Category: Sunday Standard

Botswana has slipped in Africa’s industrialisation rankings, dropping six places over the past 14 years. This decline is linked to weaker manufacturing and a more specialised export base, according to a new African Development Bank (AfDB) report.

The Africa Industrial Investment Barometer (AfIIB) and African Industrialisation Index (AII) 2025 report shows Botswana’s position fell from ninth in Africa in 2010 to 15th in 2024, despite some recent improvements.

Botswana’s industrialisation score dropped from 0.6049 in 2010 to 0.5853 in 2024. Although there was a small improvement from 2023, the score is still much lower than in 2010.

The AfDB notes that Botswana is among the countries with the biggest drops in industrial competitiveness in Africa.

‘Libya, Lesotho, Cabo Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Niger, Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Seychelles, Mali, and Madagascar experienced the biggest drop in the ranking, losing five ranks or more,’ the report states.

The AfDB says Botswana’s decline is mainly due to weaker industrial performance, not changes in supporting conditions.

‘Botswana, Lesotho, Libya, and Seychelles exhibit a similar pattern of decline, driven exclusively by underperformance in the performance dimension,’ the report notes.

Despite this slip, Botswana is working hard to move its economy beyond diamonds and into areas like manufacturing, agriculture, and technology. Through the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), the government is changing trade rules, strengthening ties with neighbouring countries, and investing in big infrastructure projects to become a strong player in global industry.

Top officials, have said that Botswana should stop exporting raw materials. The country now focuses on processing agricultural products, adding value to minerals and diamonds, and growing advanced manufacturing.

As part of the ongoing efforts, President Duma Boko and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have recently agreed to work more closely on trade, coordinate their industrial policies, and make the most of important minerals needed for electric vehicles and clean energy.

Meanwhile, on the report, it also says that while Botswana made progress in other areas, it has seen a ‘significant decline in productive capacity and performance in manufactured exports.’

These findings are a setback for Botswana, which has tried for years to move its economy beyond diamonds by focusing on industrialisation and manufacturing.

The report lists Botswana as one of Africa’s most specialised economies. South Africa is the most diversified, with a score of 0.555, while Botswana, Angola, and Zimbabwe have ‘very high levels of specialization’ above 0.85.

Since 2010, only Mauritius, Namibia, and Mozambique have managed to diversify their exports. Most African countries, including Botswana, have become more specialised.

These findings come as Africa overall is making progress in industrialisation. The African Industrialisation Index 2025 shows that 41 out of 54 countries improved their scores from 2010 to 2024, leading to a six percent rise in overall performance.

However, the report warns that Africa still faces big structural challenges. The continent makes up less than two percent of global manufacturing output and only 1.4 percent of global manufacturing exports. Manufacturing value-added per person is also lower than before 2014.

One key finding is that Morocco has passed South Africa to become Africa’s top industrial economy. This is due to export diversification, industrial upgrades, and steady policy implementation.

The AfIIB says Africa’s industrial future depends on stronger economic integration, better trade corridors, quality infrastructure, and common standards under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

AfDB Director for Industrial and Trade Development, Ousmane Fall, said the findings should be both a warning and a guide for policymakers.

‘This report is a roadmap as much as a diagnosis. It shows that 41 of our 54 countries are now moving in the right direction, but it also reminds us that industrialization at scale demands resilient infrastructure, value addition close to source, and finance mobilized on African terms,’ said Fall.

Dr. Harouna Kaboré, President of WITBA Invest, said Africa’s main challenge is not a lack of industrial strategies but the failure to implement them.

‘The continent’s real deficit is no longer the absence of industrial strategies. What is still lacking is execution discipline, continuity in public policy, and systemic coherence between financing, energy, infrastructure, human capital, governance, and industrial vision,’ he said.

When looking at the continent as a whole, Africa is poised for a significant transformation in both consumer markets and manufacturing. However, this transition will require time and concerted effort. The continent faces substantial challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, fragmented markets, skills shortages, and inconsistent regulatory environments. Nevertheless, the potential benefits are considerable, and the outcomes of either success or failure will have far-reaching implications.

By 2050, Africa’s population is expected to reach 2.5 billion, with half of the population under the age of 25. This demographic trend positions Africa as one of the largest emerging consumer markets globally, characterised by increasing demand for modern goods, services, and economic opportunities.

