Category: Daily News

Government is planning to establish a traditional affairs tribunal via the reviewed Bogosi Act to bring greater clarity and stability to the Bogosi institution.

The traditional affairs tribunal is expected to resolve chieftainship disputes and other relevant traditional matters.

Speaking at a kgotla meeting in Mochudi on December 11, Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said the legislative review was necessary because the Bogosi institution had been marred by disputes, often stemming from lack of proper consultation between communities and royal houses.

Mr Motshegwa said the review of the Bogosi and Customary Law Acts followed countrywide consultations, with most amendments based on the recommendations received.

He indicated that the review aimed to profile the roles of Dikgosi and grade them to ensure that the structures were clearly defined and formally incorporated and defined the role of the royal house within the Bogosi Act as well as establish a defined structure for Dikgosi, complete with official titles

He added that government’s goal was to create well-defined structures that minimised ambiguity and friction within the traditional leadership framework.

Furthermore, the Minister commended the Bakgatla community for continuing to uphold their culture and encouraged them to keep instilling discipline through traditional institutions like initiation schools.

On the other hand, Minister Motshegwa informed the Bakgatla community that government had officially dropped all charges previously levelled against their paramount chief, Kgosi Kgafela II.

The landmark decision, he explained, followed key engagements between the ministry and the Bakgatla Deputy Chief, Kgosi Bana Sekai, regarding the circumstances surrounding Kgosi Kgafela II’s prolonged absence from the country.

Mr Motshegwa also shared that during a recent meeting with Kgosi Kgafela II, he informed him that a Constitutional Review was underway and extended an invitation for him to participate in the national process.

For his part, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Mr Nelson Ramaotwana, assured Bakgatla that government was committed to peaceful relations with the tribe.

Mr Ramaotwana said their Kgosi was free to come back home following the engagements and consultations that ultimately led to his flight

“This has been a long journey, but it has finally been resolved,” he said.

Members of the community expressed their delight over the news and welcomed the decision. However, they stressed that they still required assurance that their Kgosi would not be troubled upon his arrival back home, which they deemed a significant step toward healing historical rifts. 

The process of enacting the legal framework focused on combating gender-based violence (GBV) is ongoing, the Minister of Youth and Gender, Ms Lesego Chombo, has told the National Assembly.

In a statement to mark the closure of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against GBV on Wednesday, Ms Chombo said broad consultations were ongoing to inform the piece of legislation the ministry was developing to combat GBV, which they planned to present to Parliament by July 2026.

“A major pillar of our national response is the development of dedicated GBV legislation. I am pleased to report that the process is advancing steadily. The ministry has concluded its preliminary stakeholder analysis and is now drafting the Drafting Instructions that will be submitted to the Attorney General’s Chambers,” said Ms Chombo.

The consultations with various stakeholders including civil society organisations, ex-offenders, media practitioners, women’s leagues of political parties, legal experts and frontline responders among others, is to ensure the legislation is evidence-based, survivor-centred, and nationally owned, Ms Chombo said.

“These engagements have deepened our understanding of lived realities of violence in Botswana and the breadth of issues the law must address. Survivors underscored the urgent need for; accessible legal aid, trauma informed psychosocial support and assistance extended to their family members,” she said.

Ms Chombo added that persons with disabilities highlighted communication barriers at police stations, health facilities, and courts, calling for stronger inclusion frameworks and for Special Education to be fully integrated into the mainstream education system.

She further revealed that the comprehensive review of the policy of the National Policy on Gender and Development was currently in its inception stage.

The development of a Gender Strategy with World Bank Support, and the review of the National Strategy Towards Ending GBV are also ongoing, the minister said.

Beyond legislation and policy framework, Ms Chombo said government was working to strengthen systems, communities and services, and extend early prevention efforts.

She also outlined other measures including public education and community engagement, strengthening frontline responders, women economic empowerment, closing the digital gender divide and supporting shelters through subventions.

Additionally, Ms Chombo said her ministry understood men and boys remain central to transforming harmful norms and preventing violence and as such were being engaged in the battle to combat GBV.

Members of Parliament largely spoke in favour of these efforts.

Chobe MP, Mr Simasiku Mapulanga, spoke of the need for psychosocial support and mental health training for women and children as a means to combat GBV.

Mr Mapulanga said government should scale down on exuberant commemorations which at times had too much fanfare that derails from the massaging.

Maun West legislator, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, said the state should pay greater attention to cyber crime and GBV that occurred through digital platforms particularly with the use of social media pseudo accounts by perpetrators.

The Parliamentary Caucus on Women has been informed that many people are unknowingly committing cyber offences by sharing harmful online content.

Director of the Gender and Child Protection Branch in the Botswana Police Service, Senior Assistant Commissioner Goitseone Ngono, told a caucus panel discussion in Gaborone on Monday that some users ‘innocently share content, unaware that so doing is a criminal offence.’

The shared content, she said called for stronger prevention and public education on digital gender-based violence (GBV).

“There is a need to educate and create awareness for all members of the community to be well informed,” Ms Ngono said.

While noting that the police appreciated the opportunities offered by the digital space, she said some users “glorify and validate its negativity,” and urged that online platforms be used constructively “to mediate or create awareness that builds peace.”

Ms Ngono said offences registered by the police included child pornography, cyberstalking and defamation of character. Most victims of cybercrime were women and children, though men were also affected.

In 2024, Ms Ngono said that six per cent of GBV victims were males, indicating that men were also coming forward to report GBV. She noted that the police were finding ways to channel and prioritise resources to combat GBV and officers were trained to identify and address GBV, with documented standard operating procedures in place. 

Ms Ngono highlighted that over 2 000 digitally facilitated GBV reports had been processed, most resulting from ignorance. She mentioned that many GBV cases were assault-related, like unlawful wounding. Out of 2 248 reported GBV offences in 2024, only 575 were confirmed to be GBV-related. Additionally, of the 337 murder cases registered that year, 172 were GBV-related.

The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus for Women, Ms Helen Manyeneng, stated that digital violence against women and girls was destructive. She described digital violence as invisible, occurring in the digital space, and emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to combat it, as many lives and opportunities were lost due to such violence.

Ms Manyeneng pointed out that while digital spaces offered educational opportunities, perpetrators of GBV often exploit women seeking these opportunities. She warned that digital violence could affect individuals, even leading to suicide.

Therefore, she urged parents to monitor their children’s activities in the digital realm to mitigate potential harm. 

Mr Arnold Somolekae, President of the Gaborone West Customary Court, attributed digital violence to unemployment and an unstable economy, noting that many young girls were lured into prostitution through digital platforms with false promises of employment. He called for interventions to hold these perpetrators accountable.

Renowned lawyer Mr Uyapo Ndadi stressed the need for the government to establish women’s shelters across the country for the safety of GBV victims. 

While Ms Lydia Mafhoko-Ditsa of UN Women Botswana reported that a UN study indicated that 67 per cent of women experienced digital violence through miscommunication, while 73 per cent of journalists were also victims. She revealed that 300 million children had been affected by online exploitation in the past two years, noting that while these statistics were alarming, many cases go unreported.

Ms Mafhoko-Ditsa advocated for learning from the HIV/AIDS epidemic, where community capacity enhancement helped eliminate harmful cultural practices. 

She also emphasised the importance of assessing the economic impact of GBV, pointing out that the European Union spends €329 billion annually to address it, raising the question of what this means for Botswana’s national economic situation. 

“We need to analyse the cost implications of GBV,” she said.

Botswana must harness the energy and innovation of its young people to build a culture of integrity, the Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, has said. Delivering a keynote address during the International Anti-Corruption Day Commemoration in Gaborone on December 10, Mr Mohwasa stressed the need for the country to recalibrate its anti-corruption machinery and fully integrate young people into national governance.

“Corruption has no place in our society. We are implementing reforms that will empower the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) and other institutions to safeguard our national resources with renewed vigour,” he said.

Drawing from historical examples such as the Soweto Uprising, the Arab Spring and Kenya’s #RejectFinanceBill protests, the minister noted that organised youth movements had the power to hold governments accountable and transform societies. “Our young people are informed, engaged, and ready to make their mark,” he added.

Despite Botswana’s reputation as one of Africa’s least corrupt countries, Mr Mohwasa warned that integrity indicators were declining. He cited growing administrative lapses and weakening deterrence mechanisms as areas of concern, emphasising the importance of educating the youth about the country’s anti-corruption history including scandals and commissions of inquiry that led to the

establishment of the DCEC.

Connecting the anti-corruption drive to the national development vision, he reiterated government’s transformative agenda anchored on restoring trust, revitalising the economy and building equity. These goals, he said, could not be achieved without strong integrity systems and robust public accountability. He also welcomed the participation of Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies

in the commemoration. Mr Mohwasa said this year’s theme was timely and relevant, noting that the annual event highlighted the link between corruption, underdevelopment, insecurity and economic inequality, while reaffirming Botswana’s commitment to international efforts to curb corruption.

