Category: Sunday Standard

By 2038, Botswana’s population is projected to reach nearly 3 million people while the country becomes more urban, older and increasingly concentrated around its major economic centres.

The country is on course to have a population of 2,954,519 people by 2038, according to new projections by Statistics Botswana. This marks a substantial increase from the 2,359,609 people recorded in the 2022 Population and Housing Census.

The projections, contained in Botswana Population Projections 2022-2038, put the country’s average annual population growth at 1.4% under the medium variant, which Statistics Botswana identifies as the most likely scenario and the official baseline for planning.

The projected increase will, however, come alongside a profound demographic shift. Botswana will not simply have more people; its population will also be older and increasingly urban.

By 2038, the proportion of people aged between 0 and 14 is expected to fall from 31.3% in 2023 to 25.8%, while those aged 65 and above will increase from 5.5% to 6.6%. The working-age population is projected to account for 67.6% of the population, creating the possibility of a demographic dividend if the economy can generate sufficient jobs and opportunities.

The median age is expected to rise from 26 years in 2023 to 29 years in 2038, reflecting falling fertility and improved survival. The dependency ratio will also decline from 0.58 to 0.48, meaning fewer children and elderly people will depend on each working-age person.

At the same time, Botswana will become significantly more urban. The share of the population living in urban areas is projected to rise from 70.4% in 2023 to 76% by 2038.

The growth will be particularly pronounced around Gaborone and surrounding districts, as well as Palapye, Mahalapye, Serowe, Tonota, Tutume and Francistown. Statistics Botswana warns that these areas will face increasing pressure on housing, transport, infrastructure and environmental resources.

The demographic transformation will also be visible in Botswana’s birth rates. The total fertility rate is projected to decline from 2.86 children per woman in 2023 to 2.20 by 2038, while annual births are expected to fall from 55,850 to 49,415.

Yet people are expected to live longer. Total life expectancy is projected to increase from 68.9 years in 2023 to 74.7 years in 2038, with female life expectancy reaching 77.1 years and male life expectancy 72.1 years.

The population growth will also be unevenly distributed. Mogoditshane, Okavango, Tonota, Tutume, Boteti, Letlhakeng and Mahalapye are among the areas projected to grow fastest. By contrast, Tsabong, Hukuntsi, Charles Hill, Ghanzi/CKGR, Chobe and Sowa Town are expected to experience slower growth and faster ageing.

Businessman Bakang Seretse wants certain key members of Judicial Service Commission (JSC) left out in the determination of his official complaint against justice Edwin Cameron.

In the complaint submitted to Chief Justice Gaopalelwe Ketlogetswe, Seretse has asked that both Attorney General Dick Bayford and Court of Appeal President Justice Tebogo Tau recuse themselves from any consideration of the case, arguing that their involvement would create an appearance of conflict of interest.

The complaint arises from two Court of Appeal judgments authored by Cameron in litigation involving Seretse and his companies. Seretse alleges that the judgments demonstrate apparent prejudgment, unequal application of legal standards and repeated use of personalised judicial language.

But beyond the allegations against Cameron, the complaint raises a potentially sensitive institutional question: who should be permitted to sit in judgment of the complaint itself?

Under the constitutional framework, the Attorney General ordinarily serves as a member of the Judicial Service Commission. However, Seretse argues that the Attorney General’s office was directly involved in one of the disputes that forms the basis of the complaint.

According to the complaint, the underlying litigation involved government legal interests represented by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in one matter and the Attorney General’s Chambers in another. In the Khulaco appeal, the Attorney General was a named litigant through his constitutional office and government lawyers advanced the state’s case before the Court of Appeal.

Seretse argues that these circumstances create a direct institutional conflict.

‘The Complainants therefore respectfully request that the Attorney General, Mr Dick Bayford, take no part in the JSC’s consideration, deliberation or decision on this complaint,’ the filing states. The complaint further asks the commission to formally determine the question of Bayford’s recusal before considering the substance of the allegations against Cameron.

