Ross Branch is FIM Hero of 2024

In a year marked by triumph and tenacity, Ross Branch, Botswana’s motorcycling prodigy, has etched his name into the annals of motorsport history. Crowned the FIM Hero of the Year for 2024, Branch’s journey through the grueling terrains of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) has been nothing short of legendary. His accolades this year not only highlight his individual prowess but also elevate Botswana onto the global motorsport stage. Branch’s crowning as the FIM Hero...

Vegetable import ban draws Gaolathe’s sharp rebuke

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,...

Financial struggles impede CCA’s progress

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...

NBFIRA records notable reduction in regulatory penalties

The Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA) has reported a significant enhancement in compliance across the sectors under its supervision, evidenced by a nearly 30% reduction in penalties, totaling P2.8 million for the fiscal year ending March 2024, down from P3.9 million in 2022. This authority oversees a wide array of entities, including insurance firms, non-bank lenders such as microlenders and pawn shops, capital markets, pension funds, asset managers, and virtual asset service providers like...

De Beers CEO champions Botswana’s diamond sustainability vision

Al Cook, the CEO of De Beers Group, has resolutely reiterated the company’s steadfast dedication to sustainable practices and ethical standards within the diamond industry. With a tone of unwavering assurance, he underscored Botswana’s significant position as a global leader in diamond production and an exemplar of responsible mining. Cook’s discourse highlighted the distinctive partnership between Botswana and De Beers, portraying it as a model for the progressive future of the diamond trade. Addressing an...

Sport: A flourishing multi-billion dollar industry

The economic impact of sports, both directly and indirectly, establishes it as a highly lucrative and transformative sector, according to Tebogo Matebesi, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Youth, Gender, Sport, and Culture. At the 2024 AUSC forum, Matebesi articulated how sports can transcend its role as a mere pastime to become a formidable economic catalyst, capitalizing on areas like tourism and regional advancement. Drawing from European Commission data, Matebesi noted that in 2012, sports contributed...

Minister Kelebeng applauds Zebras

In a historic triumph for Botswana, the Zebras, the country’s senior men’s national football team, have achieved what was once deemed improbable: qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This remarkable feat was not just a victory on the field but a moment of profound national pride, as Botswana re-emerges on the continental football stage after a 12-year hiatus. The Zebras’ qualification journey culminated in a gripping 1-1 draw against Egypt on November...

Koboyankwe takes over at Arts Council

The National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) has announced the appointment of Ms. Otsetswe Koboyankwe as its Acting Chief Executive Officer. The announcement, made on November 26, 2024, entrusts Ms. Koboyankwe, a distinguished legal expert with a rich tapestry of international experience, with the helm of its operations during a crucial transitional phase. This appointment not only underscores the council’s commitment to strategic leadership but also highlights its ambition to invigorate Botswana’s vibrant cultural scene....

Film industry condemn P500m Steve Harvey project

The Botswana Film Association and Botswana Screen Society have raised serious concerns over the Botswana Ignite project, a government-backed initiative spearheaded by international entertainment mogul Steve Harvey. Addressing the media, the associations expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to invest over P500 million in a three-year tender awarded to Steve Harvey Global.  The associations are set to stage protests against the project, arguing that it undermines local talent and fails to build capacity within the...

Rollers part ways with Skhwama, Rakhale amidst injury struggles

Township Rollers have opted to exclude South African stars Thabo Rakhale and Tsepo ‘Skhwama’ Matete from their squad as they gear up for the highly anticipated 2024-2025 football season. This strategic decision is part of the club’s efforts to finalize its roster ahead of the competitive battles that lie ahead. At a press briefing on Friday evening, Rollers’ head coach, Mogomotsi ‘Teenage’ Mpote, articulated that the exclusion of the two players stemmed primarily from persistent...