Category: Sunday Standard

sit and watch in real time what the opposition Botswana Congress Party is going through.

From a distance it looks chaotic. It is not.

For a party that has been in existence for close to 30 years now, the BCP finds itself in a foreign territory.

It is a campaign season. And for BCP this season is like non other.

Online exchanges between party members are breaking the internet.

It would seem like a civil war is afoot. Opponents are smiling. In their imagination they see a crisis playing out at the BCP.

It is because the party’s big wigs are calling each other names.

Lobbies and sleights are flying around.

Big names are openly campaigning against each other – from the position of vice president downwards.

They are not at each other’s throat. They are just shouting out so that they can be heard.

Some people have called it baptism of fire. It is actually democracy at work.

And to an untrained eye, the BCP is about to collapse.

No, it is not. It will actually emerge stronger and if the will of members is respected, more united too.

Even internally, there are some BCP people who have been rattled by latest developments.

Reports indicate that going forward they will consider banning lobby lists, because, they assume, lobby lists polarize the party.

That would be a mistake. Just let the party play on.

Democracy never begets a crisis. Crisis is often a result of throttling people’s will.

For a long time the BCP has tried to micromanage its growth phases, including by way of stage-managing internal elections.

There comes a time in life when growth can no longer be subjected to test tube experiments.

When that time arrives growth runs on its own, it breaks free of all the shackles and on its own it starts to blossom.

Growth always gets to a stage where it behaves like a Frankenstein monster or should we say a jeannie out of a bottle.

That is true for human beings as it is for organisations.

In life there comes a time when children are no longer toddlers.

When that time comes parents should accept that their time of control is up.

Instincts often tell them to continue with their stranglehold. The reality on the ground says that control has become not only hard but also unsustainable.

The same applies to organisations that we build and grow to love.

On its own, and without seeking anybody’s consent, the BCP has outgrown the phase of acute control and micromanagement.

The sooner its high priests accept this, the better it will be for the whole organization.

Shortly after taking over the leadership of the Botswana Democratic Party, Festus Mogae decided that the inner party mechanics had to be reimagined.

The committee of 18, which was a powerful and largely unaccountable party organ that effectively decided on who could contest elections became Mogae’s first target.

He dismantled and uprooted.

In its position he introduced what he aptly named Bulela Ditswe.

Bulela Ditswe effectively took away power from the party strong men and gave it to the ordinary members.

Through Bulela Ditswe, for the first time the rank and file tasted not just power but democracy too. Bulela Ditswe gave them a choice.

They voted whoever they wanted to be their candidates in the general elections.

Nobody ever said Bulela Ditswe was perfect.

In fact democracy is itself not perfect.

But since its inception no BDP leader has come up with any other invention to replace Bulela Ditswe.

This is despite the fact that Bulela Ditswe has created problems for everyone who has led the BDP, starting with its chief architect – Mogae, Ian Khama, and even Mokgweetsi Masisi.

With Mogae it created chaos. With Khama it created rebellion. And with Masisi, something worse happened.

Khama wanted to reform it. He couldn’t. Masisi wanted to abolish it. He ended up losing power because he was perceived to be against primary elections.

My point is once the people taste democracy, you can’t take it away from them. You cannot even reduce it.

You can only increase it.

Democracy is like liberty. People will only accept more of it. Never less.

It is like giving a little kid a lollipop. You can’t take it away from them without them crying uncontrollably.

This column has the past heavily criticized the BCP for micromanaging democracy.

They have now opened up.

We should now give them credit.

Documents seen by Sunday Standard show that the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government’s promise to restore accountability is facing one of its toughest early tests after the latest Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report reopened explosive allegations involving the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS). The allegations include contract interference, hidden business interests and repeated court defeats.

The report reveals among others, unresolved matters involving alleged DIS interference in a water project, questionable ownership and accounting of the Tautona Lodge and Farm and a growing trail of court battles launched by disgruntled staff members.

Sunday Standard understands that for a government elected on promises of transparency, accountability and rule of law, the report now places the UDC administration in the spotlight.

The documents revel that at the centre of the controversy is a case in which the DIS is accused of interfering in a water project by allegedly removing a contract from one contractor and awarding it to another.

According to the PAC, the intelligence agency confirmed the existence of the case and said investigations had been completed before the matter was referred to the DPP for prosecution.

Information reaching Sunday Standard also shows that the latest revelation instantly transforms the issue from an administrative embarrassment into a legal and political test case.

