Category: Sunday Standard

World Relays local organising committee has received a major boost ahead of a historic global event. Stanbic Bank Botswana has pledged P5 million to support the Debswana World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026. It is the first time the country and Africa will host the competition, and the funding signals strong backing from the private sector.

The financial support comes just weeks before the event, which is scheduled for May 2-3 at the National Stadium in Gaborone. The relays will attract top athletes from around the world, putting Botswana in the international spotlight.

Minister of Sports and Arts, Jacob Kelebeng, said the event is a defining moment for the country. He noted that hosting a global athletics competition requires strong partnerships, proper planning and serious investment. He said the support from Stanbic shows confidence in Botswana’s ability to deliver a successful event.

‘This is Botswana’s time to shine,’ Kelebeng said. ‘We all have a role to play in making this event a success.’

Stanbic Bank Botswana says its P5 million contribution is about more than just sport. The bank believes events like the World Athletics Relays bring real benefits to the country. These include job creation, tourism growth and increased global visibility.

Chief Executive Chose Modise said sport has the power to unite people and create opportunities. He added that the bank is proud to be part of a historic moment for Botswana.

‘Sport brings people together and builds national pride,’ said Modise. ‘We want to help deliver an event that the country will be proud of for years.’

The World Athletics Relays is expected to draw athletes, officials and fans from different parts of the world. Hotels, transport services and local businesses are likely to benefit from the increased activity. The event also gives local athletes a rare chance to compete at home against some of the best in the world.

Stanbic’s involvement in sport is not new. The bank has supported several sporting events and teams over the years. These include the Nomads Nationals cricket tournament, Township Rollers Football Club and the Gaborone Marathon. It is also the sponsor of the Stanbic Bank Gaborone Golf Club.

This latest investment is seen as a continuation of that support. The bank says it is committed to helping develop local talent and growing sport in communities across the country.

Head of Brand and Marketing Stephanie Sandridge said Botswana has always produced strong athletes. She believes hosting the relays will inspire young people and open new opportunities.

‘Now the world will come to us,’ she said. ‘This is a big moment for Botswana, and we are proud to be part of it.’

The local organising committee is working with government and international partners to prepare for the event. Preparations include upgrading facilities, planning logistics and ensuring security for athletes and visitors.

The National Stadium is expected to be the centre of activity during the two-day competition. Fans will have the chance to watch high-level relay races, including Olympic-style events that test speed, teamwork and precision.

For Botswana, the relays are more than just a sporting event. They are a chance to show the country’s ability to host world-class competitions. It is also an opportunity to build a lasting legacy in sport and infrastructure.

As the countdown begins, excitement is building among sports fans and athletes. With strong backing from both government and the private sector, expectations are high.

Stanbic Bank Botswana’s P5 million pledge has set the tone. Now all eyes are on Gaborone as it prepares to welcome the world.

Government’s flagship labour-based relief programme, Ipelegeng, set to transform from a purely welfare-based intervention to promoting skills development appears to have undergone a change in name only. A document seen by Sunday Standard shows that key conditions among them wages and working hours have remain unchanged. This has raised questions about whether the reform is more cosmetic than substantive.

In a circular dated March 26, 2026, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, directed all council secretaries, town clerks and tribal administrators to submit project proposals for implementation under the revamped programme for the 2026/2027 financial year.

The directive follows earlier communications dated March 11, 2026, on the ministry’s development budget and December 15, 2025, which approved the transformation of Ipelegeng into Ikageng.

Despite the rebranding, core features of the programme remain intact. The circular states that the programme allowance will remain at P817.00 for labourers and P901.00 for supervisors, while working hours will continue at six hours per day.

‘The current number of beneficiaries (quota) will still be observed as employment targets,’ reads the Savingram. It added that districts must focus on creating sustainable opportunities within those limits.

The ministry has, however, introduced structural adjustments, including the scrapping of monthly worker rotation. Participants will now remain engaged for the duration of specific projects which is a shift the ministry says is meant to improve efficiency and accountability.

The programme’s transformation was first revealed by Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, who told Parliament in October 2025 that reforms were already underway. ‘The transformation of Ipelegeng programme from a purely welfare-based intervention to promoting skills development is in full swing,’ said Motshegwa.

He emphasised that the restructured programme aims to move beyond short-term relief. ‘The Ipelegeng programme remains one of the most recognisable pillars of our social protection system, providing immediate relief and income support to vulnerable citizens across the country. To this end, we are undertaking a comprehensive transformation of the programme for it to promote productivity and pathways to sustainable livelihoods,’ he said while presenting the Social Protection Chapter of the draft National Development Plan 12.