Despite significant potential, Africa continues to rely heavily on imports of finished products. Although the continent is abundant in raw materials essential to global industries, including cocoa, coffee, cobalt, and other critical minerals, much of the value is realized outside Africa through processing and manufacturing. Currently, Africa contributes only 2% to global manufacturing output, which exposes many economies to external trade disruptions, currency fluctuations, and ongoing trade imbalances.

Establishing a robust manufacturing sector is not only an economic necessity but also a means to achieve long-term resilience and inclusive growth. Industrialisation generates employment, reinforces domestic value chains, and increases public revenues for investment in healthcare, education, and essential services. It contributes to higher living standards, poverty reduction, and the development of more balanced and self-sustaining economies. Furthermore, industrialisation supports community stability, promotes technological advancement, and provides young people with the skills required to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.

The rationale for advancing industrialisation in Africa is increasingly compelling. The continent has the necessary resources, skilled workforce, and demographic advantages to emerge as a major manufacturing center. The primary challenge lies in converting this potential into sustained economic transformation.

Despite high-level diplomatic engagements and commitments to deepen economic cooperation, tensions between Botswana and South Africa over agricultural import restrictions remain far from settled.

it has since emerged that the issue resurfaced during the Sixth Session of the Bi-National Commission (BNC) held in Gaborone on May 21, 2026, where South African President Cyril Ramaphosa led his country’s delegation and agricultural trade emerged as one of the most sensitive issues on the agenda.

South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen used the meeting to voice Pretoria’s growing frustration over Botswana’s handling of restrictions on South African agricultural exports, particularly vegetables, saying producers and exporters have faced border restrictions without prior formal communication.

The remarks signal that the dispute, which has periodically strained relations between the two countries, remains unresolved despite previous understandings reached during the 2022 BNC process.

‘We believe that trade matters affecting our two countries should always be addressed through constructive engagement, transparency, mutual respect and amicable bilateral solutions,’ Steenhuisen said.

The minister said South Africa remained concerned about reports that agricultural products were being blocked at the border without adequate notice, creating uncertainty for farmers, exporters and retailers operating across the regional market.

In an effort to contain future disputes, the commission endorsed a Communication Protocol and approved the establishment of a Bilateral Agricultural Trade Task Team by June 2026.

According to Steenhuisen, the new mechanisms are intended to improve communication between the two governments, strengthen institutional cooperation and resolve trade concerns before they escalate into larger diplomatic disputes.

‘Greater coordination and transparency will provide increased certainty to producers, exporters, retailers and agricultural stakeholders on both sides of the border while strengthening the long-term agricultural relationship between our countries,’ he said.

Botswana has in recent years pursued an import-substitution strategy aimed at increasing domestic food production and reducing dependence on foreign agricultural products. The policy has resulted in restrictions on imports of several vegetables and other produce traditionally sourced from South Africa.

While Botswana maintains that the measures are necessary to support local farmers and improve food security, South African producers have repeatedly argued that abrupt restrictions undermine regional trade commitments and disrupt established supply chains.

The latest comments from Pretoria suggest that the matter remains a source of irritation despite broader efforts by the two countries to deepen economic integration.

Beyond the trade dispute, the BNC also focused heavily on cooperation in combating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), which both countries regard as a major threat to livestock production and agricultural exports.

Steenhuisen welcomed the endorsement of a comprehensive 2026-2028 Action Plan aimed at strengthening cross-border disease management and called for urgent implementation of coordinated vaccination campaigns and improved maintenance of border fences.

‘With FMD posing an ongoing regional threat to livestock production, rural livelihoods and agricultural trade, it is clear that no country can defeat this disease in isolation,’ he said.

Francistown City Council(FCC) is currently in dire need of an estimated P335 million to revive its crumbling infrastructure. Heavy rains experienced between February and April 2026 have also worsened the situation leaving a trail of destruction causing significant damage to the Francistown roads and other associated infrastructure.

As an interim measure the City Council requires approximately P12 million for pot hole patching and related maintanence works. The city council already has in place 7 000 bags of cold asphalt premix sufficient to to patch approximately 3 500m2 of potholes. Current works are focusing on major roads including Martin Luther King, Junior Road, Dinokwe Road, Diselammapa Road, New Bridge Road, Blue Jacket Road and Boipuso Road. However the A1 Central Police Road which has been closed for some time due to maintenance is now open for traffic.

Francistown Mayor Gaone Majere made the revelation when addressing a full council meeting last week.

In yet another shocking revelation, Majere expressed frustrations over the current dilapidated water infrastructure in Francistown under Water Utilities Corporation which dates as far back as the 70’s spanning close to 50 years. The aging infrastructure has also not been properly maintained over the years resulting in frequent pipe bursts and water leakages affecting parts of the city such as Blocks, Gerald Estates, Area S, Area W,Light industrial, Dumela Industrial and Minestone.

‘Records from Water Utilities Corporation indicate that more than 1 200 leakages have been reported. The main cause remains aging asbestos cement installed during the 1970’s,’ he said.

He however said in the short term Water Utilities Corporation continues to prioritize repairs and is in the process of outsourcing certain repair works to improve response times. Meanwhile the Mayor stated that the Greater Francistown Master Plan project estimated at around P3 billion under the National Development Plan 12 remains the city’s priority project. This Master Plan(2024 – 2048) maps out the region’s 24-year urban transformation into a leading logistical gateway and model city. The goal is to accommodate an anticipated population boom while driving economic revitalization of the city.

Street lighting illumination in the city currently stands at 45 percent against the required 90 percent. Majere said despite challenges such as vandalism, cable theft and shortages of materials improvements are expected following installations of solar streetlights under the Road Levy Funding Programme which commenced on 21 May 2026. On diversification of the city’s economy he said they remain committed to transforming Francistown into a resilient, competitive and sustainable economic hub aligned with Botswana’s aspiration under Urban Development Plan 5, National Development Plan 12 and vision 2026. In this regard he said the city remains committed to diversifying its economy through sectors such as tourism particularly sports tourism and the promotion of Francistown Heritage Trail. These initiatives are intended to position the city as a vibrant tourism and and investment destination while creating employment and business opportunities for local communities.

For the second year running, Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s budget is facing a crisis of confidence after international institutions once again projected economic growth far below treasury forecasts, raising questions about whether government is budgeting on optimism rather than economic reality.

The latest blow comes from the African Development Bank (AfDB) whose African Economic Outlook 2026 report projects Botswana’s economy will grow by just 1.2 percent in 2026 before improving to 3.5 percent in 2027. The forecast stands in sharp contrast to the far more optimistic outlook presented by Gaolathe in his February budget speech, where he projected economic growth of 3.1 percent.

The gap is more than a statistical disagreement. It raises uncomfortable questions about whether the country’s chief economic manager is underestimating the depth of Botswana’s economic crisis or overselling the prospects of a recovery that remains stubbornly out of reach.

The caution from the AfDB adds to a growing chorus of international institutions warning that Botswana’s economic recovery will be weaker and slower than government projections suggest. The World Bank reported that GDP growth is projected to reach 2.7percent in 2026 and average 3.2 percent in 2027-28. This outlook reflects a modest recovery in diamond sales (albeit remaining well below historical values), gradual improvements in electricity supply, and an improved business climate supported by trade, financial, and administrative reforms. Poverty, at the US$3 per day (2021 PPP) line, is projected to remain broadly unchanged at19.7percent(around 513,000 people) in 2026.

Rating agency SandP Global was equally pessimistic when it downgraded Botswana’s sovereign credit rating earlier this year, forecasting growth of only 2.5 percent in 2026 while warning that structural problems in the global diamond market remain far from resolved.

Fitch Solutions has also revised down its expectations for Botswana, forecasting growth of just 2.3 percent for 2026 and describing any recovery as narrow, fragile and heavily dependent on a turnaround in mining rather than broad-based economic expansion.

Taken together, the forecasts paint a troubling picture. Virtually every major external institution sees a weaker economy than the one being projected by the Ministry of Finance.

More significantly, this is becoming a pattern. Last year, Treasury projections were similarly oversold the recovery narrative. During his maiden budget speech in 2025, Gaolathe optimistically forecasted a 3.3% economic expansion for the year, anticipating a strong rebound in diamond demand. However, the government was forced to revise its projections dramatically downward to nearly zero growth by mid-year.

By the end of the year, the ministry had to adjust the forecast further into negative territory, ultimately projecting an overall economic contraction of almost 1% (-0.9%) for 2025.

