Members of Parliament have voiced strong opposition to the proposed Public Service Bill, criticizing its failure to acknowledge the dual nature of parliamentary and constituency staff. Lawmakers argue that these employees should be distinctly classified as political appointees, exempt from the restrictions that apply to career public servants. During parliamentary debate, legislators expressed support for rules designed to preserve the civil service’s neutrality, emphasizing that such reforms aim to enhance governance, accountability, and public confidence...

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) is gearing up for a highly anticipated and closely watched elective conference scheduled for this July, a critical event that promises to reshape the party’s leadership landscape. At the heart of this gathering is a fiercely contested race for the chairperson position, which has emerged as a central focus of internal rivalry and shifting political alliances within the opposition ranks. The outcome of this contest is expected to have a...

…as Minister Kenewendo Affirms Ongoing Negotiations Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, has reaffirmed the government’s active pursuit of a strategic stake in Angola’s Lobito Oil Refinery, emphasizing that discussions between the two nations remain underway despite reports to the contrary. In an interview with WeekendPost, Kenewendo stood firm on Botswana’s earlier declarations, underscoring the country’s dedication to securing its energy future through regional collaboration. “We stand by our public statements, and...

Botswana has launched a landmark project that signals its emergence as a powerhouse in Africa’s clean energy future. On Thursday in Maun, the government broke ground on a 500-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant paired with a 500 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS), a move that will reshape the country’s energy landscape and position it among the continent’s leaders in energy storage development. This ambitious undertaking, a collaboration between Botswana and the Sultanate of Oman, is...

The 2016 closure of BCL Mine, one of Botswana’s most contentious economic decisions, has resurfaced at the center of political debate as former President Ian Khama stands by the shutdown. This comes as a Commission of Inquiry investigates whether the closure was lawful, justified, and free from misconduct. In an interview with WeekendPost, Khama reaffirmed his support for the closure, emphasizing that the mine had become economically unsustainable due to declining copper and nickel prices...

Relations between the United States and the Catholic Church have entered a rare and sharp crisis since January, a fissure exposed by a tense and secretive confrontation between senior Pentagon officials and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s ambassador to Washington. This clash reveals deeper strains in the diplomatic and ideological ties that have long connected the world’s most powerful military state with one of its oldest spiritual institutions. It began days after Pope Leo XIV...

The Botswana government is under increasing public scrutiny following recent leadership appointments to the newly created Botswana Sovereign Wealth Fund (BSWF). Established to oversee state-owned enterprises and promote economic diversification, the fund’s executive structure has ignited a vigorous debate over national representation and governance. Two parliamentary questions addressed the Fund’s operations. Taolo Lucas, the member of parliament for Bobirwa, queried Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa, who also oversees defence and security, to provide a...

The Ncojane Water Supply tender began as an infrastructure initiative aimed at delivering water to villages in the Kgalagadi Ghanzi South and Kgalagadi North districts. With a budget exceeding P1.5 billion, it stood as one of the previous government’s largest expenditure commitments. Yet, the process soon became mired in controversy, which the Public Procurement Tribunal later characterized as a debacle fueled by the actions of the Ministry’s Accounting Officer. A Court of Appeal panel, comprising...

Botswana’s long-standing reputation as one of Africa’s most respected policing institutions for human rights and governance is under renewed scrutiny following a petition concerning the death of 13-year-old Retshepile “Tshepi” Tshedu from Sehithwa. The petition, submitted to Parliament on Thursday in the presence of Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe and lawmakers, accuses authorities of failing to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the child’s death, initially reported as a suicide by hanging on May 17, 2025. Subsequent...

Legal Aid Botswana (LAB) has made a major stride in tackling its civil case backlog, nearly doubling its success rate in registering longstanding legal matters. This progress reflects the agency’s firm commitment to the principle that justice delayed is justice denied. The revelation comes from LAB’s recently published annual report for 2024/25, which shows the agency overcame operational challenges, including staff attrition, to raise its overall legal representation success rate to an impressive 87.02 percent...