Guma Moyo property dispute returns to court

The Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear an appeal on June 19, 2026, brought by First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) and two others challenging a High Court ruling that halted the sale of properties linked to businessman Samson Guma Moyo. The dispute arises from FNBB’s efforts to recover debts related to Moyo’s company, United Refineries Botswana Holdings (Pty) Ltd. To satisfy these debts, FNBB initiated execution proceedings against properties connected to Moyo and associated...

GBV cases top 7,500 in first quarter of 2026

In the opening quarter of 2026, Botswana confronted a grim and unrelenting reality: more than 7,500 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) were recorded nationwide, a statistic that underscores the deep-rooted and persistent challenge of violence that continues to ravage individuals and families across the country. Despite a slight numerical dip from the same period last year, where over 7,800 cases were reported, the figures remain a stark reminder of a crisis that refuses to abate....

French pharma giant secures majority stake in Medswana

French healthcare conglomerate CFAO Healthcare has received unconditional approval from Botswana’s Competition and Consumer Authority (CCA) to acquire a 75 percent controlling interest in Medswana Proprietary Limited, a leading pharmaceutical wholesaler in the country. This move marks one of the most significant transactions in Botswana’s pharmaceutical sector. The CCA granted approval on May 13, 2026, clearing the way for CFAO Healthcare to expand its footprint in Botswana’s healthcare supply chain through the acquisition of the...

World Metrological Services warns against El Nino

The world is bracing for a weather phenomenon that meteorologists say could reshape climate patterns and intensify extreme weather events across the globe in 2026. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued an urgent warning: a strong El Niño event is developing and poised to exacerbate droughts, heavy rainfall, and heatwaves both on land and in the oceans. This climate disruption, experts warn, will pour fuel on the already blazing fire of global warming, threatening...

P1.7 Billion lost to tax crimes

Tax crimes in Botswana have quietly but profoundly eroded the nation’s economic foundation, siphoning more than P1.7 billion from public coffers between 2020 and 2024, according to the latest Botswana Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) Risk Assessment 2025.

Ex-DCEC Chief files suit against Gov’t over demotion, death threats

Tshepo Pilane, the former Acting Director General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), has served a stunning notice of intention to sue the government. He alleges a high-level conspiracy aimed at victimizing him through unlawful demotion and a failure to investigate credible death threats against his life. The legal notice, delivered by the law firm Monthe Marumo & Co on May 5, 2026, names several top officials as respondents: the Attorney General,...

Court of Appeal clears way for controversial sale of Mupane Mine

The Court of Appeal (CoA) has overturned a High Court ruling that had halted the multi-million-dollar sale of Mupane Gold Mining’s assets, paving the way for the transaction to proceed. The appellate panel, consisting of Judge President Tebogo Tau, Isaac Lesetedi, and Lot Moroka, set aside an interim interdict that had frozen the liquidation process. The court dismissed the legal challenge from rival bidder Ulsan Botswana, describing it as “drawn from the depths of emptiness.”...

P1.5 Billion Ncojane water mega-project faces new legal hurdle

A P1.57 billion water supply project meant to serve villages in Kgalagadi and Ghanzi has encountered another legal setback. Tawana JV, the consortium awarded the contract after a protracted court battle, has formally rejected a recent Letter of Acceptance from the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement, calling it invalid and legally non-compliant. Following a Court of Appeal ruling on March 27, 2026, which confirmed Tawana JV, a 100% citizen-owned joint venture made up of...