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Saturday, 13 June 2026
Botswana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Saturday, 13 June 2026
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Business & Economy

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Business

Botswana's digital fraud rate lowest in Africa at 0.9%

The News

TransUnion's 2025 research found suspected digital fraud in Botswana at 0.9% of transaction attempts, the lowest across African nations and below the global average of 3.8%. Account creation showed the highest fraud incidence at 2.6%, followed by login attempts at 0.8% and financial transactions at 0.5%.

Why it matters

Botswana's 0.9% digital fraud rate—lowest in Africa—demonstrates a competitive economic advantage and strong cybersecurity standing.

12 June 2026 · Weekend Post

Yesterday

  1. Botswana's digital fraud rate lowest in Africa at 0.9%

    TransUnion's 2025 research found suspected digital fraud in Botswana at 0.9% of transaction attempts, the lowest across African nations and below the global average of 3.8%. Account creation showed the highest fraud incidence at 2.6%, followed by login attempts at 0.8% and financial transactions at 0.5%.

    12 June 2026 · Weekend Post

Thursday 11 June

  1. Inflation squeezes informal traders in Francistown

    Informal traders in Francistown say rising inflation, higher purchase prices, increased transportation costs, and Pula depreciation are eating into their profits and forcing them to raise selling prices, which has reduced customer demand and slowed business growth.

    11 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  2. Vice President highlights air connectivity for economic growth

    Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe said at the AviaDev Africa conference opening in Gaborone that air connectivity is central to Botswana's economic diversification under the Botswana Economic Transformation Plan and participation in the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, with the country aiming to position itself as a regional transport hub and trade corridor.

    11 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Botswana launches P25.5 billion mixed-use development near airport

    Botswana has begun construction of a P25.5 billion mixed-use development near Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, described as one of the country's largest private-sector-led investments aimed at diversifying growth beyond diamonds.

    10 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  2. Botswana's Government Investment Account rebounds in March

    Botswana's fiscal savings account has staged a remarkable recovery after months of decline, with fresh Bank of Botswana figures showing a sharp rebound in the Government Investment Account (GIA) during March.

    10 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  3. Botswana's inflation falls below target, but food prices remain high

    Botswana's consumer price growth fell below the central bank's target range for a second consecutive year in 2025, but persistent increases in food prices continued to erode household purchasing power, particularly among lower-income families.

    10 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  4. Letshego withdraws from five African markets after losses

    Letshego Africa Holdings is withdrawing from Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda following a combined loss after tax of P519.5 million in the year ended December 2025, despite operating income of P1.46 billion.

    10 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  5. BVI capacity constraints cost Botswana key market

    Botswana Vaccine Institute's struggle to meet regional demand for foot-and-mouth disease vaccines is causing South Africa to turn to alternative suppliers after years of relying on the state-owned producer.

    10 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  6. Botswana banks profit down 13.8% in Q1 2026

    Botswana's nine commercial banks posted combined net profit of P851.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, down 13.8 percent from P988.1 million in Q1 2025, as rising funding costs and credit risk pressures weighed on earnings.

    10 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  7. Foreign reserves rise to P56 billion in March

    Botswana's foreign reserves improved from P55.3 billion in February to P56 billion in March, with the Pula Fund reaching P29.1 billion and the Government Investment Account at P9.1 billion, driven by factors including diamond earnings and hard currency-denominated debt.

    10 June 2026 · Mmegi

  8. Botswana ranks fastest-growing debt surge globally: IMF

    According to new International Monetary Fund data released Monday, Botswana has been ranked as the country with the fastest-growing debt surge in the world, placing scrutiny on public finances and raising questions about implications for households.

    10 June 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

  9. Key economic recovery projects proceed despite growth challenges

    Lobatse MP Kamal Jacobs says government priority projects for economic resuscitation and employment creation are progressing on schedule, citing the Milk Valley Farm expansion programme (expecting 200 cows from Brazil by June 2026), BMC and tannery upgrades, and meat value-addition facilities as examples advancing domestic production and reducing import reliance.