A similar request has been made regarding Justice Tebogo Tau. Tau, who serves as President of the Court of Appeal and is also a member of the JSC, sat on the three-judge panel that delivered the July 2026 judgment in the Khulaco matter. The judgment, authored by Cameron, forms a central part of Seretse’s complaint. Seretse argues that because Tau concurred in the judgment under scrutiny, it would be inappropriate for her to participate in deliberations concerning allegations arising from the same proceedings.

‘The Complainants respectfully consider it appropriate that Justice Tau take no part in the JSC’s consideration, deliberation or determination of the complaint,’ the filing states.

Kenny Rogers famously advised gamblers to ‘know when to walk away.’ Botswana’s Members of Parliament have a different message for government: know when to fold the idea altogether.

A proposal to lower the legal gambling age from 21 to 18 has been dealt a rough hand in Parliament, with MPs warning that government risks inviting teenagers to the betting table at a time when gambling is already tightening its grip on households across the country.

The controversial proposal is contained in the Gambling (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to modernise Botswana’s gaming laws by allowing 18-year-olds to gamble legally. While legislators broadly support updating the law, many insist the age limit is one bet government should not make.

Leading the charge was Chobe MP Simasiku Mapolonka, who painted a bleak picture of gambling’s growing social cost. He said parents are already staking money meant for groceries, while some tertiary students are gambling away their allowances before lectures, leaving them battling stress, anxiety and depression. Instead of making betting easier, he argued, government should be creating jobs and opportunities that give young people something better to wager on than luck.

Okavango West MP Kenny Kapinga backed keeping the minimum age at 21, saying Parliament should strengthen safeguards rather than weaken them. Mogoditshane West MP Galenawabo Lekau agreed, arguing that young adults remain the group most vulnerable to gambling addiction.

Their concerns are reinforced by the Gambling Authority’s own figures. Chief Executive Officer Moruntshi Kemorwale says 36.6 percent of Batswana actively gamble, with financial hardship emerging as the biggest driver.

For now, MPs appear convinced that when it comes to lowering the gambling age, the safest bet is not to place one at all.

Botswana’s housing and land crisis has reached alarming levels, with nearly 440,000 citizens waiting for residential plots while government admits it cannot say when the backlog will be cleared, exposing the scale of one of the country’s longest-running service delivery failures.

A parliamentary response by Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti to a question from Bobirwa Member of Parliament Taolo Lucas reveals a land allocation system overwhelmed by demand and constrained by limited land, funding shortages and inadequate infrastructure.

The numbers tell the story.

Government records show 439,996 residential plot applications remain on waiting lists nationwide. Among them are 20,203 people who have waited for more than 30 years, 73,221 who have been waiting between 20 and 30 years, 94,458 who have spent between 10 and 20 years on the list, while the largest group, 225,333 applicants, has waited between five and 10 years. A further 71,781 have been waiting for less than five years.

Despite the enormous backlog, government was unable to provide Parliament with a timeline for allocations.

Although the ministry intends to allocate 47,000 plots by the end of the 2026/27 financial year, only 2,112 plots had been allocated during the first quarter, highlighting the gulf between demand and delivery.

Dikoloti said the biggest obstacle is the shortage of land for village expansion, forcing government to buy neighbouring farms. During the 2025/26 financial year, the ministry acquired 1,130.86 hectares for P32.6 million, while another 260.94 hectares have already been purchased this year at a cost of almost P15 million.

However, purchasing land has not translated into faster allocations. The minister cited delays in spatial planning, surveying and land servicing, adding that insufficient funding continues to hamper progress. He conceded that the ministry cannot provide timelines for those still waiting.

For more than 20,000 Batswana who have spent over three decades waiting for land, the figures point to a crisis that has outgrown bureaucracy and become a measure of government’s inability to meet one of citizens’ most basic expectations.

Jehovah’s Witnesses in Botswana held the first of their annual global convention series under the theme ‘Eternal Happiness’ this weekend, with the three-day programme taking place from Friday to Sunday in Gaborone and Francistown.

