Botswana holds multi-billion Pula in ivory stockpile

Botswana currently stores approximately 300 tonnes of confiscated elephant tusks in government facilities, a stockpile valued at potentially millions of dollars on the international market, yet unsellable under existing trade restrictions. This was revealed by Moemi Raeshimane Batshabang, director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP), during Day 7 of the Standing Committee on Government Assurances’ review of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The seized ivory is securely held by government authorities...

Why Government is ready to walk away from P18 Million a year

Botswana government is gearing up for one of its boldest environmental shifts yet: a complete ban on single-use plastics by 2027. This comes even as the national plastic levy continues to bring in about P1.5 million every month. The move marks a clear turn from simply taxing plastic use to outright eliminating it, aiming for a cleaner, more sustainable economy. If successful, Botswana will join a growing group of African nations taking serious steps to...

ODC’s expansion in India sparks transparency concerns

Botswana’s state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) has extended its operational reach into India, conducting rough diamond viewing sessions in Mumbai. This move has prompted fresh questions about the company’s presence in the Asian diamond hub and why details of the arrangement remain undisclosed. Documents released ahead of ODC’s May 2026 Spot Auction reveal that the company held diamond viewings in both Gaborone and Mumbai. The Mumbai sessions took place from April 20 to April 24...

Diamonds face new challenges in the AI Era

Botswana is mounting a bold effort to reposition its diamond industry at the crossroads of global finance, technology, and storytelling. Industry leaders are sounding the alarm that traditional approaches to selling natural diamonds will no longer suffice amid growing competition from lab-grown gems. This urgency was clear at the World Federation of Diamond Bourses Botswana Summit, where speakers painted a future shaped by artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and financial innovation. Executives emphasized that Botswana must...

Minister proposes sweeping anti-corruption reforms with new DCEC overhaul

Botswana is poised to undertake a significant transformation in its fight against corruption as the government prepares to introduce a new Anti-Corruption Bill to Parliament this July. Concurrently, plans are advancing to grant the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) full operational independence. These developments were disclosed by the Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, during a staff engagement meeting in Gaborone on May 26. The reforms are designed to bolster...

Botswana’s business outlook turns deeply pessimistic again

The domestic business community in Botswana has painted a cautiously bleak picture of the country’s near-term economic outlook, signaling weak confidence for the first half of 2026 and only a modest recovery thereafter. According to the latest quarterly Business Expectations Survey (BES) released by the Bank of Botswana, firms remain broadly pessimistic about trading conditions, constrained by weak government spending, exchange rate pressures, and rising input costs. While output is expected to see a slight...

Botswana Joins Global Diamond Defence Alliance

Botswana’s decision to join the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) marks a pivotal moment in the global diamond industry, spotlighting the southern African nation’s resolve to defend its natural diamond sector amid mounting disruption from synthetic alternatives. The international summit held in Gaborone last month was more than a ceremonial event; it was a strategic declaration that Botswana intends to lead not only in ethical diamond production but in expanding local ownership and participation...

AI discovery spurs copper rush in Botswana

Botswana Minerals plc has announced a significant breakthrough in mineral exploration, identifying 36 copper anomalies across two northern Botswana licenses with the assistance of artificial intelligence. These anomalies, grouped into six exploration corridors, could elevate Botswana’s position in the global copper market, driven by the rising demand for minerals essential to electrification and renewable energy. The company, listed on both the AIM and the Botswana Stock Exchange, plans to begin field exploration within three months...

FMD outbreak halts expansion of Milk Valley project

Reports reaching the WeekendPost newsroom reveal that an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Zone 11 has disrupted the rollout of Phase I of the Milk Valley Expansion Project in Lobatse. The outbreak has led to a temporary suspension of the importation of 1,000 heifers from Brazil, which were expected to significantly boost local milk production capacity. This setback comes at a critical moment as Botswana intensifies efforts to reduce its dependence on...

BERA moves to strengthen oversight of LPG Prices

The Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) is aiming to finalize a new pricing framework for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by December, signaling a move to exert greater control over one of the country’s fastest-growing energy markets. This initiative responds to mounting concerns about market concentration and the risk of anti-competitive pricing practices in the sector. Officials believe the new framework will bring greater transparency and safeguard consumers as demand for LPG rises among households and...