Category: Sunday Standard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A palpable sense of excitement is engulfing the local chess landscape ahead of the 2026 National Chess Championship.

This past Thursday, the BCF revealed BetXplosion as its new partner for its crown event, the national championships. The partnership comes with a whooping P160 000 sponsorship package.

BetXplosion’s arrival, which was met with excitement, now breathes new life into a tournament which for a moment seemed on the brink of death. And the chess family is feeling that new lease of life.

Immediately following the partnership reveal, an announcement was made that FIDE Master Ignatius Njobvu and Woman Grandmaster Tuduetso Sabure will be back for this year’s tournament.

As this was announced, excitement went a notch up, more especially among young chess prodigies Thuto Mpene and Laone Moshoboro, who were among guests. Moshoboro in particular was a picture to behold as she excitedly scanned the room as if searching for Sabure within the conference room.

An opportunity to see, or even perhaps duel with these once invincible local stars was an opportunity the youngsters seemingly yearned for. And BetXplosion was making that a reality.

BetXplosion Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Peter Kgomotso said their involvement is part of a greater plan to invest in the youth. It also seeks to make chess a sport where talented players can earn a living.

‘Bet Xplosion want to take the lead. The company is showing what businesses can do for the communities that they live in. Invest in the people that make our product shine. Invest in the young lives, because if we don’t invest in the future of our country, I don’t think we’ll get any far,’ Kgomotso said.

The BetXplosion CEO said they intended to ease some of the federation’s financial burden and create opportunities for young players to compete at the highest level. He said chess must become a viable professional career where players could earn a living just as athletes in other sporting codes do.

Botswana Chess Federation president Jady Tatolo described the partnership as more than just financial support. It is a strategic partnership that will help the federation implement a lasting development plan.

Botswana National Sport Commission Sport Development Director Peaceful Seleka welcomed the partnership, saying government alone cannot fund the growth of sport and urging more companies to invest in national sporting associations.

He said the partnership between Bet Xplosion and the Botswana Chess Federation demonstrates the positive impact that can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together to develop sport and nurture future champions.

Seleka reiterated that BetXplosion’s investment in chess extended beyond competition. He described it as ‘an investment in the youth, education, talent development and the future of this country.’

Meanwhile, the National Chess Championships will take place at Livingstone Kolobeng College in Gaborone from the 17th to the 21st of July 2026. In a marked departure from the past years, there will be no preliminary rounds for the National Championships. Under the new format, all players will battle it out for the title over the three-days of the tournament.

The government has confirmed that it does not hold equity stakes in several mining operations that generated approximately P16 billion in revenue in 2025. This is despite despite having the option under mining legislation to acquire ownership interests when licenses are granted.

In response to a Sunday Standard inquiry, the Ministry of Minerals and Energy said government has no direct shareholding in Mowana Mine, Karowe Mine, Khoemacau’s Zone 5 Mine, Minergy’s Medie Mine and Motheo Mine.

The ministry said the mines generated revenues of about P16 billion last year.

‘In 2025 these operations grossed revenues in the region of BWP16 billion resulting in royalties to Government of roughly BWP700 million,’ the ministry said.

Under Botswana’s mining laws, government may acquire a working interest in mining projects at the licensing stage. The ministry said decisions on whether to take up that option are made on a case-by-case basis.

‘In the cases where Government does not exercise the option to acquire a stake, the decision is motivated by the desire to achieve the best possible outcomes for the country,’ the ministry said.

According to the ministry, factors considered include project viability, growth prospects, risk exposure and prevailing market conditions. The ministry said government continues to derive benefits from mining projects through royalties, taxes, employment creation and broader economic activity.

It also defended the current mining ownership framework. ‘Botswana’s mining ownership model has served the country well, delivering significant value through strategic partnerships and enabling the nation to benefit from its mineral resources,’ the ministry said.

The response comes as government pursues policies aimed at increasing the value retained from the country’s mineral resources through local beneficiation.

The ministry said Botswana currently exports copper, iron ore, diamonds and soda ash in raw or semi-processed form.

‘The Ministry estimates that the country would get more revenue by expanding the local beneficiation capacity from where it currently is,’ it said.

Among measures being pursued is a feasibility study for a copper processing plant.

‘The plant, when established will elevate Botswana from a producer of copper concentrate to producing a refined product,’ the ministry said.

Government said beneficiation requirements introduced through the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Act of 2024 are also intended to increase value addition within Botswana.

The ministry said a recently developed Mineral Resource Development, Exploration and Value Chain Strategy will guide efforts to diversify the mining sector and expand downstream mineral processing over the next decade.

A Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) document has raised red flags over the financial sustainability and commercial viability of the Bonno Housing Programme’s flagship Kgale housing project.

A copy of the document titled ‘summary of recommendations investment committee documentation’ which was prepared by the Corporation’s Investment Committee exposes significant risks behind óne of President Duma Boko’s ambitious promises to deliver 100,000 houses.

The Bonno Housing Programme was unveiled with much fanfare shortly after the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) assumed power with Boko personally breaking ground at the Kgale project and presenting it as the cornerstone of the governments election pledge to tackle Botswana’s housing backlog.

However, internal BHC documents paint a far less optimistic picture.

The investment committee report which forms part of the annexures in a case brought before the High Court by expelled three BHC senior executives against the Corporation warns that although the Kgale Bulk Infrastructure Development is strategically aligned with government’s housing agenda, several fundamental issues remain unresolved before the project can be considered financially bankable.

At the centre of the concerns is the proposed private-sector financed Design Build Finance and Transfer (DBFT) model intended to deliver bulk infrastructure for approximately 3,000 housing units.

The Investment Committee found that while both shortlisted investors, RIC Development Botswana and the Bothakga-China Jiangsu International Joint Venture possess the technical capacity to undertake the project, the financial model underpinning the development presents substantial risks.

‘The primary concern arising from the submission is not the technical capability to execute the infrastructure works, but rather the long-term sustainability and viability of the proposed repayment structure,’ the report states.

Among the committee’s major concerns are the absence of confirmed home buyers, no pre-sales, no off-take agreements and uncertainty over whether BHC would generate sufficient revenue to service the proposed loans.

‘The report itself already raises major warning indicators: Repayment period too short, BHC capability to pay and No presales or No take-off agreements…’ the document says.

The document notes that RIC’s proposal would require BHC to repay approximately P7.93 million every month for 24 months, while the Bothakga proposal carries a monthly repayment obligation of P7.97 million over the same period.

Committee members described the repayment model as ‘extremely aggressive,’ particularly given that there is no demonstrated sales cash-flow model to support such commitments.

The report further warns that financing costs alone could significantly inflate the eventual selling prices of houses.

RIC’s proposal would see infrastructure financing costs rise from P149.3 million to a total repayment of P190.2 million, while the Bothakga proposal would increase from P145.4 million to P191.3 million after financing charges.

‘This creates exposure to the high risk of unaffordable end products,’ the report warns.

It adds that the paper submitted to the committee lacked key commercial analyses, including housing affordability modelling, market demand studies, projected selling prices, mortgage affordability testing and absorption rate analysis.

Committee members stressed that these omissions make it impossible to determine whether ordinary Batswana who are the intended beneficiaries of the Bonno Housing Programme would actually be able to purchase the houses.

The report also highlights governance concerns over how investors were selected.

It notes that during earlier deliberations, committee members questioned the transparency surrounding the identification of prospective investors and the composition of the evaluation team.

Although additional information was later provided, the committee observed that details of directors and shareholders were not initially included in the principal report.

Further concerns centre on government’s potential financial exposure.

The Bothakga-China Jiangsu Joint Venture requires a government guarantee to secure financing, while RIC Development Botswana requires collateral from BHC.

The committee warned that either arrangement could expose government to significant contingent liabilities at a time when Botswana faces mounting fiscal pressures.

‘These create significant contingent liabilities, fiscal exposure and possible Treasury implications,’ the report says.

Members also questioned whether the Ministry of Finance would approve such guarantees given the country’s current financial environment.

The committee further observed that RIC had yet to identify a confirmed lender, creating uncertainty over whether financing would materialise at all.

‘This is a major bankability weakness,’ the report says.

Despite the concerns, the Investment Committee recommended that RIC Development Botswana be appointed as the preferred investor but only for further negotiations aimed at producing a commercially viable, financially sustainable and bankable project with a more balanced allocation of risk. It further states that if negotiations with RIC fail to bring the desired results, talks with Botlhakga Jiangsu should be explored. The then Acting Chief Executive Officer Sekgele Ramohobo who has since stepped down approved the recommendation.

While government has portrayed the project as the beginning of a housing revolution, BHC’s own internal assessment suggests the scheme still faces significant financial, commercial and governance hurdles before a single house can be delivered on a sustainable basis.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Kgale View in 2025, Boko said it was with a deep sense of pride to launch the project which was a segment of a large and unfolding narrative of the 100 000 units promised.

