Barely a year into his tenure as chairman of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Karabo Gare finds himself at the center of growing internal turmoil within the party. His leadership, which began with high hopes to restore the party’s prominence, is now being tested by deepening factional divides that threaten to unravel the BDP’s fragile unity. Once the dominant political force in Botswana for decades, the BDP is still grappling with the severe consequences of...
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, brokered just days ago, now teeters on the edge of collapse. What began as a tentative two-week pause in hostilities has been overshadowed by a dramatic escalation in Lebanon, where Israel unleashed its fiercest wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah targets since the conflict erupted last month. As hundreds of Lebanese civilians have been killed and entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble, the broader Middle East finds itself...
Three separate intelligence reports from top maritime industry firms have uncovered a troubling trend: blacklisted supertankers in the oil and gas sectors are increasingly flying Botswana’s flag. Investigations by Lloyd’s List Intelligence, TankerTrackers Inc, and Windward all point to a sudden surge in sanctions-busting tankers adopting the flags of Botswana and a handful of other countries. Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a respected maritime data and analytics provider, found a sharp rise in tankers flying Botswana’s flag...
Mpho Balopi, the president of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), is currently navigating a turbulent political storm as internal tensions within the party escalate sharply. This unrest has been fueled by reports suggesting that Balopi may soon face legal proceedings tied to a corruption investigation. Sources close to the party’s central committee have disclosed that a significant faction within the BDP is urging Balopi to temporarily step aside from his leadership role. This call for...
An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination and Training Centre has raised fresh alarm in Botswana’s livestock sector, after 34 bulls tested positive at this crucial breeding facility. The infected animals are part of a group of 65 bulls used for semen collection, placing national herd improvement programs at considerable risk. The outbreak was confirmed by Odireleng Thololwane, Foot and Mouth Disease Coordinator, who described the situation as contained but requiring...
With less than three years remaining before Botswana’s 2029 general elections, the political scene is already buzzing with activity as parties jockey for position. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which suffered a significant setback when it lost power in the 2024 elections, is reportedly exploring various strategic options to reclaim its influence. One of the most intriguing developments is the possibility of the BDP forging an alliance with the Alliance for Progressives (AP), a move...
Rehabilitating Botswana’s At-Risk Boys When the education system falters in nurturing latent potential, the streets too often become an unwelcome refuge. In Botswana, a quiet crisis has been unfolding beneath the surface of the nation’s steady progress: boys are increasingly abandoning school and slipping into cycles of criminality. This pattern is not just a statistic but a warning signal, revealing fractures in social support, education policy, and economic opportunity that, left unattended, threaten to undermine...
A breeding ground for exploitation of foreign nationals Zimbabwean domestic workers recruited as surrogate mothers Surrogacy remains a largely unfamiliar and complex topic for the average Motswana. Yet, according to the Oxford Constitutional Law website, surrogacy is defined as an arrangement whereby a woman (the surrogate) consents to carry a pregnancy and deliver a child on behalf of another individual or couple (the intended or commissioning parents). Unlike neighboring South Africa, Botswana lacks any statutory...
On March 27, 2026, the Court of Appeal (CoA) overturned a High Court ruling and reinstated a 15-year prison sentence for Rivers Kakana, convicted of multiple rapes during a harrowing three-day ordeal in 2013. The case revolves around the assaults on Segametsi Dochi in 2013. According to reports, Dochi visited Kakana’s home on 7th March 2013, to collect a debt he owed her. Instead of repaying her, Kakana lured her into the bush, where he...
The Botswana government has not taken an official position on homosexuality, Minister of Labor and Home Affairs Pius Mokgware confirmed this week. He made the statement while responding to Serowe South MP Leepetswe Lesedi’s inquiry about whether the government plans to legalize same-sex marriages in the near future; requests for statistics on the number of homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals, transgender, and asexual individuals in Botswana; and efforts underway to raise public awareness and acceptance of the...
