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Mail & Guardian
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Tribute to Sir Ketumile Quett Joni Masire, a founder of Botswana, on his centennial birthday
As Botswana's first vice-president and finance minister (1966-80), Ketumile Masire helped rescue Botswana from the category of the third most impoverished nation in the world. File photo Sir Ketumile Quett Joni Masire was born on 23 July 1925 in Kanye, Beuchanaland (now Botswana). In commemorating his centennial birthday we pay tribute to one of the founders of Botswana and framers of its Constitution. He was the principal architect of its economic development as minister of finance and development planning. I recall at the end of March 1998, attending a farewell dinner for president Masire. The guest of honour was the former president of Tanzania, Julius Kambarange Nyerere. When it was time for the speeches Nyerere spoke eloquently about Sir Ketumile's leadership in developing Botswana. He praised him profusely for stepping down before senility set in and the guests dissolved in laughter. These two great presidents, paragons of astute and wise leadership in Africa, both left office voluntarily. Nyerere was first. Sometime in 1985, he woke up one bright sunny morning to the sound of birds singing and decided to retire. Not many presidents wake up that way. A year later the University of Zimbabwe awarded Nyerere an honorary doctorate, and the vice-chancellor, Professor Walter Kamba, said at the ceremony: 'In an age in which life presidencies are proliferating, whether by constitution or other means, it is only a man of courage, confidence, foresight, wisdom and humility, like our graduand, who can say it is now time for me to lay down the burdens and responsibilities of state and go into retirement and become part of the citizenry.' Twelve years later, that man was president Masire when he retired, cutting short his presidency by two years. Concluding his retirement speech to parliament he quoted Lord Tennyson: 'The old order changeth, yielding place to new, And God fulfils himself in many ways, Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.' He was steeped in English literature; Chaucer, Dickens, Austen, Tennyson and Shakespeare, among others. I recall him often gleefully reciting from Shakespeare's Macbeth: 'Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time …' Masire was a wise, pious and humble man, with a marvellous sense of humour, whose leadership transformed Botswana and overflowed to Africa and the world. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest statesmen of our era. Richard Dowden, the distinguished British journalist writing on the death of Masire, described him as 'one of Africa's greatest leaders. Because he was a low-key figure and from a large but sparsely-populated country, he does not appear in the pantheon of great rulers. But he should.' Dowden further said: 'As president of Botswana for nearly two decades, the humble Masire was responsible for setting the country on a path to prosperity.' Masire's humility concealed his greatness. I am reminded of Yogesh Chadha's book, Rediscovering Gandhi. In it, Chadha writes that when Mahatma Gandhi was in London in 1931 to plead for India's independence, a small girl wanted to ask him for his autograph. She then drew back shyly and looked up at her mother and asked: 'Mummy, is he really great?' Like Gandhi, the unassuming greatness of Masire was the gift of the common touch that made him at one with ordinary people. It was reflected in his love for Batswana — and humanity in general — a surpassing compassion and commitment to improving the welfare of others. He did so by being a skillful communicator. Experts of the Setswana language attest that his command of the language and idioms was incomparable. He marshalled the Setswana language wonderfully and spellbound his audience. He was brilliant. In 1944, he was one of the first students to earn a bursary to attend Tiger Kloof Secondary School. He became a teacher and the first headmaster of Kanye Secondary School — now Seepapitso Senior Secondary School — from 1950 to 1955. Though he put himself wholeheartedly into everything he did it was farming that was the love of his heart. In 1957, he was the first Motswana to be awarded a Master Farmer's Certificate. His other interest was journalism and became the editor of Naledi ya Batswana newspaper. It was as a journalist he later met Seretse Khama. The year 1958 was a significant year. That was the year Masire married Gladys Olebile Molefi on 2 January. Born in Modimola near Mafikeng, after graduating from Tiger Kloof, she became a teacher at Mafikeng and later Kanye. A woman of substance, she was God fearing, kind, humble, compassionate and hardworking. Years later as first lady she was a gracious Mother of the Nation. She was Masire's pillar, always caring and supportive of him. Lady Masire dedicated herself to several charities that focused on the plight of disadvantaged and marginalised children, unemployed and delinquent youth and women's empowerment. They were a splendid couple and their marriage was blessed with six children. In August 1960, Sir John Maud, the high commissioner on a familiarisation visit of Beuchanaland, was at the Serowe kgotla. Masire, as a photo-journalist, covered the event for his paper. He took Seretse's picture in the kgotla and then cheekily walked up to him to ask his permission after the fact. Seretse was immensely amused by this cheekiness and a