The convention is part of a three-weekend programme, with two more conventions scheduled to take place in August 21-23 and August 28-30, 2026. Members of the public are invited to attend the conventions free of charge.

According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, the programme is being presented in Setswana, Kalanga, Botswana Sign Language and English, giving attendees an opportunity to explore practical Bible-based principles on how to achieve and maintain happiness.

‘This year’s convention theme discusses how to be happy and how to remain happy. All in attendance will discover the real joy that comes from a solid hope for the future,’ said Jonnah Pongaponga, spokesperson for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Botswana.

The first weekend’s programme featured Bible-based videos, interviews and presentations focusing on various aspects of happiness and emotional well-being, including ‘Abundant Happiness Forever – Is It Realistic?’, ‘Why Are You Anxious?’ and ‘Have You Discovered the Treasure?’

One of the major highlights of the convention was the presentation of Episodes 4, 5 and 6 of The Good News According to Jesus, an 18-episode video series depicting the life and ministry of Jesus Christ based on the Gospel accounts. The three episodes were presented on consecutive days during the convention.

The Saturday programme also included a baptism ceremony.

Jehovah’s Witnesses said the conventions are open to members of the public and that no collections are taken. Each day featured Bible-based talks, interviews and video presentations, with programmes running from the morning until the afternoon and including a one-hour-and-20-minute lunch break.

The organisation said its annual conventions attract millions of people worldwide. Last year, more than 6,000 conventions were held in nearly 500 languages, including 19 international conventions in 13 countries, attracting more than 12 million attendees.

Titans Softball Club will take Botswana’s softball to the international stage when they travel to Switzerland for the Women’s Softball European Cup. The club hopes to use the tournament to give its players valuable international experience.

The trip will give Titans players an opportunity to test themselves against teams from different countries and experience a higher level of competition. It will also be important for the club’s players who are part of the national team, as they will gain experience that could benefit Botswana in future international competitions.

Team manager Onneile Segwai says the main objective of the trip is to expose the players to higher competition and a different playing environment.

‘Our players will gain exposure from playing against better teams and also playing in a better environment. This is important because they need to understand what is required at international level.’

Titans are set to compete in the Women’s Softball European Cup in Wittenbach, Switzerland, from August 19 to 22. Titans, who will be representing Botswana, will compete against Wittenbach Panthers of Switzerland, Falun Revens of Sweden, Softball Team Kyiv of Ukraine and Panthers Wroclaw of Poland.

The tournament will be especially important for the six Titans players who are currently part of the national team setup. ‘They will get the necessary experience of playing on the big stage. What they learn from this tournament will be very useful when they return to the national team,’ Segwai says.

He is of the belief that the experience gained in Switzerland could also help players who are selected for future national team assignments.

According to Segwai, playing against stronger opposition will help the players understand their strengths and weaknesses. It will also give them an opportunity to improve their confidence and learn how to deal with pressure at a higher level.

‘This is not only about winning games. It is about learning, competing and understanding the level we need to reach. When our players come back, we expect them to share what they have learnt with their teammates and contribute more to the development of softball in Botswana.’

Titans will open their campaign against hosts Wittenbach Panthers on Wednesday, August 19. They will then face Falun Revens and Softball Team Kyiv on Thursday before playing Panthers Wroclaw on Friday. The tournament will finish on Saturday with the placement matches, including the bronze and gold medal games.

Segwai says another benefit of the trip would be the opportunity for Titans players to experience different styles of softball.

‘Every country has its own way of playing, and that is another advantage of this trip. Our players will be able to see different approaches, different levels of preparation and different ways of handling pressure. That experience can only make them better players,’ he explains.

The Titans squad will travel to Switzerland in two batches, with the first group leaving on Sunday and the second group departing on Monday.

For the club, the European Cup is therefore more than just another tournament. Titans see the trip as an opportunity to develop players who can compete with confidence at international level while also contributing to the growth of Botswana’s national team.

