Category: Sunday Standard

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.

Botswana’s ambition to establish tourism as a cornerstone of economic diversification is being constrained by a persistent investment deficit that has left the sector lagging behind regional competitors, despite the country’s globally acclaimed wildlife resources and natural attractions.

A new study by the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) argues that Botswana remains significantly less competitive than tourism-dependent economies such as the Seychelles and Mauritius, raising questions about the sector’s capacity to serve as a viable long-term alternative to diamond-led growth.

‘However, Botswana’s tourism sector is not competitive compared to other regional countries,’ the report notes, adding that ‘Countries such as Seychelles had made huge investment in the sector, and as a result, their tourism sector had made immense contribution to the country’s economic development.’

The findings highlight a widening divergence between Botswana and some of the region’s most successful tourism economies. In the Seychelles, sustained and deliberate investment over several decades has transformed tourism into the principal driver of economic activity and employment.

According to BIDPA, the Seychelles devoted approximately 34.4 percent of export earnings to tourism capital investment between 1997 and 2015. By comparison, Botswana invested just 5.8 percent over the same period. The result has been a striking disparity in economic outcomes, with tourism accounting for nearly 59 percent of GDP and employment in the island nation.

The study contends that for tourism to make a meaningful contribution to Botswana’s economic diversification agenda, policymakers must prioritise investment in human capital, reduce economic leakages and create conditions that encourage greater private-sector participation.

‘There is need for government to promote hospitality skills (from semi-skilled to highly skilled management levels), reduce tourism leakages, and promote a conducive environment for private investment,’ the report notes.

While tourism already contributes significantly to Botswana’s economy, its impact remains well below its potential. Researchers identify inadequate infrastructure, insufficient investment, uneven service standards and limited product diversification as among the principal obstacles undermining competitiveness.

‘Factors such as quality of the infrastructure including housing, beds, internet connection, roads and other factors can make tourism competitive if they are of high standard,’ the study says.

The report arrives at a critical juncture as Botswana intensifies efforts to reduce its dependence on diamonds amid growing concerns about the sustainability of mineral-driven growth. The findings suggest that tourism possesses the potential to become a far more important economic pillar, but only if substantial investments are made to improve competitiveness across the sector.

Absent such reforms, Botswana risks squandering one of its most promising opportunities to broaden its economic base, generate employment and create a more resilient post-diamond economy. The study’s central message is clear: natural endowments alone are insufficient. Without sustained investment and strategic policy intervention, tourism is unlikely to fulfil its promise as Botswana’s next engine of growth.

The latest official statistics show an improvement in food security but the country remains far from free of hunger with 47.2 percent of the population still experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity.

Statistics Botswana says the share of people who are food secure or only mildly food insecure rose to 52.8 percent in 2023/24, even as 28.1 percent of the population remained moderately food insecure and 19.1 percent faced severe food insecurity.

New official figures suggest Botswana is recovering from the sharp food insecurity spike seen in 2021/22, but nearly half the population still lives with some level of food insecurity.

The report says the latest findings were drawn from the Quarterly Multi-Topic Survey and the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), with data referring to the previous 12 months. It notes that food security has improved in the last two reporting years after worsening around the pandemic period.

The share of people who were food secure or mildly food insecure had fallen from 49.2 percent in 2018/19 to 46.7 percent in 2021/22, before recovering to 50.6 percent in 2022/23 and 52.8 percent in 2023/24.

Statistics Botswana says this ‘suggests that while there were declines in 2020/21 and 2021/22, food security improved in the last two years of the reporting period.’

Moderate food insecurity has remained relatively stable over time, though still at worrying levels. It rose from 28.6 percent in 2018/19 to 30.9 percent in 2020/21, dropped to 27.1 percent in 2021/22, increased again to 29.2 percent in 2022/23, and eased to 28.1 percent in 2023/24.

Severe food insecurity shows the clearest improvement in the latest data. After rising sharply to 26.2 percent in 2021/22, it fell to 20.2 percent in 2022/23 and then to 19.1 percent in 2023/24. The report says the 2021/22 spike could possibly have been linked to COVID-19 effects on household food security.

The official figures also show that hardship remains more severe outside urban centres. In rural areas, severe food insecurity stood at 25.1 percent in 2023/24, compared with 18.4 percent in urban villages and 11.5 percent in cities and towns.

An unusual cast of international businessmen and lobbyists has emerged as private deal makers around President Duma Boko, attracting scrutiny from the United States’ foreign influence transparency system and raising questions about the nature of their role.

Hardly two years since President Boko swept to power promising transparency, accountability and a new economic direction, a small but influential network of foreign businessmen and international intermediaries has quietly emerged around Botswana’s new administration.

At the centre of that network are three men whose backgrounds could hardly be more different. There is a Canadian-Israeli lobbyist with history of representing controversial political figures across the globe.

An Iranian-born entrepreneur who has been the subject of public allegations and red flag reports linking him to controversial crypto and investment circles, but no verified criminal conviction or official charge.

And a controversial South African mining and investment magnate whose name has repeatedly surfaced in discussions involving major projects in Botswana.

Individually, Ari Ben-Menashe, Farzam Kamalabadi and Zunaid Moti may appear unrelated. Together, however they reveal a striking pattern.

The first sign that Boko’s presidency would be different emerged long before he entered the State House. In July 2024, documents filed in the United States revealed that Boko had signed a lobbying agreement with Canadian firm Dickens and Madison headed by Ari Ben-Menashe. The agreement attracted attention because Ben-Menashe is no ordinary lobbyist. Over the years, he has cultivated a reputation as one of the world’s most colourful political operators, representing presidents, opposition leaders and governments across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The assumption among many observers was that the relationship would end once the election was over. Instead, public filings suggest otherwise.

A January 2026 filling submitted under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act stated that Dickens and Madison ‘ continue to work with Mr Duma Boko in support of his presidency.’ The filing did not elaborate. It did not specify the nature of the work. It did not specify who was paying, nor did it clarify whether the work was being undertaken on behalf of Boko personally, the ruling party or the Botswana government.

The website assigns a 50/100 score to the registration involving Dickens and Madson Canada Inc. and Duma Boko, stating:’The principal is a political party leader, which generally falls in the middle range of U.S. interest alignment. Without further details on the specific activities, a neutral score is appropriate.’ The assessment concludes that the registration ‘warrants scrutiny.’

If Ben- Menashe operates largely behind the scenes, Farzam Kamalabadi occupies a far more visible position. In 2025, Boko appointed Kamalabadi as Presidential Envoy on International Relations and Economic Development. The appointment placed Kamalabadi at the centre of Botswana’s effort to attract international investment at a time when the country faces one of its most challenging economic environments in decades.

Information published on the website tracking filings under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) states that Botswana currently has two active registrations. It describes the country’s direct efforts to influence U.S. policy or public opinion as ‘minimal’ compared to many other nations.

According to the website under a briefing titled ‘What Botswana is doing in Washington,’ the filings reveal that the Government of Botswana has engaged Fang Consulting LLC for strategic consulting, a company under Kamalabadi’s stable.

The website notes: ‘Botswana’s engagement with U.S. influence operations, as indicated by available FARA filings, is minimal, with only two active registrations.’ It adds that the filings demonstrate that ‘both governmental and individual political interests from Botswana have sought representation in Washington, albeit on a small scale compared to many other nations with active FARA registrations.’

Regarding the government’s engagement of Fang Consulting LLC, the website states that Botswana’s country baseline score is 60/100, but that ‘Strategic Consulting adjusts by -3, yielding a neutral signal.’ It describes this as a ‘heuristic’ assessment and notes that ‘no AI score [is] available.’

The website further observes that the strategic themes emerging from Botswana’s filings ‘appear to center on general strategic engagement and political lobbying rather than specific policy objectives.’

It says: ‘The government’s engagement with ‘strategic consulting’ points to image management or broad relationship building, while the lobbying by a political figure could encompass a range of objectives from advocating for a particular political stance to garnering support for electoral campaigns.’

However, updated filings submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice by Ari Ben-Menashe of Dickens and Madson Canada Inc. indicate that the firm’s activities on behalf of Duma Boko have not been directed at the United States.

The filing states:’DandM’s activities for Mr. Duma Boko have consisted of lobbying in Botswana, South Africa and the United Kingdom in support of his election as President of Botswana.’

It adds:’DandM continues to work with Mr. Duma Boko in support of his presidency.’

The filing emphasizes: ‘All activities DandM has engaged in on behalf of Mr. Duma Boko have occurred outside the United States, and none of those activities have been directed at the United States.’

The company further declared:’DandM has not prepared, disseminated or caused the dissemination of informational materials in the United States in connection with this foreign principal.’

On compensation, the filing says the firm did not receive any contributions, income or money from Boko during the reporting period. Instead, it reported that it applied retainer payments previously provided by Boko and previously disclosed to the Department of Justice. Those previously disclosed payments were reportedly USD 50,000 for a 12-month period, equivalent to approximately P675,000.

The disclosures suggest that Botswana’s government and political leadership have become part of the U.S. foreign influence transparency regime, where lobbying and consulting activities undertaken on behalf of foreign principals are publicly registered and monitored under FARA, even when the reported activities themselves are conducted outside the United States.

Then there is Zunaid Moti. The South African businessman has become a familiar figure in Botswana’s political conversation since Boko’s election victory. Government officials have acknowledged receiving proposals associated with Moti involving infrastructure projects. Media repots have linked him to efforts to secure opportunities in sectors ranging from construction to public-private partnerships. Critics, including former President Mokgweetsi Masisi have suggested that Moti’s proximity to the new administration deserves closer examination. Supporters dismiss such claims as politically motivated. Yet the persistence of Moti’s name in discussions involving major government projects continue to fuel speculation about the extent of his influence.

Minister of Water and Human Settlements Onneetse Ramogapi is reportedly facing mounting pressure from President Duma Gideon Boko to deliver on the Bonno Housing Project or face removal from cabinet.

Reports reaching the Sunday Standard indicate that the President is especially furious because he had praised the project during its launch last year, hailing the Bonno Target 3,000 Kgale Housing Project as the first step towards a national goal of delivering 100,000 homes.

Behind the ostentatious fanfare, however, murmurs of discontent have amplified. Emerging reports suggest that Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) executives were bullied into signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the developer, Ongos Valley, just days before the official launch.

The MoA was reportedly signed without issuing an Expression of Interest (EOI) or giving other prospective bidders a chance. Furthermore, the project was launched without housing plans, enforceable contracts, or a completed due diligence report. Law firm Minchin and Kelly, alongside transactional advisors Grant Thornton, would later warn BHC to reconsider its contract with Ongos Valley. They highlighted the Namibian developer’s failure to disclose critical documentation during the due diligence process, which hampered confirmation of its financial soundness, technical operational capacity, and ethical standing.

To many, the writing was on the wall. In December 2025, barely six months after the launch, the much-touted partnership between BHC and Ongos Valley collapsed.

‘It was very unfortunate that the project was launched, but we had to terminate the contract as negotiations with the partner did not go well,’ then-acting CEO Pascaline Sefawe said at the time.

Internally, BHC employees breathed a collective sigh of relief. But the President was left embarrassed. In cabinet, Ramogapi began feeling the heat as Boko and fellow ministers grew increasingly impatient.

THE PURGE

Ramogapi has never minced his words: anyone standing in the way of the Kgale project would be removed. The threat of summary dismissal was real and repeatedly pronounced.

The casualties of the project began mounting rapidly. Permanent Secretary Bonolo Khumotaka was redeployed in July 2025, while Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nkaelang Matenge was shown the door in October. Ramogapi wielded his axe again in February 2026, as acting Deputy CEO Steven Ofetotse and Property Development Manager Urban Ferguson were summarily dismissed for allegedly sabotaging the Kgale development.

The board ran helter-skelter trying to fill the resulting human capital gaps, leading to further internal chaos. A newly recruited female engineer had several run-ins with the board after employees raised complaints of harassment and bullying against her.

In another bizarre twist, the Director of Property Development-who reported for duty in February- abruptly resigned in April, before later attempting to rescind his decision. By that time, his resignation had been accepted and a replacement appointed. The situation escalated when the minister reportedly instructed the acting CEO to reinstate the former director. According to insiders, Ramogapi’s instructions could not be obeyed as terminating the replacement employee’s contract without lawful cause would expose BHC to immense financial liabilities. This set the stage for a direct, high stakes showdown between the board and Ramogapi.

THE BOARD DISSOLUTION

Tensions arose after the female engineer was instructed to ‘show cause’ why disciplinary action could not be taken against her for appointing two contractors to develop bulk services at Kgale without following due process.

The dispute highlighted a major shift from the project’s initial financial structure, in which the identified developers would recoup their investments through both bulk services and housing developments. Under the new arrangement, the contractors appointed by the female engineer were tasked exclusively with developing essential utilities infrastructure, including water supply, wastewater management, and stormwater drainage. BHC would be liable to pay a substantial upfront deposit, followed by monthly installments of up to P8 million over a 24-month period. Insiders revealed that total expenditures for development of bulk services at Kgale would ultimately exceed P200 million.

The board reportedly refused to validate the appointments; demanding clarity on whether management had fully assessed cash flow projections to ascertain BHC’s repayment capacity; collateral arrangements as well as sensitivity and stress-testing scenarios. While the board insisted this was necessary due diligence to prevent another disaster, Ramogapi viewed it as deliberate sabotage and unnecessary delay.

The tension reached boiling point during a heated meeting on June 1. Ramogapi reportedly dressed down the BHC board, accusing them of failing to deliver on the corporation’s mandate. Three days later, on June 4, Ramogapi officially dissolved the board in accordance with Section 6(3) of the BHC Act. The minister has since assured stakeholders that the process of constituting a new board is already underway.

Letshego Africa Holdings’ decision to withdraw from five African markets follows years of mounting losses that ultimately undermined one of the lender’s most ambitious growth bets.

Documents circulated to shareholders ahead of a vote on the proposed disposal of subsidiaries in Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda show the operations generated a combined loss after tax of P519.5 million in the year ended December 2025, despite producing operating income of P1.46 billion.

The businesses held assets worth P3.82 billion and carried a net asset value of P819.9 million at year-end, highlighting the scale of the investment that failed to translate into sustainable returns.

The figures offer fresh insight into the financial pressures behind Letshego’s decision to retreat from markets that were once central to its pan-African expansion strategy.

Earlier this year, the Botswana Stock Exchange-listed microfinance lender announced an agreement to sell the subsidiaries to Axian Digital Venture Holding and Management Limited for US$62.7 million, equivalent to about P850 million. The transaction forms part of a broader restructuring programme aimed at improving profitability and strengthening the group’s balance sheet.

In its shareholder circular, Letshego attributes the poor performance of the businesses to a combination of foreign exchange volatility, elevated inflation, regulatory shifts and rising credit impairments across several East and West African markets.

The disposal is significant. The assets being sold account for nearly one-fifth of the group’s consolidated asset base, marking a decisive shift away from the continental expansion model that drove Letshego’s growth for more than a decade.

Management says the exit will enable the group to redeploy capital towards higher-return markets, improve capital efficiency and bolster liquidity. Sale proceeds are expected to be directed towards debt reduction, working capital requirements and investment in core operations.

Yet the strategic reset comes with a financial penalty. Letshego estimates the transaction will result in an accounting loss of approximately P281 million.

Botswana has recorded the lowest suspected digital fraud rate in Africa according to the findings from TransUnions H1 2026 update. However fraudsters are already changing tactics. The Frauds Trends Report update by the organization found out that among all the African countries analysed in 2025, they were 0.9 percent of transaction attempts involving consumers which were suspected to be digital fraud in Botswana.

This is below the global average of 3.8 percent and represents the lowest rate among the African countries analyzed. However, according to the report, despite this Year-over-Year(YoY) decline in suspected digital fraud for Botswana and globally, fraudsters continue to adapt by turning to high-trust, scam-based tactics that can by-pass traditional safeguards.