lifelong friendship was born. It was in 1961 that Masire literally stumbled into politics. He was in Lobatse to cover a public meeting of the newly formed Bechuanaland People's Party (BPP). Masire, who had an interest in public affairs, was curious about the new political party. At the end of the meeting he was not impressed and thought: 'If these are the kinds of people who are going to lead our country, we are in trouble.' Towards the end of 1961, Seretse Khama, who shared the same sentiments, proposed the formation of a new party, the Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP). Masire resolved that if he could be of any use to the nation, then he needed to participate in politics. Masire knew Seretse as a democrat through and through who believed strongly that the nation resides in the people, and not in any individual. The two worked well together. It was a complementary partnership that flourished on Seretse's vision and charisma and Masire's energy, analytical brilliance and organisational ability. They were candid and honest with each other, and both had a lively sense of humour. They were born leaders. Both believed in the need to move people from thinking about their tribes as their separate communities to thinking about the whole nation as their community. Both believed that in any society they needed to be a balance between the interests of individuals and those of the larger community. Both believed that individuals should be given the freedom to come up with the best they were capable of. The cardinal principle on which the Botswana Democratic Party was founded was a non-negotiable article of faith that the founders and other leaders subscribed to: 'The party only matters to the extent that it can meet the needs of the nation; otherwise there is no need for it. If it ceases to meet the needs of the country, then it should cease to exist.' This is ageless wisdom applicable to all political parties in the world. In adherence to this article of faith Seretse and Masire crafted a short document in 1962 that outlined in broad-brush terms, the direction which the party would take. The document on 'Aims and Objectives' became the 'Four National Principles'. It highlighted what mattered, namely, to establish a nation that exemplified non-racialism, one united nation, fundamental human rights, a reformed and democratic local government which were then all missing in Bechuanaland. The 'Four National Principles' gave clarity as to what Botswana wanted, and from observing other countries, what to avoid. In his memoirs Masire wrote that the BDP was built by trial and error. 'No one came with a dogma to be followed. We shared stories, and we learned from each other and from the people we consulted. The party grew organically, and it was very encouraging to see it happen. This was the fundamental difference between us as a party and the People's Party and its subsequent mutations. They fed their followers with slogans and dogmas picked up from elsewhere. They thought they could just tell people any cock-and-bull story, and the people would accept it. 'Our experience was that ordinary people wanted to be given reasons. We did our best to show them why we were thinking and acting the way we were. As we prepared for moving to self-rule and then independence, our biggest fear was that we would lack unity, and that each tribe might think of itself as a separate entity. We feared if we went the way of some other states we would be in for serious trouble. This is why we laid emphasis on finding all the things that would unite us, and trying to avoid all the things that would divide us. 'Our Four Principles — democracy, development, unity and self-reliance — addressed the things that really worried us during the formative years before independence. We knew we needed both to adhere to our principles, and to fight against anything that would threaten them.' This was the vision that ushered in Botswana's independence on 30 September 1966. At independence Botswana was among the poorest countries in the world and surrounded by racist minority regimes in South West Africa (Namibia), Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and South Africa. Economic experts gazing in their crystal balls saw Botswana doomed to poverty and surviving forever on international aid. Sir Seretse Khama and Sir Ketumile Masire would often remind their colleagues that when they asked for independence, they were told that they were 'either very brave, or very foolish'. Masire was to use this phrase as the title of his memoirs: Very Brave or Very Foolish? Memoirs of an African Democrat. The economic experts' advice was taken with a pinch of salt as Botswana proved them spectacularly wrong. As Botswana's first vice-president and minister of finance and development planning, Masire initiated various initiatives to rescue Botswana from the category of the third most impoverished nation in the world, which, in 1966, had an annual per-capita income of about $60. The initiatives included channelling foreign aid, loans and mining revenues into developing educational, health, power, transport, and communications infrastructure while encouraging small-scale services and industries and promoting commercial agriculture. The success of Masire's development portfolio earned him kudos domestically and internationally. In 1980 Botswana's first president, Sir Seretse Khama died. The nation mourned, grievously bereft of a great leader it had been fortunate to have at the time of its greatest need. Masire had