Author

Mbongeni Mguni
Financial Journalist

Twitter: @MboBW

Email: [email protected]
  • 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...

  • Gov’t wants 24% equity for citizens in new mines

    The changes are part of a suite of proposed amendments to the Mines and Minerals Act, the legislative backbone of the country’s mining industry. The amendments were gazetted at the end of May and were first tabled in Parliament on Tuesday when the...

  • Trade officials push for AGOA renewal in US

    Led by deputy permanent secretary, Gideon Mmolawa, the local delegation is joining senior representatives of other African nations who are pressing for the renewal of the preferential trade deal with the world’s richest nation.The US capital this...

  • Rail revenues reach P65m in Q1

    The numbers compare to volumes of 251,781 tonnes and P62.3 million in the fourth quarter of last year. The improvement bodes well for Botswana Railways, the national rail carrier which has struggled to break even or move into surplus for several...

  • Debswana focuses 55th anniversary on diamond impact

    Rather than a one day celebration, Debswana has chosen a three-month campaign for its 55th, which will be anchored on story-telling by employees and other stakeholders on how the diamond company has touched their lives.The anniversary’s theme is...

  • Botswana secures P1.7bn renewable energy funding

    The energy storage system, a key project under government’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), will support the wave of renewable energy generation in the country, allowing “smooth integration” in the national grid.In a statement, the World Bank...

  • IMF sees diamond downturn squeezing growth

    Earlier this year, in its World Economic Outlook, the IMF had projected 3.6 percent growth for Botswana in 2024. Government at the time of the February budget speech projected a 4.2 percent expansion, but the Bank of Botswana recently said this would...

  • An uncertain second half beckons for diamonds

    As bad as the diamond numbers are, some analysts on the retail end of the spectrum are seeing some positive signs.And the retail end is where the light is required. The slump that caused a 5.3% contraction in the economy this year, largely traces...

  • Mining slump sparks gov’t revenue debate

    According to the 2024/25 forecasts from the Finance Ministry, mineral revenues were expected to provide about 27% of budget revenues for the financial year, at an estimated P25.2 billion. Mineral revenues comprise taxes, royalties and dividends on...

  • Inflation slows to 2.8%

    Statistics Botswana figures indicate that the annual rate of inflation was slightly softer in June owing to base effects particularly associated with transport.In the 12 months to June 2024, the single highest increase in average prices has been in...

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