He noted that: ‘Botswana is going to look spectacularly different within the next three years. I have a team of people I work with and we dare not fail…’

Speaking at the same event, the Minister of Water and Human Settlement, Onneetse Ramogapi said Bonno Target 3 000 was the first step towards delivering the promised 100 000 housing units.

Immediate comment from Botlhakga Burrow China Jiangsu and RIC Development Botswana was not available.

Political polarization has emerged as a major issue in the world of public health and health policy. Research has highlighted the role of political and ideological polarization in health policy, public trust, vaccine uptake, responses to the pandemic, and health outcomes at the population level (Fraser et al., 2022 ; Nayak et al., 2021 ; Oberlander, 2024 ). Much of this research has examined the effect of conflicts between citizens, political parties, and interest groups on the adoption and implementation of health policies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need to comprehend the effects of political polarization on health systems and public health decision-making. These contributions have significantly advanced understanding of the relationship between politics and health. However, comparatively less attention has been given to how polarization may emerge within the institutional architecture responsible for designing, financing and implementing health policy itself. Health systems increasingly involve multiple organisations operating across different sectors of government. Ministries of Health, Ministries of Finance, local government authorities, procurement agencies, regulatory institutions, development partners and private-sector actors frequently share responsibility for achieving common health policy objectives. While such institutional diversity can strengthen health-system performance, it also creates new governance challenges that extend beyond political competition or ideological disagreement.

Health policy and systems research has consistently shown that effective health systems depend on more than adequate financing, infrastructure and human resources. They also depend on governance. Governance provides the institutional arrangements through which authority is exercised, decisions are made, resources are allocated and accountability is maintained. It determines how different institutions work together in pursuit of shared public good (Frenk, 1994; Travis et al; 202). Existing governance frameworks emphasise stewardship, coordination, accountability, transparency and institutional capacity as essential characteristics of well-functioning health systems (Siddiqi et al., 2009; Brinkerhoff and Bossert, 2014; WHO, 2007). These frameworks recognise that improving health outcomes depends not only on the performance of individual institutions but also on the quality of relationships between them.

Health policy and systems research also recognises that health is not produced exclusively within hospitals, clinics or consulting rooms. Nor is health-system performance determined solely by physicians, nurses or other clinical professionals. Modern health systems depend on the interaction of political institutions, public administration, financing systems, procurement agencies, local government, regulatory authorities, development partners and communities. Improving population health therefore requires governance arrangements that enable these institutions to work together towards shared public objectives rather than operate as isolated organisations (WHO, 2007; Frenk, 1994).

This broader systems perspective is increasingly reflected in contemporary scholarship, which argues that medicines governance, particularly during periods of fiscal stress, should be understood as a stewardships and governance challenge rather than simply a procurement or clinical problem ( Seleke and Nthomang, 2026).

Governance scholars have also examined institutional fragmentation, describing situations in which multiple organisations, rules and governance arrangements become increasingly dispersed and difficult to coordinate (Biermann et al., 2009). Although this literature has largely developed within environmental governance and international relations, its central insight-that fragmented institutional arrangements may weaken collective action-is highly relevant to contemporary health systems. Nevertheless, institutional fragmentation primarily describes the structural organisation of institutions. It pays comparatively less attention to how relationships among institutions evolve during periods of reform, particularly when organisations responsible for a common policy objective progressively diverge in their mandates, operational priorities and accountability arrangements.

Institutional Polarization

Institutional polarization refers to the progressive divergence of authority, accountability, mandates and decision-making among institutions responsible for a shared health policy objective. It occurs when organisations established to pursue common policy goals increasingly operate through parallel responsibilities, competing priorities and disconnected accountability arrangements, reducing institutional coherence and making policy implementation more difficult. Institutional polarization does not necessarily imply institutional conflict or institutional failure. Rather, it describes a governance condition in which relationships between institutions become progressively less integrated despite the continued functioning of individual organisations.

The concept builds upon, but is distinct from, institutional fragmentation. Fragmentation is primarily concerned with the existence and organisation of multiple institutions. Institutional polarization shifts attention towards the quality of relationships between those institutions. It asks whether authority remains coherent, whether accountability is clearly understood, whether financing arrangements reinforce coordination, whether procurement responsibilities are aligned, whether communication reflects a shared governance narrative and whether stewardship continues to integrate the system. In this way, institutional polarization complements existing governance frameworks by providing an additional analytical lens through which health-system reform may be examined.