‘These reforms are about restoring dignity and enhancing self-reliance,’ he said, adding that the goal is to ensure public works contribute meaningfully to both social protection and national development. It is understood that as the Ikageng programme rolls out, the unchanged wages and conditions are likely to fuel debate over whether the reform represents genuine transformation or simply a change in name.

Botswana is stepping up efforts to secure duty-free access for its rough diamonds into the United States, signalling it will not retreat from its push to cut tariffs from 15 percent to zero despite a shifting global trade landscape.

Minerals and Energy Minister Bogolo Kenewendo said government remains committed to removing the levy entirely, after successfully negotiating it down from 37 percent last year. ‘We will continue our efforts until there are no tariffs imposed,’ she said, describing the move as critical to restoring competitiveness in Botswana’s diamond sector.

The tariff was introduced in April 2025 under a reciprocal trade framework targeting countries with perceived imbalances. Following diplomatic engagement , the rate was reduced to 15 percent in August, with further proposals now under consideration by Washington.

Officials say negotiations remain ongoing, with Botswana opting for a measured approach rather than reactive policy shifts. Naledi Madala, a senior policy adviser at the Ministry of Finance, said government would prioritise long-term economic strategy over short-term responses to global trade volatility.

The stakes are high. While Botswana’s direct exports to the US are limited, the country sits at the centre of the global diamond supply chain. The US accounts for more than half of global diamond demand, with Botswana’s stones typically cut and polished in hubs such as India, the United Arab Emirates and Belgium before reaching American consumers.

That pipeline is now under strain. Tariffs on key processing centres including India and the UAE are adding friction to an already weak market, compounding pressure from subdued global demand.

Following years of controversy and debate over transgender and athletes with disorders in sex development (DSD)’s participation in female competition, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now published ‘a new Policy on the Protection of the Female (Women’s) Category in Olympic Sport.’

The new policy was announced by the IOC president Kirsty Coventry this past Thursday. Under the policy, ‘all disciplines on the Sports Programme of an IOC Event, including individual and team sports, eligibility for any Female Category is limited to Biological Females.’

In her announcement, the IOC president said while the topic is ‘very sensitive topic,’ the policy ‘is based on science. And it has been laid by medical experts with the best interests of the athletes at its heart.’

‘The scientific evidence is very clear. Male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports, it would simply not be safe,’ Coventry said.

Addressing the issue of advantage bestowed by male chromosomes, the IOC said ‘there is a 10-12 per cent performance advantage in most running and swimming events, 20+ per cent in most throwing and jumping events, while the advantage in events that involve explosive power, such as collision, lifting and punching sports ‘can be greater than 100 per cent.’

It says that to protect fairness in such sports and events, as well as safety particularly in contact sports like combat, collision or projectile sports, ‘it is necessary and adequate to base eligibility for competition on biological sex.’

As such, under the new policy, female athletes will be expected to undergo a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ sex test to determine their eligibility to participate in any Olympic sport.

‘Every athlete must be treated with dignity and respect. And athletes would only need to be screened once in a lifetime. There must be clear education around the process, with counselling available alongside expert medical advice,’ Coventry says.

With dignity of the athletes and respect in mind, the IOC says the ‘least intrusive way’ of biological sex screening currently available, which is ‘screening for the SRY Gene,’ will be undertaken on female athletes.

To this end, the IOC says the screening to be done ‘via saliva, cheek swab or blood sample,’ which it says ‘is minimally intrusive.’ According to the IOC, ‘the presence of the SRY Gene is fixed and thus provides better evidence of biological sex than measuring testosterone levels, which are variable and can be changed.’ It further states that ‘SRY Gene screening is almost always sufficient to determine sex for eligibility purposes.’

‘All Biological Female athletes screened will be negative and eligible, and virtually all athletes who screen positive will have testes/testicles that naturally produce testosterone at adult Male levels,’ the IOC says.

While barred from competing in female sports, transgender and DSD athletes will not be completely shut out from competing. The IOC says athletes with an SRY-positive screen, including XY transgender and androgen-sensitive XY-DSD athletes, will ‘continue to be included in all other classifications for which they qualify.’

These may include ‘any male category, including in a designated male slot within any mixed category, and any open category or in sports and events that do not classify athletes by sex.’

