Features :: Mmegi Online

Friday, April 17, 2026

Teen visionary Lihle takes Pan-African youth mission to Botswana

At just 18, Bhaswelihle 'Lihle' Zilwa is fast emerging as one of Africa’s most inspiring young voices. From publishing a motivational book at 14 to founding an academic club at 13, the South African teenager is now driving a bold continental initiative, called the 100K Teens Challenge, aimed at inspiring and impacting 100,000 young people across Africa.

Pini Bothoko | 17 April 2026

Lihle (right) met with the High Commission of South Africa, Thaninga Shope-Soumah in Gaborone

More time: Zimbabwe president, Emmerson Mnangagwa

Time is the architecture of change

Zimbabwean politics carries a familiar tension. It is the tension of a nation that has waited decades for meaningful change, yet expects that change to arrive quickly, cleanly and without friction. It is an understandable impatience, but it is also a dangerous one. Because history is clear on one point: change is not an event. It is a process. And processes take time.

Mabasa Sasa* | 17 April 2026

All in: When it first began, using the Internet was called surfing. Today, many users are drowning

The Age of Hyperbole

“The most, the best, the worst, the deadliest”. Hyperbole or exaggeration, is the currency of the attention economy, or that multibillion dollar industry of social media and content creators that relies on getting eyes on posts. It all seems benign but dangers lurk, even fatal ones, argues MBONGENI MGUNI

Mbongeni Mguni | 10 April 2026

Heavy lifters: Consumers of alcohol boosted Sechaba’s revenues despite tightening economic conditions

Booze economy going strong despite tight budgets

In a tightening economy where households are trimming budgets and businesses are feeling the squeeze, one sector won’t succumb to the downturn and that is the booze economy. Recent official figures from producers showed strong sales year on year, writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Lewanika Timothy | 10 April 2026

Seeing opportunity: Tafa believes BBS is primed for growth PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

BBS confident of scaling greater heights

Three years ago, BBS became the country’s first indigenous commercial bank, entering a cut-throat market dominated by South African giants. Speaking to MBONGENI MGUNI, MD Pedzani Tafa says Batswana play an essential role in building their own giant

Mbongeni Mguni | 10 April 2026

Seeing change: Mosinyi believes signs of a turnaround are emerging at Air Botswana

Inside the plan to turn Air Botswana around

Aviation veteran, Bao Mosinyi, is leading an attempt to turnaround Air Botswana’s fortunes, the latest in several bids to bring the glory days back to the flag carrier. He tells MBONGENI MGUNI his approach is a focus on getting the basics right: efficiency and reliability in order to restore confidence

Mbongeni Mguni | 03 April 2026

Tough times: The U.S and Israel conflict with Iran has raised oil prices by triple figures PIC.PIXELS.COM

Industry players push against Botswana Oil import quota

A review started last year into Botswana Oil’s mandate to import 90% of the country’s fuel supplies, is reportedly intensifying, with some analysts seeing the sole responsibility as a risk, especially at a time when countries are negotiating the impact of the Middle East crisis. MBONGENI MGUNI & PAULINE DIKUELO report

Mbongeni Mguni,Pauline Dikuelo | 03 April 2026

Hive of activity: The car dealerships in Mogoditshane are just part of the businesses making the village thrive PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

The Yin Yang of Mogoditshane's economic boom

While economic activity has slowed across much of the country, Mogoditshane remains busy as a rare pocket of momentum, supported by a fast-growing population and an expanding commercial base. However, this development has come with its own pitfalls writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Lewanika Timothy | 03 April 2026

Blue-blooded: Lucara’s latest find is creating waves in the diamond industry

A surprise sparkle for diamonds

Lucara, the company renowned for record-breaking diamond discoveries, unveiled its latest stunner this week, the second largest blue unearthed in Botswana. The stone’s rarity, beauty and ethical origins underline the value gap from the synthetics, officials say. MBONGENI MGUNI reports

Mbongeni Mguni | 03 April 2026

Man in the street: The concentration of wholesale deposits amongst banks impacted ordinary consumers as lending rates rose nearly four percentages points higher than the BoB's benchmark last year PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

A cooling down in the banking sector

As sure as the sun rises every day, banks have made healthy profits where each year is higher than the last. A rare slowdown occurred last year due to the economic contraction, but analysts are seeing more structural concerns, writes MBONGENI MGUNI

Mbongeni Mguni | 27 March 2026

New financial year: New risks, new opportunities

Mbongeni Mguni | 20 March 2026

Rain, resilience, culture and the spirit of King Moshoeshoe

Mompoloki Rankgate | 20 March 2026

Borankana can teach us a lesson

Bongi D D M Radipati | 20 March 2026

Youth take the lead in HIV fight

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | 20 March 2026

Main bids farewell to Botswana after 45 years of adventure

Phillip Segadika | 13 March 2026

Making PPPs work

Lewanika Timothy | 13 March 2026

Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Edwin Dikoloti

Gov't clears air on Ramatlabama FMD culling debate

The Ministry of Lands and Agriculture has dismissed claims that government is opposed to the culling of cattle infected with Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at the Ramatlabama National Artificial Insemination Laboratory and Training Centre, contrary to concerns raised by the public.

New Secretary General of BOSETU, Oreeditse Nyatso

Nyatso takes over from Rari

The Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) has ushered in a new Secretary General (SG), with Oreeditse Nyatso taking over from Tobokani Rari following the latter's appointment to the Public Service Bargaining Council secretariat.

Sailing on: Multiple tanker owners, oil majors and trading houses have suspended energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. PIC REUTERS

Fake Botswana flags first spotted on ships in January – IMO

The United Nations agency responsible for global shipping says it was first alerted to ships fraudulently flying Botswana’s flag in January by credit ratings agency, S&P Global, a sign of how the illicit activity can potentially impact the country’s image.

Partners: Boko and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, the he Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman during their meetings in Muscan PIC: BWPRESIDENCY

Boko to launch country’s largest renewable energy project

President Duma Boko is on Thursday scheduled to launch construction of a 500MW solar plant in Maun, which will be the country’s largest renewable facility, a project emanating from energy and mineral deals sealed wit

Botswana flags P6.29bn in illicit money flows

Botswana has recorded an estimated P6.29 billion in suspected proceeds of crime, according to a National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment, which rates the country’s overall money laundering risk as Medium, driven by oversight gaps and regulation lapses.

Car on fire (picture for illustration).PIC.THEBORDERMAIL.COM

Man’s car burnt overnight, rival suspected

A 41-year-old man had a shock of his life when he woke up to find his vehicle burnt to ashes on Saturday morning in Matseta village. The incident has since prompted Mogoditshane police to launch an investigation. Mogoditshane Police Station acting commander, Assistant Superintendent Mompoloki Ramaphoi, said the incident is believed to have occurred during the night.

BDP cracks down on indiscipline

The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) president, Mpho Balopi, has warned party members to brace for decisive action against indiscipline, signalling a tougher stance by the leadership. Speaking on Sunday at Travel Lodge during the Gaborone Regional Congress, Balopi made it clear that the party would no longer tolerate behaviour that undermines its values. He, however, made it clear that some members will this week receive their suspension letters for indiscipline.

Consult, get buy-ins first for 6 to 6 policy, Hon Minister

While the minister is of the view that the proposal would have significant positive economic impact, the entertainment industry players believe otherwise. The issue has over the weeks become a hot potato. But what is of essence right now is that the country needs liberal ideas to move in the right direction While opening up the economy may sound quite interesting to the ear, rolling out extended trading hours through pilot programmes without...

Mmegi Editor | 17 April 2026

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