Botswana

Zimbabwe shipped antiretroviral drugs to Botswana on October 30 through its National Pharmaceutical Company, with 80 percent as a loan and 20 percent as donation, addressing temporary shortages in the neighbouring country’s HIV treatment program. The cross-border medical assistance comes as South African authorities investigate syndicates stealing essential medicines from government clinics and transporting them […]

Former Botswana President Ian Khama has described the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) as the “only terrorist organization in the Middle East” and likening its leadership to a “Hitler clone” and “Bin Laden Netanyahu.” The statement has drawn attention due to its provocative language amid the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. Khama, who served as Botswana’s president from […]

South African political party proposes new legislation targeting illegal foreign nationals without specialized skills. The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at accelerating the deportation of undocumented immigrants in South Africa. Party leader Velenkosini Hlabisa revealed the initiative during a provincial council meeting in Johannesburg on Sunday. “We are not […]

Botswana and Angola, the world’s 2nd and 4th largest diamond producers, have recently taken significant steps to support the Western sanctions against Russia’s diamond exports. This coordinated effort aims to limit Russia’s access to the global diamond market and undermine a key revenue source for the Kremlin amid its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Diamonds are […]

PRETORIA – Former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula appeared in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday seeking to modify bail conditions to obtain a new passport for travel to Botswana, as her corruption case faces another delay. The court postponed her case to January 20 after prosecutors requested more time to review extensive legal documents […]

Botswana’s President Duma Boko has called for more accountable governance across Africa, saying it is essential for the continent’s economic future. Speaking at the African Economic Conference in Gaborone, Mr Boko said peace and stability must be “anchored on accountable and responsive governance.” The three-day meeting comes as Africa faces multiple challenges, including a $1.3 […]

Duma Boko, 54, has been sworn in as Botswana’s new president following his alliance’s unexpected victory in last week’s general election, marking a historic shift in the diamond-rich nation’s political landscape. The Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader took the oath of office in Gaborone on Monday, succeeding former president Mokgweetsi Masisi after his party […]

Botswana’s Appeal Court has upheld a 2019 landmark ruling decriminalising gay sex in the country. A five-judge bench unanimously ruled that the criminalisation of same-sex relationships violated the constitutional rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. In 2019, the high court had rejected as unconstitutional laws that imposed up to seven years […]

Botswana’s high court on Tuesday dismissed petitions filed by the main opposition parties against the election result that returned the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to a parliamentary majority. The BDP of President Mokgweetsi Masisi won the election in October with 38 seats – automatically making their candidate president – while the opposition Umbrella for Democratic […]

Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi has won a five-year term in elections which saw the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) secure more than 50% of the seats in parliament , Chief Justice Terrence Rannowane has announced. “Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi is elected President of the Republic of Botswana,” Mr Ranowane said.

The Botswana government announced on Wednesday they are “lifting the hunting suspension in an orderly and ethical manner”. A decision that seemed inevitable, but nevertheless is an enormous blow for Botswana’s tourism and conservation reputation.  Since President Masisi’s announcement last year proposing lifting the hunting ban, this whole process has been a well-orchestrated election campaign, […]

The second-biggest uncut diamond in history has been unearthed from a mine in Botswana. The 1,758-carat diamond, larger than a tennis ball, weighs close to 352 grams (12.42 ounces), Lucara said in a statement. The stone is second in size only to the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, recovered in South Africa in 1905. The stone is […]