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Monday, 11 May 2026
Botswana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
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Politics

Auditor General flags P196m unaccounted COVID-19 funds to BAMB

The News

The latest Auditor General's report highlights P196,683,098 disbursed to BAMB on 8 October 2020 for Strategic Grain Reserve procurement that remains unaccounted for. The funds were part of the government's COVID-19 emergency response to support farmers and strengthen food security.

Why it matters

P196m in COVID-19 emergency funds remain unaccounted for at BAMB, representing a critical accountability failure on public money.

11 hours ago · Mmegi

Politics

  1. Auditor General flags P196m unaccounted COVID-19 funds to BAMB

    The latest Auditor General's report highlights P196,683,098 disbursed to BAMB on 8 October 2020 for Strategic Grain Reserve procurement that remains unaccounted for. The funds were part of the government's COVID-19 emergency response to support farmers and strengthen food security.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

  2. Audit reveals Boko's pattern of non-competitive direct tendering

    A forensic audit commissioned by Boko found repeated use of non-competitive procurement, weakly justified direct awards, emergency procurement, and tender manipulation across multiple entities, with overuse of direct appointments and reliance on emergency procurement without clear basis, departing from open and competitive tendering.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

  3. DIS officers face fresh court delay over improper notice

    Officers of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security returned to the High Court on Monday expecting progress on a three-month ultimatum issued to government, but learned the ultimatum had not been properly activated because they had not formally served the government with the court's report.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

  4. Selebi-Phikwe East sees intense political activity before election

    Political parties are conducting extensive activities in Selebi-Phikwe East constituency—including community meetings, door-to-door campaigns, and youth engagements—nearly two years before the scheduled national polls, transforming the area into one of the country's hottest political zones.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

  5. Former President Festus Mogae laid to rest Saturday

    Former President Festus Mogae, who died on May 7 aged 86, will be buried in Gaborone on May 16. A memorial schedule includes national prayers until May 13, lying in state at Parliament on May 13, a memorial service on May 14, and a Procession of Honour on May 15.

    17 hours ago · Daily News Botswana

  6. National Prayers Begin for Late Former President Mogae

    National Prayers for the late Former President Festus Mogae commenced on May 10 at Ditshupo Hall. A National Mourning Period declared in his honour will continue until May 16, during which the national flag will fly at half-mast at government buildings, ministries, diplomatic missions, and public institutions.

    17 hours ago · Daily News Botswana

Business

  1. Financial discipline essential to SME survival, Bank Gaborone says

    Speaking at Bank Gaborone's Kgwebo Connect series, an entrepreneur cautioned that passion alone does not sustain long-term business growth; practical steps and financial discipline are necessary to build sustainable businesses.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

  2. Court of Appeal reserves judgment on Mupane mine auction dispute

    The Court of Appeal will announce its judgment in two weeks on an appeal concerning Mupane, a gold mine that closed in March 2024 and went to auction in April 2025 with three bids. The appeal was filed by the mine's liquidator and the initial winning bidder Nova Africa Resources after a High Court interdict halted the sale, granted to losing bidder Ulsan Botswana over alleged tender irregularities.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

Agriculture & Land

  1. Livestock support scheme allegedly benefits non-citizens unfairly

    A livestock feed subsidy scheme introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture during the 2021/2022 drought—offering a 15% subsidy from August 2022 to January 2023—has allegedly been benefiting non-citizens unfairly, according to Mmegi.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

Society

  1. Reckless driving habits persist despite road safety efforts

    Dangerous driving remains widespread across Botswana despite authorities' continuous efforts to improve road safety, with motorists engaging in risky behaviour despite understanding the dangers, and some public transport operators involved in reckless incidents.

    11 hours ago · Mmegi

  2. Labour Minister warns meat industry against unlawful FMD-linked retrenchments

    Labour Minister Pius Mokgware has warned employers in the meat industry against using Foot-and-Mouth Disease restrictions as cover for unlawful worker retrenchments.

    6 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette

  3. Ministry of Health responds to Ombudsman's report on public health sector

    The Ministry of Health has submitted a response to the Ombudsman's report on failures in Botswana's public health sector, proposing measures to address the service delivery gaps identified in the report.

    6 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette

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