In its African Economic Outlook 2026 report, the AfDB thinks the economy will come out of recession, but warns that the recovery depends a lot on things Botswana cannot control, especially the global diamond market.

‘The main downside risk remains uncertainty in the diamond market and the Middle East conflict,’ the report says, warning that outside shocks could easily disrupt Botswana’s recovery.

The bank says growth will be helped by new investments in mining and more activity in other sectors, especially services. There will also be investments in agro-processing, digital technology, renewable energy, and tourism.

The AfDB expects Botswana’s fiscal deficit to reach 8.9 percent of GDP in 2026, then drop a little to 8.0 percent in 2027. The growing budget gap will likely be covered by borrowing, which puts more strain on public finances as borrowing costs go up.

Inflation is expected to average 6.2 percent in 2026, then fall to 4.7 percent in 2027 because of strict monetary policy.

The current account deficit is expected to grow to 6.4 percent of GDP next year, then shrink to 4.5 percent in 2027. This shows ongoing problems in external trade, even though diamond exports are expected to recover.

The report also questions whether Botswana can fund its development goals.

The AfDB says Botswana struggles to raise large amounts of development money because of its small tax base, heavy reliance on minerals, limited capital markets, and higher borrowing costs. Recent credit rating downgrades have made it even harder and more expensive for Botswana to get long-term loans, even though its public debt is not very high.

To improve its finances, the bank suggests Botswana should widen its tax base, collect more non-tax revenue, cut down on illegal financial flows, and make public investment more efficient.

The AfDB also urges the government to develop local capital markets, get pension funds involved in infrastructure projects, and speed up reforms of state-owned companies.

Besides financial issues, the report also highlights serious social problems.

About 17 percent of people in Botswana still live in extreme poverty, and unemployment is high at 27.6 percent. Youth unemployment is even worse at 38.2 percent. The bank says slow growth in real GDP per person has held back inclusive development, even though Botswana has a fairly high Human Development Index score of 0.731. The report suggests that while leaders expect growth to return, many people in Botswana may still face tough times for years.

A week ago, on the 26th May 2026, Botswana National Olympic Committee (BNOC) announced the immediate provisional suspension of 800m runner Letlhogonolo Mokgethi.

The athlete is alleged to have tested positive for a prohibited substance, 19-norandrosterone, during in-competition tests conducted on 04 April 2026. His suspension comes at a volatile time when the country is watching a court ‘doping saga’ involving four other track athletes. The four concerned athletes are Lydia Jele, Refilwe Murangi, Zibane Ngozi and Karabo Mothibi.

Worse still, it adds to the increasing number of local athletes serving suspensions for doping offenses. The global list of ineligible persons, as well as the latest sanctions for doping and non-doping violations, both published by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), shows nine (9) names of Botswana athletes on its lists.

Names featured in the global list of ineligible persons, which was published on 01st May 2026 are Laone Ditshetelo, Galaletsang Gabalotlegwe, Jele, Naledi Lopang, Tshepang Manyika, Ditiro Nzamani, Boipelo Pertunia Gaegopolwe and Murangi. The ninth name, that of Ngozi, appears in the latest sanctions for doping and non-doping violations which was published in May this year.

All the athletes in the list were given 3 years ineligibility sanction, with the exception of Ngozi and Jele, who were given 4 years and 8 years respectively. Jele’s 8 years ineligibility sanction comes as she had previously served another doping sanction.

Interestingly, the name of Mothibi, who along with Ngozi, Jele and Murangi are challenging their results in court, is not yet in the list. As the only athlete of the four who has contested his results, his case is still under review.

From this list however, Lopang’s suspension came to an end on the 26th May 2026 (this past month), while Ditshetelo’s will come to an end on 07th August 2026. Lopang’s samples had tested positive for 19-norandrosterone as well as Metandienone, while Ditshetelo had tested positive for Methandriol.

With regards to Jele, her latest suspension comes after she tested positive for stanozolol. Her first positive test, which occurred in January 2017, returned positive for Metandienone. Stanozolol is the same substance alleged to have been detected in Nzamani and Ngozi’s samples. Further to this, Ngozi’s samples are also alleged to have contained

As for Manyika, Murangi and Gabalotlegwe, the AIU list shows that their samples were found to contain oxymetholone. Oxymetholone is derivative of testosterone, and is alleged to significantly increases muscle mass. It is however said to possess adverse health risk as quick increase in muscle mass can lead to a tendon rupture from the increased load. It is also alleged that it can be ‘toxic to the liver, can supress anticlotting factors and can cause irreversible virilisation including deepening voice, acne and excess hair growth.’ In addition, Gabalotlegwe’s samples were found to contain metandienone.

