Of “selective amnesia” and doctors dilemma as healthcare standoff grips Botswana In a war of words that lays bare a deeper crisis within Botswana’s healthcare system, the Botswana Doctors Union (BDU) has vehemently denied government claims of a doctor’s strike, dismissing the official statement as the product of “selective amnesia.” The accusation, laden with irony and frustration, underscores the widening gulf between the nation’s physicians and the government they accuse of neglecting their concerns. The...

Pope Francis, the Argentinian pontiff who championed the poor, challenged the status quo, and sought to modernize the Catholic Church while facing fierce internal resistance, has died. He was 88 years old. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Vatican camerlengo, announced the death on Monday morning from the Vatican. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis, passed away at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta,” Cardinal Farrell said. The news reverberated around...

Justin Hunyepa transferred to Ministry of Basic Education and Child Welfare In a sweeping move that underscores a commitment to enhancing the well-being and education of the nation’s children, President Duma Boko announced a twist in his cabinet. This strategic reorganization includes the creation of a new role: the Assistant Minister for Child Welfare and Basic Education. The announcement was made during his address at the Botswana Examination Council’s 15th Annual Excellence Awards, a fitting...

Member of Parliament for Lobatse, Kamal Jacobs, has retracted explosive allegations he made last week against President Duma Boko. Initially, Jacobs claimed that Boko and his bodyguard had sent him life-threatening text messages, an assertion that shook the political landscape and raised questions about safety and governance within the country. Jacobs, who had first voiced these concerns on the floor of Parliament, has now requested that his statement be expunged from The Hansard, the official...

In an interesting twist that has captured the attention of regional power dynamics, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi chose to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) summit virtually, setting off a flurry of speculation and debate. Held in Tanzania, the summit was a high-stakes gathering aimed at addressing the escalating conflict in the eastern DRC—a region rich in minerals but plagued by violence perpetrated by...

Botswana Nurses Union, Ministry of Health clash over ‘Call to Duty’ functions In an escalation of tensions, the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU) has taken a defiant stance against the Ministry of Health, igniting a fiery dispute over “call to duty” functions. The union’s decision, announced on January 24, 2025, to strictly adhere to a court judgment, has forced the Ministry to issue a statement calling on nurses and midwives to continue with their duties including...

Orientations slated for next week in Gaborone Could reduce clashes with Permanent Secretaries As Botswana ushers in a new era under President Duma Boko, government has taken a step towards a more efficient government by initiating an orientation program for its newly appointed cabinet. This move aims to ensure that the cabinet members are well-versed in the intricacies of government functions, parliamentary procedures, and the execution of their political pledges in alignment with national policies....

VP Ndaba Gaolathe holds key to UDC’s policy direction Decision to retain senior officials remains the hot potato Some UDC Ministers clashing with Permanent Secretaries As the sun rose over Gaborone, Botswana’s capital, a new dawn seemed to break for the nation. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), a coalition of opposition parties, had just achieved a historic victory, ending the Botswana Democratic Party’s (BDP) uninterrupted rule since independence in 1966. It was a seismic...