Category: Sunday Standard

A fact-finding mission by the United Kingdom Home Office report seen by Sunday Standard has reveled that while Botswana is facing a gender-based violence crisis nobody at the government enclave appears to know the true scale of the problem.

According to the report titled ‘Country Policy and Information Note; Botswana: Women fearing gender-based violence’ paints a picture of a country paralysed not only by violence against women, but by an absence of official data on arrests, prosecutions and convictions.

The report reveals that despite repeated requests by the UK fact-finding mission team, Botswana authorities failed to provide statistics on how many GBV cases are investigated, prosecuted or result in imprisonment.

‘There are no official figures for the number of GBV cases which are arrested or prosecuted,’ the report states. It added that even the Botswana Police Service (BPS) had not supplied promised statistics by December 2025.

The report shows that the FFM team asked the BPS ‘whether the statistics will show that some of these GBV cases are prosecuted and lead to sentencing, and that people end up in prison for their crimes.’

‘ The OFFICIALS confirmed this. [NB the BPS did not supply the requested statistics in follow up correspondence,’ says the report.

The secrecy surrounding Botswana’s GBV crisis appears to extend across government institutions.

The French Embassy in Botswana also raised concern over the lack of transparency.

Diplomatic officials interviewed by the UK mission said the absence of statistics made it impossible to properly assess the national situation.

‘Nothing really happened afterwards,’ one official observed while discussing recent killings of women. ‘There was a week of prayers that was organised rather than something concrete to address the issue.’

In a chilling coincidence, a murdered University of Botswana employee was reportedly killed during that very week of prayer, the report quoted the French official as saying.

The report says ‘In n interview with the french embassy, The FFM team asked if the FE were aware of data on the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions.’

‘ The FFM team noted that there was a general lack of data, all evidence is anecdotal, therefore it is difficult to assess what is happening generally,’ notes the report.

It says one of the diplomats t the French embassy ‘acknowledged it was difficult to get a clear picture of the situation [without data], did not have more specific figures.’

A United Nations Population Fund official admitted the organisation had repeatedly requested statistics from authorities without success.

‘There’s usually a reluctance to share data,’ the official said.

The official reportedly added that; ‘You ask for that from the police. They’ll refer you to the courts. Access to administrative data… is quite a challenge. Where it involves law enforcement, it’s even harder.’

The report shows that the FFM team asked whether there were any numbers or data on how many women migrate from smaller villages and rural areas to towns such as Gaborone to avoid family issues, and numbers of cases of them being pursued?

‘UN OFFICIAL noted that [UNFPA] did not have such data. [Lack of data] was why they had been talking to government about trying to update the 2018 study. The reason they get to hear about cases is because they end up with the police again,’ the report says.

The official is also quoted as saying that ‘ A woman was moving from Kasane because her boyfriend was abusing her and we only [got] to know about it from the police report that ended up in the mainstream media. It’s not even all the reports that end up in the media.’

The official also stated that even data on teenage pregnancies or migration of abused women fleeing violent partners is difficult to obtain in Botswana.

The report says ‘She explained that there’s usually a reluctance [to share data]. You ask for that from the police. They’ll refer you to the courts. There’saccess to administrative data, whether it’s from Ministry of Health-the rates of teenage pregnancy, something as simple as that – [or elsewhere], is quite a challenge.’

‘The police are not so generous with their data,’ the official was quoted in the report as saying.

The UK mission says government claims that prosecution rates improved from 51 percent in 2021 to 68 percent in 2022 have also come under scrutiny.

But the report says authorities failed to explain what offences were included under GBV, how many actual cases were prosecuted, or which courts handled them.

Representatives of the Gender Affairs Botswana recalled a presentation made before the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women in May 2025 in which a Ministry of Justice representative allegedly cited only three successful abuse prosecutions.

‘The number was just appalling,’ the representatives said. She was quoted as saying; ‘Three successful, but there was no context of three out of how many.’

The report questions about whether Botswana truly understands the scale of violence facing women or whether authorities are deliberately keeping the public in the dark.

The report suggests that without reliable statistics, experts warn, policymakers cannot measure the effectiveness of interventions, identify repeat offenders, or track whether victims are receiving justice.

The government and the Botswana Police Service did not respond to request for comment.

Botswana’s cash-strapped parastatals have plunged deeper into debt, leaving taxpayers exposed to more than P1.6 billion in unpaid government loans as the Auditor General raises concern over weak oversight, broken repayment agreements and questionable use of public funds.

