Category: Fashion

Botswana’s national carrier, Air Botswana, will sell off three aircraft from its current fleet.

The sale includes two Embraer ERJ-145s and an E175.

This is a significant move since the airline only has six aircraft, and when the sale is completed, Air Botswana will lose half its fleet.

The aircraft have been grounded for some time and are now a drain on state resources, government officials said.

Air Botswana currently operates its flight schedule with just an Embraer E-70 and two ATR 72-600s.

From its hub in Gaborone, the carrier flies to Francistown, Maun, and Kasane in Botswana; Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town in South Africa; Windhoek, Namibia; Harare, Zimbabwe; and Lusaka, Zambia.

Burden on State Resources

Botswana’s President, Duma Boko, said in a televised interview that buyers for the aircraft have already been found. In the future, Air Botswana will wet-lease aircraft instead of buying them, he added.

“Instead of going out and doing wet-leases for aircraft, you go and buy aircraft, many of which are now grounded, so you’ve parked financial resources that we could otherwise have used in the industry,” he said, describing the airline’s past approach. “So these are some of the decisions that served to delay and or impede progress.”

Lack of ‘Industry Experience’

Boko put the situation down to inadequate aviation experience among previous members of Air Botswana’s management team.

“Many of them did not have industry experience, and so decisions that were taken tended to be decisions that were not informed by any real experience and/or outcomes that would help the industry,” he said.

The two ERJ-145s, received in the second half of 2024, had been operated on behalf of Air Botswana by Namibia’s charter/ACMI operator, Westair Aviation. This was because of regulatory obstacles to registering the aircraft in Botswana.

Ch-Aviation reported that Air Botswana’s pilots and engineers were also not familiar with the ERJ-145 aircraft.

The E175, received in August last year, had been grounded for over eight months. This is due to regulatory delays by Botswana’s Civil Aviation Authority regarding the approval of the E175’s manuals.

Botswana has once again made headlines in the world of precious stones with the discovery of a breathtaking diamond that may change gem history. Unearthed at the Karowe mine, the massive stone, named Motswedi—meaning “spring of water” in Setswana—weighs an astonishing 2,488 carats and more than a pound. This find now ranks as the second largest diamond ever discovered, trailing only the legendary Cullinan diamond from 1905.

Currently being analyzed in Antwerp, Belgium, this rough diamond is still under study to determine its full value. But early estimates suggest it could be worth close to $100 million, depending on how much of it can be cut and polished.

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Motswedi

Motswedi isn’t just a gem—it’s a symbol of nature’s rarest marvels. Found deep in the Karowe mine, which has become synonymous with world-class diamond finds, this extraordinary stone stands as a geological miracle. The name Motswedi, meaning a spring or underground water flow, is fitting for a diamond that has surfaced from the Earth’s hidden depths.

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It joins an elite group of colossal diamonds and draws attention not only from investors and collectors but also from historians and gemologists around the world.

Themine

The Karowe mine, located in northeastern Botswana, is already famous for producing some of the largest diamonds ever seen. Owned by Canada-based Lucara Diamond in partnership with Belgium’s HB Antwerp, this mine is proving to be one of the most significant diamond-producing sites on the planet.

It’s also where the third-largest diamond, Sewelo (1,758 carats), was found in 2019. And now, with Motswedi, the mine continues to build its legacy as the ground where history is literally dug up.

Antwerp

As with all major finds, the next steps are crucial. The Motswedi diamond is currently in Antwerp, a global hub for diamond processing and trading. Experts there are carefully analyzing the stone’s interior structure to understand what kind of polished diamonds can be extracted.

According to HB Antwerp spokesperson Margot Doquier, “It’s too early to assign a market price. The true value depends on what can be cut from the rough stone.” These early stages are critical, as the stone’s internal flaws or purity will determine whether it ends up as a single gem or is split into multiple stones.

The Value

While its final valuation remains undetermined, experts believe the Motswedi could be worth around $100 million. But beyond its price tag, the diamond carries cultural and historic weight, with the potential to become a centerpiece in a crown, necklace, or even a museum exhibit.

That said, its future could also lie in private hands. As Doquier noted, “It’s possible that a stone like this could end up in a private collection, maybe even with a royal family or a wealthy sheikh.”