Information seen by Sunday Standard also shows that if prosecutors proceed this could mark one of the first major corruption-linked prosecutions touching the DIS under the new administration. It is understood that if nothing happens, critics will likely accuse the UDC of protecting old networks it promised to dismantle.

Reports indicate that Boko said to safeguard the rule of law, discourse on judicial independence was often framed in a binary manner, with the judiciary on one hand and the state on the other.

The matter involving DIS interference in the water project arose from a controversial instruction of the DIS for WUC to cancel its contract with the two companies that DISS considered a security threat to the country.

The two companies consequently approached the High Court for redress. Following a protracted legal battle, the parties reached a court of settlement agreement that was fulfilled when WUC paid the two companies P112 million. ‘The contract that the parties had entered into arising from the invitation to tender that was published by Water Utilities Corporation bearing reference, essentially, Design, Supply, Treatment Plant-Tender No. WUC 015 (2018) is here by terminated,’ said the then Justice Tebogo Tau of the Lobatse High Court.

‘The Respondent (Water Utilities Corporation) agrees to pay the sum of P112 000 000.00 into the Trust Account of Tengo Rubadiri Attorneys on or before 1st June 2020, in full and final settlement of all contentions between the parties relating to the Invitation to Tender that was published by the respondent bearing the reference, essentially, Design, Supply, Treatment Plant – Tender No. WUC 015 (2018).’

The PAC also reopened questions over Tautona Lodge and Farm, a property reportedly bought by the DIS using operational funds.

In one of the report’s most startling findings, legislators noted that the property was not appearing in government books of account, neither was revenue allegedly generated from hotel operations.

The committee ordered the Accountant General and DIS to meet urgently and regularise the accounting treatment of the property and all income derived from it.

PAC further requested the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) to provide updates on the status of cases linked to the DIS including the water project matter.

Ccording to the report, ‘The Committee requested the DCEC to undertake the following:

Provide an update on the status of the cases and alleged interference by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) on a water project.’

The report also paints a picture of internal dysfunction inside the spy agency.

Lawmakers noted that aggrieved staff members had repeatedly been forced to seek justice through the courts in disputes that could have been resolved internally through the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security (PCIS), the oversight body created under the DIS Act.

PAC observed that the DIS had lost a number of those cases.

The committee stated that the PCIS must be constituted and convened effectively to ensure accountability, transparency and adherence to the rule of law.

The timing of the report could not be more sensitive.

President Boko came to power promising institutional reform after years of criticism that Botswana’s democratic institutions had been hollowed out.

The PAC report goes beyond the DIS. It also laments slow progress across government ministries in implementing old PAC resolutions, exposing a wider culture of impunity and bureaucratic indifference.

But it is the DIS chapter that carries the greatest political danger.

For years, the intelligence agency was viewed by critics as untouchable. The PAC has now dragged it back under Parliament’s harsh lights.

According to the report; ‘The Committee expressed concern on the above and requested the Directorate of Intelligence and Security to undertake the following: the DIS should submit to the PAC an up-to-date report on the court cases lodged by its

staff and the outcomes thereof and the Tautona Lodge and farm, together with all revenue generated therein, should be captured in the government books of account according to the requirements of the

Public Financial Management Act.’

The latest Public Accounts Committee (PAC) findings have placed Parliament under an uncomfortable spotlight as they raise hard questions about institutional independence. The report also questions staff morale, governance and public accountability.

The Committee warned that Parliament risks losing public confidence if internal weaknesses are not urgently addressed.

‘It was brought to the attention of the Clerk of the National Assembly that the Parliament of Botswana is perceived as lacking independence,’ the report says.

The Clerk of the National Assembly reportedly acknowledged the concerns as he reportedly agreed that ‘it is critically important for Parliament to operate independently.’

The PAC is also demanding updates on reforms meant to strengthen that independence alongside broader institutional restructuring.

‘The Clerk acknowledged this concern and agreed that it is critically important for Parliament to operate independently. The Committee requested that the Clerk provide an update on any measures being taken or planned to enhance the independence of Parliament,’ says the report.

The report shows that at the centre of the report is a push for transparency. The Committee wants all parliamentary committees to be broadcast live, just like the Public Accounts Committee. It stated that this is ‘in the quest to educate the public on other oversight portfolios/mandates.’ In response, the administration indicated that ‘efforts are underway to explore mechanisms for ensuring that the proceedings of other Parliamentary Committees are also aired online.’

