Botswana Minute.
Monday, 10 August 2026
Botswana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Monday, 10 August 2026
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Archive Minute from Monday, 10 August 2026
Politics

BPP defers constitutional review conference for broader participation

The News

The BPP has postponed its constitutional review conference following a central committee meeting, citing the need to ensure broader participation, adequate preparation, and a more inclusive process that reflects membership aspirations. The party did not announce a new date but indicated that additional time is necessary to allow members to fully engage with proposed constitutional amendments.

10 August 2026 · Mmegi

Politics

  1. BPP defers constitutional review conference for broader participation

    The BPP has postponed its constitutional review conference following a central committee meeting, citing the need to ensure broader participation, adequate preparation, and a more inclusive process that reflects membership aspirations. The party did not announce a new date but indicated that additional time is necessary to allow members to fully engage with proposed constitutional amendments.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  2. BPP leadership elections overdue since 2015 delegates conference

    The BPP constitution requires central committee elections every three years, but the party has not held such elections since its 2015 national delegates conference.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  3. Moswaane suspension fuels divisions in party leadership

    The suspension of Francistown West MP Ignatius Moswaane has sparked speculation of deepening divisions within Botswana's oldest political party. Some members link the suspension to Moswaane's reported ambition to contest the party presidency and his criticism of decisions he believes contradict the party's constitution, though the BPP leadership has dismissed claims of political victimisation.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  4. DCEC investigating DIS chief Magosi, two cases completed

    The anti-corruption agency confirmed it has several active cases involving Brigadier Magosi, head of the intelligence body, with two investigations completed and ready for the next stage of the legal process. DCEC Director General Botlhale Makgekgenene told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee that the agency investigates anyone with evidence of wrongdoing regardless of position or political affiliation.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  5. Corruption reports to DCEC surge sharply over three years

    DCEC Director General Botlhale Makgekgenene told Parliament that corruption reports to the anti-corruption agency rose to 652 in 2023, 687 in 2024, and 957 in 2025, with 556 reports already received by August this year. The allegations focus on public procurement, abuse of office, conflicts of interest, unexplained wealth, tender manipulation and governance failures.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  6. Steve Harvey Botswana Ignite project consumes over P300 million

    Parliament heard that the controversial Steve Harvey Botswana Ignite project has consumed more than P300 million of taxpayers' money, with the government having paid roughly US$26 million in the first year of the agreement, while the fate of the remaining US$53 million remains uncertain.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  7. DCEC investigates DIS Director General Magosi for corruption allegations

    The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime has confirmed it is investigating allegations involving the Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security, Peter Fana Magosi, alongside several intelligence officers suspected of corruption and unexplained wealth.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  8. Anti-Corruption Bill delayed, not introduced this session

    The DCEC announced that the proposed Anti-Corruption Bill will not be introduced during the current parliamentary session, hitting a roadblock for Botswana's long-anticipated anti-corruption framework overhaul.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  9. Government cuts spending to reduce budget deficit and debt

    The government is trimming the budget to slow borrowing and prevent a debt crisis, as public debt reached P92.7 billion and is expected to exceed P100 billion by year-end, representing about 44% of GDP. Finance authorities and the World Bank warn that slow economic growth and diamond sector uncertainty could trigger a debt crisis.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  10. Digwa's political interest shaped by poor Boteti representation

    Digwa developed political interest stemming from what he saw as inadequate representation in Boteti, a perspective deepened by reading works like George Orwell's Animal Farm. He ousted former vice president Slumber Tsogwane after 15 years.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  11. Court of Appeal rules Seretse did not commit fraud

    The Court of Appeal rejected fraud findings against Bakang Seretse and his company Khulaco, despite using unusually strong language, though the court upheld an order for Seretse to repay P42 million.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  12. Court of Appeal upholds cancellation of Kgatleng Water tender

    The Court of Appeal dismissed construction company Black Cad Investments' bid to revive a long-running government infrastructure tender, ruling that procurement authorities acted lawfully when they cancelled the project for water and sanitation infrastructure in Morwa West, Kgatleng after years of disputes and investigations.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  13. BDF retirees threaten march, court action over pension dispute

