- President Festus Mogae of Botswana today received national and international congratulations on his re-election. The elections in Botswana were also globally hailed as democratic and fair. President Mogae, on the other hand, used the occasion to promise stronger education efforts for the country's indigenous San people.
President Thabo Mbeki of neighbouring South Africa, today telephonically extended South Africa's congratulations to President Mogae on his re-election as President of Botswana following weekend elections. President Mbeki said, "Please accept, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, our congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Republic of Botswana."
President Mbeki described his Batswana counterpart as "a strong supporter of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU) and the new partnership for Africa's development." He added that Mr Mogae's re-election "bodes well for the further implementation and consolidation of both the African agenda through AU institutions and NEPAD, as Africa's socio-economic development programme, in your country and region."
President Mbeki continued, "In line with the decisions of SADC and AU we are encouraged by the continuously strengthening institutions of democracy throughout the continent. The close fraternal relations between the people and governments of South Africa and Botswana finds expression in the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation, which was signed by both our Ministers of Foreign Affairs in March 2003."
Also South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party today congratulated Mr Mogae and the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) on their victory in this weekend's parliamentary elections. The ANC further extended congratulations to all parties contesting the election and to the people of Botswana "for the peaceful and orderly manner in which the elections were conducted," the party said in a statement.
- These elections confirm Botswana's status as one of Africa's most enduring democracies, and are a victory for efforts to deepen democracy in Southern Africa and across the continent, the ANC statement added.
The statement was in line with other reflections on the high democratic standards of the poll. Earlier concerns over limited media access for the Batswana opposition were rejected by an analysis presented by the Botswana Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA). A survey of 115 election related news stories broadcast over 'Radio Botswana' showed that the ruling BDP had been given 38 percent coverage while the combined opposition had been 62 percent coverage.
The President-elect, on his behalf, used the occasion to announce even stronger efforts in Botswana's Remote Area Development Programme. "By 2003 educational enrolment among Basarwa [San] and other Remote Area Dwellers already stood at over 16,500 at Primary, 3500 at Secondary and 300 at Tertiary level, meaning that these communities too are also now beginning to truly enjoy the benefits of our national development," President Mogae announced.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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