In a laudable show of calm and peaceful festive season, Chobe National Park has registered no cases of misconduct inside the park. This is the first Christmas holiday since Sedudu-Ngoma gates transit route was officially opened for a 24-hour operation by Minister and of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi in April. In an interview, Department of Wildlife and National Parks acting regional officer- Chobe Dr Karabo Danster said Batswana have embraced the 24-hour operation of the Sedudu and Ngoma gates as an access point to Chobe Enclave from Kasane and vice versa traversing through Chobe National Park. He stated that there were no accidents recorded in the park this festive season which was an indication that road users were vigilant. “Chobe National Park is a high density area where wildlife traverse from the forest for forage down to the river for water and they do pass through the A33 road inside the park,” he said. However, he raised concern about the littering activities inside the park with some motorists disposing plastics and bottles alongside the road. The officer pointed out that the department conducted daily patrols from Ngoma gate covering the riverfront up-to Sedudu gate. Moreover, Dr Danster said there was minimal activity on the Chobe River for boat cruise as this was a tourism off season. He said during the festive season it is mostly Batswana who enjoy visiting Chobe for tourism excursions with their families. He noted that the spirit of calmness was also experienced at the boat cruises as no reports of misconduct were recorded.
Author: Daily News
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Serowe Experiences Peaceful Holidays
Police in Serowe say their policing area has experienced a peaceful and calm Christmas holidays, apart from four cases of rape and another four of house-breaking.
Serowe Police acting station commander, Assistant Superintendent Mavis Ketshele said the law compliance rate was satisfactory in her policing area from December 24 to 28, with liquor outlets complying to stipulated liquor regulatory trading hours of 10am to 6am.
Ms Ketshele further said even though they recorded incidents of cellphones theft at festivals, people in her area of jurisdiction had experienced a calm festive season thus far.
Regarding Road Traffic Act violation, she said 30 drivers were charged for drunken driving and 84 for driving a motor vehicle without licences. Furthermore, she said 73 motorists were charged for speeding and 23 for failure to obey road signs.
Assistant Superintendent Ketshele warned Batswana of unscrupulous individuals who moved around deceiving people under the pretext that they were borrowing vehicles for emergencies before disappearing into thin air with their vehicles. She said one person took two cars in Serowe with the same intent on December 26.
She further said a drowning incident was reported December 24 involving a 13-year-old boy at Kgamane ward in Serowe.
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Department Condemns Killings of Lions
Department of Wildlife and National Parks has condemned the retaliatory killing of four lions, a jackal and 12 vultures in Lesoma.In an interview, Principal Veterinary Officer in Chobe, Dr Karabo Danster said the department was treating this case as retaliatory incident of human-wildlife conflict.He stated that the first case was reported beginning of December where two lions, jackal and vultures were found dead.Again, he said on December 24, a passerby reported sighting two dead lions along the A33 road.Dr Danster revealed that the two lions, male and female along the road were covered in wounds, which presumably appeared to have been caused by a sharp object.“We discovered during the postmortem that a gun was used on both the lions, which wounded them hence they succumbed to injuries from a close range shots.”He alleged that preliminary investigations showed that a farmer whose livestock had been killed by lions took the matter into his own hands hence retaliated by poisoning carcasses, which were devoured by these animals.Dr Danster stated that the residual samples were currently at the laboratory for testing to establish, which poison was used.Furthermore, he remarked that DWNP was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to educate the public on how they should take care of their properties.“Most of the livestock in Chobe do not roam round at night but contained in predator proof kraals hence cases of lion attacks are rare unless livestock are left outside kraals and predators prey on them.”The officer said no arrests were made hence appealed to the community to assist them to catch the perpetrators.
