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...

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’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...

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...

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...

Botswana and Rwanda have signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) designed to boost investment and deepen economic ties between the two nations. The pact, inked by Botswana’s Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe and Rwanda’s State Minister Linda Rugara, signals a shared commitment to regional economic integration. Yet, while officials hail the deal as a catalyst for growth, lingering concerns about potential revenue losses and tax avoidance risks remain. The agreement, announced during...

Botswana’s recurring FMD outbreaks are often viewed through an agricultural lens, but the ripple effects extend far beyond the livestock community. Increasingly, the country’s financial services sector is feeling the pressure as livestock-dependent borrowers face severe cash flow disruptions. The recent FMD outbreak in Zone 11 (previously a green zone) triggered livestock movement restrictions, delayed sales, export suspensions, and reduced slaughter volumes. For Botswana, where cattle remain a major rural asset and source of household...

De Beers, the iconic diamond miner majority-owned by Anglo American, posted a striking 88% increase in first-quarter production compared to the last quarter of 2025, driven by planned ore releases and higher underground volumes. Yet, the company cautioned that the industry continues to grapple with difficult trading conditions and falling prices. In its Production Report for the First Quarter of 2026, released April 28, De Beers announced total carats recovered reached 7.133 million, marking a...