The Government of Botswana has unveiled an ambitious plan to overhaul its social protection system, targeting a 40 percent reduction in the country’s annual social assistance expenditure, currently standing at P9 billion, by 2036. This effort aims not only to cut costs but also to broaden support and ensure that vulnerable populations are effectively reached. The initiative is part of a larger strategy to shift social protection from short-term relief toward fostering sustainable livelihoods, economic...

Over the past decade, Botswana has reported more than 6,000 cases of missing persons, with 426 individuals still unaccounted for. The year 2021 saw a spike in cases, with 45 people remaining missing. Authorities have confirmed that 334 reported missing persons were found deceased; 178 from natural causes, 97 by suicide, and 54 murdered. Although six victims were discovered with body parts missing, often linked culturally to ritual killings, forensic examinations revealed these injuries occurred...

A Congo-bound arms shipment was intercepted and halted at the Martin’s Drift Border Post, raising serious questions about transparency, protocol breaches, and the ultimate destination of the cargo. Law enforcement officials stopped a covert military shipment linked to Denel SOC Ltd as it attempted to pass through Botswana en route to the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo. The shipment, carried in a single mini truck, was seized along with the detention of its driver. Investigations...

The high-profile asset forfeiture case involving former Minister of Minerals and Energy Lefoko Moagi took a dramatic turn as the defence questioned the authenticity of certain documents presented by the Directorate of Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). During the hearing scheduled for arguments on Moagi’s challenge against the seizure of his properties, defence attorney Tengo Rubadiri requested a further postponement. He explained that they plan to approach the...

Dumelang Saleshando, Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Maun North, has intensified scrutiny of Botswana’s anti-corruption apparatus by outright rejecting a P25,375,960 budget proposal for the Ethics and Integrity Directorate. He contends that the institution falls short on transparency, a critical shortcoming that undermines public trust. Addressing the parliamentary budget debates, Saleshando reiterated that his opposition to the directorate is longstanding. He made clear that he did not endorse the body under...

Botswana’s procurement system, a mechanism that channels billions of pula annually, now finds itself at a pivotal moment in the nation’s broader economic reform agenda. The inaugural National Public Procurement Pitso has spotlighted both the power and the pressure embedded in the country’s procurement framework, bringing together government officials, regulators, and industry leaders to confront the urgent need for transformation. Over two days of discussions, the message was clear: procurement must evolve from a routine...

The Office of the Receiver reported a striking surge in asset forfeitures this January, marking a 321.8 percent increase attributed to final forfeitures, according to Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Nelson Ramaotwana. He disclosed these figures while presenting the committee of supply for the office in Parliament this week. Minister Ramaotwana revealed that the assets seized by the office in January alone totaled P32,253,471.10. This impressive haul was bolstered by ongoing administrative deposits from...

This week, during a parliamentary session, the issue of death row inmates was brought to the forefront by Leepetswe Lesedi, the Member of Parliament for Serowe South, who directed a series of probing questions to Nelson Ramaotwana, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services. Lesedi sought clarity on the government’s stance regarding capital punishment, inquiring specifically whether a moratorium on the death penalty has been instituted in Botswana. He requested details on the current number...

Tensions flared dramatically in Parliament when Hon. Moeti Caesar Mohwasa, Minister for State President, Defence and Security, confronted fellow lawmakers over undisclosed party funding, accusing them of concealing support from business interests. His pointed accusations triggered vehement rebuttals from Leader of the Opposition Dumelang Saleshando, escalating the discord to a level that compelled Speaker Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse to intervene, demanding substantiated evidence before the debate could proceed. The atmosphere grew palpably charged as Mohwasa directly...

A recent investigation by The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in Botswana (SAAPA Botswana) sheds new light on the troubling role alcohol plays in fueling gender-based violence (GBV) across southern Africa. Titled “Examining Alcohol Availability & Gender-Based Violence in Four Countries in Southern Africa: A Community-Centered Approach,” the study reveals how the accessibility and trading practices of alcohol intensify risks, escalate the severity of violence, and foster environments where such violence becomes more likely. Focusing...