Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the third president of Botswana, died on May 8, 2026, at age 86 after falling ill in April and being hospitalized in Gaborone.
Death of former President Festus Mogae is a major national event that will resonate with Batswana across generations.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the third president of Botswana, died on May 8, 2026, at age 86 after falling ill in April and being hospitalized in Gaborone.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi has reflected on external and internal party forces that contributed to the BDP's loss of government control in the 2024 general elections, marking the party's first defeat in nearly six decades.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Acting President Ndaba Gaolathe and other senior leaders signed the book of condolences for former President Dr Festus Mogae at Parliament, as the nation mourns the statesman who is remembered for his contributions to Botswana's economic growth, democratic governance and international stability. Dr Mogae died on May 8 and will be laid to rest on May 16.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
An article reflects on Dr Festus Mogae's lighter side and personality, highlighting his witty remarks and charismatic nature alongside his professional demeanor as president. The piece includes examples of his humorous observations on African politics, election transitions, and his various post-presidential engagements.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
High Court Judge Dr. Zeinub Kebonang sentenced Tapologo Makwatse to death for the 2015 murder of his girlfriend Dipuo Ramalepa, rejecting the defendant's claims of drunkenness and ruling that voluntary drinking should be treated as an aggravating factor rather than a reason for leniency. The judgment challenges what the judge described as a legal trend in Botswana where courts accept vague terms like "under the influence" to reduce culpability without expert testimony.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Air Botswana has operated with persistent governance failures, board instability, and lack of executive leadership over the past five years, Parliament heard. The airline's general manager disclosed that for five consecutive years the board was either incomplete or could not form a quorum, delaying key decisions and weakening oversight, while six board positions are currently filled on an acting basis.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
A national forensic audit has found weak oversight and ineffective enforcement at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crimes (DCEC), the Ethics and Integrity Directorate (EID), and the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS), citing leadership failures that have allowed corruption cases to stall and senior officials' unexplained wealth to go unnoticed.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Members of the Diplomatic Corps and the public visited Parliament Buildings to sign a Condolence Book in honour of the late Former President Dr Festus Mogae, who passed away on May 8 aged 86. A series of state events are scheduled, including lying in state on May 13, a home village procession on May 14, a national memorial service, and burial at Phomolong Memorial Park in Phakalane on May 16.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana is expected to experience a decline in investment from both households and businesses, driven by soaring credit costs linked to rising interest rates in the commercial banking sector.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Commercial bank arrears steadied to P6.6 billion in February after spiking earlier, with the majority of loans now over 180 days old; collective after-tax profits for January and February fell 24% year-on-year to P517.3 million.
12 May 2026 · Mmegi →
Botswana's economic growth is expected to slow in 2026 as inflation climbs from 3.9 percent in late 2025 to a forecast average of 8.7 percent for the year, driven by fuel price hikes, transport fare increases, and rising medical aid premiums. The Bank of Botswana projects inflation will peak at 11.1 percent in the third quarter, threatening household incomes and consumer-dependent sectors including wholesale, retail, and financial services.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation has officially launched BTC Business, a refreshed identity for its business division, delivering tailored digital solutions to critical sectors including government, banking, mining, tourism, education, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, transport and energy across Botswana and the SADC region.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana and Rwanda have signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement to eliminate double taxation on income earned in both countries and deepen economic ties. Officials say the pact will attract foreign direct investment and ease cross-border business expansion, though concerns remain about potential revenue losses and tax avoidance risks.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Beneficiary funds manage pension benefits for dependants after a member's death by disbursing payments over time for defined needs such as education and healthcare, rather than as lump sums that risk being depleted quickly. The structured approach introduces governance and accountability to ensure funds serve the beneficiary's best interests.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Former president Dr Festus Mogae became known for his stylish off-duty fashion sense, particularly his relaxed denim-on-denim outfits paired with newsboy caps, a distinctive look that inspired many, especially young people.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
First National Bank Botswana's foundation has partnered with the Ministry of Basic Education & Child Welfare and the National Arts Council of Botswana to expand the Bodiragatsi Jwame, Lentswe Lame 4.0 initiative with an investment of approximately P2 million, aiming to connect young talent to sustainable economic opportunities beyond traditional showcasing.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana National Sport Commission announced at its 45th National Sport Awards that it will move the annual ceremony to other cities and towns as part of a decentralisation drive to make sports recognition more inclusive and accessible across the country.
12 May 2026 · Mmegi →
At the 45th National Sports Awards, 22-year-old sprint athlete Busang Collen Kebinatshipi claimed both Sportsman of the Year and overall Sportsperson of the Year titles, emerging as the biggest winner of the night.
12 May 2026 · Mmegi →
GU Football Club, known as Red Roses, defeated rivals Double Action FC 2–1 in a city derby to move to the top of the table and tighten their grip on the title race. The win comes after BDF XI and Jwaneng Galaxy FC held the top positions for much of the season.
12 May 2026 · Mmegi →
Chiefs advanced to the Orange FA Cup semifinals after winning 5-3 on penalties, though the match was overshadowed by a heated altercation between a Chiefs coach and a Black Lions official that required security intervention.
12 May 2026 · Mmegi →
The 2026 World Athletics Relays, held in Gaborone, are described as a landmark sporting event and significant economic catalyst for Botswana.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Six teams remain in contention to avoid relegation in the Botswana Premier League as the season approaches its final matches. TAFIC FC need one win from their last two matches to guarantee safety, while Santa Green FC and other clubs fight to stay in the top flight.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the high cost of 2026 World Cup tickets, including one listed for $11.5 million on FIFA's resale platform, attributing the pricing to unprecedented demand; FIFA received over 500 million ticket requests during the sales period against approximately seven million available tickets.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Confederation of African Athletics has confirmed that Botswana will host the 25th African Senior Athletics Championships in 2028, the country's first time hosting the event. The Botswana Athletics Association presented its readiness case to the CAA council in Accra in May, drawing on experience from the recent Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Speaking at a High-Level Sports Sequence in Nairobi on May 11, President Advocate Duma Boko said sport has evolved into a powerful force for unity, economic growth and continental transformation, citing Botswana's recent hosting of the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 26 where records were broken and medals were embedded with natural diamonds.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
SuperSport's new advertising campaign will launch on 11 May across more than 20 English- and Portuguese-speaking African countries to coincide with the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking the first collaboration between CANAL+'s agency partner BETC and MultiChoice Group's SuperSport brand. As official broadcaster of all 104 matches, SuperSport will deliver 24/7 coverage across four dedicated channels with multiple language options.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Mark Nawa and Ntungamili Raguin defeated Seabo Saleshando and Tsholofelo Tsiang 6-4, 6-2 in the Men's Doubles first round of the World Tennis Tour Gaborone ITF tournament at the National Tennis Centre.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Global finance professionals' confidence has plunged to pandemic-era lows due to Middle East conflict and soaring commodity prices, with the Strait of Hormuz closure reducing maritime traffic by 95 percent and energy prices projected to surge 24 percent. Africa's GDP growth is forecast to lose 0.2 percentage points in 2026 as soaring fuel and fertilizer costs threaten agricultural output.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The World Bank Group warns that the Middle East conflict is causing the largest oil supply loss on record, with global commodity prices forecast to rise 16 percent in 2026 and energy prices expected to surge 24 percent, fueling inflation and slowing growth in import-dependent economies like Botswana.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →