Category: Sunday Standard

Botswana’s health system remains beset by medicine shortages, critical shortages of health professionals, fragmented blood transfusion services and weak emergency preparedness despite sustained government investment in healthcare, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) assessment.

The findings are contained in the WHO Botswana Country Office Biennial Report 2024-2025, which concludes that structural weaknesses continue to slow the country’s progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with governance failures, inefficient financing and operational bottlenecks limiting access to quality healthcare.

‘Botswana’s progress toward UHC is hindered by persistent health system challenges. Despite strong government spending on health, the financing structure is inequitable, inefficient and fragmented,’ the report states.

WHO notes that between 80 and 90 percent of Botswana’s health budget is spent on curative services, leaving primary healthcare, disease prevention and health promotion significantly underfunded. The organization says recent disruptions in external funding for HIV/AIDS programmes, coupled with financial constraints, exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s medicine supply chain.

‘Severe medicine shortages highlight inefficiencies in supply chain management and disrupt continuity of care,’ the report says. The assessment identifies widespread shortages of healthcare workers-including midwives, neonatal specialists, vaccinators and adolescent health providers-as another major obstacle affecting service delivery, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

According to WHO, geographical barriers, inadequate outreach services and persistent vaccine stockouts continue to limit access to essential maternal and child healthcare.

The report also raises concern over Botswana’s national blood transfusion system, describing it as fragmented and in urgent need of reform.

WHO found that the country’s National Blood Policy, first drafted in 2018, has yet to be finalized, while there is no national advisory body overseeing blood services.

Many blood centres continue operating with ageing equipment, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure and manual blood component preparation systems. Procurement delays frequently result in shortages of essential reagents and laboratory consumables.

The report further points to critical shortages of skilled personnel responsible for donor recruitment, laboratory services, quality management and health information systems.

‘While progress has been substantial, the path forward requires deliberate reforms, sustained investment and strengthened partnerships,’ WHO says.

Among its recommendations, the agency urges Botswana to urgently finalize the National Blood Policy, establish a National Blood Advisory Group, modernize blood-processing infrastructure, recruit specialized personnel and implement a national blood information management system.

Beyond routine healthcare, WHO warns that Botswana remains vulnerable to future disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.

The report says key legislation needed to operationalize the Botswana Public Health Institute remains pending, while many emergency preparedness plans have not received final ministerial approval. The absence of an operational Public Health Emergency Operations Centre continues to undermine national coordination and real-time decision-making during outbreaks, WHO says.

The organization also highlights weaknesses in emergency logistics, laboratory surge capacity and multisectoral coordination, warning that these shortcomings could hamper responses to future health crises. WHO says that achieving universal, equitable and affordable healthcare will require comprehensive reforms across governance, financing, procurement, workforce development, digital health systems and emergency preparedness.

‘Governance gaps, resource constraints and structural inefficiencies continue to slow Botswana’s path toward achieving comprehensive, affordable and equitable health services for all,’ the report says.

For the past two years, Botswana has been promised close to P1 trillion in investments, but so far many of the names attached to the extravagant promises are raising more questions than confidence.

A Sunday Standard data driven investigation into more than P800 billion in promised capital and signed MOUs has revealed a widening gap between headline capital commitments and verifiable economic delivery.

Over the past two years, Botswana has hosted a surge of ‘high profile’ investors, multi-billion-dollar project announcements and international roadshows aimed at repositioning the economy beyond diamonds. But beneath the optimism lies a troubling possibility that much of the country’s investment boom may not be real.

Sunday Standard investigation could not come up with a single multi-billion Pula investment promise announced over the past two years that has reached financial close.

First was the USD 12 billion (about P160 billion) partnership announced between the Government of Botswana, the Botswana Development Corporation and Qatar’s Al Mansour Holdings.

In an official statement to Parliament, the Ministry of Finance clarified that the agreement signed in August 2025 is ‘simply a pledge to invest in viable large-scale projects once they meet required standards’. Because the deal functions as a preliminary framework rather than immediate liquid capital, international financial institutions have reacted with caution. For instance, the RMB (Rand Merchant Bank) excluded the entire USD 12 billion pledge from its economic modeling and growth forecasts for Botswana, citing deepening skepticism over when-or if-the capital will actually.

Then there was the USD 50 billion (‘Dubai-style’) Zotus Smart City project (also promoted as Kalahari City) which remains heavily weighted toward early-stage structuring, planning, and regulatory processes, with no verifiable financial close.

While heavily publicized by the BITC and high-profile marketing campaigns, official government clarifications confirm the capital has not yet been secured or deployed:

The agreements signed thus far-such as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Land Transfer with the Ghanzi District Council-are non-binding frameworks. They outline the general principles of cooperation rather than concrete financial obligations.

The BITC publicly confirmed that no binding financial agreement has been signed.

There has been significant public question, political scrutiny, and media skepticism regarding the investors behind the Zotus Smart City.

