Author

Mbongeni Mguni
Financial Journalist

Twitter: @MboBW

Email: [email protected]
  • Pragmatic and point-blank economics

    In 1969, then 30-year-old Festus Mogae found himself as one of the very few black faces around a table dominated by Afrikaner governance veterans as a young Botswana and other regional ‘minnows’ negotiated clauses in the Southern African Customs...

  • Tough new mission for diversification dynamo

    Recently, the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) revealed that its asset book of about P6 billion is yielding about P50 million in predictable cash, or a conversion rate of under one percent.Essentially, the Corporation’s assets are...

  • BOL’s import ‘monopoly’ set to be eased

    BOL has enjoyed the oil import mandate since April 2024, but recent revelations indicate that the oil parastatal has only imported an average of 60% of the country’s fuel supplies. The balance has been brought in by majority citizen-owned oil...

  • Bank arrears spike to P8bn

    The arrears figures steadied to P6.6 billion in February, a level roughly representing the average in 2025. In January, most of the arrears, or 32 percent, were classified as “specific provision” meaning dues that are over 180 days old and...

  • BoB warns as banks test interest rate moratorium

    Since October last year, the BoB has restricted banks from increasing their prime lending rates, the benchmark rate against which other credit products and services are priced within banks.The move came after a sharp upswing in interest rates amongst...

  • Cowpeas worth P15m rot in silo

    The cowpeas were found to be unfit for human or even animal consumption at that time, the Auditor General said.Cowpeas, like other pulses and grains, require regular rotation or turning to protect their quality and prevent spoilage. The rotation...

  • Debswana output kicks up a gear in Q1

    An Anglo American production report for the first quarter shows that De Beers generated $648 million (P8.8 billion) in sales from two auctions, compared to $520 million (P7 billion) over the same period last year. The diamond giant sold 7.7 million...

  • CCA settles with Hollard; case proceeds vs BIC, Old Mutual

    The case is being heard at the Competition and Consumer Tribunal.Yesterday, another participant in the alleged scheme, Hollard Insurance, reached a settlement with the fair-play watchdog, agreeing to pay P4.8 million for its role in the scheme.The...

  • Gaolathe engages Dangote

    According to information shared on government’s official social media, Gaolathe held talks with Dangote earlier in the week as part of Botswana’s efforts to deepen intra-African economic partnerships.The talks, described as early-stage...

  • Fresh audit exposes COVID spending chaos

    The Auditor General’s latest report, tabled in Parliament a week and a half ago, paints a disturbing picture of misspending of the COVID-19 Fund, the central wallet into which government, the private sector, donors and well-wishers poured funds...

  • The natural nexus of God-given gifts

    There is something deeply significant and strategic about the fact that some of the greatest support for Botswana’s historic hosting of the World Athletics Relays has come from the diamond sector.Debswana, the Okavango Diamond Company and Lucara...

  • BDC, Debswana partner for diversification drive

    Debswana has reportedly received preliminary board-level approval for its diversification strategy, which seeks to leverage the group’s expertise, non-diamond assets and interests into broader ventures beyond diamond mining.Previously released...

  • IMF upbeat on Botswana growth prospects

    The World Economic Outlook, published recently as part of the IMF’s Spring Meetings in Washington DC, indicates that the institution is optimistic about the country’s outlook, despite the recent contractionary trend in the economy.IMF researchers...

  • Precious thebes still slip through gov’t fingers

    At the Veterinary Services Department, a former employee “promised to pay back” P230,442 stolen between 2010 and 2014. The former employee has been making the same promise over the years.The latest troubling glimpse into the state of public...

  • Business Botswana engages govt on fuel prices

    The organisation’s comments come as it engages with government on the pressures around oil prices, as a result of the Middle East conflict. Business Botswana officials said the organisation had met with Trade and Entrepreneurship permanent...

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