For her part, the Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs, Ms Lesego Chombo, reinforced the message, warning that corruption continued to weaken institutions and deprive young people of opportunities.

“Corruption denies our young people scholarships, jobs, business opportunities and land,” she said. Ms Chombo called for youth participation in governance to be institutionalised rather than symbolic, urging that young people be included in decision-making positions from community structures to

parliament. She highlighted technology and innovation as critical tools for transparency, encouraging young digital creators to develop solutions that strengthen accountability. Furthermore, she urged young people to take advantage of ongoing initiatives such as youth anti-corruption clubs, leadership boot camps and creative arts platforms aimed at promoting ethics and

civic values. The minister also appealed for moral responsibility, challenging youth to reject nepotism, bribery and shortcuts. “Integrity begins with small choices. You may not control those who ask for bribes, but you control your answer,” she emphasised. ENDS

Both ministers underscored Botswana’s commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which the country acceded to in 2011. They encouraged young people to take a national

integrity pledge, noting that their leadership was essential to building a fair, transparent and

accountable nation.

Held under the theme: Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity, this year’s commemoration aimed to raise awareness about corruption. The event marked a departure

from the traditional marches and speeches, bringing together youth groups, civil society, local stakeholders and representatives from Commonwealth Africa Anti-Corruption Agencies for a full-scale

anti-corruption conference.

Resident Representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Botswana, Ms Lovita Ramguttee has hailed Botswana’s efforts towards inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Speaking at a recent UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities commemoration held in Jwaneng, Ms Ramguttee said developing several frameworks such as the Persons with Disability Act,

Revised National Policy on Disability and Recruitment Policy, among others, were testament to the country’s commitment to promoting human rights and enhancing sustainable development.

“These achievements for us reflect Botswana’s unwavering commitment to building a society where no one is left behind. The United Nations here in Botswana has been very happy and supports the government on this journey, whether it is in relation to legal framework, all the way to training parliamentarians on the issue of the Convention on Persons with Disabilities and capacity building,” she said.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged that public awareness, data collection, employment opportunities, stigma and inaccessible infrastructure were some of the areas with gaps that hindered the overall goals of inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities. She underscored the need for stakeholders to collaborate efforts to address these challenges.

“Addressing these challenges will require collaboration, innovation and sustained investments through the whole of government and the whole of society. Today let us reaffirm our commitment to the principle of Leaving No One Behind, which is a core principle of the achievement of the Sustainable

Development Goals, which is central in human rights centric administration,” she noted.

She implored institutions to align their policies, programmes and financial planning initiatives with the  inclusion concept in order to enhance equality and dignity for persons with disabilities. She also reassured the UN’s support towards operationalisation of the Persons with Disability Act of 2024, which was declared officially commenced during the event.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for State President, Ms Goitsemang Morekisi said government was committed to advancing disability inclusion as a national priority as evidenced by the creation of a clear blue print for all stakeholders.

Ms Morekisi said government had invested in various frameworks over the years, with the objective of enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities.

She applauded Debswana for taking the lead in implementing the Affirmative Action, which she said should also be effectively implemented in government structures.

She also said there was need to involve persons with disabilities in decision making processes to inform the policies and programmes.

She urged all stakeholders to collaborate their efforts in implementing the frameworks to advance the rights of persons with disabilities and create a fully inclusive society.

“I urge all of you to join hands and play a role in ensuring that all the frameworks I talked about are actually implemented,” she said.

Debswana Chief People Officer, Ms Matlhogonolo Mponang noted that through their robust Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, the company had increased the number of differently-abled employees from 18 in 2020 to the current 113 deployed in various roles of their operations. She said the strategy also emphasised the concept of belonging by all employees, irrespective of their differences.

She noted that such inclusion and belonging was also reflected in their investment initiatives aimed at accommodating all employees.

“It is also important to note that we have actively spent capital to ensure that the environment speaks to belonging.

There has been serious investment in software that enables others that need it to be able to work, we are in the process of outfitting and retrofitting braille technology, and we continue to ensure that we have access,” she said.

One of the caregivers, Ms Julia Dibeela emphasised the importance of patience and dedication as key factors to overcome the challenges that came with caring for persons with disabilities.