Segwai says the club’s measure of success would not only be the results on the field, but also how much the players learn from the experience.

‘Our hope is that the players return better than when they left. If they gain confidence, experience and a better understanding of international softball, then the trip will have achieved its purpose,’ he says.

Botswana has emerged as one of Africa’s strongest performers in attracting greenfield foreign direct investment, ranking 11th globally in the latest fDi Intelligence Greenfield FDI Performance Index 2026, a Financial Times-owned source of foreign direct investment data and analysis.

The ranking measures greenfield FDI projects rather than traditional FDI flows. Greenfield investment occurs when a foreign company establishes a new operation such as a factory, mine, office, data centre or renewable-energy facility, rather than buying an existing company. That distinction matters for Botswana because greenfield projects can bring new productive capacity, technology and supply-chain opportunities into an economy.

The ranking places Botswana among five African economies in the global top 15, alongside Namibia, Rwanda, Morocco and Zambia. Namibia ranked second globally, Rwanda third, Morocco seventh and Zambia eighth. Botswana recorded an index score of 3.9, meaning its share of global greenfield foreign investment projects was almost four times larger than what would be expected from the size of its economy.

However, the index should not be interpreted as a measure of the absolute size of Botswana’s foreign investment. Rather, it measures whether the country attracts more greenfield projects than its economic size would normally imply. The index, published by fDi Intelligence in July, assessed 98 economies that attracted at least 10 greenfield FDI projects during 2025. An index score above 1 means a country attracted a larger share of global greenfield projects than its share of global GDP.

‘Africa had five countries in the global top 15 for their FDI project attraction, the highest of any region,’ fDi Intelligence said, highlighting the strong showing by Morocco, Zambia and Botswana in addition to Namibia and Rwanda.

The United Arab Emirates topped the ranking with a score of 19.21, followed by Namibia at 7.74, Rwanda at 6.99 and Costa Rica at 6.5. Botswana’s 3.9 score puts it well above the global benchmark of 1. For policymakers, the result offers a positive signal at a time when Botswana is seeking to diversify its economy beyond diamonds. The challenge will be converting investment interest into projects that generate sustained employment, exports, technology transfer and stronger domestic supply chains.

A score of 1.0 means a country’s share of global projects is broadly in line with its share of global GDP. A score above 1.0 indicates that the country is outperforming its economic weight in attracting greenfield projects, while a score below 1 indicates underperformance. The 2026 edition uses 2025 investment data from fDi Markets and GDP data from the International Monetary Fund. It is therefore best understood as a measure of a country’s relative investment-attraction performance, rather than a ranking of the countries receiving the largest absolute amounts of FDI.

What a difference a day and a week can make! A week ago, Township Rollers was seemingly staring down a deep black tunnel.

The Blue Train, as the team is often affectionately called, was falling apart. Not just players, big name players were leaving the team enmasse.

Heavily in debt, no sponsors on board, the future looked bleak. Fast forward to this week, a new sense of hope and energy is engulfing Rollers’ support base. For once, they can now see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Last week, the team unveiled two sponsors. On Tuesday, Rollers unveiled a P2 million, two seasons’ sponsorship from Bet267. Under the terms, the betting company will pay P1 million per season to place its name on the back of Popa’s replica.

Two days later, the team announced Hope Tee Energy as its main sponsor for the season. The deal will see the locally owned company pump P6 million into Rollers over the next three years at P2 million per season.

Hope Tee Energy and Bet267 arrival at the Gaborone based outfit signals a new path towards sustainability for Popa Popa. Instead of finding ‘so called investors,’ the team is now reaching out to cash or in-kind sponsors.

So far, the team has lured in sportswear company Diadora and retail company Options Botswana. There is also O3 as the team’s hydration partner. According to reliable sources, other sponsor(s) and or partner(s) will also be unveiled in the near future.

