… The school opened its doors in May 2016 after community members raised concerns that children were traveling far for school and that Maun’s four existing junior schools were operating beyond capacity. …
… The call was made during a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) launch held in Maun on Friday, where stakeholders from government, academia and the private sector reflected on the country’s first Tourism Satellite Account covering the period 2019 to 2024. …
… espite years of public campaigns, tougher laws and repeated calls for action, the growing presence of rape and defilement cases in court dockets has prompted warnings that Botswana is facing a pandemic of sexual violence BONGANI MALUNGA Recent court audits in Francistown and Maun …
… The delays have sparked plans for a petition by the Ngamiland Joint Farmers Association, which says producers who supplied more than 800 cattle to the Maun abattoir under BMC’s live-weight procurement model remain out of pocket despite assurances that payments would be made withi …
… After his election as BDP president in Maun, Balopi launched a campaign to bring back former members who had resigned or been expelled during one of the party’s most turbulent periods. …
… estination. “Our malls are overwhelmed by informal traders and establishing designated stalls for them will serve as a strategy that can enhance the image of shopping complexes and also relief small entrepreneurs the burden of high rentals,” said councillor for Moeti Ward in Maun …
… Among the junior schools earmarked for refurbishment include Madikwe, Patikwane, Ramokgonami, Gobojango and Marakanelo, while the selected senior schools include Molefhi, Gaborone, Maun, Matshekge and Tutume McConnell College. …
… Located in the tourism hub of Maun, Cresta Riley’s continues to position itself as a gateway to authentic Botswana experiences by supporting tourism initiatives that celebrate local identity, encourage community participation, and strengthen destination storytelling. …
Botswana will celebrate 60 years of independence on September 30, marking the establishment of the Republic of Botswana in 1966. This year's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations will be held at Gaborone Main Mall under the theme "Building Resilience, Driving Prosperity," with national and community events coordinated by a National Organising Committee and district-level committees.
Botswana will celebrate 60 years of independence on September 30, marking the establishment of the Republic of Botswana in 1966. This year's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations will be held at Gaborone Main Mall under the theme "Building Resilience, Driving Prosperity," with national and community events coordinated by a National Organising Committee and district-level committees.
India's KP Group has signed a memorandum of understanding worth an estimated US$4 billion with Botswana's government to develop renewable energy capacity of nearly 5 gigawatts, more than eight hundred times the roughly 6 megawatts of installed renewable capacity the country had in 2021. The project, facilitated by BITC, marks KP Group's first major expansion beyond India.
Farmers in Botswana's Okavango region say limited and poorly structured markets are preventing them from expanding horticultural production despite having adequate land, water, and capacity. The Okavango Horticulture Farmers Association, representing more than 60 of an estimated 140 horticultural producers in the district, reports that farmers base production decisions on what they believe they can sell rather than on market demand, forcing them toward lower-value crops like rape instead of higher-value options such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and butternuts.
Radio Botswana held a live broadcast in Matsiloje on August 14 to celebrate the station's 60th anniversary and prepare for Independence Day celebrations, honouring veteran broadcaster Phillip Moshotle, known as "Mokgankgara", who was born and raised in the village and became a beloved voice for Batswana listeners for decades.
A 44-year-old Zimbabwean national drowned in the Thamalakane River in Maun on Monday evening while attempting to retrieve a bird he had shot; his body was recovered Tuesday morning and transported for post-mortem examination.
Botswana's government presented a midterm review claiming substantial progress on social protection, debt settlement, and legal reforms, while acknowledging that several prominent promises remain unfulfilled. The old-age pension stands at 1,400 pula per month instead of the pledged 1,800 pula, the tertiary student allowance is 2,200 pula instead of 2,500 pula, and the free sanitary pads program has been hampered by supply interruptions.
Botswana Athletics Association sports development manager Patrick Moesi has called on coaches and school sports administrators to form small clubs for grassroots athlete development in the absence of school sports. Moesi, following discussions between Maun sports administrators and a delegation of US coaches, emphasized that early exposure to track and field builds long-term athletics success, psychological wellbeing, and social discipline.
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation will hold an Investor Day Roadshow in Gaborone, Francistown, and Maun in late August 2026, engaging its more than 39,000 investors through sessions designed to provide insights into the company's performance, strategic direction, and growth opportunities.
A politician facing DCEC charges rejects allegations that a Chinese contractor bought him a mansion in Phakalane, saying he found the house independently and offered it to the government for payment. He has two court dates scheduled, one this week and another on September 21 in Maun.
Botswana Power Corporation reported more than 1,800 cable theft incidents this year and losses surpassing P100 million over the past five years. The theft and vandalism incidents are particularly high in Gaborone, Mogoditshane/Mmopane, Kanye, Molepolole and Maun, causing unplanned power outages and requiring emergency repairs.