The report states that ‘The Accounting Officer committed to consult further on the possible implementation of the initiative and give an update; improving Performance of Parliament: The Clerk informed the Committee that capacity building and training initiatives were being implemented to ensure that Parliament becomes a high-performing institution.’

But beyond visibility, deeper structural issues were exposed. The Committee flagged low staff morale and demanded urgent reforms. The Clerk admitted that ‘a review of the Parliamentary organisational structure is underway to create job opportunities,’ while also acknowledging plans to revive training programmes for both MPs and staff.

However, MPs were not convinced by assurances alone. They pressed for concrete action, including updates on whether the Clerk had ‘held a general staff meeting with all Parliamentary staff,’ noting that only senior management engagements had taken place so far.

‘Further to that, the Clerk of the National Assembly was requested to provide an update on the departure of the Former Technical Advisor to the Public Accounts Committee (within the next 2 weeks),’ the report says.

Financial accountability also came under scrutiny. The PAC raised concerns over ‘excessive hotel costs’ linked to the accommodation of Members of the 12th Parliament at Avani Hotel while awaiting renovations to official residences. The Committee further instructed that the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) be invited to explain ‘the progress of investigations regarding the costs incurred.’

The report also demands updates on a wide range of reforms; from establishing a parliamentary budget office, to disposing of unused equipment, and even progress on intelligence and security committee structures.

The PAC has also lined up extensive site visits across the country, including infrastructure projects such as the North South Carrier, hospitals, roads, schools, and agricultural facilities.

The High Court has sentenced Tapologo Makwatse to death after finding no extenuating circumstances to justify a lesser penalty. The sentence brought to a close a murder case that tested the limits of mitigation arguments centered on intoxication and alleged provocation. Tapologo was convicted of hacking his ex-girlfriend Dipuo Ramalepa, to death with an axe.

In his judgment delivered this week, outgoing Judge Dr. Zein Kebonang said the court had been compelled to interrogate the evidence more closely than usual after identifying inconsistencies between the agreed statement of facts and the accused’s subsequent testimony in mitigation.

Makwatse had earlier been convicted of murder under Section 202 of Botswana’s Penal Code after entering a guilty plea. The conviction followed a formal statement of agreed facts submitted jointly by the prosecution and the defence in July 2023. At the time, the accused confirmed before the court that the contents of the document were true, voluntary and accurately reflected the events leading to the killing.

However, the sentencing phase took a more complex turn when Makwatse appeared to depart from that agreed version during his oral submissions in mitigation. According to the court, the accused introduced elements that suggested diminished responsibility, including intoxication and emotional provocation, which had not been clearly borne out in the original agreed facts.

Kebonang noted that such contradictions could not be ignored, particularly in a case where the ultimate sentence depended on whether extenuating circumstances existed. ‘The court cannot lightly accept mitigation that is inconsistent with facts previously admitted by the accused,’ Kebonang said, arguing that the integrity of the judicial process depended on consistency and credibility.

Central to the court’s analysis was whether the accused’s state of intoxication at the time of the offence could reduce his moral blameworthiness. Kebonang ruled that self-induced intoxication, without more, does not meet the legal threshold required to establish extenuation. The court further held that while emotional distress or provocation can, in certain circumstances, be relevant, the evidence presented did not support a finding that Makwatse acted under such overwhelming influence as to significantly impair his judgment.

‘The burden rests on the accused to prove, on a balance of probabilities, that extenuating circumstances exist,’ Kebonang said. ‘In this case, that burden has not been discharged.’

The judge also pointed to the deliberate nature of the conduct described in the agreed facts, which suggested a level of intent incompatible with the defence’s later attempt to portray the act as impulsive or driven by diminished capacity. The court found that the version initially accepted by the accused remained the most reliable account of events.

With no extenuating circumstances established, the court was bound by law to impose the mandatory sentence for murder. Kebonang accordingly sentenced Makwatse to death, in line with the law, which prescribes capital punishment in such cases. Makwatse now joins the ranks of inmates on death row.

Construction of the 500MW solar PV plant and battery storage project in Maun has taken off, with Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) expecting the development to cut electricity costs and reduce reliance on imports.

The project, launched last week, is also expected to enhance security of supply, reduce the country’s carbon footprint and lower generation costs by displacing expensive imported power. It forms part of broader efforts to position Botswana as a net electricity exporter in the region.

