Opinion Analysis :: Mmegi Online

Friday, November 28, 2025

Did the UDC rig Kgalagadi South by-election?

Not only did the UDC retain Kgalagadi South constituency at the recent by-election, but it also did so in spectacular fashion.

Bugalo Chilume | 28 November 2025

UDC members celebrating after winning Kgalagadi South PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Urgent need for Botswana, other African countries to develop a national autism strategy

How many children in Botswana start school each year needing support that nobody has planned for? How many toddlers show early signs of autism (delayed speech, difficulty with social interaction, sensory sensitivities) yet wait months or years before anyone can give their parents answers? How many children are mislabelled as “naughty,” “slow,” or “undisciplined” simply because no one recognised the signs of autism in time?

Ntibinyane Ntibinyane | 21 November 2025

For years, media has operated in a space of relative calm .PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Democracy is fragile, media must wake up

If democracy is in decline, then journalists must be its first line of defence, not through activism but through accuracy, fairness, and courage. Our strength lies not in noise but in truth. Our loyalty is not to the powerful but to the public – Writes THOMAS THOS NKHOMA*

THOMAS NKHOMA | 21 November 2025

Mbuya noted that once the media finds itself in such a situation, the media will still pay, but the principal amount will remain the same..KENNEDY RAMOKONE

SA’s pushback against big tech: Lessons for Botswana media

Across the continent, the dominance of Big Tech platforms, including Meta, Google, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and others, has reshaped how Africans consume news and participate in public discourse.

Kabo Ramasia | 21 November 2025

Reforming the Constitution in a developing country: How mismanaging Constitutional reforms led to electoral loss in Botswana-Part II

Fifth, established and hybrid Parliamentary systems are also characterised by fusion of powers between the Executive and the Legislature. According to Cranenburgh , “in a parliamentary system legislative and Executive power is fused. This means that the Executive depends on the Legislature for its origin and survival”.

ZIBANI MAUNDENI,,BATLANG SEABO,LETSHWITI TUTWANE | 14 November 2025

Grinding on: Debswana contributes about two-thirds of De Beers’ annual output PIC: DEBSWANA

To De Beers or not to De Beers Part 2: An investment analyst perspective

A few weeks ago I gave a presentation on the Botswana economy and opined on whether it would be a good idea to purchase De Beers shares from Anglo American. That letter became an article which I published in Mmegi but in both submissions there was a lack of data to feed the opinion. In this article, I try to feed the national discourse with some important data and considerations that an investment analyst would consider in making the decisions. Unlike in my original submission, I will try to avoid offering an opinion on which way to go but rather focus on the cold hard facts that the government and its appointed consultants would likely focus on and hopefully this will assist Batswana out there to form their own opinions on the strategic move.

Mphoeng Mphoeng | 14 November 2025

The talented Mr DGB

In the novel, “Primary Colors,” which was later turned into a film of the same title, an idealistic supporter sees a young, and improbable politician face the test of his beliefs and character. Although it was published anonymously, the novel was modeled along the fictionalized but real campaign and political experience of Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States. Give or take here and there, I want to suggest that the novel could conceivably be a fictionalized account of the real political life of Duma Gideon Boko (DGB), the 6th president of Botswana.

Bongi D D M Radipati | 14 November 2025

Game on: Punters are constantly on their phones making bets on various sporting activities PIC: MICROSOFT BING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

We need to get to grips with online gambling

The simple truth is that addiction, poverty and misery are at the core of the gambling industry, hardly a noble endeavour by any stretch of the imagination.

SEAN SUMMERS | 14 November 2025

When power needs a mirror: Why presidents need a free, ethical and vigilant press

In every democracy, there exists a sacred tension between the presidency and the press, a tension that is not only inevitable but necessary for the health of the republic.Power, by its very nature, demands scrutiny, and the press, in its truest form, is that mirror held up to power. When it functions ethically and independently, journalism is not the enemy of leadership but its conscience, its compass, and often, its quiet ally in nation-building -Writes THOMAS THOS NKHOMA

Thomas Nkhoma | 14 November 2025

War cry: The debate over the Battle of Dimawe rages on PIC: SOUTHERN AFRICA TRIBES

Batswana United: A hard sell

In carrying forward a discussion regarding the significance of the battle of Dimawe (30 August 1852), recommended here is establishing a timeline of events that came after the battle itself, when some claim Sechele united Batswana in a ‘struggle’ to punish the Boers.

Fred Morton | 31 October 2025

Figure belt nation

Bongi D D M Radipati | 31 October 2025

Explanatory journalism: Botswana’s antidote to disinformation and civic confusion

THOMAS NKHOMA | 31 October 2025

Biggest obstacle to creating jobs is bureaucracy, not attracting ‘ditsala tsa bahumi’

Mphoeng Mphoeng | 17 October 2025

Alternative investments in Botswana: Building a future beyond tradition

NDIYE ISAACS | 17 October 2025

Continental cooperative societies converge in Ghana

Tshwarelo Hosia | 17 October 2025

Patriotic journalism vs watchdog journalism: Navigating the thin line of truth

THOMAS NKHOMA | 17 October 2025

Masisi, Magosi face subpoena in P45m Karakul sheep scandal

Former president Mokgweetsi Masisi and Directorate on Intelligence and Security (DIS) Director General, Peter Magosi, are expected to be subpoenaed before the court in the ongoing controversy over the Karakul sheep allegedly procured with more than P45 million of public funds.

Lovebirds: Directorate on Intelligence Services Director General Peter Fana Magosi and senior agent Tshepo Tilia Thupa. PIC: THALEFANG CHARLES

‘I’m in love with the Spy Chief’

In a rare exclusive, The Monitor Correspondent THALEFANG CHARLES sits down with spy chief Peter Fana Magosi and his sweetheart, agent Tshepo Tilia Thupa, for a tell-all interview.

Unik Construction office PIC: Unik Construction

Construction titans clash as DM model crumbles

The infamous Development Manager (DM) model has once again come into the spotlight, this time after construction industry titans Tau Grading, Unik Construction, and development manager Pro-Serve Consulting clashed in court over the P300 million Modipane–Mabalane road project.

Salakae denies implication as BR cancels Baaitse deal

A deal between businessman, Shadrack Baaitse and state-owed Botswana Railways (BR) has been cancelled with growing speculation of political interference, information reaching Mmegi has suggested.

BPF gave me a political lifeline – Galebotswe

PALAPYE: The self-proclaimed legitimate interim leader of the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), Retired Lieutenant General Gaolathe Galebotswe, says he will fight for the party as it has saved his political career. He said he was mistreated at his former political home, the Botswana National Front (BNF) and the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC).

Journalists at work. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

How Boko belittles Botswana journalists

A year after the historic Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) electoral win, journalism in Botswana finds itself at a crossroads.

Army of expertise: The BoB boasts some of the country’s brightest economic and financial minds PIC: BANK OF BOTSWANA

Banks reap fruits of forex framework changes

The country’s commercial banks raked in P3.3 billion in non-interest income from January to August, up nearly P750 million from the same period last year, a boost analysts attribute to the July changes to the foreign exchange rate framework.

Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

The Monitor Editor | 02 December 2025

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