The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a stark warning: El Niño is developing in the Pacific Ocean, and the world needs to brace for its arrival. This is not just any El Niño. The latest updates reveal an unprecedented surge in Pacific Ocean temperatures, with subsurface waters registering more than 6°C above normal. The WMO’s forecast shows an 80 to 90 percent chance that this El Niño event will unfold between June and August...
Reaching the quarter-century mark in the music industry is no small achievement. In a world as unforgiving as it is glamorous, longevity demands more than mere survival; it requires adaptability, courage, and a steadfast sense of purpose. For Shanti-Lo, this milestone is far from a simple marker of time. It is a tribute to a journey shaped by sound, style, loss, reinvention, and an unyielding drive to keep creating against the odds. If there’s one...
Botswana has been urged to urgently finalise and implement regulations under the Tobacco Control Act (2021) amid growing concerns over rising tobacco and nicotine industry influence, particularly targeting young people through vaping and emerging nicotine products. The call follows the launch of the 2025 Botswana Tobacco Industry Interference Index (TIII) Report, which highlighted both Botswana’s global leadership in tobacco control and the urgent need to operationalise existing legislation. The high-level launch attracted a broad coalition of public...
Tshepo Pilane, the former Acting Director General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), has served a stunning notice of intention to sue the government. He alleges a high-level conspiracy aimed at victimizing him through unlawful demotion and a failure to investigate credible death threats against his life. The legal notice, delivered by the law firm Monthe Marumo & Co on May 5, 2026, names several top officials as respondents: the Attorney General,...
The Court of Appeal (CoA) has overturned a High Court ruling that had halted the multi-million-dollar sale of Mupane Gold Mining’s assets, paving the way for the transaction to proceed. The appellate panel, consisting of Judge President Tebogo Tau, Isaac Lesetedi, and Lot Moroka, set aside an interim interdict that had frozen the liquidation process. The court dismissed the legal challenge from rival bidder Ulsan Botswana, describing it as “drawn from the depths of emptiness.”...
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...
Nelson Ramaotwana, Botswana’s Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, has yet to determine whether six Mexican fugitives arrested nearly six months ago will be extradited to Mozambique. The delay has deepened uncertainty surrounding a case that has heightened regional concerns over cross-border organized crime and drug trafficking. Mozambican authorities are anxiously awaiting Botswana’s approval to extradite the suspects, who face serious drug-related and other criminal charges. The final decision remains unresolved. Mr. Ramaotwana is reportedly...
The Botswana Development Corporation (BDC), once a pillar of Botswana’s industrial and commercial development, now finds itself at a crossroads. The corporation posted a staggering P167 million loss for the fiscal year ending June 2025, a figure that has sent shockwaves through both government circles and the financial community. With nearly half of its loan book, 47 percent, classified as non-performing, BDC is scrambling to chart a path back to solvency, betting its survival on...
The 2025 Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment paints a stark picture of Botswana’s illicit drug market. Marijuana, known locally as dagga or motekwane, claims the lion’s share, with an estimated street value of P48,765,433. Trailing behind is methcathinone, commonly called CAT, valued at P5,696,795, reflecting a worrying rise in its presence.
Though the next General Election remains three years away, political tensions in Selebi-Phikwe East are already escalating. The increasing activity from both the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Botswana Congress Party (BCP) signals the early stages of what promises to be a fiercely contested race in 2029.