Government-owned entities including the Botswana Meat Commission, Air Botswana and Botswana Postal Services have failed to honour repayment obligations running into hundreds of millions of pula, according to the latest report by Auditor General Keneilwe Senyarelo.

The report shows mounting arrears, weak financial controls and public funds tied up in entities struggling to pay back state loans issued through the Public Debt Service Fund.

At the centre of the findings is the Botswana Meat Commission (BMC), which owes government P368 million. Of that amount, P248 million was already in arrears by March 2023.

The Auditor General revealed that P160 million was due in 2019 while another P88 million became due in 2020, yet no repayments had been made.

‘Despite the Commission being unable to pay the years arrears, Government issued another loan in 2023 amounting to P120 000 000,’ Senyarelo noted in the report.

The report further stated that as at March 31, 2023, ‘there were no repayments made for the two outstanding loans.’

Air Botswana was also singled out for failing to service a P230 million government loan.

According to the Auditor General, the national airline has defaulted on repayments since the first instalment became due in 2021.

‘As at 31 March 2023, the balance on the loan stood at P230 000 000 and the loan was still in arrears as reported in the previous year,’ the report stated.

Botswana Postal Services was similarly criticised after delaying repayment of a P140 million loan.

The outstanding balance stood at P137.2 million after repayments only commenced in 2022 instead of the agreed 2017 start date.

‘I have not been provided with a satisfactory explanation for the failure to honour the repayment terms of the loan,’ Senyarelo wrote.

The Auditor General also raised serious concerns over a staggering P900.5 million advanced to the liquidator of the now-defunct Bamangwato Concession Limited (BCL).

The report revealed there was no clear loan agreement specifying repayment terms, repayment dates or interest rates.

‘Should it transpire that the amount advanced is not repayable for any reason, this would be inconsistent with the terms governing disbursements from the Fund,’ Senyarelo warned.

She stressed that the Fund Order requires disbursements ‘should not have the effect of depleting the fund but rather should grow it.’

The report also uncovered irregularities in the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund under the Ministry of Finance.

The audit found that some loans guaranteed under the scheme were used for purposes outside approved agricultural activities, including farm purchases, irrigation equipment and farm vehicles.

Among the questionable expenditures were loans worth over P11.5 million facilitated through the HYPERLINK ‘https://www.ceda.co.bw?utm_source=chatgpt.com’ t ‘_new’Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency and the HYPERLINK ‘https://www.ndb.bw?utm_source=chatgpt.com’ t ‘_new’National Development Bank Botswana.

‘The inclusion of these items under the Scheme represents non-compliance to the established eligibility criteria,’ the Auditor General stated.

Management acknowledged the findings and said both institutions had been instructed to stop financing assets not covered by the scheme guidelines.

Meanwhile, the audit of COVID-19 procurement exposed what the Auditor General described as ‘nugatory expenditure’ after government paid P8 million in a court settlement linked to a cancelled tender for electronic movement tracking devices.

The tender, valued at P14.3 million, had been awarded in August 2020 before being terminated because the ministry allegedly had no budget for the purchase.

The contractor later sued government, resulting in an out-of-court settlement funded from the COVID-19 account.

‘The Ministry should not have entered into a contract for which they knew there were no budgeted funds,’ Senyarelo said.

She further criticised the decision to charge the settlement to COVID-19 funds, saying the money ‘was specifically allocated for the pandemic containment.’

A recent Afrobarometer survey reveals that majority of Batswana support the media’s role as a government watchdog and value media freedom, although the country remains sharply divided over whether journalists are truly free to operate without interference.

The survey paints a nuanced picture of a country long regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies. While most Batswana back an aggressive watchdog press, many also believe media freedom has deteriorated in recent years.

Over three quarters of Batswana said the media should have the right to publish views and ideas without government control, placing Botswana among the strongest supporters of press freedom on the continent. ‘In several countries, support for media freedom exceeds three-fourths of the population, including Mauritius (86%), Seychelles (85%), Congo-Brazzaville (80%), Lesotho (77%), Chad (76%), and Botswana (76%),’ states Afrobarometer – a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.

According to the survey conducted across 38 countries in 2024 and 2025, the same proportion, 76%, also said the media should continuously investigate and report on government mistakes and corruption rather than avoid negative coverage that could ‘harm the country.’ The findings come as scrutiny intensifies over governance and accountability in Botswana following the release of several high-profile forensic and corruption-related investigations.