While BITC and project developers have defended the project’s legitimacy, the USD 50 billion (about P670 billion) (‘Dubai-style’) mega-project has faced sharp criticism centered on the financial background, corporate history, and capacity of its primary promoters.

Media reports and domestic critics raised concerns that the Zotus Group had no visible past track record of executing mega-infrastructure developments or notable historic undertakings of this scale. Zotus Group CEO Davison Simango stated that their role is that of a ‘facilitator’ to coordinate reputable banks, sovereign wealth funds, and technical experts. However, because of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), the actual deep-pocketed institutional backing and specific identities of the secondary investors could not be publicly revealed to the public or media, further fueling skepticism.

Most recently, another investor from Mauritius indicated that he was in the process of transferring EUR 5 billion (about P 77 billion) to Botswana to fund a number of local projects. Alithea Investments in currently locked in a high-profile High Court dispute with First National Bank Botswana over an alleged EUR 500 million, which the company MD claims was the first tranche of the promised EUR 5 billion. Alithea directors have fled Botswana, claiming their feared for their lives. In a telephone conversation with the Sunday Standard, they claimed that they have been received threatening anonymous calls and were being tailed by suspicious vehicles.

These questionable investments have created what analysts describe as a credibility gap between institutional visibility (meetings, MOUs, announcements) and economic reality (financed, built, operational projects.)

Further investigations reveal that only two projects come closest to verifiable economic delivery.

The first is the Bonno Housing Project which has faced major cash flow challenges and funding constraints. Rather than failing to reach standard commercial financial close, the core issue stems from delayed government funding and subsequent non-delivery against initial targets

The Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) reported that limited funding from the government has severely slowed down construction. For instance, out of 295 targeted housing units in a recent financial cycle, only 58 were started (with 30 completed).

The second is the multi-decade power agreement-valued at over USD $12 billion across multiple national sectors-was signed by President Duma Boko, which includes the 500 MW Maun Solar-Plus-Storage Project. Sunday Standard investigations have however turned up information that the multi-decade power agreement has not reached a financial close, including the 500 MW Maun Solar-Plus-Storage Project recently launched by President Boko.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there is currently a division among the country’s two biggest cabinet members over bankable commercial agreements to transition the project from its early site construction phase to full financial close. It is also understood that the state-owned Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is refusing to act as the guaranteed offtaker, and has the backing from an influential section of cabinet. The deal is dependent on BPC purchasing all generated electricity under a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), providing the financial security required to back the capital investment.

Sunday Standard can further reveal that only two non-mining major projects reached financial close in the past two years, and these were project initiated by the previous government. The first was the 30-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Mmamabula Energy project which was officially signed on July 25, 2023.

The agreement was signed between BPC and Jindal Energy Botswana. This initial signing cleared the path for project financing, leading to the official groundbreaking ceremony later that year on October 6, 2023.

The Mmamabula Energy Project officially reached financial close on October 7, 2025.

Jindal Energy Botswana celebrated the milestone after finalising a P15 billion funding package (approximately USD $1 billion) from a consortium of lenders led by Axis Bank. This brought total committed capital to roughly P18 billion, including the equity already injected by Jindal into early site preparation and structural works.

The second project was the P1.5 billion Mmadinare Solar Complex which is governed by two separate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) signed in different phases. Phase 1 (First 60 MW): The binding 25-year agreement was officially signed on August 31, 2022, between Scatec ASA and BPC. Phase 2 (Second 60 MW Expansion): The expansion agreement that doubled the complex’s capacity to 120 MW was officially awarded and signed in the third quarter of 2023.

Together, these two agreements completed the framework for the entire P1.5 billion project.

The P1.5 billion Mmadinare Solar Complex reached financial close in two distinct phases: Phase 1 (First 60 MW): Achieved financial close on December 15, 2023. This allowed Scatec ASA to mobilize resources and break ground on the project in March 2024.

Phase 2 (60 MW Expansion): Achieved financial close on December 19, 2024. This second milestone locked in the final portion of the total P1.5 billion investment, backed by non-recourse project debt from RMB (FNB) and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Botswana’s economy is losing its competitive edge, slipping further behind its African peers as weak growth, stubborn unemployment and heavy dependence on diamonds continue to undermine the country’s appeal to investors.

The latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2026 places Botswana 66th out of 70 economies, marking its lowest position in five years and extending a steady decline from 58th place in 2022. This leaves Botswana ahead of only Mongolia, Nigeria, Namibia and Venezuela globally.

The deterioration comes as President Duma Boko’s government seeks to revive an economy struggling with one of its weakest periods in decades following the global downturn in diamond demand.

Among African countries included in the ranking, Botswana trails South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, leaving it near the bottom of the continental standings despite retaining a reputation for relatively strong public institutions. The IMD report paints a sobering picture of an economy increasingly constrained by structural weaknesses.

