Debswana Deputy MD vows to support local firms Debswana’s Deputy Managing Director, Koolatotse Koolatotse, recently made a bold pledge that could reshape Botswana’s economic landscape: a firm commitment to empowering local suppliers and citizen-owned businesses. His message was clear—Botswana’s future doesn’t lie in imported goods but in the hands of its own entrepreneurs and manufacturers. “Of course you will make mistakes. The first step is that we will forgive you. Then we will hold you...

In a move to elevate Gaborone’s status on the global stage, Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng of the Gaborone City Council has unveiled ambitious plans for the inaugural Gaborone City Mayor’s Marathon, scheduled for May this year. This event is more than a race; it is a strategic initiative aimed at addressing the rising tide of non-communicable diseases in Botswana while positioning Gaborone as a premier destination for sports tourism. Mayor Motlaleng, who has been a vocal...

It is currently at 36% capacity  The Gaborone Dam, a critical water source for Botswana’s capital city, is facing a paradoxical crisis. Despite experiencing heavy rainfall, the dam’s water levels linger at a critically low 36%, sounding alarms across the nation. This puzzling scenario raises the question: How can a region inundated with rain still struggle with water shortages? The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) CEO, Gaselemogwe Senai, addressed this conundrum in a recent media briefing....

Vice President says it is bad economics In a riveting parliamentary session, Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe delivered a blistering critique of Botswana’s contentious vegetable import ban, denouncing it as “very bad economics” during an impassioned exchange with Maun East representative Goretetse Kekgonegile. Gaolathe’s assessment laid bare the policy’s unintended consequences, revealing how a measure designed to bolster local agriculture has instead amplified economic hardships and derailed broader developmental aspirations. With surgical precision,...

The Competition and Consumer Authority (CCA) has unveiled substantial financial difficulties that have obstructed the execution of its Strategic Plan, initiated in 2020. The Authority reported a net deficit of P13 million for the fiscal year concluding March 31, 2024, with liabilities exceeding assets by more than P6.6 million. Furthermore, current liabilities surpassed current assets by P4 million. In its annual report, the CCA disclosed receipt of P42 million in government funding, accompanied by a...