Confidence in the actual state of media freedom appears far less settled. Only 52% of respondents in Botswana said the media is ‘somewhat’ or ‘completely’ free to report without censorship or government interference, while 41% said the press ‘Not very/Not at all’ free.

Furthermore, Botswana recorded one of the continent’s steepest declines in perceptions of media freedom over the past five years. The share of citizens who believe the media is free fell by 20 percentage points between the 2019/2021 and 2024/2025 survey rounds, according to Afrobarometer data. Only Guinea, Lesotho and Nigeria registered sharper declines.

The survey suggests that even in countries where democratic institutions are relatively strong, public anxiety over media independence may be rising as political polarisation, state influence and pressure on journalists intensify across Africa.

Afrobarometer, a nonpartisan research network that surveyed 45,600 respondents across 38 African countries, found that support for media freedom remains a majority position across most of the continent. However, perceptions of whether the press is actually free remain deeply mixed.

In addition, the report also highlighted a broader contradiction. Africans who believe their media is already free are slightly less likely to defend unrestricted press freedom than those who believe journalists operate under constraints.

Botswana has strengthened its influence within continental politics after traditional leader Kgosi Mosadi Seboko was elected Deputy Chairperson of the Southern Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP). Kgosi Seboko holds the position of hereditary monarch of the Ba-Ga-Malete and serves as a member of Botswana’s Ntlo ya Dikgosi, an institution through which traditional leadership contributes to consultative processes on governance, and matters of national significance. Seboko’s appointment places Botswana in a strategic leadership position within one of Africa’s key parliamentary structures, at a time when the continent is pushing for deeper regional integration, democratic governance and stronger cooperation on trade and security matters.

The Southern Caucus elected its new bureau last week, with Zimbabwe’s Pupurai Togarepi named Chairperson, Seboko taking the Deputy Chairperson role, and Lesotho’s Thabiso Lebese elected Rapporteur.

The Pan-African Parliament, established under the African Union, functions as the bloc’s legislative and advisory chamber, designed to amplify the role of African citizens and member states in continental governance and integration. While it does not yet exercise binding lawmaking authority, the body serves as a key forum for lawmakers from across Africa to deliberate on shared policy priorities and advance positions on issues affecting the continent.

Its mandate spans the promotion of regional integration, strengthening of democratic governance and accountability, and the provision of advisory input to AU structures on political, economic and social matters. It also engages in discussions aimed at conflict resolution and broader peace and security concerns.

Kgosi Seboko’s election is being viewed as a diplomatic gain for Botswana, which has long cultivated an image of political stability, constitutional democracy and consensus-driven leadership. Analysts say the appointment gives Botswana greater visibility in continental policymaking discussions and could strengthen its voice on regional priorities affecting Southern Africa.

Her rise is also symbolically significant. As a respected traditional leader and parliamentarian, Seboko represents the growing influence of women in African political leadership structures that have historically been male dominated. The Southern Caucus itself is an important bloc within the Pan-African Parliament, bringing together lawmakers from countries across the Southern African region to coordinate positions on continental issues before broader PAP deliberations.

Observers say the new bureau will likely confront pressing regional challenges, including youth unemployment, climate pressures, cross-border crime, food insecurity and political instability in parts of the continent. Kgosi Seboko’s appointment could further enhance the country’s diplomatic footprint beyond the Southern African Development Community (SADC), positioning Gaborone more prominently in continental debates on governance and regional development.

The election comes as African institutions continue pushing for stronger parliamentary cooperation to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the broader African Union Agenda 2063 vision.

Last week president Duma Boko hosted Rwanda’s Paul Kagame who was here on a state visit.

Now we hear that South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa too will be here quite soon.

In geopolitics there is hardly a coincidence.

Rwanda and South Africa are fighting on different sides in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In that conflict, which has been running since the late 1990s, South Africa, which is part of the United Nations backing the DRC government.

Rwanda is backing the M23 rebels that have since taken key cities in the east and have vowed to march all the way to Kingshasa, not altogether unfounded given not only their momentum but also the weakness of the government forces.

At one point no less than ten countries were involved in the DRC water, including Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. More than twenty five years later the war still rages on.

At stake is the rare earth mineral wealth of the DRC, much of dug from the east of that country.