The country’s biggest challenge remains its dependence on diamonds, with the report warning of ‘Diamond dependency leaving the economy highly vulnerable to global market shifts.’ That vulnerability has become increasingly apparent over the past two years as falling global demand for natural diamonds cut export earnings, reduced government revenues and slowed economic activity.

The report also highlights growing fiscal pressures, saying Botswana faces a ‘Widening fiscal deficit driven by spending obligations amid low mineral revenues.’ Government finances have come under strain as authorities attempt to sustain public expenditure while mineral income continues to weaken.

The IMD identifies unemployment as another major drag on competitiveness, citing ‘High unemployment, especially among young people.’ Official figures show Botswana’s unemployment rate stood at 27.6%, among the highest in the countries surveyed. Real GDP is expected to contract by 0.7% in 2025, while inward foreign direct investment stocks rank last among all 70 economies assessed.

The ranking also points to the limited role played by the private sector. According to the report, Botswana suffers from ‘Limited private-sector growth; fragile and dependent on government spending.’ Economists have long argued that despite decades of political stability and prudent fiscal management, Botswana has struggled to build a diversified economy capable of generating sustainable employment outside mining.

Another emerging concern is agriculture. The report warns that the ‘Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak threatening livestock industry beef exports’ poses fresh risks to one of Botswana’s most important non-mining export industries.

While Botswana continues to perform relatively better in government efficiency than in economic performance, its competitiveness has weakened across several pillars over recent years. The country’s infrastructure ranking has also slipped, while business efficiency remains under pressure as firms contend with weak domestic demand and sluggish productivity.

For decades, Botswana was regarded as one of Africa’s strongest economic performers, combining political stability with prudent macroeconomic management. The latest IMD rankings suggest those traditional strengths are no longer sufficient to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic global economy.

Unless reforms succeed in reducing dependence on diamonds, stimulating private investment and tackling persistently high unemployment, Botswana risks falling even further behind regional competitors that are moving faster to strengthen their investment climate and diversify their economies.

Botswana’s investment screening processes are under renewed scrutiny after it emerged that Foreign Affairs Minister Phenyo Butale recently hosted a politically connected South African businessman whose foundation is embroiled in a major corruption scandal. .

Collen Mashawana, a Gauteng businessman with close links to South Africa’s political elite, was recently in Botswana on what government describes as an exploratory investment mission despite allegations in South Africa linking his foundation to the misuse of millions of Rands in public funds, unpaid workers and questionable dealings with senior government officials.

Butale’s meeting with Mashawana took place during the same month that the minister also met represantatives of Alithea Investment (Pty) Ltd- a company now locked in a high profile High Court dispute with First National Bank of Botswana over an alleged EUR 500 million transfer.

Mashawana’s visit comes as investigations and extensive reporting by South Africa’s Daily Maverick continue to unravel allegations surrounding the Collen Mashawana Foundation (CMF), the Independent Development Trust (IDT) and suspended IDT chief executive Tebogo Malaka.

According to Daily Maverick, Mashawana appears to enjoy remarkable access to South Africa’s political establishment. His social media accounts feature photographs with President Cyril Ramaphosa, EFF leader Julius Malema and former Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.

The publication further reported that the Collen Mashawana Foundation allegedly forged the signatures of hundreds of poor workers in order to claim millions of rands from the Independent Development Trust, a government entity responsible for implementing social development and infrastructure projects.

The workers, according to the investigation, allegedly went unpaid despite millions being transferred to the foundation, while some were reportedly forced to work at private properties belonging to the Mashawana family.

Further reporting by Daily Maverick detailed allegations of corruption, abuse of public funds and exploitation of vulnerable workers following what it described as a year-long investigation. The publication also reported that payments allegedly linked to Mashawana were used toward the construction of an upmarket home associated with suspended IDT CEO Tebogo Malaka.

The investigation states that during Malaka’s tenure, the Collen Mashawana Foundation received a R60 million contract to administer Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) employment projects, with most of the money intended for temporary workers.

However, Daily Maverick alleges that despite the IDT transferring at least R23 million to the foundation, hundreds of EPWP workers were allegedly never paid.

Mashawana has denied making any payments towards Malaka’s property and has also rejected allegations that workers were deprived of their wages.

Responding to questions, Foreign Affairs Minister Phenyo Butale confirmed that Mashawana had indeed visited Botswana as a prospective investor.

‘Yes, it is true that he was in the country as a potential investor. He was on an exploratory visit. As the Ministry, we meet with potential investors and arrange meetings for them. We play a facilitating role before directing them to BITC.

He said: ‘We are not aware that he is being investigated in South Africa over allegations of corruption or any other offences. Conducting background checks is a process, and you cannot carry one out on every potential investor.’ Butale said relevant agencies can undertake those checks when an individual is formally seeking to invest in the country.

On reports that Mashawana was picked from the airport by a vehicle flying a ministerial flag, the minister said; I do not know whether he was picked up from the airport in a ministerial vehicle..’However, Butale said if a potential investor has officially written to us expressing an interest in exploring investment opportunities in the country, we can facilitate such arrangements.