The publishing of the results, more especially the addition of the trio of Jele, Murangi and Ngozi, which occurred this past month is expected to add a new twist to their ongoing court case.

By publishing the names of substances they are alleged to have taken, the AIU is literally stealing the thunder off their argument that their samples have not returned positive findings. The athletes’ argument has always been that their results show ‘no results,’ which they believe indicated nothing was found in their samples.

Botswana remains heavily dependent on imported food staples despite maintaining stable food availability levels and achieving self-sufficiency in some locally grown crops, according to the country’s first comprehensive Food Balance Sheet.

The report, compiled by the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture and Statistics Botswana with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), found that Botswana produced enough food to provide an average of 2,690 kilocalories per person per day between 2021 and 2023, comfortably above internationally accepted minimum dietary energy requirements.

However, beneath that apparent stability lies a structural vulnerability. The country remains overwhelmingly reliant on foreign suppliers for key grains consumed by households and businesses.

‘The national FBS results indicate that the country relies more on imports for major cereal crops especially rice, wheat and maize,’ the report states.

According to the findings, Botswana imported all of its rice requirements during the review period, while import dependency for wheat ranged between 98% and 99%. Maize, a dietary staple, also remained heavily import-dependent, with imports accounting for 80% to 89% of domestic supply.

Domestic production tells a different story for traditional grains. The report found Botswana was consistently self-sufficient in millet, with production exceeding domestic demand in some years, while sorghum production remained relatively strong. ‘The overall FBS results shows that Botswana is self-sufficient on sorghum and millet and highly dependent on imports for wheat, maize and rice for the years 2021-2023,’ the report says.

The data also sheds light on what is feeding the nation. More than half of the country’s dietary energy supply comes from just five commodities: maize flour, wheat flour, sunflower oil, sugar and milk. Flour of maize alone accounted for 21% of total daily calorie intake, making it the single largest contributor to Botswana’s food energy supply.

While calorie availability remained broadly stable, some nutritional indicators moved in the opposite direction. Protein availability declined from 75.3 grams per person per day in 2021 to 69.8 grams in 2023, while supplies of magnesium, zinc and iron also showed weakening trends over the period.

The report warns that Botswana’s food system remains exposed to external shocks through its dependence on imported staples. It recommends greater crop diversification, increased investment in agricultural research, support programmes for farmers and the development of drought-resistant crop varieties to strengthen long-term food security.

The publication marks a milestone for Botswana’s agricultural statistics. Officials described it as the country’s first national Food Balance Sheet, a tool designed to provide a comprehensive picture of food supply, consumption and nutrition trends. ‘The FBS data helps to assess whether a country is food self-sufficient or more dependent on food imports to feed its population,’ the report notes.

Botswana’s appetite for cars is slowing, but not enough to loosen the grip of imported used vehicles on the country’s roads.

New data from Statistics Botswana shows first-time vehicle registrations fell by 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 9,942 vehicles, down from 10,324 in the previous quarter. Despite the decline, passenger cars remained dominant, accounting for 72.8 percent of all registrations during the quarter.

The figures reinforce Botswana’s status as a heavily import-driven vehicle market, with used vehicles continuing to overwhelm demand for new units.

According to the report, used vehicles accounted for 79.6 percent of all first-time registrations in Q4 2025, while brand-new vehicles represented just 20.3 percent. Rebuilt vehicles barely registered at 0.1 percent.

Japan remained the undisputed king of Botswana’s used-car economy. Vehicles imported from Japan made up 85.2 percent of all used vehicle registrations, far ahead of South Africa’s 6.7 percent share. Meanwhile, most brand-new vehicles originated from South Africa, accounting for 72.4 percent of new registrations.

Mazda emerged as Botswana’s most registered vehicle brand during the quarter, capturing 19.3 percent of all first-time registrations. Honda followed closely at 18.9 percent, while Toyota accounted for 16.9 percent.

The report also highlighted the growing concentration of vehicle activity in urban centres. Gaborone stations accounted for 58.2 percent of all registrations, with Francistown trailing far behind at 8.7 percent and Molepolole at 7.2 percent.

