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Monday, 11 May 2026
Botswana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 11 May 2026
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Archive Minute from Monday, 11 May 2026
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

P196 million in unaccounted COVID-19 funds to BAMB represents a significant accountability gap in emergency pandemic spending.

11 May 2026 · 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 May 2026 · 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 May 2026 · 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 May 2026 · 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 May 2026 · 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.

    11 May 2026 · 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.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  7. Parliament must deliver voter-demanded change, speaker says

    National Assembly Speaker Dithapelo Keorapetse said public expectations are high for Parliament and government institutions to deliver on voters' demands for law reform, policy reform, representation and economic transformation. He noted that Parliament has adopted a National Development Plan and economic transformation plan, and called for democratic institutions to become more independent, well-resourced and empowered.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  8. Former president Mogae to receive state funeral May 16

    Former president Dr Festus Mogae will be laid to rest at Phomolong Memorial Park in Phakalane on May 16 following a state funeral. A Book of Condolences will be opened at Parliament from May 12 to May 15, the late president will lie in state on May 13, and a national memorial service will be held on May 14 in Gaborone.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  9. Botswana mourns former president Mogae, age eighty-six

    Botswana's third president, Dr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, passed away on May 8 following a brief illness. The nation observed three days of national mourning, with residents and clan members gathering to pay tribute to the leader who served as president from April 1998 to April 2008 and was celebrated for his economic stewardship and HIV/AIDS response.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  10. Kgosi Seboko elected Deputy Chairperson of Pan-African Parliament Southern Caucus

    Traditional leader Kgosi Mosadi Seboko has been elected Deputy Chairperson of the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament, strengthening Botswana's influence within continental politics and placing the country in a strategic leadership position on regional integration and governance.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  11. Batswana support media watchdog role but divided on press freedom

    An Afrobarometer survey shows that most Batswana back the media's role as a government watchdog and value media freedom, though the country remains sharply divided over whether journalists can operate without interference. Many also believe media freedom has deteriorated in recent years.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  12. Auditor General flags P1.6 billion in unpaid state loans

    Botswana's parastatals including the Botswana Meat Commission, Air Botswana, and Botswana Postal Services have failed to honour repayment obligations on government loans totalling more than P1.6 billion, with the Auditor General raising concerns over weak oversight and broken repayment agreements.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  13. Former President Mogae dies after leading AIDS response

    Former president Festus Mogae, who oversaw one of Africa's most aggressive responses to HIV/AIDS and a period of sustained economic discipline anchored in diamond wealth, has died. President Duma Boko has announced a three-day period of national mourning.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  14. UN warns Botswana development model faces critical inflection point

    A United Nations assessment has warned that Botswana's development model is approaching a critical inflection point amid growing governance pressures following the country's 2024 political transition, citing structural weaknesses in governance, human rights compliance, and national data systems.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

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 May 2026 · 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 May 2026 · Mmegi

  3. Letshego Africa Holdings sells five subsidiaries to Axian Group

    Letshego Africa Holdings has agreed to sell five of its African subsidiaries to Dubai-based Axian Group as part of a portfolio overhaul aimed at sharpening focus on Southern Africa and improving capital efficiency.

    11 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

  4. National Assembly Speaker to headline corporate governance summit

    National Assembly Speaker Dithapelo Keorapetse will headline Exclusive Human Capital Consultancy's fourth Corporate Governance Summit on May 21 and 22 at Phakalane Golf Estate, which will focus on governance architecture and accountability and bring together business leaders and policymakers.

    11 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

  5. War-driven fuel shocks, diamond uncertainty cloud 2026 outlook

    Botswana's economic outlook for 2026 is shaped by three major trends: possible diamond sector recovery, reforms under the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan, and war-driven fuel shocks and inflation.