‘Botswana has not experienced widespread fraud, but the nature of fraud risk is beginning to shift. As digital services become more formal and widely trusted, fraudsters are increasingly targeting these environments,’

‘This is a natural stage of digital growth and highlights the need to strengthen protections as confidence in digital services expand,’ said Amrit Reddy, Senior Director of Fraud Product Management at TransUnion Africa.

The report suggests that digital fraud risk is highest at account creation in Botswana. Despite the fact that suspected fraud rates appear lower compared to 2024, risk remains elevated at specific points in the consumer life cycle, particularly where criminals attempt to create or manipulate identities in Botswana. The highest rate of suspected digital fraud in 2025 across the consumer life cycle occurred at account creation(2.6 percent), followed by account login(0.8 percent) and during financial transactions (0.5 percent).

In addition, Botswana’s fraud profile reflects an early – to -mid stage digital market where onboarding and account creation remain the primary points of exposure. According to the report, this mirrors broader global and Africa-wide trends in markets where digital identity systems are still evolving.

‘Experience from other countries shows that the phase does not last indefinitely. As consumers build longer term digital relationships with banks, retailers and service providers, fraud risk tends to move beyond onboarding toward login and account access, often through impersonation or credentials misuse,’ said Reddy.

‘The key takeaway for Botswana is timing. Strengthening onboarding and early-stage identity checks can help prevent more complex fraud patterns emerging as digital adoption accelerates. Early safeguards can make a meaningful difference as the digital ecosystem matures,’ she added.

Across Africa, suspected digital fraud risk varies by industry, reflecting local user behaviour and where criminals see opportunities. For attempted transactions involving consumers in Botswana, retail recorded the highest suspected digital fraud attempt rate in 2025 at 1.9 percent, followed by Gaming(online sports betting, poker etc) at 1.8 percent and financial services at 1.1 percent.

As fraud tactics evolve, TransUnion has advised consumers to help reduce their risk by safeguarding personal information, remaining cautious of unsolicited calls and messages and regularly reviewing their credit information for suspicious activity. Organizations have also been advised to ensure that their fraud strategies extend beyond compliance to actively protect trust across the entire consumer lifestyle, particularly account creation at points where criminals attempt to exploit established relationships through scams and impersonation.

‘Botswana has the advantage of foresight. The global fraud playbook is already written. The opportunity now is to act before the next phase arrives,’ cautioned Reddy.

TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13 000 associates operating in more than 30 countries and territories including, Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Eswatini and Zambia.

Botswana’s fight against inflation appeared largely successful in 2025, with consumer price growth falling below the central bank’s target range for a second consecutive year. Yet beneath the headline numbers, persistent increases in food prices continued to erode household purchasing power, particularly among lower-income families.

According to Statistics Botswana’s Consumer Price Index review for 2025, average annual inflation eased to 2.7 percent from 2.8 percent in 2024 and well below the 12.1 percent peak recorded in 2022 during the global inflation shock.

The outcome placed inflation beneath the Bank of Botswana’s medium-term objective range of 3 percent to 6 percent, underscoring a sharp reversal from the price pressures that followed the pandemic and supply-chain disruptions.

However, the moderation in overall inflation masked growing pressure in essential household spending categories.

Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages inflation accelerated to 5.4 percent in 2025 from 4.8 percent the previous year, making it one of the largest contributors to overall price growth. Statistics Botswana noted that sustained increases in food costs could disproportionately affect poorer households and potentially slow progress in reducing poverty.

The steepest increases were recorded in fruits, coffee, tea and cocoa, milk products, and fish. Fruit prices rose by 12 percent during the year, while coffee, tea and cocoa prices increased by 13.9 percent.

The low inflation environment was partly supported by government intervention. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels inflation contracted by 1.4 percent following reductions in electricity and water tariffs, helping to offset rising prices in other sectors.

Yet emerging trends suggest inflation risks have not disappeared. Tradeable inflation, which captures goods exposed to international markets and exchange-rate movements, increased to 3.5 percent from 3.0 percent in 2024, indicating growing imported price pressures.

The data highlights a widening gap between macroeconomic indicators and household experience. While Botswana has succeeded in restoring overall price stability, the persistence of food inflation suggests the benefits have not been evenly felt across the economy.