FMD Outbreak in Green Zones Sends Shockwaves Through Botswana’s Financial Sector: The Case for Bank Gaborone

Botswana’s recurring FMD outbreaks are often viewed through an agricultural lens, but the ripple effects extend far beyond the livestock community. Increasingly, the country’s financial services sector is feeling the pressure as livestock-dependent borrowers face severe cash flow disruptions. The recent FMD outbreak in Zone 11 (previously a green zone) triggered livestock movement restrictions, delayed sales, export suspensions, and reduced slaughter volumes. For Botswana, where cattle remain a major rural asset and source of household...

De Beers Reports 88% Surge in Production

De Beers, the iconic diamond miner majority-owned by Anglo American, posted a striking 88% increase in first-quarter production compared to the last quarter of 2025, driven by planned ore releases and higher underground volumes. Yet, the company cautioned that the industry continues to grapple with difficult trading conditions and falling prices. In its Production Report for the First Quarter of 2026, released April 28, De Beers announced total carats recovered reached 7.133 million, marking a...

BURS Exceeds Revenue Target, Refutes Claims of Wage Linkage

The Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) has outperformed its national revenue target while dismissing any direct connection between its financial results and wage negotiations. The agency also announced a halt to its organizational realignment, citing the current fiscal climate. Officials emphasized that boosting domestic revenue remains a cornerstone of Botswana’s economic transformation. In a statement to BusinessPost, Mable Bolele, Chief Executive Assistant to the Commissioner General, underscored that revenue performance does not influence wage outcomes....

Hon Chombo leads online mass validation of proposed YDF, BNSP remodelling

In a significant step toward reshaping Botswana’s youth development architecture, the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs, in partnership with UNICEF Botswana, convened an Online Mass Validation exercise to present revised models for the Youth Development Fund (YDF) and the Botswana National Service Programme (BNSP), also known as Tirelo Sechaba. The revised models were informed by months of rigorous consultations and research conducted by Genesis Analytics on behalf of the Ministry. The validation sessions attracted...

Why Marriages Fail: The problem we’re not talking about 

Every year, we see a steady wave of couples saying “I do,” while at the same time, just as many are walking away from marriage through divorce. Marriage is being embraced and abandoned in equal measure in our society. The rising divorce rate in Botswana isn’t just a private family issue; it’s a social reality that demands serious reflection. Recent reports show that about 2,000 divorce cases are currently pending in Botswana’s High Court. But...

Six MPs endorse Lucas in BCP leadership race

Taolo Lucas, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) vice presidential candidate, has reportedly won the support of at least six Members of Parliament in his campaign for the party’s second-highest office. Sources close to the Lucas campaign told WeekendPost that, although none of the MPs have publicly announced their backing, these internal endorsements have notably strengthened Lucas’s position in what is expected to be a closely contested race against Unity Dow, Member of Parliament for Kgatleng...

Scandal-Plagued Hospital Nears Completion After Years of Delay

The Edison Setlhomo Masisi Memorial Hospital, mired in controversy, is finally approaching completion after a construction process that extended four years beyond its original schedule. Peter Sethibe, Chairperson of the Moshupa Sub-District Council, told this publication in an interview this week that the facility is now in its final stages before handover. Sethibe said that during a recent briefing, he was assured the construction was 99 percent complete. He added that equipment continues to arrive...

No Response from BEC

Teachers and invigilators have formally petitioned the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) over unpaid work performed in 2025, raising renewed concerns about accountability within the country’s examination system. The petition was officially received by BEC leadership, with Chief Executive Officer Moreetsi Thobega pledging that a formal response will be issued by Wednesday of next week. The dispute centers on delayed payments for essential national examination duties. In their submission, the educators contend that they have not...

Interest payments on government debt projected to reach P6.3 Billion in 2026/2027

New data from S&P Global Ratings reveals that Botswana’s Finance Ministry is expected to spend P6.3 billion on interest payments for government debt during the 2026/2027 fiscal year. This follows an increase in borrowing aimed at covering the country’s growing budget deficit. Botswana’s budget deficit is projected to hit P25.48 billion in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, up sharply from the P11.8 billion deficit recorded in 2024/2025. The deficit is forecast to rise further to P26.35...

Hollard Insurance agrees BWP 4.8 Million Penalty in Car Cartel Case

The Competition and Consumer Authority (CCA) has secured its first-ever cartel settlement in Botswana, with Hollard Insurance Company of Botswana agreeing to pay a financial penalty of BWP 4,828,510.08 following allegations of anti-competitive conduct. The settlement, confirmed by an order from the Competition and Consumer Tribunal this week, concludes a legal battle between the CCA and Hollard that began in late 2023. The case originated from a referral filed by the Authority on 30 November...