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Kanye Leadership Forum Tackles Challenges
Kanye West MP, Mr Victor Phologolo, has stressed that regular dialogue with constituents and stakeholders is key to ensuring legislators effectively fulfil their mandate.Speaking at the Kanye leadership forum recently, Mr Phologolo highlighted the value of such gatherings, saying they should be convened more often to tackle the challenges facing the area and to find solutions. Mr Phologolo also updated attendees on national developments, including the government’s adoption of measures to curb expenditure.The Kanye West MP also informed his constituents about some development progress, noting that the proposed Kanye Hospital was not included in the National Development Plan (NDP)12. However, he assured that the project would be pursued through Public-Private Partnerships.Other projects which were not incorporated in NDP 12, he said included the Selokolela-Lorolwane Road, Segwagwa Road, and the paving of roads leading to farms. Mr Phologolo further acknowledged ongoing challenges in Kanye, including poor school performance particularly in remote areas like Lorolwane as well as social issues such as alcohol and substance abuse, passion killings and defilement.Participants raised concerns about persistent water shortages in Kanye, inadequate internal roads and frequent network failures at Department of Road Transport and Safety offices. They further demanded thorough investigations into the rising cases of killings affecting Kanye and the nation as a whole.Kebotlhokwa Care Centre Coordinator, Ms Boingotlo Gupta, underscored the need for intensified counselling as a means to support victims of gender-based violence and prevent future incidents.Meanwhile, Officer Commanding No. 14 District, Senior Superintendent David Ramoseki, alerted attendees to the alarming rise in scams where fraudsters called some victims announcing competition winners or invoke ‘Know Your Customer’ schemes to defraud Batswana of large sums. Such cases, he said, were on the increase and were a major concern for law enforcement.While acknowledging that entering competitions was not inherently wrong, he advised the public to exercise caution, such as retaining receipts after providing personal details at tills, as these often contained sensitive information like full names and phone numbers that scammers exploited.On stock theft, Senior Superintendent Ramoseki urged farmers to take proactive measures to protect their livestock rather than depending solely on farm workers.In his contribution, Kanye District Council secretary, Mr Joseph Banyatsang, updated participants on Kanye Stadium, stating that Phase I was complete and were awaiting funding for the next phase. He added that Phase II would involve construction of ablution blocks, kiosks and changing rooms.
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New Insurance Company Set to Empower Citizens
The launch of Babereki Life Insurance Company (BLIC) next year is expected to assist ordinary Batswana build generational wealth.
To demonstrate its objective, BLIC founding chief executive officer, Mr Tshepo Jim said the company was incorporated by Batswana, with ordinary members, through the Maloko Trust, holding the majority stake at 45 per cent.
Another 40 per cent is owned by BLIC, while the remaining 15 per cent is allotted to Botswana Public Employees Union, Babereki Insurance Brokers and Babereki Investments each owning 5 per cent stake. This arrangement, Mr Jim said exemplified a citizen-led business in Botswana.
He said the company’s core philosophy was to safeguard Botswana’s economy by keeping wealth within the country rather than allowing it to flow offshore. Mr Jim therefore invited citizens to form strategic partnerships and join the journey toward a prosperous Botswana.
What sets BLIC apart from other insurance underwriters in the country, according to Mr Jim, was its mass ownership model, with ordinary citizens as major shareholders. He claimed this makes it the first such structure in Africa, drawing historical parallels to similar entities established in London in the early 1800s and in Latin America in the early 1900s.
“The concept stems from like-minded individuals who sought additional income streams beyond salaries. They envisioned a company that will honour workers with dignity during their careers and upon retirement,” he said.
“As we move forward, BLIC will continue to champion inclusive growth, professional integrity, and strategic innovation. We invite like-minded investors to join us not to control, but to grow together. In doing so, we will shape a life insurer that reflects the best of Botswana: people-centric, united, empowered, and future-ready.”
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Zebras Aim to Redeem Pride Against DRC
After losing its first two matches of the 2025 CAF Africa Cup Of Nations in Morocco, Botswana is expected to reignite its stripes against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday night.
The two countries will clash at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat at 8:30pm, with the Zebras bottom of Group D after losing 3-0 to Senegal and 1-0 to Benin.
In the Leopards of DRC who held Senegal to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, they will be facing another stubborn opponent.
Zebras head coach, Morena Ramoreboli acknowledged in an interview that DRC were a very competitive team.
He said DRC were on the same level with Senegal in terms of the quality of players.
Ramoreboli said they wanted to claim victory against the Leopards and in the process become the first generation of Zebras players to have won an AFCON finals match.
Their plan, he said, was to defend well and not to concede the same number of goals like the previous team, because that would be a gauge for them whether they had improved.
“It is just unfortunate that we found ourselves playing against a strong team, which is saying to us, are we going back home without scoring a goal and even without a single point, so all this are very important for us to make sure that we try to come up with a strategy that will give us something,” he said.