    10 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Tuesday 9 June

  1. BMI warns banking sector faces mounting challenges in 2026

    UK research firm Business Monitor International has warned that Botswana's banking sector faces escalating challenges from weak macroeconomic growth, tighter monetary policy, and rising macro-fiscal risks, which could hinder performance and restrict balance sheet growth, liquidity, and profitability. The firm projects real GDP growth of 1.5 percent this year, following a 0.7 percent contraction in 2025, citing weak demand for exports and persistent uncertainty in the diamond sector.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  2. Bank Gaborone Managing Director Olebile Makhupe resigns

    Olebile Makhupe will step down as Managing Director of Bank Gaborone effective 31 August 2026 to pursue other interests. The Board announced the resignation on 28 May 2026, and the bank has commenced recruitment for a permanent replacement.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  3. Westlife Insurance Botswana reports P11 million profit, launches strategy

    Westlife Insurance Botswana announced a P11 million profit for 2025 and launched a five-year strategic plan positioning the company as a digitally-enabled, customer-centric life insurer, achieved amid challenging macroeconomic conditions through disciplined cost management and prudent underwriting.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  4. ODC expands diamond operations to India amid transparency questions

    Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company has extended operations into India, holding rough diamond viewing sessions in Mumbai at the Bharat Diamond Bourse Complex. The move has raised questions about the company's presence in the Indian diamond hub and why operational details remain undisclosed.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  5. Letlole La Rona appoints Ronil Sekgele Besele as CEO

    Letlole La Rona Limited has appointed Ronil Sekgele Besele as Chief Executive Officer effective 1 June 2026. Besele brings approximately 20 years of industry experience, including over 12 years in executive leadership roles in property and real estate, with previous positions at SEZA and Deloitte.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  6. Sunlux Solar opens P14m manufacturing plant in Tlokweng

    Solar lighting company Sunlux Solar has broken ground on a P14 million warehouse and manufacturing facility in Tlokweng, expected to create about 160 jobs with 80% of positions going to women and young people. The transition into full-scale manufacturing was prompted by a 2023 government call for local businesses to invest in manufacturing.

    9 June 2026 · Mmegi

  7. Westlife Insurance unveils five-year strategic plan focused on market leadership

    Westlife Insurance's board-approved strategy aims to establish the company as a market leader through a new vision of becoming "a resilient, trusted and customer-empowered insurer" and a commitment to building partnerships with customers, brokers, regulators and stakeholders. The plan is anchored on core values including resilience, agility, collaboration, trust, integrity, excellence and innovation.

    9 June 2026 · Mmegi

  8. Court of Appeal to hear FNBB appeal in Guma Moyo property dispute

    The Court of Appeal will hear an appeal on June 19, 2026, brought by First National Bank Botswana and two others challenging a High Court ruling that halted the sale of properties linked to businessman Samson Guma Moyo in an effort by FNBB to recover debts related to United Refineries Botswana Holdings. The central legal issue is whether a creditor may proceed against sureties or guarantors while the principal debtor company remains under judicial management.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  9. French pharma firm gets CCA approval for Medswana majority stake

    CFAO Healthcare, a French healthcare conglomerate ultimately backed by Toyota Tsusho Corporation, has received unconditional approval from Botswana's Competition and Consumer Authority to acquire a 75 percent controlling interest in Medswana Proprietary Limited, a pharmaceutical wholesaler. The CCA determined the transaction is unlikely to distort competition as the two firms operate at different points in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  10. Botswana's digital economy masks weak backend systems and compliance risks

    Botswana's corporate sector has mistaken online presence for digital transformation, according to a digital consultant, when real transformation requires solid backend infrastructure, data management aligned with the Botswana Data Protection Act, and regulatory adherence. Many companies still operate manually behind the scenes despite visible online activity.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  11. Sports summit planned to boost Botswana's sports economy sector

    A Business of Sport Summit scheduled for June 25–26, 2026 at Gaborone International Convention Centre aims to align sport and creative industries with government's ambition to increase their contribution to GDP. Founder Bonni Dintwa stated that while sport is a multi-billion-dollar industry globally and across Africa, Botswana has not fully unlocked the economic opportunities within the sector and that government policies are needed to attract more funding into sport.

