Botswana’s government is caught up in a heated debate after announcing a massive P1 billion deal to buy helicopters for the Presidential Fleet. The purchase came to light when Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa answered questions from Opposition Leader Dumelang Saleshando. Critics say the whole thing feels secretive and rushed, stirring up arguments about whether this is the right move for Botswana, especially with the country facing real social and economic challenges.  

High Court orders permanent stay of sentencing owing to 13-year trial delay This week, Justice Dr. Zein Kebonang of the Gaborone High Court delivered a landmark ruling, ordering an indefinite stay on the sentencing of Dikaleleo Mphakelwa, who stands convicted of murder following an extraordinarily protracted trial spanning a decade. The judicial determination grappled with a significant constitutional issue arising post-conviction, specifically whether the appellant’s constitutional entitlement to a fair hearing within a reasonable timeframe—enshrined...

Dumelang Saleshando, the Leader of the Opposition (LOO) and President of the Botswana Congress Party (BCP), has delivered a powerful and deeply insightful response to President Duma Boko’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA). His reply, titled “Going Beyond Promises: Building a Botswana That Works for All,” cuts through the usual political gloss to reveal the harsh and often overlooked realities confronting the country today. More than just a critique, Saleshando’s address lays out...

Kgaodi, Setlhabi each secures Over P2 Million BPS and DIS ordered to cover legal costs In a decisive High Court ruling this week, Justice Matlhogonolo Phuthego delivered a victory to suspended Directorate of Intelligence Services (DIS) director of legal affairs, Pulane Kgaodi, and Principal Intelligence Officer Paul Setlhabi.

China Jiangsu resolved blacklisting only through access to Masisi, Magosi Brigadier Masisi promised P5 million to arrange Masisi-Magosi meetings Brigadier Masisi got P100,000 cash and black label beer for Christmas Lekorwe condemned unethical cash-for-favors through presidential brother The names of Former President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his brother, Brigadier Thulaganyo Masisi, as well as Brigadier Peter Magosi, Director General of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Services (DISS), emerged prominently in litigation initiated by retired Brigadier...

A breeding ground for exploitation of foreign nationals Zimbabwean domestic workers recruited as surrogate mothers Surrogacy remains a largely unfamiliar and complex topic for the average Motswana. Yet, according to the Oxford Constitutional Law website, surrogacy is defined as an arrangement whereby a woman (the surrogate) consents to carry a pregnancy and deliver a child on behalf of another individual or couple (the intended or commissioning parents). Unlike neighboring South Africa, Botswana lacks any statutory...

The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) has formally transferred ownership of 15 automatic weather stations (AWS) to Botswana’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism. This significant handover, a key component of the WeNet project, took place earlier today. Concurrently, SASSCAL is facilitating a three-day training workshop for stakeholders involved in the WeMAST Project Phase 2, designed to reinforce and expand the regional community of practice. At the event,...

A local magistrate has released a minor charged with murder on bail, delivering a stinging rebuke to Botswana’s child justice system and its failure to adequately protect young defendants. Magistrate Tshepo Magetse’s ruling shines a harsh light on systemic deficiencies that risk harming children caught in the legal system. Magetse, presiding in Francistown, emphasized the potential for minors to be held alongside adults, the lack of suitable detention facilities within reach of the court, and...

A recent annual report from the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) reveals a noticeable trend in financial transactions. In the 2023/24 financial year, the FIA processed 24,381 cash transaction reports (CTRs), slightly fewer than the 24,711 received in 2022/23. The total value of these reported transactions amounted to P47,299,508,817.21, a decrease from the P61,657,180,192.65 recorded in the previous year. While data indicates an increase in cash transactions from P15.8 billion in 2019/20 to P61.7 billion in...

– Between July and December 2022, the FIA documented 221 suspicious transactions – January-June, 400 suspicious transactions were reported, totaling P500 million This week, the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA) released an analysis of money laundering and terrorist financing trends, uncovering a troubling pattern of 989 suspicious transaction reports (STRs) from 2022 to 2023, collectively valued at over P2 billion.