While overall registrations softened, some commercial categories bucked the trend. Registrations for tankers and horse trailers jumped 39.5 percent during the quarter, while trailer registrations rose 16.7 percent.

The numbers suggest that even as consumers pull back, Botswana’s dependence on imported second-hand vehicles remains firmly in gear.

What began as a lucrative P1.5 billion water project has now exploded into one of Botswana’s most vicious legal battles with the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) being accused of court defiance, abuse of power and a coordinated attempt to block a citizen-owned company from securing a government contract.

At the centre of the controversy is a mega water infrastructure project now suspended following intervention by the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC). But lawyers representing Tawana Joint Venture (Tawana JV), the contractor at the heart of the dispute, have launched an attack against government as they accuse officials at the government enclave of deliberately frustrating court orders to prevent the company from securing the contract.

In a letter dated 7 May 2026, Ministry of Water and Human Settlement’s acting permanent secretary iNchidzi Mmolawa informed Tawana JV that the procurement process had been suspended after the ministry allegedly received instructions from the DCEC.

‘The Ministry has received an instruction from the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime directing the suspension of the above procurement process pending investigations,’ wrote Mmolawa. He further stated that the DCEC had allegedly obtained written authority from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) under Section 107(4) of the Public Procurement Act to halt the process. But Tawana JV’s lawyers, Jeremiah Tladi and Co, immediately challenged the legality of the suspension and demanded urgent disclosure of all documents allegedly authorising the move. The company’s lawyers argued that the suspension directly contradicted binding court orders issued by the High Court and later confirmed by the Court of Appeal. ‘We further attach the Order of the High Court dated 24 February 2025 and the judgment of the Court of Appeal dated 27 March 2026 confirming that Order,’ attorney Tebogo Tladi stated.

He added that; ‘Those orders required the Accounting Officer to procure contract placement within 21 days and remain extant and binding.’ Tladi argued that neither the DCEC nor any state institution possessed legal authority to suspend or override subsisting court orders. ‘No statutory body, including DCEC, has the power in law to suspend, override, or frustrate the operation of a subsisting High Court order confirmed on appeal,’ Tladi charged. The lawyers further demanded answers on whether the DCEC was aware of the existing court orders when issuing its alleged directive and whether the anti-corruption agency intended withdrawing the instruction to avoid what Tawana JV describes as continued contempt of court. The dispute escalated after Deputy Attorney General Joao Salbany entered the fray in defence of the government’s position.

In a response, Salbany rejected allegations of contempt and argued that the ministry was merely complying with statutory oversight requirements governing procurement integrity. ‘The Court has ordered ‘contract placement,’ which is a procedural step within the broader procurement process,’ Salbany wrote. ‘It has not awarded a completed contract, nor has it issued the statutory oversight powers of relevant authorities.’ Salbany insisted that complying with the DCEC directive could not amount to wilful contempt because the government remained bound by procurement laws and anti-corruption oversight mechanisms. But Tawana JV responded with even more explosive allegations, accusing both the Ministry and the Attorney General’s Chambers of pursuing a long-running agenda to deny the contract to a citizen-owned company. ‘The Ministry and your office have, without exception, pursued a single strategic objective: that the tender should not be awarded to Tawana JV,’ Tladi wrote in another letter. He cited previous findings by the Court of Appeal, which reportedly criticised the conduct of former accounting officer Dr Kekgonne Baipoledi.

According to Tladi, the Court of Appeal described Baipoledi’s conduct as ‘egregious,’ accused her of being ‘less than candid’ under oath and found evidence of ‘a scheme to favour CCECC/ZGEC while being blind to a 100 percent citizen contractor.’ Tladi further accused the Attorney General’s Chambers of inventing legal theories to justify delays in awarding the contract. He added that; ‘The position is, with respect, illogical: contract placement that places no contract.’ Tawana JV’s lawyers suspect that the alleged DCEC intervention may not have been independently initiated at all, but rather solicited by ministry officials and legal advisors as contempt proceedings intensified. ‘Our client reasonably suspects that the alleged DCEC instruction was solicited by the Accounting Officer on the advice of your office rather than initiated independently by the DCEC,’ Tladi alleged. The lawyers argued that the timing of the anti-corruption intervention was deeply suspicious because the DCEC had allegedly remained inactive for 17 months following an earlier procurement tribunal referral involving the same tender. According to Tladi, the DCEC only moved aggressively after contempt proceedings were launched against senior ministry officials accused of refusing to comply with court orders. Tladi also accused government officials of humiliating the executives and lawyers of Tawana JC during a scheduled meeting at the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement.

