The national carrier, Air Botswana, has been operating on auto pilot for the past five years due to persistent governance failures, board instability and the absence of executive leadership, Parliament has heard. …
… According to a memorial schedule, National Prayers will continue at Boipuso Hall until May 13, while the nation will be accorded the opportunity to pay their last respects during the lying in state at Parliament on May 13. …
Public expectations are high for Parliament and other government institutions to deliver the change voters demanded at the polls, National Assembly Speaker, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, said Friday. …
… Accordingly, Dr Mogae will be granted a state funeral, and a Book of Condolences will be opened at Parliament from May 12 to May 15 starting 6am to 6pm, to allow members of the public to pay their respects and convey messages of sympathy to the Mogae family. …
Last week, we traced the two-decade trail of Auditor General reports tabled before Parliament, discussed in the Public Accounts Committee, and filed away into what this column called the Republics slow-moving archive of things we choose not to see. …
The latest audit, which covers the year to March 2023 and was tabled before Parliament recently, exposes serious lapses in the government medicine supply chain including stunning revelations that P9 million drugs delivered to government were found to be counterfeit.According to t …
Sunday Standard Inside Parliament’s housekeeping crisis The latest Public Accounts Committee (PAC) findings have placed Parliament under an uncomfortable spotlight as they raise hard questions about institutional independence. …
The Auditor General’s latest report, tabled in Parliament a week and a half ago, paints a disturbing picture of misspending of the COVID-19 Fund, the central wallet into which government, the private sector, donors and well-wishers poured funds during the pandemic.The Auditor Gen …
… On April 9, protesters marched to submit a petition to Parliament, demanding action from the police commissioner, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, and other authorities on the death of Tshepi, who died on May 17, 2025. …
Botswana Sustainability Week 2026, the fourth annual edition scheduled for Maun from October 21 to 23, will bring together leaders, investors and policymakers to shift the sustainability conversation toward practical environmental, social and governance investments and unlock new economic opportunities across 18 sectors. The summit, hosted by the Green Loop Foundation with government backing, aims to mobilise private capital into community-led sustainable development projects.
Botswana Sustainability Week 2026, the fourth annual edition scheduled for Maun from October 21 to 23, will bring together leaders, investors and policymakers to shift the sustainability conversation toward practical environmental, social and governance investments and unlock new economic opportunities across 18 sectors. The summit, hosted by the Green Loop Foundation with government backing, aims to mobilise private capital into community-led sustainable development projects.
The UDC government is weighing a proposal to dissolve Botswana's existing land boards and consolidate their authority into a single, centralised Land Commission. The timing coincides with the expiration of land board members' three-year terms, and the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture is studying the restructuring, though details remain unclear.
After a severe slump, Botswana's diamond industry has recovered—the economy expanded 3.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 and rough-diamond output surged in the second. Acting president and finance minister Ndaba Gaolathe has urged the country to use this reprieve to diversify away from dependence on diamonds, steering capital toward farms, factories, and tourism rather than relying on another diamond-market recovery.
Botswana's diamond industry has rebounded after a slump, with the economy expanding 3.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 and rough-diamond output surging in the second. However, acting president and finance minister Ndaba Gaolathe warned against treating the recovery as a transformation, calling for investment in farms, factories, and tourism rather than reliance on diamond market fluctuations.
Stakeholders have called on government to create practical environmental policies and laws that deliver direct economic, social and environmental benefits to host communities, arguing that while good legislation exists on paper, implementation is lacking. They welcomed the proposed Environmental Management Act, which would consolidate fragmented sectoral laws into a unified framework for environmental protection and sustainable management in Botswana.
The government recorded a budget surplus of US$2.51 billion as of June 2026, equivalent to 0.85 per cent of GDP. President Boko said the government is investing in upskilling youth to address unemployment and poverty, and positioning the country to attract foreign direct investment and provide entrepreneurial opportunities in rural communities.
António Guterres is stepping down as UN Secretary-General at the end of his second term, and a diverse field of candidates—including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet—is emerging to compete for the role, each advancing different visions for the organization's future.
Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe has asked Parliament to increase the ceiling on Botswana's government bond issuance programme from P55 billion to P85 billion, characterizing the move as a matter of financing flexibility rather than an intention to borrow the full amount.
Parliament unanimously adopted the National Health Insurance Policy on 19 August 2026, and the Ministry of Health announced a ten-year partnership with Abu Dhabi Health Data Services covering medicines, medical products, digital health, genomics and supply-chain support. The Minister of Health framed NHI as a question of dignity and equity, ensuring people can obtain quality care regardless of where they live or what they earn.
