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In his influential book Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, a New Urban World, journalist Robert Neuwirth, who spent two years living in squatter communities in Brazil, Kenya, India and Turkey, argues that shanty towns are not merely slums, but vibrant neighbourhoods worthy of exploration and often innovative.
With the recent visit of American YouTuber, Darren Jason Watkins Jr., popularly known as iShowSpeed to Old Naledi some weeks ago during his 28-day, multi-country livestream
tour across Africa, Neuwirth’s argument may well have been proven correct.
Footage captured during Speed’s Old Naledi livestream was arguably t h e m o s t
vibrant of all his stops in Botswana.
On that day, the streets of Old Naledi transformed into stages as the world witnessed the raw
talent and infectious energy from its community members.
One gentleman, using only his t-shirt as a prop, turned an everyday item into part of his choreography, pulling it over his head, dancing with it half on and half off, before
smoothly shrugging it back into place.
The Mafitlhakgosi Dance Group also stole the spotlight, with dancers performing Speed’s
trademark backflips alongside breakdance-inspired moves.
The colourful, high-energy livestream shattered the longheld perception of shanty towns
as spaces defined solely by deprivation and disorder, often viewed as illegal encroachments
waiting to be erased rather than communities worthy
of understanding.
From that same livestream emerged seven-year-old Masego Masepe, the youngest member of
Mafitlhakgosi Dance Group, who also captivated viewers with her remarkable confidence,
something Batswana have increasingly come to admire.
From her viral dance with President Advocate Duma Boko, to her performance alongside
Speed and several other influential figures, Masego’s confidence has consistently shone through.
She effortlessly leads her partners into gentle sways, spins them around, holds their hands and
twirls herself like a ballerina. That same confidence was evident as she patiently taught Speed the marimba, guiding him through the melodies until he got them
right.
In an interview, it became clear that Masego’s confidence is deeply rooted in her environment.
She has been dancing for as long as she can remember.
Born into a family of dancers and creatives from Molepolole, Masego is surrounded by art and
movement.
All four of her siblings dance for Mafitlhakgosi, alongside both parents, Joseph and Kgomotso Masepe.
Masego says she already knows seven dance styles, including Tsutsube, Setapa, Phathisi, Khoba, Hosanna, Morabaraba and Marimba.
“My favourites are Morabaraba, Khoba and Tsutsube,” she said, adding that one of her most
memorable experiences was dancing with President Boko.
She also shared that her favourite subject in Standard 2 is English.
Another contributor to her confidence, she revealed, is her close bond with fellow dancers.
Much of her friendship circle exists within the dance group rather than at school and she prefers spending time with her 11-year-old brother, Otsile Masepe.
Otsile added that their parents are their biggest supporters.
“They encourage us every day, that is why we always step out with confidence,” he said, noting that while practi ces and performances
sometimes fall during the school week, the siblings take turns helping one another with
schoolwork to ensure nothing is
neglected.
Otsile hopes to become an artist in the future, while Masego says dancing is not in the cards for her.
“I want to become a nurse,” she said.
Perhaps she will be both, one or the other, however, young stars like Masego keep helping to rewrite the Old Naledi narrative

Farmers in the Pandamatenga region are reeling from a catastrophic ‘one-in-200-years’ storm that occurred on January 21, leaving over 8,000 hectares of diverse crops submerged.

The floods caused by rainfall exceeding 200mm have devastated fields of sorghum, sunflower, onions, tomatoes, butternuts and maize. 

Last Friday, the acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti engaged with both commercial and subsistence farmers to assess the destruction. Accompanied by agricultural insurance specialists, Dr Dikoloti assured farmers that assistance would be provided once formal assessments were complete. 

He acknowledged that the floods had halted operations for weeks, risking further losses due to pest damage and soil moisture depletion as the season transitions. He noted that such extreme weather was the ‘new reality’ of climate change and thus called for stronger advocacy for climate financing.

 “The Pandamatenga drainage system remains a significant challenge,” Dr Dikoloti stated, suggesting that future research must focus on how to harvest such floodwaters for irrigation.

Adding to the climate-induced disaster is a lingering financial crisis. Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers have appealed to the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board (BAMB) to settle an outstanding balance of P65 million owed since the 2025 season. 

Last year, farmers delivered over 55,000 tonnes of grain valued at P271 million. While P206 million was paid in December 2025, the remaining 26 per cent balance has left many without the liquidity needed to recover from the current floods. 

Mr Ryan Neal, an executive member of the Pandamatenga Commercial Farmers, emphasised that farming was a high-risk and time-sensitive business that required consistent credit for fuel, machinery and loan servicing. He urged government to expedite payments so that funds could be channelled toward replanting and flood recovery.

The struggle is equally felt by small-scale farmers. Pandamatenga Subsistence Farmers chairperson, Mr Seinyatseng Lekoko, briefed the minister on the acute shortage of farm implements and tractors, which he said delayed their planting schedules. Furthermore, he highlighted the ongoing human-wildlife conflict exacerbated by non-electrified fencing, which continued to threaten their remaining produce. 