    11 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

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 May 2026 · Mmegi

  2. Pandamatenga farmers plant 38,908 hectares despite flooding

    Pandamatenga farmers have committed 38,908 hectares to crops this season despite severe flooding that brought operations to a standstill in January and February. Though the hectorage has decreased from last season's 41,000 hectares, the region's farmers have replanted flood-damaged areas and shifted toward sunflower, maize, and barley production to avoid market saturation and meet international demand.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  3. Zone 6B South has lowest FMD vaccination coverage at 83 percent

    Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti expressed concern that Zone 6B South's Foot and Mouth Disease vaccination coverage rate of 83 per cent was the lowest among all zones, with Zone 6B North at 95 per cent and Zone 3C at 100 per cent. He emphasized that vaccination was crucial to fighting FMD and urged farmers to adhere to veterinary control measures as Botswana faces simultaneous outbreaks across multiple zones for the first time.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Society

  1. Batanani Walk 2026 focuses on child safety and protection

    The Batanani Walk, now a national platform for social change in Botswana, has chosen child safety as its 2026 theme. The campaign, launched in Gaborone on April 27, aims to raise awareness about violence against children, encourage reporting of abuse cases, and support institutions working with vulnerable children, with Mascom Wireless backing the initiative.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  2. 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 May 2026 · Mmegi

  3. 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.

    11 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

  4. 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.

    11 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

  5. UK report finds Botswana lacks data on gender-based violence crisis

    A United Kingdom Home Office report has found that Botswana faces a gender-based violence crisis but lacks official data on arrests, prosecutions, and convictions related to violence against women.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  6. International diplomats criticize Botswana over gender-based violence crisis

    A UK Home Office fact-finding mission report has documented international diplomats' frustration with President Duma Boko's government, accusing it of relying on rhetoric and public relations while women continue to die in alarming numbers from gender-based violence.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

Culture

  1. YOKI fashion initiative empowers youth ages four to twenty-five

    The Youth and Kids (YOKI) African Fashion show brings together young people aged four to 25 to explore fabric design and fashion, with participants receiving free weekend training and access to tuition discounts at Gaborone University College of Law and Professional Studies, culminating in semi-finals in September and a grand finale in December.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Sport

  1. Township Rollers launches Blue Magic ice cream brand with Sogo

    Botswana's biggest football club Township Rollers has partnered with Sogo to launch a branded ice cream product called Blue Magic, marking the team's entry into the FMCG sector as part of sustainability initiatives following financial difficulties including unpaid player salaries.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  2. IBO-sanctioned boxing tournament to be held in Gaborone

    Scud Missile Promotions is hosting an International Boxing Organization-sanctioned boxing tournament on May 26 at the Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone, bringing together boxers from Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Local fighter Kutlwano Ogaketse will compete for the vacant IBO Africa Junior Welterweight title.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  3. Botswana confirmed to host 25th African Senior Athletics Championships 2028

    The Confederation of African Athletics has confirmed Botswana as host of the 25th African Senior Athletics Championships in 2028, according to Botswana Athletics Association acting president Oabona Theetso following a meeting in Accra, Ghana.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  4. Basketball league postpones season opener to May 15

    The Botswana Basketball League has delayed its season tip-off from May 8 to May 15 due to logistical challenges in both divisions and the need to ensure team compliance with regulatory requirements. The Dolphins, 2025 champions, won both men's and women's titles last September.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  5. Botswana athletes compete at African Championships in Ghana

    Botswana's team at the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra includes experienced and youthful athletes aiming to improve on their previous performance. Athletes including Bhekimpilo Eppie, who won silver in the last edition, and Obakeng Kamberuka, who reached the final, are among those expected to perform well for the country.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Tourism & Environment

  1. Botswana faces intensifying heat, drought, water stress

    According to a regional study by scientists from seven southern African countries, Botswana is entering a more dangerous phase of climate change as intensifying heat and recurring drought strain water supplies, agriculture and economy.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

World & Region

  1. Botswana hosts regional leaders amid DRC conflict tensions

    President Duma Boko recently hosted Rwanda's Paul Kagame on a state visit, with South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa expected to visit soon. Rwanda and South Africa are fighting on different sides in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

Opinion

  1. Auditor General and Ombudsman reports go unheeded by Executive

    An opinion column examines two decades of Auditor General reports and parallel Ombudsman findings revealing systematic wastage, missed deadlines, and maladministration across ministries, but notes both institutions lack enforcement power to compel compliance or prosecution.

    11 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana

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