‘In this particular case, however, I do not believe it is true that he was picked up from the airport in a ministerial vehicle,’ he said.

Butale’s remarks suggest Botswana’s initial engagement with prospective investors largely centres on facilitating meetings, while formal due diligence is only undertaken later in the investment approval process.

It is understood that while Mashawana has not been convicted of any criminal offence and continues to deny wrongdoing, the allegations surrounding his foundation have become one of South Africa’s highest-profile public procurement controversies, placing Botswana’s handling of prospective foreign investors under fresh public scrutiny.

Air Botswana has filed a legal application against a former captain accused of failing to report for his final rostered flight before leaving the airline. His actions are said to have resulted in the cancellation of a Johannesburg service and leaving dozens of passengers stranded.

The state-owned airline is suing Captain Benedict Dumelang Gaborakanelwe for P249,355.39. It claims his actions on June 21 triggered passenger re-bookings, hotel accommodation costs and lost ticket revenue.

Court papers filed in the High Court suggest an employment relationship that had appeared to be ending on good terms before an abrupt fallout on what Air Botswana says was the pilot’s final day of service.

According to the summons, Gaborakanelwe resigned on May 11 and gave one month’s notice. His departure was initially scheduled for June 14. However, the airline says it later requested him to extend his notice period by a week because of crew shortages.

Air Botswana says the pilot agreed to remain until June 21 and continued working under the revised arrangement.

According to the airline, Gaborakanelwe flew four scheduled sectors on June 21, including flights between Gaborone and Johannesburg and between Gaborone and Francistown. The dispute centres on what happened next.

‘On the last day, the Defendant was lawfully rostered to operate the flight route to and from Johannesburg,’ the airline states in its particulars of claim. It alleges that he ‘neglected or refused’ to carry out the assignment despite it being a lawful instruction.

The airline claims it was left with no time to find another captain.

‘As a result of the Defendant’s refusal, the Plaintiff was unable, within the required operational window, to secure replacement crew for flights BOT207 and BOT208,’ the court papers state. ‘The Plaintiff was consequently compelled to cancel and/or re-protect the passengers booked on the said sectors.’

According to the claim, Air Botswana then arranged alternative travel for affected passengers on Airlink and South African Airways while also paying for hotel accommodation where required.

The airline says it suffered losses of P132,805.22 in passenger re-protection and accommodation costs. It claims a further P116,550.17 in lost ticket revenue. The total claim amounts to P249,355.39.

Air Botswana argues that the losses were ‘a direct and foreseeable consequence of the Defendant’s breach’.

The lawsuit also reveals concerns within the airline that Gaborakanelwe may already have moved on to another employer.

In instructions to its attorneys, Air Botswana said it had been informed that ‘Captain Gaborakanelwe is likely employed in the Democratic Republic of Congo and may shortly leave Botswana’. The airline said ‘prompt filing and service are therefore necessary’ to ensure the court papers reach him before he leaves the country.

The airline has been facing challenges in retaining experienced pilots. Gaborakanelwe had not filed a defence by the time of going to press. Air Botswana is asking the court to order the former captain to pay P249,355.39, together with interest and legal costs.

This year, 2026, marks thirty years since Botswana played her first match in the Billie Jean Jin King Cup (BJKC) team.

In this period, the country’s senior women tennis national team has never played in front of its own home support base. A week on from today, on Monday 13th July, that will finally come to pass.

Botswana will host then (10) other nations in their home ground, the National Tennis Center, in Gaborone. The eleven countries will fight for two spots on offer to get promoted to the BJKC Euro/Africa Group II.

For the local BJKC team, the upcoming tournament provides a moment to write their own history. Playing home, a familiar environment, and vociferous home crowd, they will be hoping to return to the BJKC Euro/Africa Group II after a 23-year absence.

As one would expect, the local girls are relishing the moment. ‘They are very excited about playing here at home. They understand this opportunity does not come very often in a player’s career. For the first time, they know they will experience how it feels to play national team matches of this magnitude here at home,’ Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) vice president technical Nonofo Othusitse says.

After missing out on promotion in Namibia last year, where they finished in third position, things are expected to be different this year. Home comforts and support is expected to propel them to gain promotion. It happened with their male counterparts last year in the Davis Cup, and it looks certain to be replicated.

While the official team is yet to be announced, it is very likely that the team will be made of Ekua Youri, Chelsea Chakanyuka, Leungo Monnayoo and Kelebogile Monnayoo. Other players in contention are 17-year-old Rethabile Lesire Moshaoa and 13-year-old Angel Chakanyuka, who are in the provisional team.

To gain promotion, this talented crop of athletes will have to battle it out against equally talented players from the other nations competing. These nations, which will compete against Botswana are Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Tunisia and Zimbabwe.

These nations will face off in a two-stage round-robin format to decide which among them gets promoted. In the first stage, the 11 participating nations will be divided into three pools. One pool will be made of three nations, while the other two pools will have four nations each.

