Botswana Minute

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Botswana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Thursday, 25 June 2026

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Politics

Botswana chiefs debate DNA testing, polygamy legalization

The News

Botswana's House of Chiefs is grappling with two motions brought before it: one calling for mandatory DNA testing at birth to establish biological parentage, and another advocating for the legalization and formal recognition of polygamy, spearheaded by Kgosi Dingalo of Maun. The advisory body, which counsels Parliament on matters of tribal customs and traditions, is being tested as traditional leaders confront issues shaped by modernization and global connectivity.

25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →

Politics

Botswana chiefs debate DNA testing, polygamy legalization
Botswana's House of Chiefs is grappling with two motions brought before it: one calling for mandatory DNA testing at birth to establish biological parentage, and another advocating for the legalization and formal recognition of polygamy, spearheaded by Kgosi Dingalo of Maun. The advisory body, which counsels Parliament on matters of tribal customs and traditions, is being tested as traditional leaders confront issues shaped by modernization and global connectivity.
25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
BDF Judge Advocate explains death penalty for military cowardice
The BDF's retired Judge Advocate General told the Public Accounts Committee that cowardice can attract the death penalty for soldiers under the military justice system during times of war.
25 June 2026 · Mmegi →

Business

Land Rover unveils Classic Defender V8 family with Spectral Green finish
Land Rover Classic has introduced a family of four remastered Classic Defender V8s featuring a color-shifting Spectral Green paint finish that shifts between green, purple, and gold hues, with the collection now including a newly introduced 110 Double Cab Pick-Up alongside existing models.
25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
Government engages with UN on credit rating capacity
Botswana is working with the UN Development Programme to strengthen its capacity to engage with international credit rating agencies following downgrades by Moody's and S&P's, which remain in the investment category. The Accountant General warned that economic challenges could lead to further downgrades if not addressed, and the Bank of Botswana flagged a high risk of downgrade in third-quarter reviews if agreed measures are not implemented.
25 June 2026 · Mmegi →

Mining & Energy

Création Botswana Season 2 promotes jewelry design, diamond craftsmanship
Botswana is shifting its diamond narrative from extraction to creative enterprise. Création Botswana Season 2, a partnership between the French Embassy, Lucara Botswana, Alliance Française de Gaborone, KGK Diamonds Botswana, and Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology, focuses on linking Botswana's creative talent with the diamond value chain through jewelry design and manufacturing integration.
25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →

Society

Family suspicions prompt exhumation of Kalamare woman's body
A Kalamare woman who collapsed weeks ago whilst with her 40-year-old boyfriend was certified dead on arrival at a local clinic, according to police, prompting her family to request an exhumation.
25 June 2026 · Mmegi →
Botswana enters global top 20 by HIV population count
With an estimated 360,000 people living with HIV, Botswana has officially joined the world's top 20 nations with the largest HIV-positive populations. The country's HIV prevalence rate among adults aged 15 to 49 hovers near 20 percent, making it one of the highest globally.
25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
Mosquitoes remain Africa's chief malaria challenge despite research
Female Anopheles mosquitoes continue to transmit malaria across Africa, claiming approximately 580,000 lives in 2022 alone—over 95% of global malaria deaths—and disproportionately affecting children under five and pregnant women, despite decades of intervention efforts.
25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
Magistrate orders forced DNA collection in rape case
A Ramotswa suspect accused in close to 20 rape cases has been ordered by Principal Magistrate Keabetswe Majuta to provide a DNA sample within 48 hours after repeatedly refusing to do so. He is currently charged with three counts of rape, with the likelihood of increasing to a possible 20.
25 June 2026 · Mmegi →
Government launches programme to refurbish all public schools
President Duma Boko announced on March 14 a sweeping initiative to refurbish every government school in the country. The National Programme on Refurbishment, Modernisation and Maintenance of Schools, overseen by the newly established Education Infrastructure Management Company (EIMC), aims to address decades of infrastructure decay in public schools.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Basarwa community appeals for political and economic inclusion
At a consultative meeting in Kokotsha village, the Basarwa community shared grievances about systemic marginalisation, economic exclusion, and fading cultural identity. Residents stressed the need for their own traditional leadership representation and said current national empowerment programmes were not reaching them.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Patikwane JSS among first 11 schools selected for refurbishment
Patikwane Junior Secondary School, located between Paje and Mabeleapudi and serving boarding learners from distant villages, faces severe infrastructure challenges including broken windows, missing doors, rusting beds without mattresses, and open sewage drains. The school is among the first 11 junior secondary schools selected for refurbishment.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Culture

Leteitshi garments embody national identity and cultural meaning
The leteitshi, a traditional garment worn at celebrations like weddings, allows individuals to express themselves while maintaining cultural unity through synchronized dress and dance, reflecting broader national meaning in ordinary life.
25 June 2026 · Mmegi →
Botswana photojournalist Ngubevana wins Africa Geographic award
Metlha Ngubevana, a Botswana photojournalist, earned runner-up position in the Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year 2026 competition for his photograph titled "Milk of Inheritance." Ngubevana began his photography career in 2010 after attending a professional photography workshop and has worked with Press Photo, Daily News, and Xinhua News Agency.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Sport

Study links political views to Messi or Ronaldo support
A Nanyang Technological University study of over 10,000 football fans from 26 countries found that Ronaldo supporters tended to identify as conservative while Messi backers leaned liberal, suggesting political views play a role in the famous rivalry.
25 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
Kebinatshipi faces Hall in Paris Diamond League 400m
Botswanan 400m World Champion Collen Kebinatshipi will face United States Olympic Champion Quincy Hall at the Paris Diamond League event on Sunday. The two athletes have previously competed closely, with Hall winning their recent Rome Diamond League encounter in 44.22 seconds while Kebinatshipi finished third in 44.51 seconds.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Tourism & Environment

Air race raises funds for white rhino relocation project
Elite pilots from around the world will participate in the Race for the Rhinos Aviation Event at Makgadikgadi Pans from June 26 to 29, featuring 22 aviators flying 11 registered aircraft. The four-day event aims to raise funds to relocate 13 white rhinos donated by South Africa and establish a new conservation site across the Makgadikgadi Wetland System.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

World & Region

SACU summit convenes in Cape Town to discuss regional integration
The 9th Southern African Customs Union summit brought together leaders from Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa in Cape Town to discuss regional economic integration, trade and development issues. South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the summit, while Botswana President Advocate Duma Boko delivered closing remarks in his capacity as SACU chair.
25 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →