The Merck Foundation’s influence on Botswana’s healthcare system continues to grow as an increasing number of professionals return from advanced training, prepared to confront pressing medical challenges. Among these dedicated individuals is Dr. Tochukwu Chidiebere Umunnakwe, who recently completed a distinguished Gynecology Oncology Fellowship through the esteemed Merck Foundation program in 2025. Driven by a deep-seated passion for gynecology and sexual reproductive health, Dr. Umunnakwe embarked on this fellowship after witnessing the harrowing consequences of...

Infertility remains one of Botswana’s most unspoken yet profoundly heart-wrenching health challenges. Despite ongoing progress in maternal and child healthcare, countless women and couples across the nation continue to grapple silently with the pain of conception’s elusive promise. At the forefront of this fight is Dr. Ntshonga-Taylor, a 2022 graduate of the Merck Foundation’s MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health program. Her journey is one marked by unwavering dedication, empowerment, and an unwavering mission to...

Sefalana Setlhoa, a pillar in Botswana’s retail landscape, has boldly stepped into the fast-casual dining scene with the launch of its new Bake & Grill service under the vibrant banner of “The Big One.” This move marks a significant expansion for the retail giant, known primarily for its extensive footprint in groceries and fast-moving consumer goods, into freshly prepared food offerings that tap into evolving consumer tastes for convenience and quality. The new service spotlights...

Connecting to a water treatment borehole could save a firm P45 million Botswana’s water story is one of quiet urgency beneath the surface. In a country where the arid Kalahari sands dominate the landscape and surface water is scarce, groundwater has become the lifeline sustaining both communities and industries. Yet, this resource is far from a simple solution. It is a costly, delicate balancing act of extraction, treatment, and containment — a challenge that Envesys...

30% 𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 200𝒌𝒘; 24% 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 Botswana’s electricity landscape is entering a new chapter this July with a significant tariff reshuffle that promises to jolt both households and businesses across the nation. On March 6, 2025, the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) formally requested the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) to approve a sharp 38 percent hike in electricity tariffs for the 2025/26 financial year. But rather than a straightforward increase,...

Puma Energy Botswana has unveiled Phase 2 of its ambitious Be Road Safe Africa programme, a bold educational initiative designed to shield the most vulnerable — primary school children — from the deadly hazards of the road. This launch marks more than an event; it embodies a collective urgency to confront a grim reality: in 2024 alone, Botswana recorded approximately 15,000 road accidents, resulting in 336 fatalities, many involving children who spend a large part...

The High Court of Botswana is poised to deliver a landmark ruling on June 27, 2025, in a defamation case that has captured the attention of legal experts, diplomats, and Pan-African advocates alike. At the heart of this legal battle is Ambassador Bridgette Motsepe, a prominent African businesswoman and diplomat, who is seeking justice after years of unsubstantiated allegations that implicated her in an elaborate P100 billion money-laundering conspiracy. This case, heard by Justice Kebonang,...

In many parts of Africa, struggling to have children isn’t just a private heartbreak—it’s a heavy social burden that cuts deep into families and communities. Infertility carries a weight far beyond biology; it’s tangled up with harsh judgment, isolation, and even economic hardship. At a recent media health training hosted by the Merck Foundation, Dr. David Mwesigye, a specialist in women’s health and fertility from Rwanda, spoke with urgency about the need to change how...

In a landmark community empowerment event held in the northwestern village of Shakawe, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, officially launched a joint agricultural support initiative aimed at boosting small-scale horticulture through climate-resilient practices and modern farming equipment. The ceremony was graced by the Vice Chancellor of BUAN, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele, and His Excellency Ahmet Idem Akay, the Ambassador of Türkiye to...

Botswana is facing a grim and escalating crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) that has reached a breaking point, with the Alliance for Progressives (AP) Women’s League declaring it a national emergency in a recent press statement. The statistics paint a harrowing picture: nearly 70% of women in Botswana have experienced some form of GBV during their lifetime, a figure more than double the global average. Yet only a tiny fraction—about 1.2%—of these cases are reported...