Author: Daily News

The 2026/27 National Budget recently presented by Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe, was delivered in the current economic climate that presents both a challenge and opportunity. Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has said.

Giving an address to commence the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) Budget Breakfast Seminar held in Gaborone, Mr Mohwasa said government was committed to not only navigating the current circumstances but executing long term reform.

“We are addressing the realities with discipline and resolve. Government has taken a responsible path. The budget seeks to restore stability to our public finances while safeguarding strategic investments that drive long term growth infrastructure, human capital development and economic diversification. It is a careful balance between prudence and progress,” said Mr Mohwasa.

He added that state commitment to accountability and ensuring public finances deliver tangible benefit to citizens would be realised through strengthening public financial management, tightening expenditure controls and improving procurement processes.

“At the same time, transformation must be inclusive. Youth unemployment remains a serious concern. Economic reform must therefore translate into real opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, digital services and othef priority areas of the twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12),” said Mr Mohwasa.

Additionally, Mr Mohwasa said institutions such as BIDPA are vital partners and urged them to strengthen their role of research and development, as well as analysis to assist with policy choice and accountability.

During the post-budget analysis debates, the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)  chief executive officer, Mr Aupa Monyatsi said there was a need for “creating the right risk capital” and training for small medium and micro enterprises (SMME) as well as self financing mechanisms for local government authorities in order to assist transform the economy.

He said SMMEs were able to list in the lower bourse of the BSE and they currently have 72 such companies that were trained under the Tshipidi Mentorship Programme and employ around 10 000 people, a sign of what could be achieved if there was the right investment in the sector.

World Bank resident representative for Botswana, Mr Liang Wang, urged national policy makers to prudently manage the debt to gross domestic product ratio and managing key fiscal buffers such as the government investment account.

Mr Wang also said it was important to get value for money for projects invested in and their national enterprise survey undertook about a decade ago showed the need for total factor productivity, which calls for the efficiency of not just labour but also capital and other production inputs

The Botswana Guides Association (BOGA) mobile tour operators have been urged to explore other tourism opportunities and diversify their activities beyond the Okavango Delta.

Located in the Ngamiland region which has a rich and diverse wildlife, as well as unique seasonally flooded wetlands, the Okavango Delta is the most famous safari destination in Botswana.

The delta attracts thousands of visitors annually from all over the world. Due to its economic and outstanding value, it often overshadows other surrounding local destinations which offer equally interesting safari experiences.

BOGA members who often operate in the delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park destinations, have however been encouraged to explore other tourism areas such as Makgadikgadi Pans and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) to reduce congestion in the delta.

BOGA members specialise in tailor-made, camping experiences, offering guided, immersive tours across the country’s national parks. BOGA chairperson, Kenson Kgaga, challenged operators to diversify tourism beyond the delta by exploring rural and cultural sites.

Some sites in the Tubu area remained untapped, he said, noting that the association has made a request for more sites. Kgaga said the association has continuously received applications for new memberships, resulting in increased traffic in the delta.

He said the Makgadikgadi Pans and the CKGR are among the best places to visit and can attract a lot of international attention if well marked.

Makgadikgadi Pans are among the world’s largest salt pans and offer good wildlife viewing during the wet season, particularly when great herds of zebra and wildebeest begin their migration to the Boteti region.

This is the time when the pans fill with water, transforming into a bird lover’s paradise with thousands of flamingos, pelicans and migratory birds.

The CKGR on the other hand is famous for lions, cheetahs and diverse antelope. The area is also renowned for its remote, wild landscape, and has a fascinating range of different plants. Kgaga advised that reducing congestion in the delta could help to ensure that tourism remained within sustainable, low-impact limits.

Reports also indicate that too many vehicles in one place simultaneously could cause noise pollution and disturb wildlife, potentially forcing them to flee to less suitable habitats.

An operator, Phetogo Malatsi, complained of limited campsites and asked the association to request for more sites particularly in Moremi Game Reserve. The area, he said, is big with rich ecosystem yet some sections have been unoccupied

For many young Batswana, completing the Junior Certificate was meant to be a key milestone and a path to senior secondary education. Instead, for some, it became a moment filled with uncertainty, a crossroads where dreams pause, opportunities narrow and the future feels uncertain.

