Masisi concedes diamond hardline carried political price

Masisi contemplates diamonds, power, and political fallout When diamond diplomacy clashes with political survival Former Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi laid bare the intricate dance of power, diamond diplomacy, and political sacrifice during a compelling lecture at the University of Namibia. Reflecting on the evolving relationship between Namibia and Botswana, Masisi charted how diamonds have not only shaped Botswana’s survival strategy but also its stance on the regional stage. He candidly linked the tough decisions he...

BITRI, BDF collaborate on cutting-edge defence innovations 

General Mpho Churchill Mophuting, Commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), recently undertook a strategic visit to the Botswana Innovation and Research Institute (BITRI) as part of his ongoing national engagement efforts. This visit focused on exploring how pioneering research and innovation can bolster Botswana’s defence readiness and ensure sustainable operational capabilities over the long term. Central to their discussions was the alignment of scientific advancements with the BDF’s shifting security priorities. General Mophuting’s dialogue...

Sir Ketumile Masire Hospital: The transition matrices

  Proposed low salaries drive SKMTH doctors away Contract uncertainty stalls critical hospital services Specialists warn of burnout risks, backlog grows The transition of Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) from a private entity to a public hospital has ignited a storm of challenges that expose critical gaps in Botswana’s specialist healthcare services. This shift, heralded by government officials as a move toward expanded and improved care, has instead revealed a troubling reality of service...

Breaking the silence on mental health and gender safety in the workplace

Mental health and gender safety in the workplace have surfaced as crucial yet frequently overlooked challenges undermining productivity, dignity, and economic advancement worldwide. As organizations contend with escalating stress, harassment, and gender-based violence on the job, mounting evidence reveals that the consequences of inaction ripple across workers, employers, and entire national economies. Experts emphasize that shattering this silence demands comprehensive policy reform, accountable leadership, and a fundamental transformation of workplace culture. Across industries, employees are...

PROVIDE OR PERISH: Men caught in the grip of economic strain

As Botswana’s economy falters, the long-standing expectation that men must serve as providers is colliding head-on with unforgiving economic realities. Rising unemployment, underemployment, and dwindling incomes have rendered many men financially incapacitated and socially burdened. Experts warn that this mounting pressure is fueling toxic masculinity, intensifying gender-based violence, and exacerbating mental health challenges. With the global demand for diamonds, the cornerstone of Botswana’s economy;waning, coupled with soaring unemployment, government budget constraints, and persistent inflation, countless...

Unions call out Dr Modise’s ‘Red herring’ tactic  

  Demands that Minister withdraw statement he made about health workers He accused healthcare workers of hoarding medicines in distribution facilities Botswana’s public health sector finds itself at a tense crossroads following a public spat between the Minister of Health, Dr. Stephen Modise, and the nation’s public service trade unions. The unions have demanded that Dr. Modise retract statements he made at a Botswana National Front (BNF) press conference accusing healthcare workers of hoarding medicines...

Diamond oversupply poses threat to Botswana’s economic stability

Botswana’s economy, heavily reliant on diamonds, is confronting mounting challenges as a global surplus, depressed prices, and escalating competition from lab-grown alternatives undermine demand and fiscal outlooks. The government has cautioned that the burgeoning diamond inventory may exert considerable pressure on economic growth, public revenues, and overall macroeconomic stability in the foreseeable future. The Ministry of Finance’s 2026/27 Budget Strategy Paper reveals that Botswana’s diamond stockpile reached approximately 12 million carats by the end of...

From Diamond boom to Fiscal Strain

  Botswana’s diamond-driven prosperity shows signs of erosion Sluggish growth and expanding deficits raise fiscal concerns Botswana’s economy is navigating one of its most formidable challenges in recent memory, as subdued diamond markets, decelerating growth, and mounting fiscal pressures converge to strain public finances, according to the latest Budget Strategy Paper and the February 2025 Monetary Policy Statement. While global economic expansion remains relatively stable, domestic conditions have deteriorated markedly, compelling the government to increasingly...

Botswana’s banking fees are back under consumer microscope

  As 2026 unfolds, Botswana’s commercial banking sector finds itself under intensified scrutiny amid a notable rise in non-interest income, spotlighting the escalating financial burden on households and small enterprises. Despite the central bank’s assurances that local banking fees remain competitive within the regional context, the sector’s heavy reliance on transactional charges is increasingly viewed as a barrier to broader financial inclusion. This conversation has gained momentum with the Competition and Consumer Authority (CCA) ramping...

Inside the Cycle: How power dynamics drive Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence (GBV) is not just about individual acts of cruelty or isolated conflicts; it is, at its core, a manifestation of entrenched power imbalances rooted in cultural, economic, and social structures that govern household and community life. The violence deeply ingrained within homes reflects a broader societal failure to dismantle patriarchal norms that sustain male dominance and female submission. The brutal reality is that these power dynamics trap survivors in a vicious cycle of...