According to the IOC, the policy ‘applies to all IOC Events and enters into force at the date of its adoption by the IOC Executive Board. It is not retroactive and shall be applicable for the first time at the LA28 Olympic Games.’

‘The IOC recognises the importance of widespread participation in grassroots and recreational sports programmes, and the impact that sport has in society. However, the Olympic games has a focus on elite sport. And in elite sport, we must ensure the fairness, safety and integrity of all competitions within the games.’

Botswana could find itself losing its battle against the Foot and Mouth outbreak in the North East District (3c) and (6b) Zones as some livestock owners in the affected areas breach of quarantine zones.

Coordinator of the Foot Mouth Disease(FMD) Control in the North East District Dr Benard Mbeha revealed last week that, ‘the main challenge that we are facing is that some farmers are refusing or simply ignoring to comply with our disease control measures which directly undermines our efforts in the fight against the disease. They let their animals roam in the affected areas. Some of them simply skip mandated vaccination cycles. Non- vaccination of livestock by farmers has also led to other disease infections such as the Lumpy skin,’

Addressing the just ended Full Council meeting in Masunga, Mbeha warned that the non-compliance could spread the disease to free areas particularly the nearby Zone (6a) which is listed for export.

‘We want to enforce tighter control measures. Livestock that are found roaming in the restricted zone areas will be destroyed. Maybe this will send a strong message for these farmers to take responsibility and take care of their livestock,’ he warned.

He emphasized that illegal livestock movements, failure to vaccinate and breach of quarantine zones have the potential to enable the virus to spread causing trade suspensions and threatening the country’s beef export market in the European Union.

FMD was officially confirmed in the country on the 29th of January 2026 in the North East District. The virus was detected in Jackalas 1 village(Zone 6b) prompting a suspension of the FMD free-status and later Zone (3c) in villages such as Maitengwe. Immediate bans of cloven-hoofed animal movements were implemented, including Zone 6b and 3c.

Dr Mbeha said FMD control is still restricted to Zone 3c and 6b in the North East District. On a positive note he said their surveillance has shown that there is no further spread of the disease out of these restricted areas. He said the disease within 3c where they initially had cases has been eradicated. They however continue to have cases at Mowana and Senyawe villages in Zone 6b. He said this is possible because the vaccine they have administered on the animals takes time to be effective.

In terms of vaccination of cattle in Zone 6b, he said they achieved 91 percent in the first round and 96 percent in the second round. As for Zone 3c they reached 93 percent and 97 percent respectively. Looking at the figures, he said it is clear that there are a number of animals that are still not being brought for vaccination. He expressed concern that this poses a risk for further infections.

Dr Mbeha said compensation for destroyed animals remains the same as per Directive of 2016, which is P700 for each cattle and P400 for each goat.

Meanwhile Dr Mbeha said Botswana continues to be susceptible to FMD disease due to the current FMD outbreaks in neighbouring countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa. He said the control measures in these two countries have not been very effective.

‘It will take time before we are out of the FMD risks due to the situation in the neighbouring countries,’ he said.

Botswana’s entry into the global cannabis industry has been overshadowed by a growing public dispute over ownership, control and who stands to benefit after a Swedish firm announced it had secured the country’s first cultivation licence.

On its LinkedIn page, Hemp Holding AB, a Sweden-based company, declared that its local vehicle, Hemp Innovations Botswana, had ‘officially acquired the first license to cultivate both medical cannabis and industrial hemp in Botswana.’

‘This is more than a permit. It is the foundation of a new regulated industry – one built on compliance, science, sustainability, and international standards such as GACP and EU-GMP,’ the company said.

It outlined ambitions to position Botswana as a ‘trusted exporter to the EU and global markets,’ while promising job creation, skills transfer, farmer inclusion and the attraction of international capital.

But the announcement quickly triggered a backlash from regional industry bodies who warned that the project risks reproducing extractive economic models that have long disadvantaged African economies.

The African Hemp Consortium was among the first to respond as it warned that licence allocations must prioritise local ownership and governance.

‘Africa’s emerging natural capital industries cannot afford to replicate externally controlled extraction models under the banner of compliance or first-mover positioning,’ the consortium said.

It added that regulatory credibility would not be judged solely on export readiness, but on ‘who governs the asset, where value accumulates, and how domestic institutional capacity is strengthened.’

The intervention set off a back-and-forth exchange online with Hemp Holding AB defending its structure.

‘Good day, we have strong local partners and government bodies as partners and local shareholders in the company,’ the firm said. ‘All employees will be local apart from a few external experts or consultants bringing knowledge to the nation.’