The plant will be developed under an Independent Power Producer model by O-Green, a company owned by the Sultanate of Oman. During the ground-breaking ceremony, BPC and Okavango Solar, a subsidiary of O-Green, signed a 30-year power purchase agreement.

The development includes a 500MW solar PV plant and a 500MWh Battery Energy Storage System, with construction expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2029. A 2km 400kV transmission line will link the plant to the existing Mawana Substation.

BPC chief executive David Kgoboko said the project comes at a time when the utility is grappling with rising electricity costs, particularly during peak demand periods when power is imported from South Africa and Mozambique.

The battery storage system will allow energy generated during the day to be stored and used during evening and early morning peaks, easing pressure on imports and improving grid stability. The project aligns with government’s Integrated Resource Plan, which targets adding 1.3GW of renewable energy to the grid before 2030.

Botswana’s economy is set for a rebound in 2026, but the recovery may prove short-lived as global shocks weigh on momentum across Southern Africa.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Botswana’s growth to swing from a contraction of 0.9 percent in 2025 to 4.7 percent in 2026, before slowing to 2.2 percent in 2027, reflecting a fragile recovery tied to external demand, particularly in diamonds. The outlook mirrors a broader regional pattern where gains remain vulnerable to global disruptions.

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, growth is expected to ease slightly to 4.3 percent in 2026 from 4.5 percent in 2025, as higher oil, fertilizer and shipping costs filter through economies following geopolitical tensions.

For Botswana, the challenge is familiar: dependence on a narrow export base. While improved global conditions could lift diamond sales in the near term, the IMF warns that commodity-dependent economies remain exposed to volatility and shifting demand patterns.

Elsewhere in Southern Africa, growth is subdued. Namibia is projected to hold steady at 2.4 percent in 2026, while South Africa, Botswana’s largest trading partner is expected to expand by just 1.0 percent, underscoring weak regional demand. Zimbabwe, though still growing faster at 5.0 percent, is also set to slow.

The divergence with faster-growing economies is stark. Ethiopia, for instance, is forecast to maintain growth above 9 percent, highlighting the gap between reform-driven economies and those reliant on commodities.

The IMF cautions that risks remain tilted to the downside. A prolonged global shock could raise inflation, tighten financial conditions and erode demand for exports, particularly for smaller, open economies like Botswana.

In a sporting calendar often defined by competition and trophies, an upcoming golf day in Gaborone is aiming for something far more meaningful – changing lives.

On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the fairways of Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club will host the Play with Purpose – Autism Awareness Charity Golf Day. The event blends sport with advocacy, and is driven by one mother’s deeply personal journey.

Melissa Modise, a businesswoman, wife, and mother of two, is the force behind the initiative. Her inspiration comes from her six-year-old son, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three – a moment that reshaped her family’s life.

‘What began as fear, shock, and confusion has become acceptance and determination,’ Modise shares. ‘We have been fortunate to access early intervention, therapies, and strong support. But that is not the reality for most families.’

Across Botswana, many parents raising children on the autism spectrum face are faced with a lack of adequate resources, information, or support. Early intervention, widely known to improve developmental outcomes, remains out of reach for many due to financial constraints, limited services, and a lack of awareness.

For Modise, the weight of the journey is undeniable. ‘It is mental exhaustion. It is financial strain. It is relationships tested to their core. And it’s often carried in silence, in a society that still does not fully understand autism.’

The upcoming golf day is designed to change this status quo. Play with Purpose is a call to action. It seeks to move beyond surface-level awareness toward meaningful understanding. It seeks to challenge misconceptions, break stigma, and create inclusive spaces where children on the spectrum are fully accepted.

‘We want children on the spectrum to be seen as part of everyday life, not exceptions. Inclusion is not kindness – it’s a necessity,’ Modise emphasizes.

Funds raised from the event will support Autism Botswana, a local organization dedicated to advocating for individuals on the autism spectrum and assisting their families. Autism Botswana works to raise awareness, provide resources, and push for a more inclusive society. And like many in the sector, it faces growing demand with limited resources.

The event also carries an educational message. Modise highlights that autism is not one-size-fits-all. Each child is unique, and communication is not always verbal. Understanding and meeting children where they are, she says, is key to true inclusion.

As golfers prepare to tee off, the message behind the event remains clear: this is about more than sport.

‘This is bigger than a golf day. ‘It is about changing mindsets, showing up for families who feel unseen, and giving children the chance not just to exist, but to thrive,’ she says.

Businesses and individuals are being called upon to support the initiative through sponsorships and participation, helping turn a day on the course into lasting impact beyond it.

