Botswana’s long-standing reputation as one of Africa’s most respected policing institutions for human rights and governance is under renewed scrutiny following a petition concerning the death of 13-year-old Retshepile “Tshepi” Tshedu from Sehithwa. The petition, submitted to Parliament on Thursday in the presence of Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe and lawmakers, accuses authorities of failing to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, initially reported as a suicide by hanging on May 17, 2025. Subsequent...

With less than three years remaining before Botswana’s 2029 general elections, the political scene is already buzzing with activity as parties jockey for position. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which suffered a significant setback when it lost power in the 2024 elections, is reportedly exploring various strategic options to reclaim its influence. One of the most intriguing developments is the possibility of the BDP forging an alliance with the Alliance for Progressives (AP), a move...

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has thrown down the gauntlet, accusing the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) of taking a combative and aggressive stance in Parliament. This growing hostility, they warn, risks throwing a wrench into the delicate machinery needed for opposition parties to unite on key national issues. Mabuse Pule, Member of Parliament for Kgatleng East and leader of the BDP’s minority in Parliament, told WeekendPost that the BCP’s confrontational behavior threatens to derail any...

The standoff over the future of Tlokweng, a historic Batlokwa tribal land just outside Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, has erupted into a fierce battle over identity, land rights, and the meaning of progress. Government plans to declare Tlokweng a township, part of a national spatial strategy aimed at accommodating rapid urban migration and economic expansion, have been met with unyielding resistance from Batlokwa leadership and residents alike. For the Batlokwa, this move threatens not only the...

Botswana risks entering its 2029 general election under the same electoral system long criticized by opposition parties, after government officials indicated that the sweeping reforms pledged during the 2024 campaign could be delayed until a broader constitutional review is completed. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which rose to power on a platform of overhauling the electoral framework, had proposed phasing out the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, introducing public funding for political parties, and ensuring that...

As the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) prepares for its much-anticipated congress this July, political activity is heating up, with key endorsements already shaping the race for the party’s vice presidency. Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang, former Vice President and a long-standing BCP stalwart representing Tswapong South in Parliament, has thrown his weight behind Dr. Unity Dow, the Member of Parliament for Kgatleng West. Signaling the seriousness of her campaign, Gobotswang has also taken on the role of...

As 2026 unfolds, Botswana’s storied economic stability is under unprecedented strain, laying bare a clash of visions within its political elite over how to navigate mounting financial pressures. A recent parliamentary battle over raising Botswana’s debt ceiling from 40 percent to 60 percent of GDP has exposed stark disagreements between the government, led by Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe, and the opposition Botswana Congress Party (BCP), headed by Dumelang Saleshando. This debate...