lost both a great friend and political collaborator who was closer to him than anybody before or after. They were a good team. Their close cooperation on all aspects of politics and government for 20 years was an important factor in achieving Botswana's successes. In mourning, Masire graciously ascended to the presidency. His presidency commenced at a time the liberation fight against apartheid was intensifying and black South African liberation fighters of the ANC began to infiltrate South Africa by crossing the borders of Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. South Africa, in retaliation, attacked these countries. Botswana found herself in a dilemma as she could not break links with South Africa for economic reasons so she banned the ANC military wing from operating in the country, but allowed young men and women to enter who were fleeing South Africa to become ANC freedom fighters. With the discovery of diamonds in Botswana the government was pragmatic in making a deal with the South African gold and diamond giant, De Beers. The deal provided the government with substantial revenues from diamonds, which were used for the benefit of the people in services such as education and health. During the HIV/Aids crisis the country funded its own programme at a huge expense while other African countries relied on international aid. The deal with De Beers gradually evolved because president Masire's cautious and tenacious style convinced De Beers to build a sorting house in Gaborone where the diamonds were graded before being sent to De Beers in London. He also demanded that Batswana be trained in sorting and evaluating diamonds. Masire transformed Botswana by anchoring her development in Tswana values. For example, the Tswana practice of consulting people was essential in progressing developmental policies. In 1991 he received an honorary knighthood of the Grand Cross of Saint Michael and Saint George from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. After 37 years in public life president Masire retired in 1998. In those years Botswana's circumstances had changed significantly from what the economic experts foresaw. From 1966 to 1998 Botswana achieved the world's highest annual economic growth rate of any country in the world. In the words of Masire, 'We built and sustained a multi-party democracy; the vast majority of our people enjoyed improved health, education, and increased incomes and employment opportunities; and we managed our way through a dangerous security situation created by our neighbours.' Transparency International rated Botswana as having one of the lowest levels of corruption in Africa, indeed lower than many European countries. Botswana had active and vocal opposition parties because C believed strongly that, 'In a democratic system, parties that are in opposition to the government of the day have an important role to play. If opposition parties are strong and full of ideas, they sharpen the wits of the governing party and keep it on its toes. If the opposition parties are weak or lacking in ideas about alternative policies, they weaken both the country and the ruling party.' Botswana also developed a vigorous and independent press. And Botswana achieved a reputation for principled positions and leadership in regional affairs, especially during the long struggle to liberate Southern Africa from colonialism and racist white minority regimes. Masire was one of the founders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). All this did not happen by chance; it was the result of prudent leadership which brought about Botswana's successes. This prudent leadership was succinctly summed up by the Motswana politician and diplomat Dr Gaositwe Chiepe, in one word: 'Teamwork.' Masire agreed that it summed up their approach very well. 'The times we were most successful were when we worked together, both as politicians and with civil servants. Our success could not have been achieved had we not found able people, convinced them to enter politics or the public service, and encouraged and enabled them to work productively with one another. Our failures came at those times when we lost the commitment to teamwork, consultation, consensus and cooperation.' After leaving office, Masire divided his time between his passion for farming and as a global statesman in conflict resolution. He often worked through his Sir Ketumile Masire Foundation. In 1998 he was appointed by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to chair an International Panel of Eminent Personalities which investigated the circumstances of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. A 300-page report on the Rwanda genocide was produced which concluded that it was preventable. Individuals and governments were culpable. After finalising the Rwanda report Masire was appointed to facilitate the Inter-Congolese Dialogue, 2000-03, with the objective of bringing about a new political dispensation for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This appointment illustrated his great, inimitable leadership. Dr Salim Salim, the secretary general of the OAU, told him the Congolese parties were looking for possible candidates to be a facilitator. The three principal belligerents had to agree, and they had rejected 11 other individuals but all agreed on Masire. Drawing on his long experience as leader of Botswana, he knew he needed to understand all the issues, so each party would feel its concerns were being addressed. A great deal of patience was required and this he