    Botswana Defence Force retirees have escalated a long-running pension dispute, demanding permission to march to President Duma Boko's Office and threatening High Court action over the government's failure to respond for nearly two months to a request to deliver a petition about 1/375 Transfer Value Enhancement pension payments.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  14. Political patronage weakening Botswana's foreign service, editorial states

    An editorial in the Sunday Standard argues that Botswana's foreign service has been hollowed by years of political party appointments to High Commissioner and Ambassador positions, where party membership has mattered more than diplomatic qualifications and experience.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

Business

  1. BPOPF assets rise 10 percent to P128 billion

    The Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund reported a 10 percent increase in assets to P128.337 billion for the year ending March 2026, up from P116.506 billion in 2025, despite global market pressures and Botswana's diamond sector downturn.

    10 August 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

  2. Parastatals struggle despite monopolies and reform efforts

    Botswana's parastatals have resisted reform efforts since the 1990s despite holding legislation-backed monopolies in key sectors such as electricity, rail, and aviation. The 64 parastatals are divided into commercial entities expected to run on a profitable basis and non-commercial ones that rely exclusively on government support.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  3. IMF finds growing VAT compliance gap costing millions

    An IMF team that visited between October 27 and November 7 found that the country's VAT gap—the difference between optimal and actual revenue collection—trended upward from 2017 to 2024, with key revenues running into millions of pula going uncollected due to non-compliance.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  4. Global AI investment boom shows cracks amid spending-revenue gap

    The AI market boom that dominated early 2026 is fracturing as investors confront a widening gap between massive infrastructure spending ($400 billion) and slower enterprise AI revenue growth ($100 billion). Fund manager confidence in the sector is eroding, with 45% now viewing an AI bubble as the biggest market risk, up sharply from 11% months earlier.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  5. Botswana raises corporate tax rate to 24.5% from 22%

    Botswana's Income Tax Act 2026, effective July 1, 2026, increases the standard corporate income tax rate from 22% to 24.5%, though companies with Manufacturing Development Approval Orders will retain a 15% concessional rate on manufacturing profits while non-manufacturing income faces the higher rate.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  6. BSE targets tenfold capital markets expansion by 2030

    The Botswana Stock Exchange has unveiled a "10x by 2030" strategy to expand the nation's capital markets tenfold, aiming to increase capital mobilisation across infrastructure, small businesses, and emerging industries as part of economic diversification beyond the diamond sector.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  7. UDC government faces test delivering on multi-billion Pula loan

    Botswana is negotiating a multi-billion Pula loan from the African Development Bank to fund a jobs programme addressing unemployment through skills development and enterprise financing, but the funds will only be released if the government can prove it can deliver results.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  8. ADB urges Botswana to reform investment capacity and execution

    The African Development Bank's 2026 Botswana Country Focus Report calls for stronger project preparation, deeper capital markets, and better public investment management. Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe said government is aligning with the ADB to deepen institutional capacity and mobilise capital for viable investments, emphasising the need for sharper execution to move projects from preparation to implementation.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  9. Botswana and Namibia sign ICT cooperation memorandum

    Botswana and Namibia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on ICT cooperation to drive digital transformation, innovation, and economic diversification through broadband infrastructure, cyber security, digital skills, and joint research initiatives.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Mining & Energy

  1. Boko's envoy pitches P10.9 billion power sector opportunities

    President Duma Boko's Special Envoy Dr. Farzam Kamalabadi has presented commercial opportunities worth P10,882,472,000 in Botswana's power sector to American and Gulf markets.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  2. Botswana mining FDI surged to P47.8 billion in 2024

    Foreign direct investment in Botswana's mining sector reached P47.8 billion in 2024, a P15 billion increase from 2023, and accounted for 48.8 percent of total FDI inflows, up from 37.5 percent the previous year, according to the Bank of Botswana. The United Kingdom was the largest source of investment, contributing 56.9 percent of total FDI.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  3. Illegal gold mining in Francistown linked to Zimbabwean immigrants

    Francistown is experiencing a fresh wave of illegal gold mining activities, with fears that an influx of Zimbabwean immigrants escaping xenophobic violence and anti-immigration tensions in South Africa may be fueling the problem.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  4. EU funds Botswana renewable energy transition programme

