4310
www.ekurhuleni.com

Botswana Development Corporation (BDC)
and its 100% subsidiary, Commercial
Holdings, have marked yet another milestone
by investing in a property development
initiative dubbed “The Fairscape Precinct.”
Strategically located in the heart of Showground Office
Precinct, this state of the art development will be unique
and trend-setting as it will be a mixed development tower
standing at 15 storeys and comprising of rental office
space, retail space, penthouses, a hotel and 884 car
parking bays in the basement. BDC found it imperative
to initiate Fairscape Precinct to revitalise Fairgrounds by
offering prospective commercial and retail tenants with a
world class mixed-use property at a total cost of
P466-million.
Fairgrounds have since transformed into a major office
hub in Gaborone but lack a development that truly places
it as an office location of international stature. BDC
therefore found it imperative to come up with Fairscape.
The uniqueness of the development is derived from five
major design principles: mixed land use, central piazza,
district architectural identity, streetscape character and
environmental sustainability.
This mixed-use concept is the first of its kind to be
implemented in Botswana and is envisaged to bring
modern high-class working and living environment into the
country. The core concept is to integrate the corporate
and private culture into one domain – where business
meets pleasure. The central aim of the Fairscape Precinct
development is to create an environment which promotes
economic opportunities and stimulates enterprises with
a lot of emphasis on investment sustainability. With a 15
storey high tower, the design and structure of the building is
to accommodate pedestrian movements and accessibility
to the amenities of the precinct with a piazza forming
Fairscape Precinct,
A mixed-use concept for Fairgrounds

the central (focal point of the precinct) having an array of
shops and open cafes, hence providing a vibrant “street
architecture” where locals and visitors can mingle.
Also as a 15 storey high tower, this will make it one of the
tallest buildings in Gaborone. The design and construction
will incorporate modern green building status, which will
render the development to be environmentally friendly and
energy efficient, with a three level basement parking.
Moedi, Plot 50380, Gaborone International
Showgrounds, Private Bag, 160, Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 365 1300
Fax: +267 390 3114 or +267 390 4193
Email: enquiries@bdc.bw

It was all glitter and glamour for the Botswana General
Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) top ten
achievers and a glimpse of the allure that awaits them as
they would be preparing for the western world to pursue
further studies.
The Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) 3rd Annual
Excellence Awards in collaboration with the Ministry of
Education and Skills Development (MOESD) was by all
standards an epic event in the Council’s 2012 calendar
of events. The immaculate dress and sometimes glittery
costumes of achievers, parents, teachers and the VIPs; to
the golden adorned table tops and golden reed chairs, all
summed up the mood of the day.
When Esther Modise was called onto the stage
to receive the Golden Star Award from His Excellency
President Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, the hall
broke into a rupture of applause and competing flashlights
as media personnel shoved each other to get the best shot.
The former Selebi Phikwe Senior Secondary School
student has outdone herself with eight A+ and an A to
put herself in the world stage by unlocking a host of
opportunities, that should she have failed, she would
probably only have dreamed about.
In the short term she has earned herself a whooping
P20,000, a trophy and certificate as part of the Golden Star
Botswana
Examinations
Council