had aplenty. Throughout his three years and three months working on the Inter-Congolese dialogue, Masire tried to keep everyone involved and informed — whether they were inside or outside. He wanted to be sure that those outside exercised influence for good where they could, and also that they did not give the wrong signals that would encourage the belligerents or other parties to be too stubborn. The dialogue gave the Congolese their first opportunity to come together to frame a future for their country. They had never been through a democratic process of consultation, and Masire had to start at the very beginning. He pressed them to achieve what he believed they could. At one stage one of the participants asked Masire how he could be certain that if they agreed to the proposals, the other sides would also agree. Masire told them what he always told aspiring politicians in Botswana: there is always a risk in politics in a democratic setup. If you are afraid to take a risk, you cannot be a politician. He said it was reasonable to assume that if others saw one party was accommodating, as was true of some of the participants, then those others would also begin to be accommodating. The closing ceremony and the signing of the Inter-Congolese dialogue took place on 2 April 2003 in Sun City, South Africa. But its implementation was difficult. Periodic fighting continued, and a constitution was not adopted until early in 2006. As we celebrate his centennial birthday we remember Sir Ketumile Masire with immense joy and pride as a man who was positively animated with life. He reflected as St Irenaeus said 'the glory of God in humanity fully alive'. We remember his sterling leadership ingrained in his love of God and humanity. We remember 'a man for all seasons', a teacher, farmer, journalist, politician, peacemaker and family man. On a personal note, a great friend, mentor and father-in-law. We remember a man who was inspired and guided by good values that transformed Botswana from an impoverished country to a middle income nation, testament to his prudent leadership. We remember an unassuming leader who deserves to be remembered as one of the greatest African pioneers of post-colonial history. He personified the values of botho, or ubuntu, which promotes the value of a person's interconnectedness with their community. That is what makes a person truly great. We remember a wise mediator in various conflicts as illustrated in investigating the causes of the genocide in Rwanda, and working towards peace in the bloody conflicts of eastern DRC. He was a towering peacemaker in our world who laid the foundation of peace in the DRC on which the Congolese must build and preserve. He was also the SADC mediator for Lesotho. Sir Ketumile was a respected voice and model leader for peace and good governance on the African continent and beyond. He truly was a great man and may his memory be a blessing to us. We remember Sir Ketumile Quett Joni Masire, a man blessed by God with faith, moral courage, compassion, tolerance, kindness, intelligence, integrity and decency. These are attributes our world needs in today's leaders to resolve the challenges we face. The Right Reverend Dr Musonda Trevor Selwyn Mwamba (formerly Bishop of Botswana) is the president of the United National Independence Party (UNIP), Zambia.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NexMetals Begins Trading on the Nasdaq Under the Symbol NEXM
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 16, 2025) - NexMetals Mining Corp. (TSXV: NEXM) (NASDAQ: NEXM) (formerly Premium Resources Ltd.) (the "Company or NEXM") is pleased to announce that its common shares (the "Common Shares") will begin trading today on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") under the symbol "NEXM". Upon commencement of trading on Nasdaq, the Company's Common Shares will cease to be quoted on the OTC Pink Markets. NexMetals will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") under the symbol "NEXM". Morgan Lekstrom, CEO of the Company, commented: "The successful uplisting to Nasdaq is a transformative milestone in our growth strategy. This listing reflects our continued disciplined execution, and our confidence in our renewed strategy to accelerate long-term value for our investors while strengthening our global presence and platform for future strategic partnerships." About NexMetals Mining Corp. NexMetals Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration and development company that is focused on the redevelopment of the previously producing copper, nickel and cobalt resources mines owned by the Company in the Republic of Botswana. NexMetals is committed to governance through transparent accountability and open communication within our team and our stakeholders. NexMetals' team brings extensive experience across the full spectrum of mine discovery and development. Collectively, the team has contributed to dozens of projects, including work on the Company's Selebi and Selkirk mines. Senior team members each have on average, more than 20 years of experience spanning geology, engineering, operations, and project development. For further information about NexMetals Mining Corp., please contact: Morgan LekstromCEO and Directormorganl@ Jaclyn RuptashV.P., Communications and Investor Relationsjaclyn@ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Follow Us X: To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
a day ago
- General
- Zawya
Strengthening vulnerability analysis to tackle food insecurity in Southern Africa
