H.H. The Vice President`s updated Public Programme for May 2009

source: Republic of Botswana (9/5/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 13 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C10) 6/5/09: H.H. THE VICE PRESIDENT's UPDATED PUBLIC PROGRAMME FOR MAY 2009

1. Thursday 7th May @ 0920 hrs: H.H. the Vice President will receive the Vice President of Cuba, HE. Mr. Esteban Hernandez Lazo at SSKA (photo opportunity)

2. Thursday 7th May @ 1145hrs: H.H the Vice President will hold official talks with the Vice President of Cuba. Venue: OP Conference Room (photo opportunity)

3. Thursday 7th May @ 1230 hrs: H.H the Vice President will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting Cuban VP. Venue: Phakalane Golf Estate

4. Thursday 7th May @ 1830 hrs: H.H. the Vice President will attend a Reception hosted by the Cuban Embassy in honour of Vice President Lazo. Venue: GICC

5. Saturday 9th May @ 0900hrs: H.H. the Vice President will officiate at the Botswana Prisons Day Celebrations & Medal Award Ceremony. Venue: Mahalapye Prison Staff College

6. Saturday 9th May @ 1400 hrs: H.H. the Vice President will be Guest of Honour at the launch of BDP Serowe South Parliamnetary & Council Candidates. Venue: Manonnye Ward – Ko Matswereng, Serowe.
    
7. Monday 11 May @ 1630 hrs: H.H. the Vice President will depart for New York, where on Wednesday 13 May he will receive on behalf of H.E & people of Botswana the Best African Country Award from Celebrate Africa Foundation. The award will be presented at New York University on the evening of Wed. 13th May, 2009.

8. Saturday 16th May @ 10:00 hrs: H.H the Vice President will arrive back in Gaborone; @ 14:00 hours he will be Guest of Honour at the Launch of BDP Parliamentary & Council Candidates for Mahalapye East Constituency. Venue:  Flowertown, Mahalapye.

9. Saturday 23rd May @ 14:00 hrs: H.H the Vice President will be Guest of Honour at the Launch of BDP Parliamentary & Council Candidates for Boteti North Constituency. Venue: Rakops Village

10. Sunday 24th @ 10:00 hrs: H.H the Vice President will be Guest of Honour at the Launch of BDP Parliamentary & Council Candidates for Boteti South Constituency Venue: Zamalek Freedom Square, Letlhakane

11. Thursday 28th May @ 0900 hrs: H.H the Vice President will participate at the National Aids Council Meeting in Gaborone. Venue: TBA

C11) 30/4/09: Former President Mogae at Berlin Conference

Former President Festus Mogae yesterday joined other former African leaders in signing a communiqué calling for land reform, at an event in Berlin marking 125 years since a meeting of Europe's colonial powers in the same city set off the 'scramble for Africa'.

Former presidents from Tanzania, Ghana, Cape Verde, Mauritius, and Benin also signed the statement at the end of a two-day round table conference at Berlin's Humboldt University, which was organized by Boston University's African research programmes.

'Future formulas for land distribution, redistribution and ownership cannot continue to reflect or perpetuate the legacy of colonialism,' the final communiqué read.

The document described land reform as 'one of Africa's most daunting challenges,' further calling on Western governments to provide financial aid to the land reform process.

Other proposals contained in the communiqué included the provision of financial tools to aid development, the role of religious institutions to foster a 'culture of work, sacrifice and savings,' and a call for the media to remain 'vigilant and true' in reporting on African development.

(Signatories to the communiqué included former President's John Kufuor and Jerry Rawlings of Ghana, Ali Mwinyi of Tanzania, Aristide Pereira from Cape Verde, Nicephore Soglo of Benin and Karl Offmann of Mauritius, as well as Festus Mogae.)