    The Ministry of Minerals and Energy and the European Union have launched the ASPIRE programme, a €5.5 million project running from February 2026 to January 2030 that aims to increase renewable energy from eight to 50 per cent, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve energy efficiency.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Society

  1. P70.9 million water project vanishes, Court of Appeal says

    A P70.9 million public infrastructure project intended to deliver water and sanitation to Morwa West has disappeared into legal limbo, with the Court of Appeal describing it as a mirage that may never be realized.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  2. Study finds 'rich poor' exploiting Botswana's social security system

    A study by Professor Emmanuel Botlhale of Rwanda's African School of Governance has found that Botswana's social security system is being heavily burdened by the 'rich poor,' who are exploiting inherent flaws in the system.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  3. BOCONGO restructures after government withdraws funding

    The Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations has relocated offices, cut permanent staff, and shifted to project-based funding after the government withdrew subvention to civil society organizations. Executive Director Kutlwano Pelontle said the changes were necessary structural adaptations to keep the organization operational and serving its members.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  4. Accused traditional doctor claims investigators are threatening her

    Kebaleboge Ntsebe, one of four people accused in the murder of Barulaganye, told a Botswana court that investigators are threatening her during interviews, asking whether she wants to save other people's lives rather than her children's.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  5. Botswana's 52 labour inspectors inadequate for workforce, commissioner warns

    Labour Commissioner Veronica Moloko has warned that Botswana's labour inspectorate is severely understaffed with only 52 inspectors and lacks specialist skills needed to enforce the new Employment and Labour Relations Act as the country's private sector expands.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  6. Cabinet petitioned to reject nursing council fee increases

    The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana has proposed increases in annual subscription, licensing and penalty fees. Citizens, nurses, midwives, students and healthcare supporters have petitioned Cabinet to reject the proposal, warning that the new charges could force many professionals out of practice and place an unfair financial burden on the profession.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  7. Gaolathe highlights 30 years of Botswana-US CDC partnership on HIV

    Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe praised the 30-year partnership between Botswana and the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for transforming the country's response to HIV, tuberculosis, and public health. Gaolathe noted that the partnership, which began in 1995, had guided evidence-based policy decisions and led to initiatives including the 2002 launch of Masa, a national programme of free antiretroviral treatment.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Culture

  1. Lorato Orapeleng: From MTF Academy to Mediawrap Africa

    Lorato Orapeleng progressed from a graduate of the MultiChoice Talent Factory academy to founding Mediawrap Africa, a production company known for compelling storytelling through adverts and cultural narratives. Her trajectory reflects the evolving landscape of African filmmaking and the impact of incubation programs in developing creative entrepreneurs.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  2. Hukuntsi holds Dikgafela harvest celebration of Setswana culture

    Hukuntsi held a Dikgafela harvest celebration centred on Setswana cultural heritage, featuring traditional attire, songs, dances and the ceremonial presentation of the harvest. The community introduced the two-day event last year to preserve and promote local cultural traditions.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  3. Creators Assembly removes Limpopo Boy before inaugural event

    The organisers of the Creators Assembly, in association with sponsor BBS Bank, announced that content creator Limpopo Boy will no longer participate in the inaugural event. The announcement came less than 24 hours after a purported sex tape involving the creator trended on social media, though organisers did not explicitly link the removal to the video.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  4. Botswana moves to document cultures and family lineages

    The Government is working to document Botswana's diverse cultures, traditions, and family lineages to preserve heritage, strengthen cultural identity, and resolve family and community disputes. The initiative will ensure cultural practices and indigenous knowledge are passed to future generations, with dikgosi playing a central role in promoting peace and resolving conflicts.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  5. Koki Chiepe exhibits heritage reimagined through contemporary design

    Botswana luxury designer Koki Chiepe's exhibition Heritage Reimagined: Living Archives transformed the National Museum in Gaborone into a space where landscapes, ceremonies and indigenous knowledge were translated into contemporary design.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

Sport

  1. National Stadium undergoes fresh CAF inspection for approval

    Botswana's National Stadium faces a new CAF inspection; BFA president Tariq Babitseng said success would allow the country to host its national team and CAF club competition matches in the capital, easing pressure on Francistown's Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, the currently only CAF-certified venue in the country.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  2. Professional boxing chief seeks second term as president

    Professional Boxers Association of Botswana (PBAB) president Binda plans to contest for a second and final four-year term in 2027 elections, defending his tenure against criticism that the executive has overstayed in office. Binda says the delayed elective AGM was a membership resolution, not a unilateral decision, and that professional boxing requires specialized leadership experience.

