Orange Botswana and Visa, a global payments technology company, today announced that Orange Money subscribers in Botswana now have access to Visa payment functionality when using their Orange Money accounts. The enhanced service allows Orange Money subscribers to access their funds 24 hours a day by withdrawing money at ATMs and making point-of-sale (POS) or online purchases wherever Visa is accepted. The current Orange Money service allows customers to use their mobile phones to transfer funds to any mobile phone subscriber in the country, pay electricity, buy airtime and pay bills. The enhanced Orange Money Visa programme offers the convenience of making…
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South Africa’s Tourism minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk says as government continues to focus on tourism as one of the key job-creating sectors, it will continue to recognise business-events tourism as an area with ‘significant growth potential’. Speaking at Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) 2013 in Boardwalk Convention Centre, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, and the minister said the decision to invest in business-events tourism was informed by the strategy to diversify offerings and source markets. “The international leisure market is always volatile in times of global economic uncertainty. That is why we balance our investment in domestic and…
African Fashion International (AFI), owners and managers of the three Mercedes-Benz Fashion Weeks in South Africa, continues with their support of developing young design talent. “Sustainability of the clothing and manufacturing sector in South Africa will need an infusion of local fashion talent that brings diversity and authenticity to the global fashion landscape,” says AFI Executive Chairperson, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe. “Africa cannot compete with companies in the East, as they are able to produce large volumes at low cost. Where we can compete is in high value added products. We are blessed with a talent pool that can add value…
Shumba Coal, the Botswana Stock Exchange listed exploration company says it has appointed Sipho Ziga as an Independent Non – Executive Director of the company. Ziga is a partner at Armstrongs Attorneys, a leading commercial law firm in Botswana and he has over 16 years’ experience in commercial law and currently heads the Commercial Department in the firm. Ziga specialises in corporate commercial legal transactions that include amongst others mining law; legal due diligence enquiries; capital raisings, public and private, listings, corporate governance; negotiating and drafting commercial agreement takeovers, subscription, management and shareholders agreements. “Sipho has a keen interest and…
In less than a month, African Fashion International (AFI) will be hosting the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Cape Town (MBFWCT) from 7 – 10 August 2013. Close to thirty local fashion labels will display their upcoming Spring/Summer 2013/2014 collections at the home of Cape Town Fashion Week, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). In line with AFI’s theme for 2013, the event will celebrate the strength of “Fashion, Art & Design” in the City of Cape Town leading up to the city’s status as the World Design Capital 2014. The event, taking place in “Women’s Month”, will also highlight and…
Botswana Diamonds (BOD) says it has reached an agreement with Siseko Minerals Pty Ltd over the 13 licence Brightstone block in the Gope area of Botswana, covering an area of 6,518 square kilometres. Under the terms of the agreement, BOD becomes the operator of the block and will earn into Brightstone by spending up to $940,000 over three years to earn 51 per cent. The budget for the first year is $140,000. The company joins the Gope region, which is said to be highly prospective. The Ghagoo mine owned by Gem Diamonds is being developed in the area while Petra…
Gem Diamonds Limited, the developers of Ghaghoo diamond mine in Botswana has reported its trading update for the half year period 1 January to 30 June 2013 with the company saying it has maintained strong cash position during the period under review. At its Lesotho operations, the company revealed that it has completed the installation of the four cone crushers in Letšeng’s Plants 1 and 2, which are aimed at reducing diamond damage and completed on time and on budget. Gem Diamonds said 3 diamonds over 100 carats in size were recovered during the period at Letšeng; including a 164…
The De Beers Group of Companies’ 2012 Report to Society, which summarises the company’s performance in operating responsibly and sustainably across the diamond pipeline, has been published. The report outlines changes in the group’s sustainability strategy resulting from the integration with Anglo American plc group, the Sales Agreement with the Botswana government and other key developments across the economics, ethics, employees, communities and environment performance areas. Philippe Mellier, De Beers Group CEO in his introduction explains why operating responsibly and sustainably sits at the heart of De Beers’ approach to business. “Our understanding of sustainability is shaped by the issues…
African Energy Resources Ltd (AFR) says it has prepared and successfully submitted a Request for Registration and Information (RFRI) to South Africa’s Department of Energy (RSA) for the development of a 300 MW power station and captive coal mine to supply energy to the country’s electricity grid. The decision follows developments in South Africa when in 2012, in support of its Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity 2010‐2030, the country added close to 11,000MW of new generating capacity to its forward procurement programme. “Of this, 2500MW has been reserved for base‐load coal‐fired generation, including domestic and imported energy from Independent Power…
Exhibitors from the region and international tourism service providers spend will showcase their products and services at the upcoming TOURISM EXPO BOTSWANA 2013 to be held 13th-16th August 2013. The expo is a consumer and trade based marketing platform and it will be held under the theme “Bringing Travel/Tourism to the people”. “Botswana being a landlocked country is a primary market feeder for tourism within the region. Local travel enthusiast travel extensively outside the borders of Botswana and therefore it is imperative to educate local potential travellers and create awareness within the local travel market of what services and products…