However, concerns deepened as other industry players joined the debate.

The African Medicinal Cannabis Council (AMCC) warned that Botswana’s natural resources must not be reduced to inputs for foreign-controlled value chains.

‘Botswana’s land and natural capital must generate durable value for the people of Botswana, not function primarily as upstream supply for externally controlled processing and capital structures,’ the council said.

It cautioned against ‘regulatory capture and disproportionate external influence,’ arguing that long-term credibility of the sector would depend on where governance authority sits and whether value addition happens within the country.

The council also took issue with business models geared toward foreign markets, saying operators focused on developing products for Europe risk sidelining domestic benefit.

‘Africa’s medicinal and industrial cannabis industries cannot replicate legacy extraction patterns under a modern compliance framework,’ AMCC said.

The African Hemp Consortium doubled down, arguing that any model built primarily around export markets risks extracting value rather than generating it locally.

‘If a business is ‘developing bio products for Europe’s circular change,’ it must be recognised that the model relies entirely on Botswana’s land, resources and communities,’ it said. ‘Anything less is not sustainable or credible.’

Adding to the criticism, Cannabis Research UK warned that such models often fail to deliver meaningful benefits.

‘This is a concerning pattern. Research shows that companies prioritising external markets over local governance and value retention often fail to deliver meaningful community or economic benefits – and many ultimately fail or go into liquidation,’ the organisation said.

In response, Hemp Holding AB appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging some of the concerns.

‘Good day, I somewhat agree and we will of course grow for local needs (grains) and what the legislation allows us to,’ the company said.

The dispute comes as Botswana takes its first steps into regulating cannabis production, a sector seen globally as a high-growth industry with potential for export earnings, job creation and industrial diversification.

At the heart of the debate is a familiar question: whether Botswana can leverage the cannabis industry to build domestic capacity and retain value, or whether it risks becoming a low-value supplier in a globally controlled supply chain.

Titans Softball Club wants to grow the sport big by taking it outside the usual cities into new areas.

The club plans to host the Makgadikgadi Grand Slam Series in Nata, near the Makgadikgadi Pans. The club hopes the event will help softball reach more people across Botswana.

Teams affiliated with Botswana Softball Association, both male and female, will be invited to take part in the tournament. The tournament is scheduled for the Independence holidays in September this year.

Historically, softball in Botswana is played in urban areas, especially in Gaborone, where there are better facilities and more support. This has made it difficult for the sport to grow in other parts of the country. Titans believes taking the game to Nata can help change that.

Nata is located along a busy road in the northeast known for its proximity to the Makgadikgadi area. The club believes this makes it an appropriate place to host a tournament that combines sport with travel. Players and supporters will not only watch games but also experience a different part of Botswana.

The club wants the Makgadikgadi Grand Slam Series to be more than just a normal tournament but the tournament of note. It plans to include activities that will attract fans and keep them engaged throughout the event. This includes proper scheduling, good facilities, and an organised match programme.

Gabantese said Titans is serious about delivering a professional event. She explained that the club is focusing on strong competition, good playing conditions, and smooth organisation. ‘We want to deliver a high-quality tournament that raises the standards locally,’ she said.

To make this happen, Titans has asked companies and partners to support the tournament. The club says it needs sponsorship to run the event properly and to make it attractive for both players and fans.

‘We are inviting sponsors and stakeholders to be part of this softball tournament,’ said the club’s secretary general, Atlang Gabantese.

She said the idea is to create a tournament that benefits all. Sponsors will get exposure for their brands while also helping to develop sport in the country. For Titans, the goal is to build something that can grow every year.

She added that sponsors will have many ways to be involved. These include branding at the venue, marketing opportunities, and digital promotion before and during the tournament. The club is also open to ideas that can improve the overall experience for players and fans.

For Titans, this tournament is not just about one event. It is part of a bigger plan to grow softball in Botswana and make it more popular. By moving games away from traditional centres, the club hopes to introduce the sport to people who have not had the chance to watch or play it before.

‘We see this tournament as an important step in growing softball beyond the traditional centres,’ Gabantese said.

However, the success of the event will depend on support. Without enough sponsorship, it will be difficult to organise the tournament at the level the club wants. At the same time, good planning and execution will be key to making sure the event runs smoothly.

