Proposed low salaries drive SKMTH doctors away Contract uncertainty stalls critical hospital services Specialists warn of burnout risks, backlog grows The transition of Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH) from a private entity to a public hospital has ignited a storm of challenges that expose critical gaps in Botswana’s specialist healthcare services. This shift, heralded by government officials as a move toward expanded and improved care, has instead revealed a troubling reality of service...

Botswana prosecutors have intensified their efforts against former cabinet minister Lefoko Moagi, petitioning the court to seize approximately 150 cattle believed to be proceeds of corruption. The move underscores growing concerns about the misuse of public office at the highest levels of government.

The 1,500-kilometer Trans-Kalahari Railway and Port project (TKRP), Botswana’s largest Public-Private Partnership (PPP) venture, is rapidly advancing toward the final stages of due diligence. This ambitious joint venture between Botswana and Namibia aims to construct a railway and port, among other infrastructure. According to documents obtained by this publication, Botswana’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae, and his Namibian counterpart, Veikko Nekundi, recently approved extending the completion date of the feasibility study by two...

  Sweeping tax reforms prominent in next week’s budget Top Earners to pay more tax; VAT, Corporate tax UP Botswana is on the cusp of a significant overhaul of its tax laws, with the Ministry of Finance poised to introduce sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing the country’s tax regime and boosting domestic revenue. These changes, expected to take center stage in Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s upcoming 2026 Budget speech, reflect the government’s...

The Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), in tandem with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), announced the recovery of P32.3 million from Marcian Concepts (Pty) Ltd, a construction company embroiled in a scandal that has exposed glaring cracks in Botswana’s public procurement system. This sum was part of a tender contract awarded under questionable circumstances by the Selibe Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) in May 2020. The tender, valued at over P230 million,...

This week marked the commencement of the 2026 legal year under the theme “Court as a Public Service.” Chief Justice Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe, the judiciary’s foremost authority, delivered an address reflecting on the state of Botswana’s judiciary, evaluating court performance, and outlining strategic priorities for the coming year. Alongside the Chief Justice’s remarks, the Administration of Justice (AoJ) unveiled its 2025 Annual Report. The document, orchestrated by a committee chaired by Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa, Judge President...

  …targets tax evasion Botswana’s tax authority, the Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS), has announced a significant milestone in its ongoing fight against tax evasion with the recovery of P62 million in unpaid taxes. This achievement comes as part of its ambitious “Boots on the Ground” campaign, a focused effort aimed squarely at addressing widespread business non-compliance and safeguarding critical government revenues that are essential for national development and service delivery. The “Boots on the...

  Following the withdrawal of his recognition certificate, Kgosi Ramono Pilane Linchwe, former regent of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela in South Africa, has initiated legal proceedings in the High Court. Linchwe is contesting the decision by Northwest Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi to revoke his official status. On January 15, 2026, Linchwe’s legal counsel addressed a letter to Premier Mokgosi, requesting the withdrawal of Pilane’s recognition certificate. The correspondence included a copy of a provincial gazette containing Proclamation...

Two women (same-sex couple) challenging Botswana’s Marriage Act The Gaborone High Court is poised to hear a landmark case brought forward by Bonolo Selelo and Tsholofelo Kumile, a same-sex couple challenging Botswana’s Marriage Act. The plaintiffs argue that the current legislation unlawfully bans same-sex marriages, violating constitutional protections. The couple disclosed that their relationship began in October 2023, with an engagement following a year later. As they planned their wedding, they sought to formalize their...

Mental health and gender safety in the workplace have surfaced as crucial yet frequently overlooked challenges undermining productivity, dignity, and economic advancement worldwide. As organizations contend with escalating stress, harassment, and gender-based violence on the job, mounting evidence reveals that the consequences of inaction ripple across workers, employers, and entire national economies. Experts emphasize that shattering this silence demands comprehensive policy reform, accountable leadership, and a fundamental transformation of workplace culture. Across industries, employees are...