Receiver to compensate crime victims using seized assets Botswana is on the brink of a historic shift in how it supports victims of crime, preparing for the launch of a compensation program funded directly by assets seized from criminals. This marks the first time since the country’s independence that proceeds from forfeited criminal property will be used explicitly to compensate those harmed by crime. The Office of the Receiver, which manages seized assets, has confirmed...

The Botswana Tourism Organisation, tasked with steering one of the country’s most promising sectors, has found itself mired in scandal, and the reverberations are shaking the very foundations of Botswana’s tourism industry. In a stunning exposé that unfolded in early 2026, a finance officer at BTO was compelled to resign amid allegations of swindling over P2 million through a ghost account scheme. This revelation has peeled back the curtain on systemic corruption within an institution...

Botswana reinforces its standing among Africa’s least corrupt nations Botswana has once again affirmed its reputation as one of Africa’s least corrupt nations, securing a robust position in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released this Tuesday. This achievement stands in stark contrast to much of the continent, where entrenched corruption and fragile accountability mechanisms continue to undermine governance. The latest CPI report casts a somber shadow over Africa’s governance landscape. The continent remains...

It is a P1.83 Billion increase compared to 1.6% drop The unveiling of Botswana’s 2025/2026 national budget by Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe has stirred a mix of intrigue and concern, revealing a shifting fiscal landscape with significant implications for the country’s economic and social priorities. At its core, the budget presents a curious imbalance: an increase in recurrent expenditure alongside a contraction in the development budget. This divergence raises pressing questions about the government’s strategic...

The Ministry of Health has confirmed the destruction of nearly two million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including over half a million expired units, with a total value exceeding P16 million. This disclosure comes amid parliamentary inquiries into vaccine safety and administration practices in Botswana. Responding to questions from Leepetswe Lesedi, Member of Parliament for Serowe South, Assistant Minister of Health Lawrence Ookeditse provided detailed clarifications. He noted that the destroyed vaccines; 1,917,101 doses in total,...

…Warns of Escalating Debt and Fiscal Mismanagement Dumelang Saleshando, Leader of the Opposition in Botswana’s Parliament, delivered a sharp rebuttal to the 2026/2027 Budget Speech unveiled on Monday by Vice President and Minister of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe. Saleshando condemned the budget as “bad economics,” cautioning that it threatens to deepen the nation’s debt burden and destabilize its financial standing. In his detailed response to the fiscal proposals, Saleshando highlighted a troubling and widening gap between...

General Mpho Churchill Mophuting, Commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), recently undertook a strategic visit to the Botswana Innovation and Research Institute (BITRI) as part of his ongoing national engagement efforts. This visit focused on exploring how pioneering research and innovation can bolster Botswana’s defence readiness and ensure sustainable operational capabilities over the long term. Central to their discussions was the alignment of scientific advancements with the BDF’s shifting security priorities. General Mophuting’s dialogue...

  In Botswana, thousands of children are deprived of parental care, with the majority having lost their guardians to the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS, according to SOS Children’s Villages. Despite the government’s committed efforts to combat the epidemic, human suffering remains widespread, with nearly one in four adults aged 15 to 49 living with the virus. The economic repercussions are profound, as the disease predominantly strikes adults in their most productive years, leaving countless children...

The 2025 Administration of Justice (AOJ) annual report paints a stark picture of a justice system mired in paralysis, with Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases bearing the brunt of chronic resource shortages. Despite the introduction of specialized dockets intended to streamline these cases, the disposal rate for GBV matters has slipped to 44.88%, down from 46.08% in 2023. Notably, the report omits the breakdown of disposal rates and pending cases by individual magisterial stations; a detail...