News :: Mmegi Online

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Poverty eradication starts with self-reliance –Moswaane

FRANCISTOWN: The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ignatius Moswaane, has emphasised that poverty eradication must begin with self-reliance. He urged Batswana to return to values of hard work, productivity, and utilising available resources.

Lesedi Mkhutshwa | 17 March 2026

Moswaane

Botswana denies hosting a US military base

Botswana government has shot down claims that the country is host to the United States of America (USA) military base at Thebephatswa Air Base Barracks despite the on going allegations.

correspondent | 17 March 2026

Murder accused quartet fail to appear before court

Four men facing a single count of murder over a suspected stolen phone failed to appear before court this morning. The accused are out on bail.

Larona Makhaiza | 17 March 2026

‘Faka Pressure’: An auspicious schemer, a rising star

Legislator Motlhaleemang Moalosi had adopted a funny slogan, ‘Faka Pressure’, going into the 2024 General Election, which, in his view, was the reason he partially won the polls. Faka Pressure means to put pressure, as ‘faka’, borrowed from Ndebele, simply means to put. To him, it was a catchy slogan, which helped people notice their campaign and made it easy for them to recognise his team. It created hype and hypes win elections. Writes RYDER GABATHUSE

Ryder Gabathuse | 13 March 2026

Choppies and Marina donation.PIC.SHARON MATHALA

Farouk Ismail donates medicines to Princess Marina Hospital

Businessman Farouk Ismail has donated medicines worth P80,000 to Princess Marina Hospital as the country continues to grapple with shortages of essential medication in public health facilities.

Sharon Mathala | 17 March 2026

Kokorwe to be buried Wednesday

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Gladys Kokorwe will be laid to rest in Phomolong on Wednesday (March 18), her family has confirmed.

Staff Writer | 16 March 2026

Air Botswana plane. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Air Botswana scraps three routes as losses deepen

The national carrier Air Botswana, has suspended three recently introduced regional routes after incurring losses of about P44.5 million on the services, underscoring the deepening financial strain at one of the country’s most troubled state-owned enterprises.

Lewanika Timothy | 13 March 2026

I don't have a lawyer yet -Seretse

Local Businessman, Bakang Seretse appeared before the Regional Magistrate's Court last week in the fresh matter relating to alleged corruption and misuse of public funds.

Larona Makhaiza | 16 March 2026

More charges for Seretse & Co in P31m NPF case

Businessman Bakang Seretse and his associates are now facing a significantly expanded list of charges linked to more than P31 million connected to the National Petroleum Fund (NPF), with the number of charges rising from four to 64.

Mpho Mokwape | 13 March 2026

Audit delays undermine transparency in gov't finances

Delays in the release of government audit reports have weakened transparency, accountability and public trust in the management of public funds.

Pini Bothoko | 13 March 2026

BPF leadership engages members nationwide

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | 13 March 2026

Ombudsman takes bold step, subpoenas ministries

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | 13 March 2026

State registers private company to monetise assets

Innocent Selatlhwa | 13 March 2026

Boko’s unfinished media battle

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | 13 March 2026

People boarding buses at bus rank. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Bus, truck drivers denied rest despite labour law limits

Long-distance bus and truck drivers in Botswana are working excessive hours and being denied rest days despite clear legal limits on working hours, the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Pius Mokgware, has told Parliament.

Gov't kickstarts copper refinery study at Khoemacau

Government has initiated steps toward downstream copper beneficiation after announcing that a feasibility study will be undertaken to assess the viability of establishing a copper refinery anchored around the Khoemacau Copper Mine.

Fare thee well Onty

We, the colleagues from Mmegi Printing, wish to express our heartfelt sorrow at the untimely passing of our dear colleague Ontlametse Kaote, who worked with us for the past three to four years.

Woman dies after crashing into UB wall

A 35-year-old woman has lost her life after the vehicle she was driving crashed into a University of Botswana (UB) boundary wall on Sunday morning.

'Cruel maid' denied bail

Broadhurst Chief Magistrate, Nthabiseng Merafe-Olaotse has denied a 30-year-old maid, Boitumelo Nchimako bail determining that she is a flight risk.

Monitoring the numbers: Moseki PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

BoB to ‘penalise’ banks for wholesale deposit concentration

The Bank of Botswana will introduce a charge on commercial banks that maintain high concentrations of wholesale depositors, as it scrambles to restrain spiralling interest rates that are nearly four percentage points above the central bank’s benchmark rate.

When intelligence shapes media and the State watches

Across Southern Africa, intelligence agencies have learned that controlling the information environment does not require shutting down newspapers. It requires understanding how journalists think and how national interest is framed. Botswana, with its institutional stability and political calm, offers a textbook case of this refined model THOMAS THOS NKHOMA

Students wellbeing is a priority

The research presented at the recent Botswana Secondary School Teachers Union symposium should serve as a wake-up call to us all.We are so focused on coding, artificial intelligence, and the jobs of tomorrow that we are neglecting the basic safety and emotional well-being of the children sitting in our classrooms today.Statistics are deeply worrying. One study revealed that 34% of secondary school learners in Gaborone meet the criteria for a...

The Monitor Editor | 10 March 2026

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