A few months ago, a war of words erupted between Kagame and Ramaphosa after a number of South African soldiers were killed.

The DRC, it must be pointed out has never known real peace for a very long time.

The situation in the DRC is so intricate and so unpredictable that former president Joseph Kabila who basically backed the current president Felix Tshisekedi to succeed him has now switched sides and is now fully behind M23.

In the meantime Tshisekedi’s government has sentenced Kabila to death in absentia.

The United States has recently become actively interested in getting the war resolved.

Other than president Donald Trump’s ego trip to be seen to be dowsing fires of war across the world, the United States will definitely want to dislodge the Chinese by way of putting their handle on the DRC rare earths.

Bringing peace to the DRC has proved exceedingly difficult not least because of the mistrust that exists between the regional players.

Rwanda has rejected many of the possible mediators, accusing them of not only bias but conflict of interest as well.

There is evidence that Rwanda is warming up to Botswana.

While this was the first state visit by Kagame to Botswana, it is worth noting that he had previously paid a short working visit during the presidency of Mokgweetsi Masisi.

This is very rare, by Kagame’s standards.

Can Botswana play a role in bringing peace to the DRC.

That would not be unprecedented.

The late Sir Ketumile Masire spent a lot of time trying to bring the warring factions of the DRC together.

At one point those factions descended on Gaborone under the facilitation of Masire and I had an opportunity to interview quite a few of them including Professor Ernest Wamba dia Wamba and also Jean-Pierra Bemba.

Again, we must add Tshisekedi of the DRC who is a very key player in all that is going on in the DRC paid a state visit to Botswana when Masisi was still President.

A big prize awaits whoever can bring lasting peace to the DRC.

Now with the backing of the United States, giving it another shot is something that Botswana government could consider.

Botswana has always punched way above its weight.

The country has solid credentials.

We also have internationalist pretensions and ambitions too.

Peace in the DRC will need to have a backing of South Africa.

And unlike Masisi before him, president Boko has cordial relations with Ramaphosa of South Africa.

Of course, the enduring problems will be much more than just security, as Kagame is wont to say. Nor will it be all about the minerals as Tshisekedi likes to point out.

It will be about egos.

Kagame has no regard for Tshisekedi. And on numerous occasions he has publicly accused him of incompetence, reminding the world that he is not surprised because the guy was driving taxis in Belgium until somebody told him to come and become president in the DRC.

Rwanda has ambitions to become a continental superpower

South Africa already is.

And again, Kagame has no regard for Ramaphosa.

The contempt is mutual. Which will give president Boko a hard task to think around.

Some people call Kagame a warlord.

Others call him a strongman. Both descriptions are not far off.

A few years ago I visited Rwanda. The infrastructure developments in Kigali compare with the best in the world.

World class Hotels are everywhere, including the famous one of the movie Hotel Rwanda.

But that all those amount to a veneer underneath which is a police state, tightly controlled by Kagame, his army, intelligence and security.

That said, you have to give the man credit.

He is thorough and forthright.

He is discreet as he intellectually serious.

He is meticulous and brave.

And he loves his country.

It is not usual to find such descriptions referring to one person. No wonder he has been doing as he likes in Rwanda for over two decades.

Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe once complained of the ‘little Rwanda.’ Mugabe backed Laurent Kabila.

They are now both dead.

Kagame is still here.

Former president Festus Mogae who led one of Africa’s most aggressive responses to HIV/AIDS and oversaw a period of sustained economic discipline anchored in diamond wealth, has died. He had been hospitalised in Gaborone in April after falling ill and was later released to recover at home.

President Duma Boko has announced a three-day period of national mourning in honour of the late former president. In a formal address delivered on Friday, he confirmed that the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the designated period, as a collective expression of respect and remembrance.

Mogae’s presidency from 1998 to 2008 is widely defined by two interlinked legacies, his early and unusually direct response to the HIV/AIDS crisis and his sustained commitment to macroeconomic stability in a resource-dependent economy.

At the height of the epidemic, when Botswana faced some of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world, his administration broke with regional hesitation and stigma, publicly acknowledging the scale of the crisis and rapidly scaling up treatment. Botswana became one of the first African countries to roll out nationwide antiretroviral therapy, a shift widely credited with stabilising mortality trends and reshaping long-term public health outcomes.

International support, particularly through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), proved central to that response. Health officials and researchers have repeatedly credited the programme with helping Botswana expand testing and treatment capacity at scale, with one analysis noting that Mogae himself warned the country faced the risk of ‘extinction’ without urgent intervention.