The winners from the three pools will then proceed to the second phase of the round robin format. Here, they will face off and the top two teams will get promoted.

Buoyed by home ground support and inspired by their improving performances since their re-entry in the BJKC, Botswana will go into the tournament optimistic of promotion.

Last year in Namibia, Botswana went through the group stages unbeaten. Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria were all beaten 3 – 0 as Botswana marched to the 1st to 3rd playoffs.

The girls however did not win any of their final playoff games, ultimately settling for 3rd position behind Morocco and Kenya. Morocco, as winners gained promotion. But Botswana had gained valuable lessons and confidence.

Since the Namibia tournament, the local women have made significant progress in their individual playing careers. Those playing college tennis in the USA have been playing consistently and have also competed in professional tennis.

Youri was honored with an Athlete of the Year Award for the year 25/26 by Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table. It was a recognition of her impressive performances as she led her college to win Big West Conference Championships.

Elsewhere, Chelsea Chakanyuka was crowned the 2025-26 women tennis’ Newcomer of the Year by the Hampton University. Leungo Monnayoo on the other hand was recognised for All Great South-West Athletic Conference (GSAC) for 2026. She is a top doubles player for Lewis Clark University this year.

Add player coach Kelebogile Monnayoo and Rethabile Lesire Moshaoa to this trio, Botswana’s chances of promotion get even brighter.

‘We will obviously be among the teams to look out for at this tournament. On a good day, we could have beaten anyone in Namibia last year. So, I believe we have a big opportunity this year.’

‘Also, the fact that two teams can gain promotion, as opposed to only one team last year further improves our chances. In the absence of Morocco and South Africa, prospects of qualification have improved further,’ Othusitse says.

With just a week remaining before the tournament, preparations are in full swing. The last member of the provisional team, Leungo Monnayoo, has reportedly arrived in camp from the USA, where she is playing college tennis.

‘Our players have been very busy preparing for this tournament. As we speak, Youri is currently playing at the W15 Hillcrest in Durban, South Africa. This is part of her preparations. We expect her to be back in camp on the last Friday before the tournament the BJKC tournament resumes here.’

‘Chelsea on the other hand was competing in Mbombela recently also as part of her preparations. Angel and Moshaoa on the other hand were also competing in tournaments in Zambia recently. These tournaments act as part of the team preparations for the upcoming tournament.’

While almost the teams coming to Gaborone, save for Cameroon, were at the past tournament in Namibia, Botswana ladies will not lull themselves into believing they know them. Every match and every team will be treated as an unfamiliar opponent as teams are known to change their playing personnel regularly.

Botswana is facing worsening economic conditions that could trigger widespread job losses which are expected to place households, businesses and the country’s financial system under severe strain.

The warning is contained in the latest Financial Stability Report prepared by the Bank in collaboration with member institutions of the Financial Stability Council (FSC) which identifies unemployment as one of the most significant threats facing Botswana’s economy.

According to the report, current weak domestic economic conditions have heightened the risk that employment losses could materialise or intensify in the near future. To assess the resilience of the financial sector, the Bank conducted a stress test based on what it described as a ‘severe but plausible scenario’ involving rising unemployment and stagnant household incomes.’

The scenario reflects structural vulnerabilities in the household sector, particularly the high concentration of unsecured borrowing, which increases households’ exposure to labour-market shocks and income declines,’ the report states.Under such circumstances, widespread job losses would sharply reduce household incomes and weaken borrowers’ ability to service debt.

The Bank warns that this could trigger a surge in loan defaults and a significant increase in non-performing loans (NPLs), placing additional pressure on banks already operating in a constrained liquidity environment. ‘The resulting deterioration in asset quality erodes bank profitability and adds pressure to funding and liquidity conditions in an already constrained financial system,’ the report says.

The central bank also highlighted concerns over concentration risks within the banking industry. Despite modest growth in bank balance sheets, the sector remains heavily dependent on wholesale deposits from institutional investors, exposing banks to funding and rollover risks.

‘Banking industry concentration remains a concern,’ the report notes, adding that government employees continue to account for the largest share of bank borrowing, making employment conditions a critical factor for financial sector stability. To address these vulnerabilities, the Bank revealed that it is considering targeted supervisory interventions, including institution-specific capital requirements for banks with elevated deposit concentration risks and additional measures to strengthen liquidity management.

The report further identifies Botswana’s dependence on the diamond sector as a major source of vulnerability. The stress test modelled a prolonged decline in global diamond demand, driven by economic slowdown in key markets, weaker luxury goods consumption and growing competition from synthetic diamonds.

‘The persistence of these circumstances could entail diamond mines scaling down operations, potential job losses in mining and related sectors as well as lower foreign exchange inflows,’ the report warns.

The report also warns that a sustained downturn in the diamond industry would reduce household incomes, weaken consumer spending and place further pressure on businesses. While the banking sector is considered resilient enough to withstand a moderate decline in diamond revenues, the report warns that a severe and prolonged slump could push some financial institutions below regulatory capital requirements.