A missing-person motion in Parliament has forced Botswana to confront tensions between spiritual belief, public desperation, and evidence-based policing, revisiting an old national anxiety that emerges when child disappearances lack swift answers.
Botswana's government told Parliament this week that allowing Pitseng Gaoberekwe to be buried in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve last December had set a precedent, framing the decision as "administrative mercy" and an act of restorative justice toward the San people. The government defended the move despite questions about whether it undermined court rulings or violated constitutional separation of powers.
Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa called on political parties to uphold commitments made at an All-Party Conference on August 3, where parties agreed to present electoral reform proposals to Parliament as a unified package. The government initiated the reform process to build a system that more accurately reflects the will of Batswana.
MPs questioned the Ministry of Health's preparedness for extreme temperatures expected between October 2026 and March 2027, warning that shortages of medicines, ambulances and water in some areas could put more lives at risk, particularly in rural health facilities.
During a parliamentary response, Minister Mohwasa revealed that the government will establish an independent special team—rather than relying on existing investigative bodies—to act on findings from a forensic audit commissioned to expose corruption over the last decade.
The Minister for Higher Education has presented the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training Policy to Parliament, aiming to align education with labour market demands and industry needs while developing skills for both existing and future jobs. The policy supports Vision 2036, the National Development Plan 12, and Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on cultivating an innovative, entrepreneurial generation and building a productive, adaptable workforce in response to technological advancements.
Salakae announced his immediate resignation from Cabinet in Parliament to deal with a legal matter requiring his court attendance on August 28, stating he has no ill will against the DCEC.
The Government of Botswana has committed to setting aside funds for the national response to gender-based violence, with the President directing that resources be submitted for Cabinet consideration. An Inter-Ministerial Committee has been tasked with preparing a properly costed proposal to ensure coordinated, multi-sector implementation.
Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe rejected concerns about a debt crisis, stating that Botswana is not in debt distress and maintains one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios in Sub-Saharan Africa at about 29 percent of GDP in the 2025/26 fiscal year, a position more favorable than many regional neighbors.
MPs rejected a proposal by Leader of the Opposition Dumelang Saleshando for transparent ballot boxes and decentralized vote counting, prompting the Botswana Congress Party to stage a walkout. Saleshando has argued that such changes are essential to boost public trust in the election process and minimize disputes during counting.
Government remains committed to electoral reform and has engaged political parties to submit proposals, with planned reforms including one-time voter registration, electronic voting and counting, ballot counting at polling stations, transparent ballot boxes, and legalised exit polling. A technical team will evaluate these reforms before presenting them to Parliament.
Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Dikoloti told Parliament that completing a 400km route could unlock international beef markets and reverse economic damage from prolonged livestock restrictions, urging farmers to exercise patience as the government works to end the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
The Ministry of Finance is seeking Parliament's approval to raise Botswana's domestic bond issuance ceiling to P85 billion, citing a global diamond market downturn that is squeezing government revenues and stating that the existing P55 billion programme is nearing exhaustion after years of heavy borrowing to finance widening budget deficits.
Only three of Boteti West's 15 primary schools have purpose-built junior toilets, leaving reception class pupils in the remaining 12 schools sharing ablution facilities with older learners, despite government policy requiring age-appropriate sanitation, according to a parliamentary response by the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.
MPs have rejected a government proposal to lower the legal gambling age from 21 to 18, warning that it risks exposing teenagers to gambling at a time when gambling is already affecting households across the country.
The Environment and Tourism Minister told Parliament that El Niño weather conditions are already present and forecast to strengthen during the southern hemisphere summer, expected to dominate the country's rainfall season from October 2026 to March 2027.
Justice Minister Nelson Ramaotwana presented the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime Amendment Bill 2026 in Parliament to address deficiencies in the current Act and ensure full compliance with international obligations, particularly Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards ahead of a mutual evaluation by the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group.
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.
Opposition parties have accused the UDC government of lacking commitment to political party funding, arguing that the administration is using financial constraints to delay implementing a law passed by Parliament in 2024.
Only half of Air Botswana's six aircraft are operational despite P355.9 million spent on fleet renewal over five years, leaving the airline with persistent flight disruptions and losses unresolved.
The government has committed P9 million to host the 30th TAFISA World Congress in October 2027, defending the decision as a strategic investment aligned with efforts to position Botswana as a premier destination for international sporting events and support economic diversification.