The national power crisis is not just an inconvenience, but it is a full-blown emergency crippling daily life and throttling economic growth. While Minerals and Energy Minister Bogolo Kenewendo’s efforts to renegotiate electricity imports from South Africa are a start, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government must treat this crisis with the urgency it demands. Plans for 2027 won’t save us today. The numbers are staggering. Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) now spends over P400 million monthly on imports after South Africa’s Eskom hiked tariffs by 6, 800% in weeks—from 80 thebe to P5.55 per kilowatt hour. This exorbitant cost has ballooned BPC’s debts to P2.6 billion, threatening even basic power procurement. As Minister Kenewendo admitted, Botswana risks being cut off the grid by Eskom entirely if debts mount further.
Meanwhile, emergency power costs R23 million a day. This is not sustainable. It amounts to economic suicide for the country.
The human toll is worse. Load-shedding is not just about flickering lights; it is lost livelihoods. Small businesses like corner shops, salons, workshops cannot absorb the cost of diesel generators. Factories face disrupted production, risking jobs and investor confidence. At home, erratic power jeopardises food safety, healthcare, and education. How can a nation prosper when its people are left in the dark? Kenewendo’s short-term solutions—securing 200MW from Eskom, restarting Morupule B units, and floating a 1.5GW solar tender are welcome. But why must Batswana wait until 2027 for new coal plants or delayed solar bids? The government’s medium-term plans feel dangerously complacent. Years of mismanagement brought us here: Morupule B’s chronic failures, reliance on costly imports, and stalled reforms like unbundling BPC to boost efficiency. Promises of restructuring debt or privatising units mean little to citizens facing daily outages. The UDC government must act with speed. First, accelerate solar projects. Friday’s solar tender is a step in the right direction, but why not incentivise immediate rooftop solar adoption for households and businesses? Secondly, fast-track BPC’s unbundling. Private investment in generation and transmission of power cannot wait for endless committees. Thirdly, reconsider Morupule B’s fate and if privatisation ensures reliable power, so be it. Most critically, Minister Kenewendo’s talks with South Africa must yield more than temporary fixes. Botswana needs a transparent, long-term energy strategy, not piecemeal deals. If Eskom’s tariffs are untenable, pivot to regional alternatives like Namibia or Zambia.
This crisis is a test of leadership. The UDC government was elected to serve Batswana, not to preside over decline. No more vague timelines or blame-shifting. Every day without reliable power deepens the crisis. The lights are out, it is time the government switches them on.