Beyond treatment, his government invested heavily in prevention campaigns, expanded routine testing, and embedded HIV services into the public health system, positioning Botswana as a continental reference point for coordinated HIV response under domestic leadership.

Economically, Mogae’s tenure was defined by restraint rather than expansion. His administration maintained conservative fiscal policy, accumulated foreign reserves during periods of diamond-driven growth, and reinforced institutional stability in a sector that underpins much of Botswana’s revenue base. Analysts often credit this approach with insulating the economy from volatility that has affected other commodity-dependent states.

Even after leaving office in 2008, Mogae remained closely engaged in HIV/AIDS advocacy and global health policy. In post-presidency years, he continued to push for sustained international financing and long-term eradication goals, including through opinion writing and public advocacy on initiatives such as PEPFAR. In a 2023 op-ed co-authored with Tommy Thompson, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001 to 2005), he argued that the programme remained central to the goal of an HIV-free future and warned against political erosion of global HIV funding commitments.

‘The U.S. Congress and the American people have shown exemplary leadership in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. There is still more work to do – and an expeditious, bipartisan, five-year reauthorisation of PEPFAR will help us to reach our shared goal of an HIV-free world,’ reads part of the op-ed in which he urged the U.S. Congress reauthorise PEPFAR for another five-years to reach the shared goal of an HIV-free world.

He also repeatedly framed Botswana’s experience as evidence that strong political leadership, combined with international partnerships, could reverse what once appeared to be a catastrophic trajectory for high-prevalence countries.

Tributes began emerging shortly after reports of his death, with leaders and analysts highlighting his dual legacy of confronting one of the world’s most severe health crises while preserving economic stability in a resource-rich but vulnerable economy.

Botswana is entering a more dangerous phase of climate change, as intensifying heat and recurring drought strain the country’s water supplies, agriculture and economy, according to a recent regional study produced by a multidisciplinary team of scientists from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The landmark 2026 consensus report by the Academy of Science of South Africa finds that ‘Extreme heat is no longer an occasional hazard – it is becoming a defining feature of the climate’. The study titled Climate Change and Extreme Heat: Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) warns that rising temperatures are compounding existing vulnerabilities in food and water systems.

The researchers say fragmented responses and weak institutional alignment could leave countries increasingly exposed to economic and environmental shocks, adding that extreme heat is rapidly becoming the region’s most dangerous and least addressed environmental threat. It also warns that Botswana is among the countries facing heightened exposure due to its already arid conditions and limited water resources.

For rural communities, where livelihoods depend heavily on rainfall, the consequences are immediate. Farmers say shifting weather patterns have shortened growing seasons and reduced yields, while livestock losses are becoming more common during prolonged dry spells.

Urban areas are also under pressure as demand for water is increasing, particularly in and around the capital, Gaborone, where population growth and economic activity are placing additional strain on already stressed supply systems.

The report underscores the paradox facing the region that despite contributing less than 1.3% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries are among the most exposed to climate impacts. ‘Structural inequities amplify transnational climate hazards,’ states the study.

The report notes that extreme heat is no longer just a weather issue but also an economic variable. In Botswana, rising temperatures are expected to reduce labour productivity, particularly in construction, agriculture, and mining. The report links heat exposure directly to fatigue, dehydration, and reduced output among workers.

Energy systems face parallel stress as high temperatures increase electricity demand for cooling while simultaneously reducing generation capacity. Water scarcity is also expected to intensify as evaporation accelerates. ‘High temperatures accelerate evaporation, reduce hydropower generation, and heighten urban water scarcity,’ it states.

Extreme heat is also associated with rising cases of cardiovascular, respiratory, and kidney disease, alongside worsening malnutrition and mental-health stress. In densely populated or low-income urban areas, heat is amplified by poor housing materials and limited cooling options, creating what scientists describe as ‘urban heat island’ effects.

The report warns that extreme heat acts as an ‘integrator hazard,’ cutting across health, food systems, labour markets, and infrastructure simultaneously. Without accelerated adaptation, rising temperatures could erode productivity, strain public services, and widen inequality.

‘The cost of inaction is far greater,’ warns the report, adding that failure to respond could undermine decades of development progress across Southern Africa.

Last weekend I drove with my brother in law to his farm, not exactly deep into the dry cattle country, but rural enough for donkey carts to still share the road with cars, and for herd-boys to spend long dusty hours trailing cattle across the bush.