He said the most important thing during the game would be to eliminate mistakes and make sure that they returned home with their heads held high.
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Choirs Bring Festive Cheer
A staple festive season fare particularly in the southern parts of the country, dikhwaere traditional music choirs have brought delight to cultural enthusiasts over the holidays.
In the outskirts of Mochudi over Boxing Day, local ensemble Badiragatsi hosted Mokwepa Choir of Molepolole, a Super League clash of titans.
Dikhwaere tunes and specially choreographed dance sequences were dished out by the two choirs immaculately dressed in their respective tunics.
While both Kgatleng and Kweneng have strong dikhwaere culture spanning decades, it was still somewhat of a surprise to witness the visitors Mokwepa have a slight edge over their Mochudi hosts.
“We founded this choir in 2010 when the government started promoting artistic competitions and we assembled it from mostly unemployed youth in Molepolole at the time,” Isaiah Lejone, Mokwepa manager revealed in an interview.
They have grown in leaps and bounds since. At their fourth attempt, Mokwepa this year won the Ma48 Choir competition, and their growth and dynamism was further laid bare on Boxing Day.
“When we started, we largely sang in the Kweneng District but we then developed a partnership with Bodiakhudu Choir from Kgatleng. We later got admitted to the Kgatleng Super League and we have challenged different choirs over the past five years,” he said.
A Badiragatsi Choir representative said their choir, founded on June 16, 2012 had also grown in stature, first competing in the lower category before being admitted to the Super League.
While car parking had proved a challenge for the multitudes that turned up, he nonetheless said their preparations to host their visitors and the crowd had overall been smooth.
On December 30, from 10pm until the next morning, Badiragatsi will visit Molepolole for the return fixture at the Mokwepa Grounds along the Lephephe road, the entrance charge being P30.
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Ramoreboli Hopeful Ahead of Benin Clash
After losing 3-0 against Senegal in their opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco on Tuesday, Botswana will take on Benin on Saturday.
The match will be played at the Stade Annexe Olympique Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
Benin also lost their opening match 1-0 against The Democratic Republic of Congo, which means that both sides will be fighting to register their first victory.
Botswana head coach, Morena Ramoreboli was however hopeful that his charges would turn the corner against the Cheetahs, who were ranked 20th in Africa, while the Zebras were number 42.
Ramoreboli had promised to make a couple of tactical changes, saying they would be having more numbers in attack looking to create and score goals.
The South African born coach is of the view that they were on the right track and they just needed to improve concentration during the match.
“This is the right platform for us to promote the talent we have in Botswana, and try to say to the world, here is the talent let us see how best we can develop these talent,” Ramoreboli said.
He said the match would not be easy and the Zebras would need to change situations, force things, and be ready to work hard.
He said the players would also need to put pressure on themselves to win, especially at the AFCON stage where they knew that there were people profiling and analysing their performances.
“We also need to be honest, it is not easy to erase any bad results or defeat, in the minds of the players. They will want to do well and they always put themselves under pressure so that they can also be counted amongst the best,” he said.
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Christmas Joy as Princess Marina Delivers 21 Babies
Christmas Day brought more than festive cheer at Princess Marina Hospital maternity ward, as 21 babies were born.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing Superintendent, Ms Cecilia Mooketsi said the hospital welcomed 12 baby boys and nine girls on the day, making it a memorable Christmas for families and health workers alike.
She praised the commitment of nurses and midwives who worked through out the holidays, noting that while many were celebrating with their families, maternity staff were on duty to safely usher in new life.
Among the new mothers was Ms Goitseone Baipoledi, who delivered her second child shortly after lunchtime. Holding her newborn, she described the birth as the greatest Christmas gift, saying the moment brought joy and gratitude to her family.
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Khama Gifts Children
Kgosi Khama IV of Bangwato on Christmas Day gifted children with hampers at his home in Serowe.
Kgosi Khama, who is also the former president, traditionally donates Christmas gifts to children in Serowe and surrounding villages demonstrating the love for the children.
The gesture is an annual event that his family has carried on for decades.
Appreciating the gifts, Ms Wame Letlhare, whose children received gifts, commended Kgosi Khama for his continuous efforts in demonstrating love to the children through donations for decades.