‘Our ambition is clear. We want a stronger Township Rollers. A professionally run Township Rollers. A competitive Township Rollers and a commercially sustainable Township Rollers,’ club chairman Thapelo ‘Fish’ Pabalinga says.

In his own words, the only way to achieve that is to bring in as many sponsors and partners as possible. And unlike in the past, this time around, Rollers is not chasing investors. Direct cash and in-kind sponsorships and partnerships are what Rollers is seeking.

‘Rollers has tried the single investor route in the past. The problem with that approach is that when the investor is no longer capable of running the team or not making monies, they dump it and leave it in debts.’

‘We are now more inclined to saying, let us look at institutional investors. With single investors, the risk is too high. So, we are better off with multiple investors at a time. Multiple investors in different long-term agreements play the same role as a single investor.’

‘The good thing with multiple investors is that you spread risk. When one investor or sponsor ends the relationship, you are still left with others to work with others to work and the team continues,’ he explains.

Rollers’ current multiple sponsors over single investor approach has been largely shaped by the bitter aftertaste related to past single investors. To put things into context, the immediate past investor approach left Rollers with more than a P7 million debt. This has been largely due to placing investors in control of every aspect of the team. In turn, the investor took debts in the name of the team which they failed to pay.

One such debt, which is haunting Rollers, is the P1.2 million in unpaid dues owed to former coach Abdelaziz Karkache. The debt is directly linked to the team’s recent past investor Tendai Sebata. The debt has led to a FIFA imposed transfer ban for Rollers. The team will now have to channel almost 50 percent of the recently earned sponsorship monies from Hope Tee and Bet267 towards paying the debt.

‘We have to pay before the new season commences. These monies could have gone a long way in assisting us prepare for the league. Unfortunately, whereas other teams are using their monies to build or strengthen to be more competitive, we find ourselves having to pay investor inherited debts. But it is what it is, we have to focus and get the team as ready as it can be for the coming season.’

With so many challenges to overcome, Pabalinga and committee will, more than ever before, have to rely on Rollers’ supporters’ backing. Whether it is showing gratitude to sponsors and partners, attending games, buying merchandise or helping in any way possible, supporters will have to be on board if the team is to rise again.

In return for the faith and the support, the club chairman is promising transparency and accountability. As a start, the team’s partnership with retailer Options to sell merchandise will ensure all monies from this are accounted for.

‘The cornerstone of how we run this team is on accountability and proper governance. Misusing sponsorship funds or any team funds will only lead to sponsors staying away from the team. I am happy that the current executive has also wholeheartedly bought into this. They understand Rollers’ monies cannot be used for anything unrelated to the team.’

While the current debts will continue to hinder the team’s progress, Pabalinga believes the future will be better. ‘There are so many things at Rollers that we need to get right. Obviously, the pressing issues are preparing the team for the season and paying the debts for the transfer ban to be lifted.’

‘Once we have overcome these, the focus will then move towards acquiring assets for the club. This includes acquiring our own mini stadium, a team bus and other assets. Some of these will take time to be acquired, but we will strive to achieve them.’

Recent protests against undocumented immigration in parts of South Africa have once again thrust immigration to the forefront of public debate. Concerns over jobs, crime, pressure on public services and the cost of undocumented migration have fuelled calls for tougher border controls and stricter enforcement of immigration laws. At the same time, businesses in sectors such as agriculture, construction, hospitality and domestic services continue to rely heavily on migrant labour. These competing realities have intensified the national conversation, often producing more emotion than evidence.

Amid the political rhetoric and public frustration, an important question remains: What does the evidence tell us about the economic impact of undocumented immigration? While every country has its own unique circumstances, decades of research from both developed and developing economies provide valuable insights into how migration affects employment, wages, public finances and economic growth. A growing body of international research paints a far more nuanced picture than the polarized debate often portrayed in the media.