In the back seat of the bakkie was something his farm workers urgently needed. Not animal feed. Not fencing wire. Not paraffin. A smartphone.

Botswana is changing rapidly, and herd-boys now carry smartphones in the same pockets that once carried only slingshots and tobacco. Mobile phones have become wallets, offices and entertainment centers all at once and government services are moving online. Even the farm workers in the remotest parts of Botswana are becoming unlikely pawns in a growing geopolitical contest.

As Botswana races deeper into the digital age, China and the United States of America are increasingly competing for control over the infrastructure, systems and data that will shape the country’s future.

For decades, Botswana’s greatest strategic asset was diamonds. Today, it is becoming apparent that the country possesses another resource just as valuable in the age of artificial intelligence. Data.

Every day, millions of pieces of information are generated across Botswana; financial transactions, health records, mobile phone activity, internet usage, consumer behavior and government data.

Artificial intelligence systems rely heavily on enormous volumes of such information to learn, improve and generate economic value. Thar reality is transforming data into an economic asset. And increasingly, powerful countries are competing for influence over Africa’s digital future.

This week at the Huawei ICT Congress 2026 in Gaborone, Chinese technology giant Huawei made clear that Botswana is central to its ambitions in the region. Huawei Botswana Managing Director Li Dalu told delegates that Botswana has the potential to become a regional technology and AI hub.

Botswana has made meaningful progress in building a resilient digital ecosystem, supported by strong mobile connectivity, expanding broadband access, and increasing adoption of digital services. Huawei is proud to have contributed to this progress through the delivery of reliable network infrastructure, cloud platforms, enterprise solutions, and skills development initiatives.

However, the next phase requires a shift in focus. The conversation is no longer only about connectivity, but about intelligence, value creation, and the effective use of data and emerging technologies.

Li Dalu further said, ‘Our shared ambition is to support Botswana in strengthening its position as a competitive technology and AI hub within the region, underpinned by robust infrastructure, innovation and local expertise’, he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong echoed the message. ‘Looking ahead, China and Botswana can deepen cooperation in intelligent infrastructure, digital power, and talent development’ he said at the congress.

Speaking at the same event, Assistant Minister of Communications and Innovation, Shawn Ntlhaile said, ‘the ‘Age of Intelligence’ demands bold leadership, innovative thinking, and enduring partnerships. Botswana’s digital transformation strategy is clear, our political will is resolute, and our doors are open to collaboration.’

Ntlhaile further stated that, ‘Today’s Huawei ICT Congress 2026 provides exactly the kind of collaborative platform and strategic alignment we need to accelerate our national digital blueprint.’

The speeches reflected China’s growing interest in Africa’s digital future and Botswana’s desire to position itself as a modern technology driven nation.

But China is not the only major power deepening its strategic interest in Botswana’s information systems.

Over the past decade, Huawei has steadily expanded its footprint across Botswana and the African continent. The company has been involved in telecommunications infrastructure, broadband expansion, ICT training programmes and technology partnerships. Botswana officials have frequently praised Huawei for supporting digital transformation initiatives and skills development.

For many African governments, Chinese companies offer something attractive; relatively affordable technology, financing and rapid deployment. The Botswana government sees digital transformation as critical to diversifying the economy beyond diamonds.

Artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure are increasingly viewed as possible engines of future growth. But Huawei’s global role remains controversial.

The United States government and several Western allies have repeatedly expressed concern about Huawei’s involvement in sensitive telecommunications infrastructure, arguing that Chinese technology could potentially expose countries to security vulnerabilities. Huawei has consistently denied allegations that it poses security risks or acts on behalf of the Chinese state. Botswana has not publicly embraced western efforts to isolate Huawei. Instead, cooperation between Botswana and Chinese technology firms appears to be expanding.

Yet some analysts warn that dependence on foreign owned digital systems may eventually create new forms of dependency.

‘The issue is not simply about internet infrastructure anymore’ said one local ICT analyst. ‘its about who stores the data and who controls the systems that future economies will rely on.

America’s growing interest in Health Data

At the same time China expands its digital infrastructure presence, the United States has also been deepening strategic cooperation with Botswana, particularly in health security.

That relationship became controversial following debate around the America First Global Health Strategy partnership agreement between Botswana and the United States. Government defended the agreement as part of a broader international cooperation on health security, disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness. However critics, including the Southern African Litigation Center (SALC) raised concerns about aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding.

