Patriot 01

The Patriot on Sunday | www.thepatriot.co.bw | December 23, 2012
News 1
| december 23, 2012 | VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 7 P8.00
Incessant rains
bring hope for
bumper harvest
BMC probe
report due
in February
Sentle
draws
phone book
cover
The year local
sport reached
the skies
Page 04
Page 07 Page 17
Page 24
Botswana Post sells
electricity
ESTHER AMOGELANG
Botswana Power
Corporation (BPC)
and Botswana Post
have entered into a strategic
agreement which will facilitate
the roll out of pre-paid
electricity making it possible for
customers to buy electricity in
post offices instead of spending
time in queues at BPC revenue
offices.
The agreement was signed
by chief executives of the two
utilities – Jacob Raleru of BPC
and Pele Moleta of Botswana
Post – as they headed for
the Christmas and New Year
holidays. The BPC awarded
Botswana Post a contract to sell
its prepaid electricity through its
post offices. The second phase of
the contract will include postpaid
and electricity connections.
Speaking at the signing
ceremony Moleta announced
that 121 post offices across
Botswana will sell prepaid
electricity starting this festive
season. He said the technology
will allow for easy reconciliation
whereby coupon will be
generated directly from BPC
within seconds of transaction.
Moleta said they are still
negotiating with relevant banks
for partnerships to extend the
service beyond normal working
hours. Through this new
arrangement BPC customers
will purchase electricity via their
cellphones, ATM and even from
outdoor vendors.
As part of service delivery
Botswana Post recently opened
a toll free line of 0 800 33 55 77
to make it easier for customers
to contact them at no cost.
A jubilant Raleru applauded
Botswana Post for the generous
move which will improve
service delivery and bring
service closer to the people.
He explained that the prepaid
service which has been in some
villages will be now provided
countrywide.
“We have already covered
Jwaneng, Lobatse and other
parts of Gaborone such as
White City, Newstance,
Extension 14 and Bontleng,” he
said, adding that connections
will be extended to other parts
of Gaborone, Selebi-Phikwe and
Francistown beginning of 2013.
He said the prepaid service
will enable consumers to bridge
the timing of their cash outflows
instead of being constrained
with cashing out for an entire
month’s bill. “With the new
prepaid scheme electricity
becomes more affordable
for some segments of our
customers,” he explained.
Asked what will happen
to those with outstanding
bills, Raleru said it is not in
the interest of BPC to cut off
customers power, but he advised
customers to settle all their bills
first in a manner which will be
affordable but yet reasonable to
them before switching prepaid.
Raleru with Moleta, Botswana Post spokesperson Lebogang Bok and her colleague at the signing ceremony
Off for the holidays!!!
KEITEBE KGOSIKEBATHO
The festive season is
that time of the year
when everyone leaves
their daily routine and go
on rendezvous away from
the familiar surroundings.
Politicians, musicians and
sportspersons are no exception
to this practice. While a good
percentage of them attest that
they will be celebrating with
families and friends, for some it
will be business as usual.
President Seretse Khama Ian
Khama
Government spokesperson
Jeff Ramsay says the President
normally spends Christmas
with his family in Serowe. He
was not sure if the President
will be heading to Serowe this
time except to say: “Maybe
that is where he is going to
spend it”. As for the New Year,
Khama, who is a great lover of
the wilderness, often heads to
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans or the
Okavango Delta with friends.
Jeff Ramsay
The ever-busy government
spokesperson says it will be
all work for him. He will be
on duty and therefore stuck
around Gaborone, but says
time permitting he might
spend Christmas in Moshupa
with his family and in-laws
than be in Gaborone.
Themba Joina
The man regarded as
Botswana’s last standing
communist, says for him the
festive season will be a mixture
of business and pleasure. Joina,
president of MELS, says as this
will be one of the few instances
that he will spend at home
without much disturbance, he
will take the opportunity to
consult with structures of his
party, checking on electorates
and doing groundwork. Politics
aside, Joina will be with his
family at Shashe Mooke.
Botsalo Ntuane
Ntuane, Gaborone West
South MP, says for Christmas
he will be with his family
around Gaborone and
Ramotswa. After which he
plans to embark on a road
expedition with his friends
across the Kgalagadi Desert.
“My boys and I are considering
a wild west off road expedition
through the Kgalagadi
Transfrontier Park via Tsabong,
Middlepits, Bokspits, and
Nossob and back through
Kang, New Xade, CKGR and
Khutse before returning to
Gabs.” If the trip takes off it
will be a major trip, as they
did half in 2007. Tebogo
Sebego
Botswana Football
Association President will
take leave of the football
stress and head for the
Namibian coast. Sebego
says the festive season, more
especially Christmas, marks
that time of the year when he
retires to the coastal town of
Swakopmund for an annual
breather. This excursion has
been his tradition for the past
12 years. “I chose to holiday
in this quite Namibian town,
because it provides a good
ambience to recharge for
the New Year.” For the New
Year Eve it is custom for him
to spend it with his family
either in Kanye or Old Naledi.
On New Year if he is not in
Kanye with his Mum and Dad
enjoying Dikhwaere he will
be in Lobatse for the All Kasi
Family Fun Day.
Tebogo Lebotse
This president of
the Botswana Netball
Association will cool off the
pressures of being Mascom
Communications Manager in
Namibia.
To page 2
Open on Sunday 23 rd and 30 th of December (Gaborone only)
Seasons greetings from the staff and management of Haskins
Happy holidays!!!