The findings suggest growing concerns that employment losses, coupled with weaknesses in the diamond sector and household indebtedness could emerge as a powerful source of systemic risk for Botswana’s economy.

For Botswana journalist, opposition politicians and activists, June 2025 may have marked the end of one of the country’s most controversial surveillance chapters – or the beginning of a far more secretive and sophisticated one.

While researchers have observed the apparent disappearance of infrastructure linked to the Predator spyware system, they cannot say whether the platform was shut down or simply replaced by a more advanced capability operating beyond public view.

What is however evident is that the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) inherited and for some months appeared to use the controversial Predator spyware, a sophisticated surveillance platform that has become the subject of international controversy over allegations of abuse against journalists, politicians, activists and civil society figures.

In March 2024, during former President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s final year in office, Cybersecurity researchers at Recorded Future publicly identified Botswana for the first time as a suspected operator or customer for the controversial Predator spyware system, placing the country alongside states linked to one of the world’s most scrutinized surveillance technologies.

The disclosure should have triggered immediate cessation. Instead, new technical findings suggest the Botswana- linked infrastructure remained active long after the public exposure and change of government.

According to Recorded Future, the Botswana-linked Predator cluster appeared to continue operating until at least June 2025, when researchers observed it cease communications with higher-level Predator infrastructure.

Researchers cautioned that the apparent cessation could indicate either a shutdown or a migration to a more sophisticated and concealed network.

Predator is among the world’s most controversial surveillance tools. Developed by the Intellexa consortium, the spyware has been linked internationally to surveillance operations targeting journalists, opposition politicians, lawyers and human rights defenders.

The technology allows operators to gain deep access to mobile phones, potentially harvesting messages, contacts, photographs, location information and other sensitive data.

The United States and European authorities have imposed sanctions and restrictions on entities connected to the Predator ecosystems amid concerns over its misuse.

Yet despite the international controversy both the former and the current governments have never publicly explained the country’s appearance in Recorded Future’s findings.

An assessment by Insikt Group, the threat research division of cybersecurity company Recorded Future, found evidence that Botswana continued to feature in investigations into the deployment of Predator spyware between 2024 and 2025.

The report, which assesses whether a country’s history of digital surveillance poses a risk to foreign nationals and travelers based on its alignment with international privacy and digital rights principles, identified at least sixteen countries that deployed Predator or Candiru spyware during the period under review.

‘From 2024 to 2026, Insikt Group investigations found evidence that at least sixteen countries – including Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Mozambique, Oman, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Trinidad and Tobago – had deployed Predator or Candiru spyware,’ the report states.

The findings place Botswana alongside a list of countries increasingly scrutinized for their use of highly invasive surveillance technologies capable of covertly accessing a target’s phone, communications, location data, contacts and files.

Insikt Group revealed that in February 2024 it identified new infrastructure associated with Predator spyware, indicating likely continued use in several countries, including Botswana.

‘Botswana and the Philippines represented new Predator customers,’ the report noted, suggesting that Botswana’s adoption of the spyware is relatively recent.

In 2024, Sunday Standard reported that Botswana has been listed as the latest country to import Predator Spyware-a hacking tool that exploits vulnerabilities on cellphones and computers to capture the target’s text messages, calls, emails, photos, and location. Predator is part of the Intellexa Consortium which was this week banned by the US government.

The US Treasury Department announced its first-ever set of sanctions against a commercial spyware entity Tuesday after technology developed by the Greece-based Intellexa Consortium was used to target U.S. government officials, journalists and policy experts.

While Botswana was one of only three countries in the report not assessed as posing a medium or high state-surveillance risk, its continued appearance in Predator-related investigations is likely to intensify concerns among digital rights advocates.

The report notes that, with the exception of Botswana, Mongolia and Trinidad and Tobago, all identified countries were assessed as carrying either ‘medium’ or ‘high’ surveillance risks, largely due to limited oversight and histories of misuse of surveillance capabilities.

The broader trend has already produced documented cases of abuse elsewhere. Insikt Group noted that subsequent investigations revealed continued use of commercial spyware against members of civil society, journalists and activists.

According to the report, one of the most alarming examples emerged in February 2026, when Amnesty International reported that Angolan journalist Teixeira had been targeted with Predator spyware in 2024-the first forensically confirmed case involving a member of Angolan civil society.

The reports indicate that the disclosure has renewed international concerns that spyware originally marketed as a tool for fighting crime and terrorism is increasingly being used to monitor critics, reporters and political opponents.

The report suggests that Botswana’s inclusion in repeated Predator-related findings is likely to fuel calls for greater transparency over government surveillance capabilities, judicial oversight and the legal safeguards protecting citizens from unlawful digital intrusion.

