Features :: Mmegi Online

Friday, February 06, 2026

Botswana at structural crossroads: Navigating path to resilient future

Botswana stands at a historic structural crossroads. For decades, much like many other mineral-led economies, the diamond-led growth model provided an anchor of stability, but as we enter 2026, the global luxury market has fundamentally shifted.

PROF DUMISANI J JANTJIES | 06 February 2026

Feeling the pinch: Sefalana is noting the effects of the economic contraction on its customers

What Sefalana’s results tell us about the economy

The country’s largest grocer by revenue and balance sheet has recorded an erosion in profit margins, driven primarily by a sharp slowdown in consumer spending and mounting household pressures. The trend points to deeper, structural weaknesses in the economy, with potential spillover effects across multiple sectors, writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Lewanika Timothy | 06 February 2026

Crunch-time: Gaolathe presents his second budget on Monday PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

Gaolathe’s make or break budget

Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe’s biggest challenge going into the 2026-27 financial year is finding revenues to run government, pay its bills, drive development and support economic activity, while waiting for the power of the BETP to kick in. MBONGENI MGUNI writes

Mbongeni Mguni | 06 February 2026

Real world good: Natural diamonds have powered the growth and sophistication of the local economy, empowering many citizens PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Shine on you crazy diamond!

The diamond forecasts released recently by the Finance Ministry are pretty bleak. However, latest figures and trends show that even as government prioritises transformation, the shiny stones can still hold their own. MBONGENI MGUNI writes on the resilient rock and why its future is not all gloom

Mbongeni Mguni | 30 January 2026

Flying the flag: The American YouTube sensation brought millions of eyes to Botswana PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

Botswana is branded by its people

For a few days, Botswana was not just another country in Southern Africa. We were the main character, the showstopper.

PONALO TUMELO | 30 January 2026

Sparkling stones: The dependence has not actually been on the diamonds, but on government PIC: LUCARA

The myth of diamond dependence

The collapse of public health and government’s mounting arrears has reignited the unchecked familiar claim that “diamond sector dependence is to blame”. However, even in a diversified economy, a state that has grown too large, too expensive, and too consumption-driven will eventually fail to sustain the services it promises, writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Lewanika Timothy | 30 January 2026

Driving growth: The private sector is taking a greater role in delivering public works PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

NDP 12’s small missing piece

NDP 12 and its associated BETP require the greatest injection ever of private capital in the country’s history, running into hundreds of billions of Pula. One small piece is missing and necessary to gain investors’ confidence, writes MBONGENI MGUNI

Mbongeni Mguni | 23 January 2026

Tricky numbers: Gaolathe has said he wants to see a greater focus on capital investments and cutbacks on the recurrent budget PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Budget slowdown focuses on the wrong numbers

Budget outturn figures show that government has managed to restrain spending from P97.6 billion to P77.9 billion in 2025-26, with the adjustment falling most heavily on the development budget. While this headline reduction may suggest fiscal discipline, a closer look at the numbers reveals a worrying trend, writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

Lewanika Timothy | 23 January 2026

Basic needs: Quality nutrition is a perennial challenge throughout Africa PEOPLESIMAGES.COM

The right to food: Botswana’s unfulfilled promise

The country is debating the establishment of a Constitutional Court. Others want the right to health included in the Constitution, given the ongoing crisis. Mothers, meanwhile, are struggling just to simply feed their children. NNASARETHA KGAMANYANE writes

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | 23 January 2026

Entertainment?: Hundreds of eyes tune into see the violence and vulgarity. In doing so, they reward and encourage more of the same behaviour PIC: NKAFU.ORG

Love, likes and toxicity

They go live almost instinctively as if reaching for the phone is part of the argument itself. Within minutes, Facebook timelines across Botswana light up, hundreds of thousands watching the insults. Conflict and violence become entertainment. SHARON MATHALA argues that the couple is a mirror of society’s own fascination with the material

Sharon Mathala | 16 January 2026

End of the titans’ era in banking

Mbongeni Mguni | 16 January 2026

Never Satane: The unstoppable Tswana stallion of Kanaku

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | 09 January 2026

Four years from deadline, the world is just one-third into SDG targets

Mbongeni Mguni | 09 January 2026

How a need for Speed planted a seed

Laone Choeunyane | 09 January 2026

Old wage bill alarms ring again

Lewanika Timothy | 09 January 2026

BETP’s moment of truth

Bone Prince Lekgotla | 19 December 2025

BPS has reportedly suspended a ‘vigilante’ female police officer who allegedly mobilised a mob to assault a group of suspected thieves, an incident that led to a murder case.

Vigilante cop suspended for mob assault/murder

The Botswana Police Service (BPS) has reportedly suspended a ‘vigilante’ female police officer who allegedly mobilised a mob to assault a group of suspected thieves, an incident that led to a murder case.

Maid 'from hell' charged for assaulting a 1-year-old

A 30-year-old Boitumelo Nchimako appeared before the Broadhurst Magistrate's Court this morning, charged with cruel punishment.

Making plans: The Finance Ministry has made proposals for new tax rates

New tax rate targets top earners

The Finance Ministry is proposing the introduction of a new rate for personal income tax, which will see those earning P33,333 per month and above paying at 27.5%, rather than the current top tax rate of 25%.

Motsamai, Manual Workers leaders clash over injurious remarks'

The disputed appointment of Andrew Motsamai as secretary of the Public Service Bargaining Council (PSBC) has taken a another turn, with him demanding that leaders of the Manual Workers Union retract what he describes as injurious, malicious and defamatory remarks made against him.

Murder probe launched following discovery of two bodies at Sese

Two bodies have been discovered at Sese village near Jwaneng in what law enforcement officers suspect to be a murder-suicide incident.

Ex UB lecturer’s rape case continues without expert witness

Extension II Chief Magistrate, Kamogelo Mmesi, has rejected admission of psychology expert witness as requested by the State in a rape case against retired University of Botswana (UB) professor Brothers Malema.

Ezra Neethings breaks the norm with one-man live concert

Local musical sensation, Ezra Neethings, is set to redefine the live music experience in Botswana as he prepares to stage a one-man live concert on April 18 at the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Arena.

Mabogo dinku a thebana

According to both the acting director of Veterinary Services, Kobedi Segale and acting Lands and Agriculture minister, Edwin Dikoloti, the virus currently raging through the North-East mostly likely first entered the country during the festive season.From the “unprecedented” number of cases picked in testing last week, it is likely that cattle and other livestock could have been infected last year, without being reported.Animal health...

Mmegi Editor | 06 February 2026

Features

Explore

More