SALC questioned provisions relating to access, storage and control of health information and pathogen specimens. Critics argued that the agreement could potentially allow the United States access to sensitive national health data and biological materials over an extended period.

The concerns triggered broader debate about sovereignty, transparency and long-term control over strategic national assets.

For powerful nations, access to such information can fuel scientific breakthroughs, vaccine development and commercial research and advanced AI systems

For smaller nations like Botswana, the fear is that valuable national resources could quietly leave the country with little long-term benefits returning to ordinary citizens

Government has maintained that international cooperation is necessary to strengthen Botswana’s health systems and improve preparedness for future pandemics. But critics argue that agreements involving sensitive national data require stronger public scrutiny. That Botswana risk a surrendering too much control over sensitive national assets.

The controversy reflects a larger global reality. In the modern world, health information and biological data are increasingly valuable not only for medicine, but also for biotechnology research, pharmaceutical development and artificial intelligence systems. Countries and corporations around the world are investing heavily in data-driven technologies capable of transforming industries ranging from healthcare to finance and security.

What is happening in Botswana mirrors a broader global race unfolding across Africa. In the 19th century, powerful nations competed for African land and minerals. Today, the competition is increasingly focused on digital infrastructure, rare minerals, biotechnology and data. China builds telecommunications networks, smart cities and surveillance systems across the continent.

The United States focuses heavily on health partnerships, cybersecurity and strategic diplomacy. Both powers frame their involvement as partnership and development. Both insist they are helping Africa modernize. But many African intellectuals warn that the continent risks becoming trapped in a new form of dependency, not colonial control through armies but technological dependency through infrastructure, data and digital systems.

Botswana now finds itself balancing between those competing global interests.

On one side stands China offering AI systems. Cloud computing and digital infrastructure through companies like Huawei.

On the other stands America, increasingly interested in health security, strategic partnerships and scientific collaboration. Both want influence and access.

Botswana’s attraction to global technology powers is not accidental. Compared to many countries in the region, Botswana offers political stability, relatively strong institutions and growing digital infrastructure.

Government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of innovation and digital transformation in national development planning.

Mobile phone penetration is high, internet access has expanded significantly and digital financial services continue to grow.

Scud Missile Promotions is preparing to host one of the biggest boxing tournaments ever staged in the country. The event is sanctioned by International Boxing Organization (IBO). The highly anticipated boxing extravaganza will take place on May 26 at the prestigious Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone. It will bring together top boxing talent from Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Scud Missile Promotions director Thuso Khubamang described the event as a major milestone for Botswana’s sporting industry.

He said it is rare for African countries to host an event of this calibre. As such, the code is honoured to receive recognition to stage such a prestigious tournament. Khubamang further noted that South Africa hosted the event last year where Botswana’s own Kagiso Bagwasi captured the junior middleweight championship.

This year local fans will rally behind Kutlwano Ogaketse as he fights on home soil for the vacant IBO Africa Junior Welterweight title. ‘This is the highest profile boxing event to ever be hosted in Botswana. Boxing should be taken seriously just like other sports because we have highly talented athletes. Due to limited funding, we have not been able to host many tournaments of this magnitude, but we have hungry and ambitious fighters who are ready to showcase their fitness, discipline and skill,’ Khubamang added.

The promoter revealed that preparations for the tournament are progressing well, with ticket sales already gaining momentum.

‘This mega event is expected to attract a huge crowd. Ticket sales are moving very well and we are expecting an electrifying atmosphere on fight night. The championship belt has already arrived from the United States of America. This is the same prestigious belt that has been won by legendary fighters such as Floyd Mayweather Jr., which tells you just how massive this event is,’ he said.

Local boxing sensation Ogaketse, who will headline the main event against South Africa (SA) national champion Aphiwe Mboyiya, expressed confidence ahead of the career defining bout.

‘I am thankful for this opportunity. It means a lot to be making history. I am proud to represent Botswana and I am coming to leave my mark, Batswana are really looking forward to this fight. Big moments always come with pressure, but it depends on how you handle it,’ he said.

Ogaketse further highlighted the importance of the tournament for the growth of boxing in Botswana. It shows that Botswana boxing is growing and that we belong in these conversations. Offering advice to aspiring fighters, the confident boxer encouraged young athletes to remain focused and disciplined.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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