A United States delegation observed the Botswana Athletics Association's Youth Talent Identification Festival in Maun and expressed appreciation for the raw athletic talent displayed by young athletes aged 4–16 years. US coaches advised local coaches to develop this talent while emphasizing that passion, not pressure, should drive youth participation in sports.
Ngamiland cattle farmers have welcomed government's agreement with Namibia to allow beef from the region to transit through its territory into Angola, saying the breakthrough could revive cattle farming and improve the fortunes of the Botswana Meat Commission Maun abattoir.
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.
A new documentary film, "Batho Ba Metsi: A Journey to Meet the People of the Water," directed by Moabi Mogorosi, features the lives, resilience, challenges and traditions of people living in the Okavango Delta. The filmmaker said the project aims to preserve Botswana's heritage and give voice to the delta's residents, with plans to air the film on National Geographic and at film festivals.
Chief of Staff Dr Oupa Tsheko told North West District leadership that the district's natural resources and economic opportunities should enable sustainable livelihood programmes rather than relief-based interventions. He noted that despite the district's tourism assets and infrastructure, poverty remains prevalent, and that localised, tailored approaches are needed rather than a one-size-fits-all strategy.
Vantage Metals has launched a diamond drilling program at its Kalahari Copper Project in northwestern Botswana, drilling 5,000 to 10,000 meters to explore high-priority sediment-hosted copper deposits through at least October 2026. The Australian-listed explorer identified three key targets after analyzing aeromagnetic and airborne electromagnetic survey data.
Botswana Police Service has launched a 12-month vehicle leasing pilot project with Avis Rent A Car, acquiring 28 operational vehicles (9 for Broadhurst Policing Area, 19 for Maun Policing Area) with comprehensive maintenance and insurance included, as part of efforts to modernise resources and improve operational readiness.
Over 170 players competed in the BetXplosion-sponsored National Chess Championship at Livingstone Kolobeng College in Gaborone. Providence Oatlhotse won the Open Section with P15,000 and a gold medal, while Onkemetse Francis claimed the Women's Section title with P10,000.
King of Satima, owned by Titus Manyoro, won the flagship 2400-metre grand race at the annual Kokotsha July Derby held at the Resting Place Grounds, with Red Summit finishing second and Dups Dups third. Minister Nelson Ramaotwana praised the Kokotsha Village Development Committee and Horse Racing Association for growing the event since its 2023 inception into one of Kgalagadi District's most anticipated annual events, attracting visitors and creating economic opportunities for local service providers.
Maun teacher Tebogo Gofhamodimo has published "Luba and Matthew," a children's book using illustrated stories to teach pre-schoolers and lower primary learners about personal safety, body boundaries, identifying unsafe situations, and speaking up. The book addresses a gap in educational resources for teaching young children about gender-based violence, child abuse, neglect, and bullying in response to rising GBV cases across Botswana.
Maitlamo Junior Secondary School, opened in May 2016 in response to community concerns about overcrowding and distance at existing junior schools in Maun, celebrated ten years of operation marked by learner achievements, teacher commitment, and community support.
Tourism experts have called for Botswana to produce more timely and comprehensive tourism statistics to enable informed decision-making and investment planning. The call was made during the launch of Botswana's first Tourism Satellite Account covering 2019 to 2024, where stakeholders noted that while the TSA is an important step, many countries generate tourism statistics quarterly or every two months to respond quickly to emerging trends.
Recent court audits in Francistown and Maun have revealed a disturbing pattern of sexual offences forming a significant portion of court dockets, prompting warnings that Botswana is facing a pandemic of sexual violence despite years of public campaigns and tougher laws.
Two months after delivering over 800 cattle to the Botswana Meat Commission's Maun abattoir, farmers in Ngamiland await payment despite assurances payments would be made within days. The Ngamiland Joint Farmers Association chairman said the delays have left farmers struggling with bank loans and operational costs, and the group plans to petition if the situation does not improve.
BDP President Mpho Balopi has rescinded an earlier decision to restore Samson Guma Moyo's membership, asserting in a June 30 letter that Moyo automatically forfeited membership by joining another political party and that only the Central Committee can consider readmission applications under the party constitution.
North West District councillors have called for designated market stalls around shopping malls to provide small-scale entrepreneurs with organised trading space, arguing that informal traders currently occupy pathways and road reserves. They say the initiative would improve town appeal, support small businesses by reducing rental costs, and generate council revenue through stall rentals.
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.
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.
Cresta Riley's has hosted the 2026 Ngamiland Cultural Festival, which it has owned and driven for over a decade. The event brings together communities, cultural groups, performers, and visitors to celebrate the region's cultural heritage while supporting local talent and sustainable tourism.
The Botswana Police Service has rejected claims that the City Police Unit (CPU), launched in December 2023, has been suspended, though sources say the government has quietly scaled back the initiative since the UDC took office in 2024, citing resource shortages and a reported shift toward the Safer City Project.