Legacy

Botswana has played a central role in the diamond industry for decades, and it shows no sign of slowing down. With every major find, it continues to prove its place as a global gem leader. The country’s responsible mining practices and strong partnerships with international firms ensure that its diamond discoveries gain the attention they deserve.

Let’s not forget the Cullinan diamond—the largest diamond ever found at 3,106 carats—which was discovered in South Africa in 1905. It was later cut into several stones, the most famous of which is the “Star of Africa,” now part of the British Crown Jewels and housed in the Tower of London.

Whether Motswedi follows a similar path or ends up in private hands, it will undoubtedly become part of gemological lore.

What’s Next

So, what happens now? The diamond will continue to be studied in Antwerp, after which decisions will be made about how to cut and sell it—or whether it should be displayed in its natural form. It could be sold at auction, turned into smaller cut stones, or preserved as a once-in-a-century museum exhibit.

For now, its future is still undecided. But it has already made history.

FAQs

Where was the Motswedi diamond found?

At the Karowe mine in northeastern Botswana.

How heavy is the Motswedi diamond?

It weighs 2,488 carats, over one pound.

What does ‘Motswedi’ mean?

It means ‘spring of water’ in Setswana.

How much is Motswedi worth?

It’s estimated at around $100 million, pending analysis.

Who owns the Karowe mine?

Lucara Diamond and HB Antwerp jointly own the mine

Botswana Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe has concluded a two-week working visit to the US where he attended the 2025 IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings and immediately shifted his diplomatic efforts to Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

During his US mission, Gaolathe held high-level discussions with global financial institutions and addressed audiences at MIT and George Washington University, reinforcing Botswana’s economic reform agenda and investment potential.

“These platforms provided the Vice President with a unique opportunity to present Botswana’s reform agenda and to reinforce the country’s position as a reliable and forward-thinking development partner,” the Botswana government statement said in a statement on Tuesday.

A key milestone of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Luxembourg aimed at positioning Botswana as an emerging financial services hub in Africa.

Following engagements with IMF, World Bank, OPEC Fund and Japanese development agencies, Gaolathe is now set to extend his diplomatic push to Europe where he will participate in major economic fora and investor discussions.

In Switzerland, he will deliver a keynote speech at the St. Gallen Symposium where he will outline Botswana’s vision for resilience in a shifting global economy.

In London, he will speak at the Cambridge Africa Together Conference 2025 and lead investment roundtables focusing on financial services, renewable energy, critical minerals and eco-tourism.

Gaolathe is expected to return to Botswana on May 15, with Assistant Minister of Communications and Innovation Shawn Nthaile acting as finance minister in his absence.

Africa-based fintech company Unipesa has joined forces with Mobipay Botswana to enhance cross-border payment services.

The collaboration aims to extend financial inclusion within Botswana by combining Unipesa’s fintech platform with Mobipay’s local market expertise to offer digital financial services.

The partnership is set to optimise cross-border payment efficiency by expediting money transfers and reducing transaction costs.

Additionally, the tie-up will enable digital avenues for a wide array of users, including small businesses and individuals without bank accounts.

Unipesa will be providing the technological framework and regulatory guidance for the initiative, while Mobipay Botswana will contribute its local market expertise and its distribution capabilities.

The combined efforts will introduce new services such as remittances, mobile money, merchant payments, and digital wallets.

Unipesa chief product officer Pavel Laptev said: “This partnership is about more than just payments. It’s about empowering communities with real financial access.

“By combining Unipesa’s regional technology platform with Mobipay’s local networks, we’re creating a bridge for individuals and businesses to move money securely and efficiently across borders.”

Velex Investments as an early backer has been crucial in Unipesa’s expansion throughout Africa.

It endorsed the company with scalable and regulatory platform, as well as its capacity to enable genuine financial access across national boundaries.

MobiPay Botswana founder Benjamin Molotsi said: “Botswana is ready for the next leap in digital payments, and partnering with Unipesa allows us to accelerate that transition.

“Our mission has always been to provide reliable, accessible, and affordable payment solutions. This partnership strengthens that mission.”

“Unipesa ties up with Mobipay Botswana for cross-border payments ” was originally created and published by Electronic Payments International, a GlobalData owned brand.