Food insecurity in Southern Africa is worsening, driven by erratic weather patterns, pest outbreaks, and economic shocks. An estimated 46.3 million people across seven countries -Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania— are projected to fate acute food insecurity during the 20205/26 consumption period. As shocks intensify, timely and harmonized vulnerability assessments remain critical to inform early action, response planning, and policy development. To this end, representatives from 11 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States, joined by regional and international partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET), and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Regional Support Unit, gathered virtually from 14 to 16 July 2025 for the Annual Dissemination Forum of the SADC Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (RVAA) Programme. The event was followed by the 29th Steering Committee meeting on 17 July 2025. Despite data collection and budgetary challenges, seven Member States successfully completed their national assessments and presented findings at the forum. These findings contributed to the finalization of the 2025 Regional Synthesis Report on the State of Food and Nutrition Security in SADC, validated by the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee (RVAC). The report highlights a concerning uptick in food insecurity, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and low-income urban areas, underscoring the compounded impact of the 2024 El Niño-induced drought, ongoing conflict, and high food prices. At the same time, the region experienced normal to above-normal rainfall in many areas during the 2024/25 season, supporting a modest recovery in cereal production and grazing conditions, particularly in countries like Tanzania, Lesotho and Eswatini. FAO's technical support and way forward As a long-standing partner of the RVAA system, FAO continues to support Member States in enhancing the quality and use of vulnerability assessments. This includes contributing technical expertise to the Regional Vulnerability Assessment Committee, promoting alignment with IPC frameworks, and strengthening links between data and early action. Looking ahead, FAO will continue engaging with SADC Member States and partners to improve the quality and coverage of vulnerability assessments across the region. This includes supporting harmonization of tools and methodologies, promoting digital data collection systems, and fostering cross-country learning and peer-to-peer exchange. FAO is committed to working alongside the SADC Secretariat to strengthen the institutional sustainability of the RVAA programme and integrate early warning into broader disaster risk management systems. The outcomes of the 29th Steering Committee meeting reaffirm the urgency of accelerating investment in regional food security analysis. The Committee called for renewed efforts to mobilize resources for the upcoming landscape analysis of existing national frameworks, which will inform the development of a harmonized vulnerability assessment framework for the SADC region by 2026. FAO will remain a key technical partner in this process, offering expertise to ensure that the proposed framework is scalable, inclusive, and responsive to the complex drivers of vulnerability facing Southern Africa today. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Giyani Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/ TORONTO, July 22, 2025 /CNW/ - Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV: EMM) (GR: A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company"), developer of the battery-grade manganese project in Botswana (" or "the Project"), announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 50,000,000 units (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.06 per Unit to raise aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$3 million (the "Offering"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant") of the Company. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.085 per Common Share for a period of 36 months from the closing date of the Offering. The Company expects to pay finder's fees in connection with the Offering to certain eligible finders in the form of: (i) a cash commission of 6.0% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering from investors introduced to the Company by the finder; and (ii) the issuance of such number of non-transferable common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Finder's Warrants") equal to 6.0% of the Units issued under the Offering from investors introduced to the Company by the finder. All securities issued or made issuable pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance under applicable Canadian securities laws in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada. Closing of the Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Highlights Non-brokered private placement of up to 50,000,000 Units at a price of $0.06 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$3 million. The proceeds of the Offering will continue to support Company workstreams, activities and general working capital. The Issue Price represents a 20% discount to the most recent closing price of the Common Shares. The Company is in ongoing discussions with offtakers for battery-grade manganese products, including high-purity manganese oxide ("HPMO") and high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate ("HPMSM"). The Demo