Botswana spyware mystery timeline

Before March 2024

The public new nothing about any possible Botswana connection to Predator spyware. If any procurement, testing or deployment occurred, it happened outside public view

March 2024

Cybersecurity researchers from Recorded Future’s Inskit Group publicly identify Botswana as one of a number of countries linked to infrastructure associated with Predator spyware. The disclosure places Botswana alongside a small group of countries connected to one of the world’s most controversial surveillance technologies. The findings attract international attention. Questions immediately arise over who may be operating the system and whether it is active inside Botswana.

April-June 2024

Botswana authorities respond cautiously. BOCRA indicates that it found no evidence that Predator is operating on domestic communication networks. However, no detailed public explanation is provided regarding Botswana’s appearance in the Recorded Future’s findings. The identity of the suspected operator remains unknown, although speculations suggest it could be the DIS.

Mid- late 2024

No public investigation is announced. No government department publicly acknowledges responsibility. The controversy gradually fades from public discussion. Yet according to later technical findings, the Botswana linked infrastructure appears to remain active.

October 2024

Botswana experiences a historic political transition following national elections. A new administration that promises strict adherences to a human rights code assumes office. The Predator question remain unresolved. No public statement is issued explaining whether the new government reviewed any existing surveillance programmes.

January to May 2025

The Botswana-linked infrastructure continues to appear within the broader Predator ecosystem tracked by cybersecurity researchers. Public silence continues. No institution accepts responsibility.

June 2025

Researchers observe that the Botswana-linked infrastructure ceases communication with higher-level Predator infrastructure. This is the first significant development since the original exposure. However, the meaning remains unclear. Possible explanations include:

. The system was shut down

. The infrastructure was migrated

. Operators changed tactics

. Researchers lost visibility into the network.

. The capability was replaced. No public explanation is provided.

Francistown High Court Judge Nomsa Moatswi has set aside conviction and sentence against Mosimanegape Magapatona, a middle-aged man who was convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment by Masunga Magistrate Court accused of breaking into Masunga Post Office stealing cash and valuables worth over P400 000 from Masunga Post Office on the 17 th of February 2016.

According to the particulars of the offence, on the 17th of February 2016 Magapatona and another who was not before court acting together and in concert allegedly broke into Masunga Post Office and stole cash amounting to P216 383.25 and four laptops, four Nokia Cellphones, 4803 Mascom re-charge cards, 72 x Mascom 60.00 re-charge cards, 13 x Mascom P100.00 recharge cards, 1326 x Orange P20.00 re- charge cards, 4934 Be-Mobile 20 recharge cards and 5 Be-Mobile recharge cards. All the properties stolen including cash were valued at P466 801.45.

The accused then launched an appeal at the Francistown High Court against conviction and sentence. In his grounds of Appeal, the Appellant( Magapatona) argued that the magistrate court erred in finding that the State had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt as non of the items stolen from Masunga Post Office were found in his possession. He also argued that none of the witnesses testified that they obtained fingerprints from him or were present when such was done.

While in its submission the State had said that the Appellant’s fingerprints matched two prints up-lifted from the Masunga Post Office, there was no evidence led during trial disclosing when these fingerprints were obtained from the Appellant and by whom.

According to court documents, during trial at the Magistrate Court none of the items allegedly seized from the Appellant were identified by any of the state witnesses as being connected to those stolen from Masunga Post Office. Instead the trial court in its judgement only invoked the doctrine of recent possession and posited that some items from Masunga Post Office were recently found on the Appellant thus identifying him and charging him of break in and theft.

From the evidence led during the trial it was established that cash in the amount of P216 383.25 was stolen from the Post Office and the Appellant’s possession upon arrest seven days later was a paltry P795 in notes and P55 in coins. The Appellant was also found in possession of a Samsung cellphone.

Giving her ruling, Justice Moatswi said the evidence adduced before the trial court was not justified and was misplaced.

‘There was no evidence led showing that the money found on the Appellant, a measly P795 was part of the P216 383.25 cash stolen from Masunga Post Office.

Coming to the cellphone found on the Appellant, there is nothing to connect it to those stolen from Masunga Post Office,it being a Samsung whilst those stolen were Nokia cellphones.I therefore find that the doctrine of recent possession did not apply in this case,’ said the Judge.

The Judge also questioned as to how the Magistrate court arrived at its verdict, when none of the prosecution witnesses testified that they actually took the finger prints that were eventually compared with those uplifted from the scene of crime.

There was also no witness in court who identified the document containing the impressions of the Appellant’s fingerprints as having been taken by such person prior to being forwarded to the Local Bureau.

‘The prosecution failed to establish nexus between the Appellant and the fingerprints allegedly obtained from him. Failure to do so renders the Appellant’s conviction, which rested primarily if not completely on fingerprints evidence liable to be set aside,’ said Justice Moatswi.

The conviction and sentence imposed by the trial court were set aside. Meanwhile the Appellant’s had prayed before court to make an order for the Police to return his vehicle which he claimed was confiscated. However there was no record before court suggesting that his vehicle was confiscated by the Police.