According to Tladi, the company, its directors and legal team waited at the ministry offices for a scheduled meeting on 7 May, only to discover that officials had instead dispatched suspension letters elsewhere while avoiding face-to-face engagement. ‘The composite picture is not one of a Ministry and Attorney General’s Chambers in good faith engagement with a citizen contractor vindicated by the highest court,’ Tladi said. He added that, ‘It is one of Government officials coordinating an administrative response off-stage while the citizen sits in the lobby.’ Tladi warned that it intends joining the DCEC Director General, the PPRA Chief Executive Officer and potentially the Acting Attorney General personally into ongoing contempt proceedings before the High Court. He also insists that the company is not opposed to genuine anti-corruption investigations.

‘What our client does not accept,’ the lawyer stated adding that it ‘is the deployment of the machinery of investigation, this late, against the very citizen contractor whom the courts have vindicated.’

Botswana’s beef industry is seeking answers as the closure of the Botswana Meat Commission’s (BMC) Lobatse abattoir stretches into months following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), deepening concerns over farmer incomes, export earnings and economic activity in the country’s livestock heartland.

The Botswana National Beef Producers Union (BNBPU) says it will use a national council meeting next week to demand clarity from government, veterinary authorities and BMC on the extent of the outbreak, containment measures and the likely timeline for reopening the plant.

BNBPU spokesperson Andrew Seeletso said farmers are increasingly anxious as movement restrictions and the prolonged shutdown disrupt cattle sales and cash flows.

‘The disease appears to be spreading, which is worrying because it has serious economic consequences for farmers,’ Seeletso told Sunday Standard. ‘We need a clear picture of what is happening and what the way forward looks like.’

The meeting will bring together farmers, BMC officials, the Department of Veterinary Services and Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti.

The concerns come as Lobatse Mayor Mosimanegape Ganakgomo warned that the BMC plant could remain closed for between three and six months. He said the shutdown was placing financial pressure on the commission while hurting economic activity in the town and surrounding communities that depend on the beef value chain.

The latest outbreak has spread into Zone 11 along Botswana’s southern livestock corridor bordering South Africa, an area not traditionally associated with the highest FMD risk. Veterinary authorities have imposed movement restrictions on cattle, goats, sheep and pigs, while the slaughter of cloven-hoofed animals at social events has also been suspended.

The outbreak has already resulted in the suspension of FMD-free status in affected areas, dealing a fresh blow to Botswana’s premium beef export trade and raising fears of prolonged disruption if containment efforts fail.

Africa could unlock more than $1.4 trillion annually through stronger tax collection, more efficient public spending and deeper financial markets, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB), a message that resonates strongly with Botswana as it seeks funding for an ambitious development agenda.

The AfDB’s 2026 African Economic Outlook estimates the continent faces an annual financing gap of more than $1.3 trillion to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. However, it argues that reforms could mobilise as much as $1.43 trillion each year, including $469 billion from stronger revenue collection and $299 billion from improving the efficiency of public investment.

The report comes as Botswana prepares to implement NDP12, backed by an infrastructure pipeline estimated at nearly P400 billion between 2026 and 2030. Projects span energy, transport, water, logistics and digital connectivity, while the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme seeks to accelerate diversification beyond diamonds.

The challenge is that the investment drive is beginning from a weaker fiscal position. Government expects a budget deficit of P26.35 billion in 2026/27 after a projected P25.5 billion shortfall in the previous financial year.

Public debt is also rising. Government debt, including guarantees, stood at about P90 billion, or 33 percent of GDP, in December 2025. The Ministry of Finance projects debt will reach 44.7 percent of GDP by the end of 2026/27, prompting Parliament to approve an increase in the statutory debt ceiling from 40 percent to 60 percent of GDP.

The AfDB also highlighted institutional investors as a major untapped source of development capital. Botswana’s pension funds held P170.8 billion in assets in January 2026, with more than half invested offshore. New regulations aimed at reducing offshore allocations are expected to channel more long-term capital into the domestic economy.