Botswanan weekly newspaper publishing investigative coverage of government, business, mining, and public policy.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Botswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Digital payments grow, but economic activity slows Botswana’s digital payments infrastructure continues to expand, but transaction data from the opening months of 2026 points to a sharp slowdown in consumer spending and high-value financial activity, underscoring …
Digital payments grow, but economic activity slowsBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Sport Holds Key to Botswana’s Economic Transformation Sport should no longer be viewed only as recreation or competition. …
Sport Holds Key to Botswana’s Economic TransformationBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard BoB keeps rates unchanged The Bank of Botswana has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.5 percent, signalling that the fight against inflation remains far from over even as the economy continues to grapple with the aftershocks of the diamond market down …
BoB keeps rates unchangedBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Sovereign risk overtakes credit as Botswana’s top financial threat Botswana’s financial watchdogs have identified sovereign risk as the single biggest threat to the country’s financial stability, warning that rising government borrowing, shrinking fiscal buffers a …
Sovereign risk overtakes credit as Botswana’s top financial threatBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Botswana food and beverage imports decline to P1.04 Billion in February Botswana imported food and beverages worth P1.04 billion in February 2026, a decline of 17.7 percent from the P1.26 billion recorded in January, according to the latest figures released by Sta …
Botswana food and beverage imports decline to P1.04 Billion in FebruaryBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Grandparents fight back against cyber scammers As cybercriminals increasingly target vulnerable members of society, Botswana’s senior citizens are leaning how to fight back. …
Grandparents fight back against cyber scammersBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard The stars are aligning for Botswana’s green future For decades, Botswana’s energy story has been one of unrealised potential. …
The stars are aligning for Botswana’s green futureBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Trade is more important than ideology. Always If you look at South Africa’s trade numbers, especially with fellow BRICS members China and India, it’s in deficit . …
Trade is more important than ideology. AlwaysBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Reserve valuation gains lift Govt’s savings account from the brink 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) du …
Reserve valuation gains lift Govt’s savings account from the brinkBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Botswana won the inflation battle in 2025, but food prices tell a different story Botswana’s fight against inflation appeared largely successful in 2025, with consumer price growth falling below the central bank’s target range for a second consecutive year. …
Botswana won the inflation battle in 2025, but food prices tell a different storyBotswana plans to raise P5.1 billion from the domestic market on July 31, its largest debt auction since January, reflecting the government's increasing reliance on local borrowing to finance a widening budget deficit and refinance maturing obligations.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana plans to raise P5.1 billion from the domestic market on July 31, its largest debt auction since January, reflecting the government's increasing reliance on local borrowing to finance a widening budget deficit and refinance maturing obligations.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
NexMetals Mining has extended a high-grade copper-nickel zone at its Selebi Main project, boosting confidence that the former BCL mine could support a larger resource as the Canadian company advances plans to restart the operation.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The Botswana Congress Party has passed the hurdle of holding internal elections, described as a rite of passage for the party. The article indicates early signs are positive, though it is too early to assess whether things will ultimately work out well for the BCP.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The Sunday Standard argues that Botswana's post-independence institutions have served their purpose and need to be rewired to prepare the country for the future, yet little progress is visible on rebuilding or reforming existing structures.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Sunday Standard investigations have found questionable salary adjustments and allowances at Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF), including a 26% allowance increase awarded exclusively to CITF Executive Management in 2025 that was approved by a Board of Trustees whose tenure expired in March 2026.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education awarded a P654.4 million contract for an integrated STEAM e-learning, coding and robotics programme to Emeritus Training Academy Botswana through direct procurement, receiving the financial evaluation, adjudicating it, and approving the award all on 25 June 2026.
21 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Government's reintroduction of Value Added Tax on private healthcare services has faced backlash from medical professionals and citizens who warn the policy could worsen Botswana's healthcare crisis by making treatment unaffordable and straining an already burdened public healthcare system.
21 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
A whistleblower report alleges that Botswana's 2024 acquisition of a C-130 military cargo aircraft from the United States, described as a donation, required approximately US$20 million in payments plus an additional US$6 million anticipated for maintenance by 2026, totaling over US$26 million by 2027. The report characterizes the transaction as functioning economically as a sale or lease rather than a true donation.
