CMS sounds alarm over suspected quality issues in TB Medicines

Issues formal notice to health facilities ordering withdrawal of medicines The sudden alert about suspected quality issues in tuberculosis medicines supplied by Ayesha Biotech Pvt. Ltd. has sent ripples through health systems and affected communities reliant on these critical drugs. On 19 November 2025, the Central Medical Stores (CMS) issued a formal notice to health facilities, hospital superintendents, council authorities, and chief medical officers, ordering the immediate withdrawal and quarantine of three specific TB medicines...

Choppies Group honored as ESG pioneer in Africa

The African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) has placed a crucial spotlight on Choppies Group, congratulating the retail giant for earning a coveted spot among the finalists for the Award: ESG Pioneer of 2025 at the inaugural Pan-African ESG Awards scheduled for November 27. This milestone is much more than a ceremonial accolade, it signals a profound shift in the African corporate landscape, where environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles are becoming indispensable measures of success....

Choppies builds homes for employees

The shelves of opportunity have long been out of reach for many workers in Botswana’s bustling retail sector. Yet a fresh initiative by Choppies Group, one of the nation’s largest retail conglomerates, promises to rewrite that story for its employees. In an era where homeownership remains a distant dream for many, the Choppies building scheme emerges as a bold step towards turning aspirations into tangible bricks and mortar, right in the hands of the workers...

3 Bold decisions … More expected

Government shake-ups this week The political maneuvers in Botswana this week erupted with far reaching decisions, marking a shift within the country’s financial and governmental institutions. Coinciding with President Duma Boko’s State of the Nation Address, a series of high-profile leadership shake-ups rocked government and quasi-government agencies, dramatically exposing underlying tensions and questions about governance. The firing of Jennate Makgolo, Commissioner General of the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), alongside the mutual separation agreement of...

BoB’s Monetary Policy Recalibration

Increases MoPR from 1.9 percent to 3.5 percent At a pivotal meeting on October 30, 2025, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Botswana took the unexpected—but calculated—step of increasing the country’s Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR) by a hefty 160 basis points, raising it from 1.9 percent to 3.5 percent. What set this decision apart from typical rate hikes was the unique directive accompanying it: commercial banks were explicitly instructed not to raise...

Teachers frustrated under Kgafela-Mokoka leadership – BOSETU

Teacher Union wants President Boko to act The education sector in Botswana is teetering on the edge of a crisis, as teachers grow increasingly frustrated and disillusioned under the leadership of Minister Dr. Nono Kgafela Mokoka. For months now, members of the Botswana Sectors Educators Teachers’ Union (BOSETU) have voiced their concerns, accusing the minister of neglecting her core mandate to advance education, while seeming more enamored with broader social work initiatives. Their anxieties have...

Africa Lighthouse Capital invests in Bayport Financial Services Botswana

Africa Lighthouse Capital (ALC), a private equity firm based in Botswana, has recently made a significant strategic investment in Bayport Financial Services Botswana, acquiring a notable minority equity stake in the country’s leading microfinance lender. This partnership marks a key development in Botswana’s financial services sector, aiming to advance financial inclusion and drive economic empowerment for households traditionally underserved by conventional banking institutions. The deal underscores the growing impact of local private equity in shaping...

Bogwera Brotherhood targets boys aged 12-17

Botswana stands at a crossroads. As its youth grapple with a wave of challenges—rising crime, unemployment, school dropouts, and a crisis of identity—one initiative is striving to rewrite the narrative for boys aged 12 to 17. The BOGWERA Brotherhood Project, a week-long behavioral camp, is more than just a program; it’s a cultural reclamation and a lifeline for young men caught in the storm of modern Botswana’s social upheavals. The name “Bogwera” isn’t new to...

Arafat Khan’s Riding Garuda

From a ‘raucous’ youth to BNF Treasurer It’s a grassroots triumph at BNF congress The July 2025 Botswana National Front (BNF) party congress in Palapye was supposed to be a celebration marking 60 years of one of Botswana’s oldest political parties. Instead, it turned into a dramatic watershed moment that shook the opposition landscape and sent ripples through the nation’s political establishment. Against the weight of heavy endorsements and well-oiled lobby machines, Arafat Khan, the...

What’s really holding up the Gumare-Sepopa road project?

Bango Trading committed to completing the projects Asks Department to determine claims files 1 and half years ago The claims should have been determined within 42 days The Gumare-Sepopa road project, a critical infrastructure development in Botswana, has become a symbol of frustration and delay, stirring controversy over who is truly responsible for the setbacks. Awarded to Bango Trading in 2022, the 70-kilometer road was expected to be a flagship project, promising improved connectivity and...