While some young people leave school hopeful yet uncertain, others are forced to exit due to financial, family or personal challenges. Gradually time slips by, and many quietly fall out of the education system, carrying unrealised ambitions and unanswered questions.

It is for these young people that Project Bula Buka was launched in Gaborone this week, offering more than just a programme, but a renewed sense of possibility. Targeting JC leavers from 2019 to 2025, the initiative is designed to provide structured second-chance opportunities in education, skills development and pathways into employment.

Speaking at the official launch, the Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka described the project as a promise to young people who may have felt left behind.
 

Phase one will focus on identifying and enrolling eligible JC leavers and linking them to tailor made training and vocations that align with labour market needs.

Ms Kgafela-Mokoka explained that many beneficiaries had already been profiled, with more to follow, ensuring that participants received career guidance, life-skills training and support services aimed at building confidence and long-term self-reliance.

At the heart of Project Bula Buka is a recognition that learning is not one-size-fits-all. While some learners thrive in traditional classrooms, others are more practically inclined or need alternative routes to rediscover their strengths. The programme is therefore built on three pillars: skills development, multiple learning pathways and multiple certification options creating flexible routes back into learning and work.

With a strong Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) focus, the initiative also seeks to prepare young people for a rapidly changing job market, where adaptability and practical skills are increasingly valued.

For those who have spent years outside structured learning, this support could be life-changing, offering a bridge from prolonged unemployment to meaningful participation in the economy, entrepreneurship or further education.

However, Ms Kgafela-Mokoka emphasised that the success of the programme depended on partnership. Government, she said was working alongside employers, training institutions and community stakeholders to create opportunities for internships, mentorship and smoother transitions into existing empowerment initiatives.

Accessibility has also been prioritised and registration will be available both online and manually, with innovative partnerships allowing young people to register at selected Choppies Botswana stores, JB Stores and fuel stations, including in remote areas such as Hukuntsi and Charleshill.

The minister said special outreach efforts were targeting hard-to-reach communities, including the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR), Seronga, Gudigwa, Jao Flats, Ditshiping and New Xade areas where distance and limited connectivity have often excluded young people from national programmes. A toll-free helpline is also being established to provide guidance and respond to queries.

Project Bula Buka forms part of Botswana’s broader Education Continuum Model under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which aims to develop innovative, future-ready human capital. But beyond policy frameworks, the initiative reflects a deeply rooted Setswana value tshwaragano or the spirit of working together.

“It acknowledges that young people who fall outside formal systems are not statistics, but our sons and daughters, neighbours and future leaders. By creating structured second-chance opportunities, the programme aims to restore confidence, dignity and direction,” said Ms Kgafela-Mokoka.

With registration open for a month and implementation set for March 2026, Project Bula Buka carries a simple but powerful message: one exam result or one difficult season does not define a lifetime. Sometimes, all it takes is for someone to open the book again and begin a new chapter.

While Valentine’s Day is often associated with roses, chocolates and romantic gestures, for some Batswana the most meaningful expression of love is giving blood to help save lives.

For the 11th consecutive year, the National Blood Transfusion Services Botswana hosted its Valentine’s Day blood donation campaign, encouraging the public to mark the occasion through an act of compassion. The initiative drew support from donors in Railpark mall in Gaborone and Watershed Mall Mahalapye, with about 350 people rolling up their sleeves during the week-long drive.

Chief Registered Nurse Thabo Mazhani said the campaign continues to serve as an important reminder that love can be shown not only through gifts, but also through selfless acts that benefit the wider community.

With the country currently facing a shortage of blood, he urged more people to come forward and become regular donors.

“Those eligible to donate blood are persons aged between 16 and 65 years who weigh 50 kilogrammes and above,” he said, adding that consistent donations are critical to maintaining adequate supplies for emergencies, surgeries and ongoing medical care.

Although the Valentine’s campaign has now come to an end, organisers hope the spirit of giving it inspired will last well beyond February, reminding the nation that a single donation can mean a second chance at life for someone else.