14 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana's economy returned to growth in the first quarter of 2026, ending two years of contraction as diamond-related activity and electricity production rebounded. However, the recovery remains uneven, with weak household spending, lower investment, and a sharp fall in exports highlighting the fragility of the upturn.
7 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
De Beers' chief executive has indicated that the long-running uncertainty surrounding the diamond company's future ownership could soon end, with a sale potentially completed within weeks.
7 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana reduced its dependence on imported electricity in the first quarter of 2026 after local power generation surged to its highest level on record, marking a milestone in the country's pursuit of energy security.
7 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
G4S Botswana's latest financial results show the security firm has moved beyond crisis management into early recovery, with a sharply narrower loss and stronger operating margins, though the business is still searching for a sustainable return to profitability.
7 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
On 27 March 2026, the Law Revision Commissioner published Statutory Instrument No. 41 of 2026, deleting paragraphs (a) and (c) of section 164 of the Penal Code that criminalized carnal knowledge against the order of nature and permitting such an act. The article raises questions about the constitutional method and authority behind the removal.
7 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
A Botswana Housing Corporation Investment Committee document has raised concerns about the financial sustainability and commercial viability of the Bonno Housing Programme's Kgale housing project, a flagship element of President Duma Boko's promise to deliver 100,000 houses.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The government has confirmed it does not hold equity stakes in Mowana Mine, Karowe Mine, Khoemacau's Zone 5 Mine, Minergy's Medie Mine, and Motheo Mine, which collectively generated approximately P16 billion in revenue in 2025, despite having the legislative option to acquire ownership interests when licenses are granted.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana will host the Billie Jean King Cup tournament for the first time in the team's 30-year history, with eleven nations competing on 13 July at the National Tennis Center in Gaborone. The local women's team will pursue promotion to Euro/Africa Group II after a 23-year absence, buoyed by home support following a third-place finish in last year's qualifying tournament in Namibia.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The Independent Electoral Commission is implementing technology-driven reforms including a new Elections Management System to modernize voter registration, manage data more efficiently, and eliminate administrative errors ahead of the 2029 General Elections.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Over the past two years, Botswana has been promised close to P1 trillion in investments, but a Sunday Standard investigation into more than P800 billion in promised capital and signed memoranda of understanding reveals a widening gap between headline commitments and verifiable economic delivery.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana's economy is losing competitive edge, slipping to 66th place out of 70 economies in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2026, its lowest position in five years, as weak growth, unemployment, and diamond dependence undermine investor appeal.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The Bank of Botswana substantially increased its cash holdings in 2025, prioritising liquidity management as investment gains and foreign-exchange trading profits helped offset a modest decline in annual earnings.
29 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana's digital payments infrastructure is expanding, but transaction data from early 2026 shows a sharp slowdown in consumer spending and high-value financial activity, reflecting the country's broader economic downturn.
29 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
At the inaugural Business of Sport Summit, Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng said Botswana should view sport as a strategic economic sector capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and driving national development, rather than only as recreation or competition.
29 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The Bank of Botswana has held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.5 percent, indicating that the fight against inflation continues as the economy contends with effects of the diamond market downturn.
22 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana's financial watchdogs have identified sovereign risk as the biggest threat to the country's financial stability, citing rising government borrowing, shrinking fiscal buffers, and growing dependence on domestic financing as sources of vulnerability.
22 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana imported food and beverages worth P1.04 billion in February 2026, down 17.7 percent from P1.26 billion in January, according to Statistics Botswana figures.
22 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
As cybercriminals increasingly target vulnerable members of society, Botswana's senior citizens are learning how to fight back. Mascom Wireless recently conducted a cybersecurity workshop for elderly residents of Pitsane Village to equip them with knowledge to identify and avoid online scams.
22 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana possesses some of the world's highest solar irradiation levels and potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse, but has remained dependent on coal-fired generation and imported electricity.
15 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
The article argues that trade is more important than ideology, noting that South Africa's trade deficits with fellow BRICS members China and India continue to widen, contrary to expectations that BRICS membership would generate economic benefits through FDI expansion, job growth, and foreign exchange earnings.
15 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
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 →
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 →