Titans remain hopeful that businesses and partners will come on board. The club believes the Makgadikgadi Grand Slam Series has the potential to become a regular event and help build the sport in new areas. Depending on its success, the tournament could open the door for more events like this in the future. For now, Titans is focused on making the first edition a success and showing that softball can grow beyond the big cities.

The government has moved to draw a firm line between intelligence work and public procurement. Minister of State President Moeti Mohwasa told Parliament this week that the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service (DIS) ‘has no legal authority to award, direct, or cancel procurement.’

Responding to a question from Leader of the Opposition Dumelang Saleshando, the Minister sought to address long standing concerns that the spy agency had strayed into government procurement decision making.

‘The Directorate of Intelligence and Security Service has no legal authority to award, direct, or cancel procurement,’ Mohwasa told Parliament. ‘It shares security related intelligence with procurement authorities, which make independent decisions.’

The response comes amid persistent allegations that the DIS had exerted undue influence over procurement processes under the previous government.

Mohwasa emphasised that procurement decisions rest solely with legally mandated bodies. ‘Institutions such as the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority retain full and independent decision making powers,’ he said. ‘Any allegations of improper influence can be reported to oversight authorities such as the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime.’

Saleshando had also asked whether courts had found the DIS to have acted outside its mandate. In response, Mohwasa said there is no centralised record of such judgments.

‘Providing a definitive figure would require an extensive case by case review,’ he said, adding that ‘adverse findings are taken seriously, and measures are taken to ensure compliance.’ On financial accountability, the Minister said the DIS operated without external audit from its establishment in 2008 until 2018, when it opened its books to the Auditor General. ‘Oversight structures are now operational, except for the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, which is expected to become operational soon,’ he said.

Regarding the agency’s broader role, Mohwasa said the DIS contributes intelligence to financial investigations where national security is implicated. On the Bank of Botswana matter, he said ‘a holistic examination is underway.’

He added that updates on administrative, institutional and oversight reforms would be tabled before the Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security once it is fully operational.

Far from the battlefields of the Middle East, Botswana is already counting the cost.

‘The conflict’s ripple effects – energy, freight and fertiliser are already transmitting into Botswana through higher fuel and import costs,’ says Taimur Khilji, an economist with the United Nations in Botswana. His recent presentation warns that the shock is not theoretical: it is already feeding into prices, trade and household welfare.

At the centre of the disruption lies the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Ship traffic has fallen by roughly 97 percent since late February, severely constraining global energy flows. The result has been a sharp rise in oil and gas prices, with Brent crude climbing by about 27 percent in early March.

Botswana’s vulnerability is structural. The country imports all its fuel and about half its electricity, while more than 60 percent of its goods pass through South Africa. This leaves it acutely exposed to global price shocks.

The transmission is swift. Fuel costs push up transport prices, which account for nearly a quarter of the consumer basket. Food and housing costs follow, amplified by rising fertilizer and freight prices. Inflation, in short, becomes broad-based.

The shock comes at a difficult moment. Botswana’s economy has already contracted and unemployment remains high, particularly among the youth. A prolonged war could deepen fiscal pressures, widen the trade deficit and dampen diamond demand.

As Khilji notes, the burden will not be evenly shared. Low-income households those spending the largest share on food and transport stand to bear the brunt of a crisis that began thousands of kilometres away.

Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited has delivered what may be the closest thing to good news in Botswana’s current economic mood: people are still drinking.

Through a cautionary statement published on X-News, Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited said profit before tax for the year ended December 31 is expected to rise between 12 percent and 22 percent, an increase of between P41 million and P75 million from the P339 million recorded in 2024.

In a year where diamonds have lost some sparkle and liquidity has been tighter than a bar tab at month-end, Sechaba’s performance suggests that when times get tough, consumers do not necessarily cut back, they simply reprioritise.

The company credited the improved outlook to stronger contributions from associate companies, a polite corporate way of saying its underlying beer business did the heavy lifting. In Botswana’s economic hierarchy, beverages appear to be holding their ground better than luxury exports.

While detailed numbers remain pending, the update points to steady demand in fast-moving consumer goods, particularly those that come chilled and preferably in multiples.

Investors will now be watching whether this growth was driven by higher volumes, firmer pricing, or simply more ‘strategic hydration’ across the economy.

Sechaba said full audited results will be released by March 31, when the market will get a clearer view of margins, dividends and whether this momentum can be sustained.

For now, shareholders are advised to trade cautiously though the company’s outlook may already have given them something to toast to.

In an economy under pressure, Sechaba’s message is clear: resilience sometimes comes bottled.