Plant is currently on track to produce HPMSM in Q3 2025. The Definitive Feasibility Study remains on track for completion in Q1 2026. Members of the board and senior management are expected to participate in the Offering. As a result of the expected participation in the Offering by certain directors and officers of the Company, the Offering is expected to be a related party transaction subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 – Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company expects to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation in the Offering by such directors and officers is not expected to exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO of the Company, commented: "We are pleased with the support shown thus far by new and existing investors, which reflects confidence in our long-term strategy to deliver sustainable, low-carbon high-purity battery grade manganese products for the EV and ESS industries. This financing will provide us with the flexibility and resources needed to capitalize on upcoming growth opportunities, including producing HPMSM from the Demo Plant this quarter, delivering the Definitive Feasibility Study next year, and positioning the Company to progress towards Project Financing." Demo Plant Commissioning and Production Update The production ramp-up phase (C5 Commissioning) continues to advance, and the team continues to work progressively towards first production of HPMSM in Q3 2025. The learnings from the Demo Plant will support further optimization of the anticipated design and engineering, and process flowsheet, which aims to reduce the Commercial Plant's operating cost and carbon profile. The inputs from the Demo Plant operations will be used in the Definitive Feasibility Study, which is currently underway and expected to be completed in Q1 2026. Manganese MarketThe demand for manganese is set to rise significantly, driven by advancements in battery technologies that increasingly favour higher manganese content owing to its stabilising properties. From 2028 onwards, new battery chemistries being developed will require greater quantities of high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) and high-purity manganese oxide (HPMO) as critical inputs.1 This shift in demand is largely attributed to the growing adoption of electric vehicles and energy storage solutions, both of which rely on next-generation batteries with enhanced performance and safety profiles. Giyani is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this market evolution. The Company benefits from assets located in a supportive jurisdiction, enabling it to align its project timelines with the anticipated surge in demand for HPMSM and HPMO. __________________________1 Source: SC Insights – May 2025, Giyani analysis Qualified Persons / NI 43-101 Disclosures A National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report including results of the PEA and the MRE can be found on SEDAR+ at and made available on the Company's website at Jeffrey Peter Stevens BSc (Chem Eng) Pr. Eng is a Qualified Person, as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Stevens is assisting the Company for DFS compliance with NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content contained in this news release and is independent of the issuer for the purposes of NI 43-101. About GiyaniGiyani is focused on becoming a preferred western-world producer of sustainable, low carbon high purity battery grade manganese for the EV and ESS industry. The Company has developed a proprietary hydrometallurgical process to produce battery-grade manganese (HPMSM and HPMO), a lithium-ion battery cathode precursor material critical for EVs and ESS. Additional information and corporate documents may be found on Giyani Metals Corp. website at On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp. Charles FitzRoy, President and CEO This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Giyani expects to occur, are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to certain assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Giyani's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include the Company's anticipated use of proceeds and the use of the net proceeds following closing of the Offering and statements respecting closing of the Offering and receipt of all regulatory approvals in respect of the Offering, including approval of the TSXV, as well as anticipated operations in future periods, planned construction and development of its properties and facilities, and plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. This information relates to analyses and other information that is based on expectations of future performance and planned work programs. