Time to invest in Botswana’s sporting future :: Mmegi Online

The recent announcement of a P7.18 billion recurrent budget shared amongst seven ministries, including Sport and Arts, should be a rallying call for Botswana to finally prioritise the transformative power of sport. For too long, underfunding, mismanagement, and short-term thinking have held back our athletes, stifled grassroots talent, and denied communities the social and economic benefits of a thriving sports sector.

It’s now time for bold action.

While the Ministry of Sport and Arts (MOSA) awaits its share of the budget, the government must recognise that sport is not a luxury, it is an investment. As Botswana Tennis Association president Oaitse Thipe rightly notes, sport can tackle youth unemployment through initiatives like nationwide school holiday camps. These programmes could create thousands of temporary jobs while nurturing future stars. Yet none of this is possible without adequate funding. The P61 million spent on the failed 2027 AFCON bid, as criticised by volleyball chief Tsoseletso Magang, highlights skewed priorities. That money could have built community facilities or funded youth leagues. Moving forward, MOSA must allocate funds transparently, focusing on long-term development over vanity projects.

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