A diverse group of experts convened in Gaborone on Saturday at the call of host, Ms Njiramanda Mbewe-Boatey, to examine the influence of patriarchy on gender-based violence (GBV).
Held under the theme, From Blame to Accountability, The Great Debate, the patriarchy and GBV edition 2025, brought together individuals from law, religion and other fields, igniting a critical dialogue on systemic gender inequalities.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms Mbewe-Boatey emphasised that the time to address GBV was now. She urged participants to interrogate patriarchy amid soaring statistics of suicides and passion killings.
She lamented that progress had been slow and systems remained stagnant, but was hopeful that the debate would enable attendees to trace where failures occurred and explore remedies to restore peace, which was currently under threat.
Court of Appeal Judge, Lot Moroka explained that while patriarchy contributed to GBV, it cannot be solely blamed.
Judge Moroka noted that patriarchy underpinned many societal foundations, including law, particularly common law such as marital law.
However, he highlighted that the legislative progress was gradually dismantling patriarchal structures, with statutory law progressing in that regard. On GBV, he urged people to resist conditioning to abuse, warning that tolerance had led to lives lost, describing GBV as a crime in all its forms.
Media personnel, Mr Kealeboga Dihutso attributed the breakdown of family structures to a vacuum left by changing societal dynamics.
Mr Dihutso observed that children today were often raised by single mothers, whereas in the past, raising children was a community effort involving extended family members like uncles.
Botswana Council of Churches (BCC) vice president, and a human rights activist, Reverend Thabo Mampane, said patriarchy existed within the church, citing biblical origins where man was created first and woman from man’s rib.
He acknowledged that church leadership had historically been male-dominated but emphasised the need for growth and inclusion, clarifying that the church was the hospital of the soul. Speakers including Dr Morena Rankopo, a social educator at the University of Botswana, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko, Paramount Chief of Balete and psychologist, Mr Leshomo Sebati stressed that much work remained to break inequality barriers.
They called for early interventions to change perpetrators’ mindsets and urged research to address trauma responses that continued to haunt men.

Government’s commitment to maintaining a robust, modern and professional Botswana Defence Force (BDF) while simultaneously prioritising national development goals was the central theme at the recent BDF Senior Commander and Staff Programme, Class 17 of 2025, graduation ceremony in Gaborone.

Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, said the BDF must evolve its defence capabilities in line with emerging threats, critically maintaining a balance with other vital national priorities, including health, education, infrastructure and social welfare.

Minister Mohwasa emphasised the need for foundational role of a strong security apparatus in achieving national aspirations.

He added that the strength of security institutions was fundamental to the success of the national Vision 2036, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BTEP.

He commended the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for his unwavering support of professional military education, owing to the exceptional quality of officers being produced.

He also highlighted that a modern and responsible defence force necessitated a significant investment in human capital to position it as a cornerstone of military leadership.

Thus, he urged the graduating officers to embody the qualities demanded by their profession, including integrity, accountability, courage, humility, empathy and resilience.

He further stated that their strategic thinking, innovation and problem-solving skills would be essential in environments where prudence and efficiency were not optional, but imperative.

On the graduation, he said the ceremony was a testament to the continent’s shared commitment to collective security, with participants from across the region.

Minister Mohwasa highlighted the importance of the continental participation, stating that it demonstrated the strength of continental bonds and played a crucial role of military diplomacy.

For his part, Commandant of the BDF Defence Command and Staff College, Colonel Dumisani Ndzinge, expressed gratitude to the staff for their commitment to excellence and for creating a conducive learning environment.

Col. Ndzinge said the curriculum ensured that graduates were prepared for the complex modern threat landscape.

He said the Strategic Studies curriculum, delivered by the University of Botswana’s Department of Political and Administrative Studies, alongside the core Military Curriculum, was key to such effort.

He explained that such collaboration ensured that they produced robust war fighters who were also academically skilled with deep understanding of the geopolitical and strategic environment within which the military operated.

A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the best research paper award to Major Kehumile Modimoosi, whose work focused on the assessment of psychological stress on officers returning from war zones.

Inspired by her role as a mother, Major Modimoosi’s research shed light on how post-deployment challenges can significantly affect an officer’s cognitive mentality and prevent them from executing their duties effectively.

She emphasised that there was critical need  for the organisation to formally address traumas, noting her focus on the issue of extended separation from families and the subsequent difficulty of reintegration due to changed family dynamics.

Major Modimoosi acknowledged the BDF’s proactive measures, including established programmes to assist remaining families and conducting orientations prior to deployment.

Meanwhile, the graduating cohort comprised 60 officers, a group that included civil servants from local institutions like the Ministry of International Relations, Botswana Police Service and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime.

The cohort included military officers from Lesotho, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.