    9 June 2026 · Mmegi

  12. AfDB urges African governments to expand tax bases and revenue collection

    The African Development Bank is calling on African governments to expand their tax bases, enhance revenue collection systems, and strengthen fiscal governance amid rising fiscal challenges from declining aid, volatile commodity markets, and growing development financing demands.

    9 June 2026 · Weekend Post

  13. UAE-based firm partners with BDC on New Botswana City

    The Albaddad Group and the Botswana Development Corporation are developing New Botswana City, a US$1.9 billion, 126-hectare project expected to generate 25,000 to 37,500 direct and indirect jobs and strengthen Botswana's economic diversification.

    9 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  14. New Botswana City groundbreaking signals economic diversification goals

    Trade and Entrepreneurship Minister Tiroeaone Ntsima said at the New Botswana City groundbreaking that the project demonstrates government commitment to economic diversification, industrialisation, export development and private sector growth, and positions Botswana as open for business and ready to compete globally.

    9 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Monday 8 June

  1. Bo.Plug advertising enterprise launches in Botswana

    Bo.Plug, a new advertising enterprise, has officially launched with professionally built workstations that serve as dual advertising platforms and support for informal trade.

    8 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  2. Government borrowing may crowd out private sector credit access

    Business Monitor International warns that increased government borrowing could make it harder for businesses to access loans in a tight credit market. The economy contracted by about 0.7 percent in 2025 and is expected to grow only 1.5 percent in 2026, hampered by weak global diamond demand, mining uncertainty, and rising financial pressures.

    8 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  3. Botswana drops six places in Africa's industrialisation rankings

    According to an African Development Bank report, Botswana's position in Africa's industrialisation rankings fell from ninth in 2010 to 15th in 2024, a decline linked to weaker manufacturing and a more specialised export base.

    8 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  4. Francistown City Council needs P335 million for infrastructure repairs

    Francistown City Council requires an estimated P335 million to revive crumbling infrastructure, with damage to roads and other facilities worsened by heavy rains between February and April 2026.

    8 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  5. Gaolathe's budget faces second consecutive growth forecast gap

    Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe's budget is facing a second straight crisis of confidence, with international institutions again projecting economic growth well below treasury forecasts, prompting questions about whether government budgeting is based on optimism rather than economic reality.

    8 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard

  6. Government nears launch of digital labour market platform

    The Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs is finalizing a digital labour market platform intended to help citizens overcome geographical barriers and limited media access when seeking job advertisements and employment information. The Permanent Secretary told Parliament the project is at an advanced stage, with only facilitation and training left before full operation.

    8 June 2026 · Mmegi

  7. Botswana launches World Trade Centre to diversify economy

    President Duma Boko presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Botswana World Trade Centre, a multi-billion Pula project designed to reduce diamond export dependence and establish the country as a regional trade and investment hub through services, tourism, and digital innovation.

    8 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

  8. Minister hails New Botswana City as economic diversification step

    The Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship said the groundbreaking of New Botswana City demonstrates Botswana's commitment to economic diversification, industrialisation, and competing in the global economy, noting that the project aligns with Vision 2036 and the Economic Transformation Programme.

    8 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana

Sunday 7 June

  1. Botswana businesses cite fiscal strain and rising costs

    Businesses in Botswana view government spending as a major constraint on operations, citing fiscal strain, weaker government spending, and rising costs as economic headwinds, according to a Bank of Botswana survey.

    7 June 2026 · The Botswana Gazette

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