    10 August 2026 · Mmegi

  3. Gaborone prepares for 2026 Independence Kids Run

    Preparations are underway for the Independence Kids Run scheduled for 26 September 2026 in Gaborone, celebrating Botswana's 60th Independence Anniversary. Following the April 2026 Absa Summer Kids Marathon which drew over 1,800 young participants, organizers aim to unite children, families, schools, and corporate partners to promote physical fitness, patriotism, and community involvement.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  4. Botswana returns from Glasgow Games with no medals

    Team Botswana failed to win a medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow despite public expectations of seven medals, marking a first in years and exposing gaps in the country's sports infrastructure and athlete development across athletics, boxing, judo, swimming, and lawn bowls.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  5. BFL governance crisis threatens 2026/27 Premiership season start

    The Botswana Football League faces a shareholder revolt, with only five of sixteen clubs attending the Annual General Meeting, leaving it without quorum and unable to set the fixture list or kickoff date. The boycott follows a dispute over a no-confidence motion against the board and concerns about the league's reported 3.5 million pula operating deficit.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

  6. Mathew assumes Centre Chiefs presidency at kit launch

    Mathew has taken over as president of Centre Chiefs (Magosi), succeeding Stanton Fredricks, who moves to the club's board of directors. Speaking at the unveiling of the team's new kit in Tlokweng on Friday, Mathew said he aims to build on past successes and restore the club to greater glory.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  7. Tonota FC win inaugural Tati River Cup against Nkana

    Tonota FC defeated Zambia's Nkana FC 2-1 in the final of the first edition of the Tati River Cup at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown on Saturday. The home side came from behind after Nkana scored first, with goals from Arnold Mampori and Emmanuel Timu securing the trophy.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  8. BFA president stresses long-term player development pathway

    Botswana Football Association president Tariq Babitseng has called on local football administrators to prioritize deliberate, long-term player development, warning that strategies and infrastructure are meaningless without a clear, synchronized pathway guiding talent from grassroots through senior levels. He emphasized that development requires time, structure, investment, and highly capacitated coaches, referees, and technical personnel.

    10 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  9. BFA fails to account for millions in FIFA Forward grant funds

    Millions of pulas given to the Botswana Football Association under FIFA's Forward 1.0 and 2.0 funding initiatives remain unaccounted for, with accounting failures dating back to 2017. FIFA requires detailed reports showing funds were used as intended, and failure to meet strict auditing requirements prevents future support.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  10. Botswana Darts Aims for Top Three at Regional Championships

    Botswana Darts Association will host the AUSC Region 5 Games from 24 to 28 August 2026 in Gaborone, targeting a return to the regional top three after slipping out three years ago. The association says hosting will boost darts' visibility nationally, increase government support, and benefit local tourism and business.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

Tourism & Environment

  1. New film centers on Okavango Delta's people and history

    A new film brings visibility to the people who have shaped the Okavango Delta's history, moving beyond decades of filmmaking that focused on its landscapes and wildlife while rendering the region's inhabitants largely invisible.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

World & Region

  1. UK updates malaria travel advice for Botswana

    Botswana has been placed among countries requiring updated malaria prevention advice for UK travellers, following a review by British health authorities. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency's Malaria Expert Advisory Group published revised malaria prevention guidelines for 2026 on 17 June.

    10 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

Opinion

  1. Opinion: Baboon encounter teaches nonverbal communication lessons

    A Weekend Post writer reflects on a baboon charging at her on a Botswana workpath and dropping her ice cream; she interprets the encounter as a nonverbal exchange that avoided harm despite no words being spoken.

    10 August 2026 · Weekend Post

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