Dumelang Saleshando, Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Maun North, has intensified scrutiny of Botswana’s anti-corruption apparatus by outright rejecting a P25,375,960 budget proposal for the Ethics and Integrity Directorate. He contends that the institution falls short on transparency, a critical shortcoming that undermines public trust. Addressing the parliamentary budget debates, Saleshando reiterated that his opposition to the directorate is longstanding. He made clear that he did not endorse the body under...

Botswana’s procurement system, a mechanism that channels billions of pula annually, now finds itself at a pivotal moment in the nation’s broader economic reform agenda. The inaugural National Public Procurement Pitso has spotlighted both the power and the pressure embedded in the country’s procurement framework, bringing together government officials, regulators, and industry leaders to confront the urgent need for transformation. Over two days of discussions, the message was clear: procurement must evolve from a routine...

The Office of the Receiver reported a striking surge in asset forfeitures this January, marking a 321.8 percent increase attributed to final forfeitures, according to Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Nelson Ramaotwana. He disclosed these figures while presenting the committee of supply for the office in Parliament this week. Minister Ramaotwana revealed that the assets seized by the office in January alone totaled P32,253,471.10. This impressive haul was bolstered by ongoing administrative deposits from...

This week, during a parliamentary session, the issue of death row inmates was brought to the forefront by Leepetswe Lesedi, the Member of Parliament for Serowe South, who directed a series of probing questions to Nelson Ramaotwana, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services. Lesedi sought clarity on the government’s stance regarding capital punishment, inquiring specifically whether a moratorium on the death penalty has been instituted in Botswana. He requested details on the current number...

Tensions flared dramatically in Parliament when Hon. Moeti Caesar Mohwasa, Minister for State President, Defence and Security, confronted fellow lawmakers over undisclosed party funding, accusing them of concealing support from business interests. His pointed accusations triggered vehement rebuttals from Leader of the Opposition Dumelang Saleshando, escalating the discord to a level that compelled Speaker Dithapelo Lefoko Keorapetse to intervene, demanding substantiated evidence before the debate could proceed. The atmosphere grew palpably charged as Mohwasa directly...

A recent investigation by The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in Botswana (SAAPA Botswana) sheds new light on the troubling role alcohol plays in fueling gender-based violence (GBV) across southern Africa. Titled “Examining Alcohol Availability & Gender-Based Violence in Four Countries in Southern Africa: A Community-Centered Approach,” the study reveals how the accessibility and trading practices of alcohol intensify risks, escalate the severity of violence, and foster environments where such violence becomes more likely. Focusing...

Global terrorism has fallen to its lowest level in a decade, yet Western nations are witnessing a dramatic surge in terrorism-related deaths, according to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) released by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP). While worldwide terrorism fatalities dropped 28 percent to 5,582 in 2025, Western fatalities surged by 280 percent to 57, highlighting a troubling divergence. This paradox reflects a shifting global landscape where old hotspots are stabilizing, but...

The world is grappling with a new economic storm as the US–Israel–Iran war escalates, choking off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy and trade. This narrow waterway, through which roughly a quarter of the world’s maritime oil passes, has become a flashpoint that is shaking markets, unsettling supply chains, and threatening to plunge the global economy into recession. The conflict’s ripple effects extend far beyond the Middle East, touching everything from...

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has unveiled a multi-pronged strategy to wrest control of government from the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in the 2029 general election.  The country’s official opposition party was formerly a coalition member of the UDC before entering a short-lived alliance with the Alliance for Progressives. BCP Secretary General Dr. Kesitegile Gobotswang told this publication in an interview that part of the party’s Southern project, led by the Central Committee, involves...

Botswana’s fiscal ambitions for the 2026/27 financial year are as bold as they are necessary. The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has been tasked with collecting a staggering P65.1 billion in tax revenue, a figure that is set to cover 70 percent of the government’s expenditure and represent 80 percent of its total revenue. This target, announced by the acting commissioner general of BURS, Phodiso Valashia at the Tax Pitso this week, underscores the critical...