Zebras qualify for Africa Cup of Nations 2012

The Botswana Zebras are the first team to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), joining the hosts, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. Botswana has never before qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations since its inception in 1957.

The Zebras beat Chad 0 - 1 (Jerome Ramatlhakwane - 52^nd minute) in N’Djamena yesterday, thereby securing a place in the 2012 event. In group K, it is now up to Tunisia and Malawi to battle it out for the second ticket in group K.

The Zebras maintain their unbeaten status in group K and beat 2004 AFCON champions Tunisia both at home and away. Well done Zebras!

Cops 'n' robbers

This week, 2 Maun police constabels appeared before the Maun Magistrate Court, charged with office breaking and theft. They are alleged to have broken into North West District Council revenue offices last year and having stolen  BWP522 948 in cash.
For years, inhabitants of Maun have been complaining about the corruption among officers in the Police Services. If it now turns out that some members of the Service are nothing but common thieves, it will become more difficult to treat officers with respect the next time we run into a speed trap.

Turncoats

After having pushed the UN and the West for over a week to intervene and impose a no-fly zone in Libya, the Arab League, within 24 hours of the first allied strikes on Libya, now condemn the actions as not what they had in mind. What did they think imposing a no-fly zone entailed? Delivering a copy of UNSC 1973 to Gadaffi and politely ask him to ground his air force?

Libya ceasefire

The comments in the cartoon below were all made (either by Gadaffi himself or his foreign minister and notorious terror mastermind, Moussa Kousa) within 24 hours after the UN Security Council resolved to impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

Hours after the UN resolution became public, Muammar al Gadaffi reacted with threatening to attack passenger traffic over the Mediterranean. Soon later, his foreign minister declared a complete ceasefire in the country - as "Libya takes great interest in protecting civilians".

Meanwhile, Friday and Saturday reports from Libya inform us that shelling in rebel-held cities of Benghazi and Ajdabiya continues.
If he ever had any, the "Donald Duck of North Africa" is losing credibility extremely quickly...

UN Security Council resolves to impose no-fly zone over Libya

After a strong request by the Arab League, supported by Britain, France and Lebanon, the U.N. Security Council on Thursday paved the way for international air strikes against Muammar al Gadaffi's forces, voting to authorise military action to protect civilians and impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

The vote was 10-0 with five countries abstaining, being Russia and China (which have veto power in the council), along with India, Germany and Brazil.

With so many other long-time dictatorial and oppressive regimes around the world, which however are not major oil producers, the motivation behind this step is questionable at least…

Japanese Trojan horse

Many scientists, including 'green' ones, believe nuclear energy is the only real alternative once petroleum and natural gas resources run out. The vulnerability of nuclear power to natural disasters, such as illustrated in Japan, makes one wonder...

International Women's Day 2011

Happy Women's Day to all mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives on this day!
Unfortunately, there are millions upon millions of women around the world who, for a variety of reasons (political, religious, cultural, economic), are not at all in a position to celebrate their femininity today.
A lot remains to be done...

North West District Councillors have extended lunch.

A full council meeting of the North West District Council in Maun had to be adjourned because too few councillors returned from lunch to form a quorum. They later blamed the Secretary of the meeting for not counting himself when ascertaining whether or not there was a quorum.
Very professional gentlemen! You are making those who elected you proud...

No-fly zone over Libya?

Although being discussed in the West as an option, it is probably one of the worst ideas imaginable.
It caused enormous problems in Iraq.

Deflating...

Troops loyal to Gadaffi deploy in Tripoli, where, despite a shut-down internet, calls have been made for mass protests after noon prayers today.
How much longer?

My people would die for me...

Moammar al Gadaffi in a recent interview:
"They love me. All my people, they love me. They would die for me"