‘On appeal we go by the record and from the records there was never any mention of any vehicle that was produced as evidence nor was there any order by the trial court pertaining to the disposal. In the result, this Court is not in a position to make any order relating to the alleged vehicle. The Appellant is at liberty to explore relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act pertaining to items seized as Exhibits.

As cybercriminals increasingly target vulnerable members of society, Botswana’s senior citizens are leaning how to fight back. Botswana’s old timers are emerging as an important frontline in the country’s fight against digital fraud. In a bid to strengthen their defenses, Mascom Wireless recently conducted a cybersecurity workshop for elderly residents of Pitsane Village, equipping them with the knowledge needed to identify and avoid online scams.

The event was part of the Protect Our Elders Anti-Scam and Mobile Money Safety Initiative, which falls under the company’s Mascom 3-for-3 Initiative.

The initiative, run in partnership with the Botswana Police Service, aims to equip elders with practical skills to spot, avoid, and report online scams, mobile money fraud, and identity theft.

At the session, Mascom Project Coordinator Prudence Motsepe explained that the program is intended to provide senior citizens with the information they need to protect themselves from more sophisticated scams.

‘The Protect Our Elders Anti-Scam and Mobile Money Safety Initiative aims to protect senior citizens from online scams and mobile money fraud through awareness and education,’ she said.

This awareness campaign is timely, as cybercriminals continue to target people in Botswana with fake phone calls, prize scams, phishing links, and other tricks.

Constable Itumeleng Mothibi from the Botswana Police Service reported that over 200 cybercrime cases were reported between 2024 and 2025, resulting in losses of more than P10 million.

She warned that scammers often target elderly citizens because they think older people are less familiar with new technology.

‘The elderly often fall victim to such scams because they are not technologically advanced and are therefore more vulnerable to manipulation by criminals,’ she said.

Mothibi described some common tricks used by scammers. Some send fake links that, when clicked, allow criminals to access personal and financial information. Others impersonate service providers and ask people to share their PINs and passwords during fake verification calls.

Another common scam is fake prize notifications. Victims are told they have won money or prizes and are then tricked into giving personal details or sending money.

‘Scammers may call and claim you have won prize money. They then request your details or trick you into sending money. Never share your personal information with strangers and never disclose your PIN,’ she cautioned.

She urged elders to report any suspicious calls to the police right away and to ensure their SIM cards are registered only at official Mascom outlets or with authorized agents.

Constable Pono Bosa Teemane also spoke at the event, stressing that scammers continually change their methods and that staying alert is the best way to stay safe.

‘Your safety comes first. Avoid answering suspicious calls and avoid engaging with strangers who ask for personal information. Scammers are always developing new methods and strategies, and we must remain alert at all times,’ he said.

Teemane also warned elders not to share their passwords or PINs with anyone, even family members such as children or grandchildren.

‘Do not share your passwords or PIN numbers with anyone. Even people close to you can misuse that information. Protecting your personal information is your responsibility,’ he advised.

Kgosi Oagile Ernest Kepadisa welcomed the initiative and praised Mascom for bringing the campaign to the community. He also called for more partnerships to help reach more senior citizens across the country.

He suggested that groups like BotswanaPost, which handles monthly pension payments, should work together to teach pensioners about online fraud and scams.

‘The elderly need continuous education and awareness. We encourage Mascom to partner with other stakeholders so that more senior citizens can be protected from cybercrime and fraud,’ he said.

The Kgosi also encouraged residents to attend community education programmes whenever they are held.

‘People should participate in these forums because awareness helps prevent them from becoming victims of scams,’ he added.

The session also gave elders a chance to share their concerns about unregistered SIM cards and whether authorities can track down criminals after scams are reported.

In response, the Botswana Police Service assured participants that digital fraud cases can be investigated using established legal and technological methods, including court-approved orders for tracking.

Mascom also reassured the community that all new Mascom SIM cards must be registered through official channels with a valid ID before they can be activated.

Besides raising awareness, the initiative shows Mascom’s wider commitment to social responsibility through its 3-for-3 Initiative.

The program aims to make a real difference in communities by supporting projects that tackle social challenges and improve the lives of Batswana. By working with government, community leaders, and other partners, Mascom continues to promote education, digital inclusion, and community empowerment.

As Botswana’s digital economy grows, it is more important than ever for people to know how to use technology safely and confidently. Mascom’s Protect Our Elders Anti-Scam and Mobile Money Safety Initiative helps build a safer, more informed society and protects vulnerable groups from financial scams.

The main message in Pitsane was clear, scammers are getting smarter, but being aware is still the best way to fight cybercrime.

‘Never share your PIN, never trust unsolicited prize notifications, and never click suspicious links,’ was the consistent advice from both Mascom and the Botswana Police Service.

By bringing this important message straight to communities, Mascom is helping Botswana’s elders stay safe, informed, and confident in a digital world.