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation: inherent exploration hazards and risks; risks related to exploration and development of natural resource properties; uncertainty in Giyani's ability to obtain funding; commodity price fluctuations; recent market events and conditions; risks related to governmental regulations; risks related to obtaining necessary licences and permits; risks related to Giyani's business being subject to environmental laws and regulations; risks related to the Company's mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to competition from larger companies with greater financial and technical resources; risks relating to the inability to meet financial obligations under agreements to which they are a party; ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; and risks related to the Company's directors and officers becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Giyani's forward-looking information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information or statements. Giyani's forward-looking information is based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of the Company's respective management on the date the statements are made, and Giyani does not assume any obligation to update forward looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For a complete discussion with respect to Giyani and risks associated with forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, please refer to Giyani's continuous disclosure documents which are filed on SEDAR+ at SOURCE Giyani Metals Corp. View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Zawya
a day ago
- Health
- Zawya
Southern Africa Enhances Early Warning Systems as Event-Based Surveillance Guidelines are Launched in Three Countries
Three Southern African countries now have Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) Guidelines—a critical tool for detecting and responding to emerging health risks. Event-based surveillance systems collect and analyse information from diverse sources, including communities, the media, and healthcare workers, to detect unusual health events in real time. They complement traditional indicator-based surveillance and are designed to support rapid public health responses. Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe were supported in developing their guidelines by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC). The Botswana Event-Based Surveillance Guidelines were launched on 24 June in Gaborone. 'By institutionalising a robust early warning system, the health sector will be empowered to detect signals of potential disease threats at their earliest stages,' said Dr Stephen Modise, MP, Minister of Health and Wellness. Speaking on Dr Modise's behalf, Dr Rex Kealebile Segadimo, Acting Secretary for Specialised Health Care, said the launch of these guidelines marks a significant milestone in Botswana's efforts to strengthen its public health system. 'This will enable the country to assess risks with precision and respond in a science-based manner, preventing threats from escalating into full-blown crises.' Dr Modise further stated: 'The institutionalisation of a robust early warning system will enable us to stay ahead of emerging health risks and respond effectively to protect the health and well-being of our citizens.' Dr Lul Riek, the Africa CDC Regional Director for Southern Africa, reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Botswana and all AU Member States in operationalising these guidelines. This support will include capacity building, mentorship, digital tools, and regional coordination—as well as fostering peer learning and cross-border collaboration—recognising that no country can achieve health security in isolation. With these guidelines in place, Botswana is now better equipped to respond quickly and effectively to emerging health threats, ultimately protecting the health and well-being of its citizens. Officiating the launch in Windhoek, Namibia, also on 24 June, the country's Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, noted that EBS plays a critical role in addressing the increasing number of public health emergencies in the country. The new surveillance system is a timely intervention, as the country faces rising risks of communicable diseases such as malaria and cholera, increasingly influenced by climate-related factors. She described the launch as a true demonstration of Namibia's commitment to being proactive in disease preparedness. 'Real-time detection of public health threats is essential to mitigate the impact of outbreaks, especially in the face of shifting disease patterns,' she said. The Minister also called for a multifaceted approach to health security and emphasised the importance of establishing and prioritising National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) to coordinate preparedness, response, and mitigation efforts. The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in Zimbabwe launched its EBS Guidelines on 18 June in Harare. 'We are not gathered here merely to unveil a policy document,' said Dr Aspect Maunganidze, Secretary for Health and Child Care. 'We are here to affirm a national commitment—to declare that the health and safety of every Zimbabwean is our highest priority.' He explained that the EBS guidelines represent a strategic shift from reactive to proactive preparedness, empowering health authorities to detect early warning signs of public health threats before they escalate. Ms Batsirai Mbodza, Regional Programme Lead for Africa CDC, emphasised the critical importance of implementation. 'Guidelines alone will not stop outbreaks. The real impact lies in how well they are implemented,' she said. 'These tools must reach health workers in clinics, surveillance officers in the field, and community leaders, often the first to sense when something is amiss.' On behalf of UNICEF, Mr Diop Daouda stressed the need for inclusivity in the country's surveillance systems. 'Surveillance systems must be inclusive, they must reach the most remote villages, informal settlements, and border communities,' he said, adding: 'They must consider gender dynamics, disability, and cultural norms. No signal should go unnoticed, because no life is dispensable.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