Botswana provides an important opportunity to explore this proposition. Since 2024, the country has embarked on one of the most significant periods of health-sector reform since Independence. These reforms include the decentralisation of primary health care, restructuring of medicines governance, emergency institutional arrangements following the 2025 medicines crisis, and the introduction of innovative financing mechanisms intended to strengthen health-system resilience. Individually, each initiative seeks to improve health-system performance. Collectively, however, they also raise broader questions regarding institutional coherence, coordination and long-term stewardship. Rather than evaluating the performance of individual organisations, this paper examines whether the evolving institutional architecture continues to support coherent implementation of shared health policy objectives.

To illustrate the proposed concept, this commentary introduces six interrelated domains through which institutional polarization may be examined: authority, accountability, financing, procurement and logistics, strategic communication, and stewardship. Owing to the scope of a commentary, these domains are presented as a conceptual framework to guide future empirical analysis rather than examined exhaustively. The framework provides a structured lens through which institutional relationships may be analysed as Botswana’s health-sector reforms continue to evolve.

Institutional Polarization in Practice

Botswana’s recent health-sector reforms provide an important opportunity to illustrate the proposed framework. Since 2024, the country has undertaken significant institutional changes, including the transfer of primary health care to the Ministry of Local Government, emergency interventions following the 2025 medicines crisis, and the introduction of new financing arrangements intended to strengthen medicines security. These reforms were intended to strengthen health-system performance. They also created new institutional relationships that require careful coordination.

Viewed through the lens of institutional polarization, the central question is not whether these reforms were necessary. Reform is an essential part of health-system development. The more important question is whether evolving institutional arrangements continue to operate coherently towards shared policy objectives.

This commentary proposes six analytical domains through which institutional polarization may be examined: authority, accountability, financing, procurement and logistics, strategic communication, and stewardship. Together, these domains encourage attention to relationships between institutions rather than the performance of individual organisations alone. They ask whether mandates remain clear, whether accountability is understood, whether financing reinforces coordination, whether procurement responsibilities are aligned, whether communication presents a coherent governance narrative, and whether stewardship continues to integrate the health system during periods of reform.

This perspective has practical implications. Health-system reform should not be evaluated solely by the creation of new institutions or the announcement of new initiatives. It should also be assessed according to whether institutional relationships become more coherent over time. New governance arrangements should therefore be accompanied by clear reporting structures, transparent accountability mechanisms, regular public communication and well-defined institutional responsibilities. These principles strengthen trust, support implementation and enable continuous institutional learning.

Institutional polarization does not suggest institutional failure. Rather, it provides a complementary governance lens for understanding why implementation

challenges may persist despite the commitment of multiple institutions to the same public objective.

The concept therefore extends existing discussions of political polarization by drawing attention to the relationships within the institutional architecture of health systems. Botswana provides an important illustration of this governance challenge. More importantly, it demonstrates how health policy and systems research can move beyond describing reform towards developing concepts that help explain how reform succeeds, where it struggles, and how institutional coherence can ultimately be strengthened.

This commentary introduces institutional polarization as a complementary governance lens for understanding how institutional relationships shape health policy implementation during periods of reform. Rather than focusing on political or ideological divisions, it draws attention to the coherence of authority, accountability, financing, procurement and logistics, strategic communication, and stewardship across institutions pursuing shared health objectives.

Owing to the scope of a commentary, these analytical domains have been introduced rather than examined in detail. Subsequent papers will apply this framework to Botswana’s ongoing health-sector reforms, exploring each domain individually through the lenses of medicines governance, primary health-care decentralisation, emergency financing, institutional accountability and stewardship. Collectively, these studies will further refine the concept of institutional polarization and assess its usefulness as a governance framework for understanding health-system reform in Botswana and comparable health systems.

About the author

Dr Thabo Lucas Seleke is a Health Policy and Systems Research scholar whose work focuses on health systems governance, stewardship, implementation science and public sector reform. He holds a PhD in Health Policy and Systems Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and an MSc in Global Health Policy and Management as a Fulbright Scholar in Boston, United States. He has also completed advanced training in cross-disciplinary qualitative health research at King’s College London. During his doctoral studies, he contributed to postgraduate teaching at LSHTM within the Faculty of Public Health and Policy. Dr Seleke previously served as a Global Health Fellow at the World Health Organization in the Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases and currently serves as Deputy Chair of Botswana’s National Health Research Ethics Committee (NHREC) under the Ministry of Health.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Botswana spyware mystery timeline

Before March 2024

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

March 2024

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

April-June 2024

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

Mid- late 2024

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

October 2024

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

January to May 2025

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

June 2025

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

. The system was shut down

. The infrastructure was migrated

. Operators changed tactics

. Researchers lost visibility into the network.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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