Author

Mbongeni Mguni
Financial Journalist

Twitter: @MboBW

Email: [email protected]
  • El-Niño adds P1.3bn blow to budget woes

    In June, President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared an “extreme agricultural drought” noting that 16,000 livestock deaths had been recorded countrywide over the summer, while cereal production dropped to just six percent of national demand.The dry...

  • Botala’s Leupane secures key approvals

    Besides the solar and gas plants, also approved in the environmental licence are supportive batteries for energy storage, gas generators or turbines to provide baseload electricity, and transformers to connect to the national grid.The approval also...

  • Value of ‘swiping’ doubles in post-cheque era

    Bank of Botswana figures released recently indicate that after the phasing out of cheques on December 31 last year, digital transactions in the economy have exploded. In the first quarter of the year, the value of swiping transactions reached P21.5...

  • Hopes glimmer as US diamond demand warms up

    The United States is the most important market for natural diamonds, accounting for about 54% of annual demand, followed by China and India. According to a report released by leading diamond retail research firm, Tenoris, in July, overall revenue...

  • BPC adds more solar generation

    The power stations, known as solar photovoltaic (PV) will be grid-tied, meaning their generation will feed into the national grid for supply around the country. The selected firms will develop and operate the power stations, selling the electricity...

  • Grays Eden boosts Maun's tourism lustre

    Set partly on a cliff face overlooking the banks of Thamalakane River, the hotel was built through a partnership between investors, Sam and Sandrine Morris and Ker & Downey Botswana, a subsidiary of Chobe Holdings. The Botswana Investment and Trade...

  • Is the world moving on while Ukraine burns?

    Mmegi: The conflict with Russia is heading towards its third year. What is your sense in terms of Africa’s support for Ukraine on international platforms? Is it adequate or where would you like to see greater support?Abravitova: I think that we...

  • Austrian investor eyes Tati Nickel

    According to information shared by the presidency on Wednesday, Caner met with President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Minerals and Energy minister, Lefoko Moagi, and other senior government officials on Tuesday.Caner’s wholly owned investment group, NIU...

  • Into whose hands will De Beers fall?

    Anglo American is “dual-tracking” the process it is taking to dispose of its 85% stake in De Beers. Last Friday, CEO Duncan Wanblad told an analyst briefing that the mining group was weighing more than one option of how to exit the diamond...

  • Sun International returns to Botswana via GICC takeover

    Sun International, the South African giant which is one of Africa’s largest tourism and leisure operators, left the country in 2017 after selling its 16% stake in Gaborone Sun to Minor International, the parent group to Avani Hotels. Peermont...

  • Debswana assures on jobs as slump deepens

    From an initial target of as much as 32 million carats at the beginning of the year, De Beers revised its maximum output this year to 29 million carats, then last week lowered this to 26 million carats. Debswana produces about two-thirds of De...

  • Shumba advances Tati Solar project

    Originally conceived more than three years ago, the Tati Solar photovoltaic project will sit on 300 hectares and is expected to cost more than P800 million.In a quarterly activity update released this week, Shumba Energy directors said procurement...

  • Sefalana profits up 10%

    According to its 52-week results released on Tuesday, the majority citizen-owned group posted pretax profits of P443 million, up 10% despite pressures on margins and higher competition and supply chain challenges.Sefalana, which began operations with...

  • God’s gift that keeps on giving

    Carried from the Earth’s core over thousands of kilometres by geological processes, the fact that three of these small shiny stones were spotted in Motloutse River in 1959 is a miracle. An even bigger miracle, however, is that after a journey over...

  • What is ring-fencing and why does BoB want it?

    Anglo American, the majority shareholder in De Beers, on Thursday released figures showing that diamond production in Botswana fell 24% in the first six months of the year when compared to the same period last year. The diamond group which, in...

arrow up