Award goodies in addition to a laptop, Awards T-Shirt and
above all a government scholarship in one of the prestigious
Universities in the United Kingdom.
His Excellency President Lt. General Seretse Khama Ian
Khama applauded BEC and MOESD for the pivotal role they
play in meeting the country’s Vision, one of whose pillars
is to be an educated and informed nation by 2016. He
called on other students across all schools in the country
to set their footsteps exactly where Esther and other 2011
academic top achievers stepped to secure educational
success.
His Excellency also implored relevant authorities to
reward deserving teachers and invited teachers to come
to state Houses to discuss with him their challenges in a
relaxed atmosphere over a cup of tea. He requested the
Ministry of Education and Skills Development to facilitate for
this kind of a meeting.
Esther Modise was to later go onto the podium to
encourage those who are to still go through the BEC
national examinations and left them with these words: “Take
your school work seriously and refrain from anything which
may distract you from your academics and face all the
challenges as rewards are eminent”.
“We are limited only by the mind and thoughts, the rest
is borne of either one,” echoed the BEC Executive Secretary
Dr Serara Moahi earlier on when giving the overview of
the awards celebrations held at Gaborone International
Convention Centre on the 31st May 2012.
Dr Moahi pointed out that the words were earlier
put across by a former student of Orapa CJSS, Karabo
Sankoloba. “To derive the meaning from this quote shall
take decades,” she said.
The BEC Executive Secretary emphasised that
the excellence awards are meant to increase learners’
confidence, raise their aspirations, improve their motivation
for learning, keep them engaged in education and that
recognition of achievement can help young people to reflect
on their learning and development.
She stated that for the 3rd Annual Excellence Awards
a total of 72 students were to be awarded as follows:
The Presidential award (highest performance in BGCSE),
Ministerial award (second highest performance in BGCSE),
top 10 high achievers in BGCSE, top 10 high achievers in
Junior Certificate Examination (JCE), top 10 high achievers
in Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), top two
achievers in special needs category at PSLE, JCE and
BGCSE.
Dr Moahi also stated that the top achievers at subject
level at BGCSE, English, Mathematics and Science at JCE
and English, Mathematics and Science combined at PSLE
were also to receive awards.
She also stated that the best performing school and its
Parents Teachers Association at each level were also to be
awarded on the Day.
The curtain for the Day was closed with dance and
laughter as Honourable Minister of Education and Skills
Development Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi took to the floor with
the BEC Chairperson Dr Joseph Tsonope to the tunes of
Nnunu with her jazz melodies of yesteryears.
Plot 54862, KT Motsete Rd
Private Bag 0070, Gaborone
Tel: +267 3650700 | Fax: +267 318 5011
E-mail: enquiries@bec.co.bw
www.bec.co.bw

Debswana Jwaneng Mine’s
approach to sustainable
partnership is captured in
their commitment to living
up to diamonds. The Mine’s
commitment to mining
and recovering diamonds
safely, cost effectively and
responsibly when measured
against the highest global
mining standards to deliver
superior value, always sits
at the heart of its business
strategy.
The Mine’s aim is to ensure that its
activities contribute significantly to
the development and prosperity
of Botswana, and community of
Jwaneng and surrounding areas.
This promise is underpinned by
Debswana’s value of Show we Care,
which says “The people whose
lives we touch, their communities
and nations and the environment
we share, all matter deeply to us.
We will always think through the
consequences of what we do so that
our contribution to the world is real,
lasting and makes us proud.”
The responsibility for the
proper management of sustainable
partnership is core to the way they
operate as a business. Debswana
Jwaneng Mine works in partnership
with a broad range of stakeholders
to improve communities in areas of
healthcare, education, community
upliftment, art and culture, sports
development and environmental
protection. Partnering with various
stakeholders ensures that revenues
from diamonds are transformed into
economic wealth and improved quality
of life and wellbeing for its employees,
their families, the community of
Jwaneng and surrounding areas,
the nation of Botswana and its
shareholders.
The Mine’s biggest Corporate
Social Investment project to date is
Jwaneng Mine Hospital. Funded to
the tune of over P64-million annually,
the hospital serves as both a Mine
hospital and district referral hospital
for a radius of 200km. The hospital
which has been accredited by Council
for Health Services Accreditation
of Southern Africa (COHSASA) has
55 beds and consults about 8100
public patients and 34,000 private
patients. In April 2003, Debswana
partnered with the government of
Botswana to set up the Infectious
Disease Care Clinic (IDCC),
which provides free antiretroviral
therapy (ART) to members of the
community. Debswana is one of
the few companies in the country
which provides free ART to HIV
positive employees and spouses. In
addition, the Mine recently funded the
electrification of Maokane Clinic at the
value of P45,000.
In 1979, the Mine established
Acacia Primary School which provides
state-of-the-art pre-primary and
primary education at a nominal fee for
Mine employees and the community.
Since education is the cornerstone
of development in any community,
in 2002 Jwaneng Mine started the
DEBSWANA JWANENG MINE
30 years of sustainable partnership

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