Sometimes the most important victories aren’t recorded on a scorecard – but in the lives changed along the way.

Parliament has turned up the heat on government to overhaul Botswana’s veterinary disease control framework, calling for an urgent review and re-demarcation of livestock zones as pressure mounts from recurring outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

The motion, tabled by Boteti West legislator Sam Digwa, targets sprawling zones such as 11 and 3B, arguing that their size undermines effective disease management. Lawmakers say the current structure makes it difficult to isolate outbreaks, deploy vaccines efficiently and enforce quarantine measures with precision. The motion also calls for urgent rehabilitation of veterinary cordon fences.

The push comes as government battles a widening outbreak first detected in Goodhope District. Acting Minister Edwin Dikoloti recently told a kgotla meeting that the disease has spread beyond initial containment areas, with confirmed cases reported at multiple crushes and a commercial feedlot. Authorities have since declared new infected zones under emergency regulations.

Officials concede the situation is fluid. Veterinary authorities have long argued that existing zones combine areas with varying risk levels, complicating surveillance and response efforts. The renewed outbreak has exposed these weaknesses, with cross-border transmission and internal movement controls proving difficult to manage.

Regionally, pressure is intensifying. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has recorded a surge in cases, pushing vaccine demand beyond supply. Botswana’s own production capacity is under strain, even as authorities race to restore disease-free status by 2028.

For farmers, the fallout is immediate. Movement restrictions are choking cattle sales and exports, while compliance costs rise. With beef exports tied to strict health standards, delays in reforming the zoning system risk deepening losses in one of Botswana’s most important agricultural sectors.

Choppies Enterprises Limited has opted for a modest shareholder payout, declaring a dividend of 1.0 thebe per share for the six months ended December 31, 2025, underscoring the retailer’s cautious stance amid margin pressure.

The Botswana Stock Exchange and Johannesburg-listed grocer said the dividend will be paid on April 29, with eligibility already locked in after the stock went ex-dividend on April 15. The register closed on April 17.

For local investors, the payout narrows further after tax. A 10 percent withholding tax reduces the dividend to 0.9 thebe per share, trimming already thin returns. South African shareholders will receive the dividend in Rands at a conversion rate of P1 to R1.155, equivalent to 1.155 cents per share before tax. Withholding tax of up to 20 percent may apply, subject to double taxation agreements.

Choppies said the distribution will be paid out of income reserves and treated as a foreign dividend for South African investors. The payout comes against a mixed set of results. Retail sales rose 8.9 percent to P5.09 billion, supported by the addition of 25 stores and selective price increases. However, earnings moved in the opposite direction.

Profit after tax from continuing operations fell 33 percent to P77 million, while operating profit declined 20 percent to P152 million, as cost pressures intensified. The company cited inflation, currency devaluation and the implementation of a living wage in Botswana as key drivers of margin erosion. A weaker pula alone added P64 million in costs, much of which could not be passed on to consumers.

With household spending under strain and government austerity weighing on demand, the results reflect a retailer expanding footprint even as profitability tightens.

Government has reiterated its difficulties in settling outstanding payments to oil companies, as rising global crude oil prices continue to strain the National Petroleum Fund (NPF). Speaking in Parliament, Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Kenewendo said the fund has disbursed over P262 million in fuel subsidies over the past three months but still owes oil companies about P350.6 million in outstanding claims.

She said the NPF is struggling to fully cushion pump prices amid persistent increases in global oil prices, largely driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. While the fund continues to support consumers, the rising cost of fuel imports has limited its ability to stabilise prices and meet supply obligations.

Kenewendo noted that although there has only been one upward fuel price adjustment in the 2025/26 financial year, in September 2025, underlying pressures have remained. Between June and September, import costs exceeded regulated prices, resulting in a cumulative debt of over P544 million due to delayed price adjustments.

The NPF has been absorbing these price differences to shield consumers, accumulating more than P150 million in recent months to offset rising costs. However, the pressure has intensified as global oil prices remain elevated.

The minister said recent pump price adjustments made at the end of March 2026 will continue to be supported by the fund, despite ongoing cost pressures. Fuel has been imported at higher prices while being sold below cost for several weeks, widening the gap between actual and regulated prices.

For March alone, under-recoveries are estimated at P714 million, reflecting the scale of the subsidy burden. The growing debt highlights the challenge facing government in balancing fuel subsidies with volatile global oil markets, while maintaining energy security and protecting consumers.