In response to the outcry, BAMB chief executive officer, Ms Lilian Costa Scheepers confirmed that the board was working tirelessly to overcome internal challenges and settle the debt. On the other hand, Dr Dikoloti added that government had already approved the funds, saying “the approval is there, what remains is for the BAMB CEO to finalise the administrative processes so you can receive your money.” 

Looking toward long-term solutions, Dr Dikoloti suggested that Botswana must revise its agri-financing strategy, potentially introducing a specialised Agri-Bank that understood the unique risks and timelines of the agricultural sector. 

Despite the submerged fields and financial hurdles, the farming community remains resilient, with farmers like Mr Neal expressing commitment to rebuilding and securing the nation’s food supply

The Okavango Delta is often described as a ‘miracle of nature’, a luxurious and emerald maze of water pulsing through the heart of the Kalahari Desert.

But for the researchers at the Okavango Research Institute (ORI), monitoring this UNESCO World Heritage Site has recently felt like trying to navigate a high-speed world with a broken compass.

For years, the institute’s computers, the very engines required to process complex climate data and wildlife patterns, had grown sluggish and outdated.

“Our existing equipment has become largely unusable,” admitted ORI director, Dr Casper Bonyongo when he received a donation of eight high-end Geographical Information Systems (GIS) computers worth P400 000 recently from the US Embassy.

This was not just a technical inconvenience, but a bottleneck for conservation. Without the processing power to handle large datasets, critical insights into flooding, fire dynamics and habitat loss remained locked behind frozen screens.

The GIS machines allow researchers to layer vast amounts of data including satellite imagery, rainfall records and animal migration paths, into high-resolution digital maps.

“Graduates and researchers alike will greatly benefit from this enhanced capacity. We can now support complex simulations and sophisticated spatial modelling that were simply impossible before,” said Dr Bonyongo.

For the students at the University of Botswana, this is not just about new hardware but about ‘future-ready’ skills.

UB acting vice chancellor, Mr Dawid Katzke believes these tools will bridge the gap between classroom theory and the urgent, interdisciplinary research needed to protect one of the world’s most significant wetland ecosystems.

While the technology is impressive, the sentiment behind it is deeper. At the handover ceremony, Acting Minister of Higher Education, Mr Shawn Ntlhaile said the donation was a milestone in an enduring partnership between Botswana and the US.

“It is a partnership built on a shared realisation. The challenges of the 21st century including climate change, disaster risk reduction and biodiversity loss, cannot be solved with 20th-century tools” Mr Ntlhaile said.

US Ambassador, Mr Howard Van Vranken echoed the same sentiments, noting that the donation underscored the global importance of local research.

“To protect the Delta is to protect a piece of the world’s heritage and that requires data that is as precise as it is timely. We are delighted to support ORI in analysing the Okavango Delta and recognising the critical role research plays in tackling global and regional challenges,” he said.

He added that the arrival of the eight computers was only the beginning. The US has demonstrated continued commitment to ORI, with plans already in motion for a high-capacity server and an expansion of the ORI laboratory.

As the Delta faces an uncertain future shaped by a changing climate, its guardians now have the digital ‘eyes’ they need to see what is coming. 

With every map generated and every flood-cycle simulated, Botswana is proving that while the Delta’s beauty is timeless, its preservation requires cutting-edge innovation

Government is looking into a comprehensive review of the Road Traffic Act of 1972.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr Noah Salakae said this at a kgotla meeting in Lentsweletau recently. He emphasised that the current legal framework was no longer equipped to handle modern road challenges.

He noted that the primary legislation governing Botswana’s roads dated back to 1972, with only minor adjustments made in 2008. He argued that the landscape of transportation had shifted drastically over the last five decades.

“By 1972, there were no high-performance cars or the diverse range of vehicle models we see today,” Mr Salakae explained.

He stressed that the original Act was designed for a different era of driver behaviour and vehicle technology, hence the review was essential to protect lives in the 21st century. The minister warned habitual traffic offenders, stating that government had been forced to take a harder line due to widespread disregard for road safety advice.

He further highlighted the tragic loss of life during the recent festive season as a catalyst for the changes. He added that new provisions would allow magistrates to immediately charge drivers suspected of being impaired by any substance, not just alcohol, that caused dizziness or loss of consciousness and bypassing lengthy investigative delays.

Under the revised law, he said fines for unlicensed minors driving vehicles would jump from the current range of P500 to P2,000 to a steeper P3,000 to P5,000 or up to 12 months in prison. Notably, he said adults who permitted minors to drive would also face charges.

Beyond safety, the minister said, the new Bill aimed to eliminate the ‘logjam’ of long queues at the Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) offices. On one hand, he indicated that under the old 1972 regulations, brand-new vehicles were required to undergo immediate testing at the DRTS, a process he described as a source of ‘unnecessary stalemates.’

Furthermore, he said the proposed law allowed owners of new vehicles to register immediately for security and permits and defer the roadworthiness test for 12 months.  After the first year, he said owners must provide proof of testing from an approved facility or face penalties.

While the minister warned that ‘tough charges’ were coming for those who believed that they were above the law, he maintained that the door was still open for dialogue.

“The law has many sections that need to be fully understood,” Mr Salakae said, adding that his ministry remained ready to receive advice from the public to ensure the final version of the Act served the best interests of all Batswana