Immigration is often one of the most contentious public policy issues, with debates frequently centred on whether migrants take jobs from local workers or become a burden on public resources. Evidence from developed economies, particularly the United States, shows that migrant workers-including many without legal status-make substantial contributions to economic growth. Although unauthorized immigrants account for only about 5% of the U.S. workforce, they generate roughly 3% of private-sector GDP and contribute billions of dollars annually in taxes, including payments into Social Security and Medicare systems from which they receive little or no benefit.

The research also finds that immigrants often fill jobs that local workers are reluctant to take, particularly in agriculture, construction, hospitality and other physically demanding occupations. Rather than replacing native workers, migrants frequently complement the domestic workforce, allowing businesses to expand and increasing overall economic productivity.

The picture is more complex in developing countries. In economies with high unemployment and a large supply of low-skilled labour, an influx of low-skilled migrants may place downward pressure on wages and increase competition for informal-sector jobs. These effects tend to be concentrated among vulnerable local workers rather than the labour market as a whole. South Africa presents a particularly challenging case. With persistently high unemployment-especially among young people and significant income inequality, concerns about labour market competition are understandable. At the same time, sectors such as agriculture, construction, hospitality and informal trade continue to depend heavily on migrant labour. This illustrates why the economic effects of migration cannot be reduced to simple slogans.

Another important finding is that many migrants work below their qualification levels because of legal or administrative barriers. Studies suggest that granting legal status to undocumented workers can significantly increase productivity, improve job matching, encourage business investment and raise economic output.

Some reports also question the effectiveness of some restrictive immigration policies. Costly border infrastructure, mandatory employment verification systems and extensive documentation requirements have often delivered limited economic benefits while imposing substantial administrative costs and encouraging informal employment.

Researchers emphasize that the long-term effects of migration differ from the short-term impacts often highlighted in public debates. While a sudden increase in labour supply may initially affect wages in some sectors, businesses typically respond by investing, expanding production and creating additional employment opportunities over time. As a result, the long-run impact on native employment and wages is generally found to be small in most developed economies.

Overall, the evidence suggests that labour migration is neither an unqualified economic burden nor an automatic economic benefit. Its impact depends on the structure of the host economy, the skills of migrants, labour market conditions and the policies adopted by governments. Well designed migration policies that balance economic needs with effective regulation can help countries maximize the benefits of migration while mitigating its potential costs, particularly for vulnerable groups in the labour market. Immigration is ultimately an economic issue as much as it is a political and humanitarian one. The challenge for policymakers is not simply whether to allow or prevent migration, but how to design policies that protect national interests while harnessing the economic contributions that migrants can make. Evidence-not emotion-should guide that conversation.

Ngamiland cattle farmers have welcomed government’s agreement with Namibia to allow beef from the region to transit through its territory into Angola, saying the long-awaited breakthrough could revive cattle farming and improve the fortunes of the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC) Maun abattoir.

The deal, announced by Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti in Parliament last week, concludes years of negotiations between Botswana and Namibia and opens a new export corridor for beef produced under Botswana’s Commodity-Based Trade (CBT) programme.

Ngamiland Joint Farmers Association chairman Frank Mafela said the agreement would restore confidence among farmers who have long struggled with limited market access because of recurring Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks.

‘Given the ongoing challenges facing cattle farmers in the region, this development is bound to encourage more farmers to invest in farming knowing that market access has improved and that this will guarantee them cashflow,’ Mafela said.

For years, farmers in Ngamiland have argued that access to a transit route through Namibia would unlock the region’s livestock potential. While the association is yet to be briefed on the operational details, Mafela said farmers remain optimistic that government will safeguard the agreement while pursuing additional regional markets.

The breakthrough is expected to strengthen the BMC Maun abattoir, which has operated under difficult commercial conditions because FMD restrictions have limited access to premium export markets. The facility has relied heavily on financial support from BMC’s Lobatse abattoir, with improved market access expected to boost throughput and reduce dependence on cross-subsidisation.

Government believes the new corridor will support regional trade while helping cattle farmers in wildlife-rich Ngamiland secure better returns without compromising Botswana’s animal health standards.