Lack of knowledge on the use of precision farming implements such as the technologically advanced planters by self-taught operators has been identified as one of the primary challenges for local farmers.
Mr Philip Keosentse, a farmer at Mmasenyetse fields shared the concern during the precision planter demonstration to farmers held recently at Go-Moeng fields courtesy of John Deere-Agri Equipment.
Mr Keosentse said many of the local tractor operators were self-trained, riding on their basic vehicle driving experiences, therefore limiting their understanding in operating some pertinent ploughing implements. He said the challenge affected mostly subsistence farmers as some cannot afford to acquire such training.
“If the tractor dealership could at least partner with farmers in training the owner or the operator within the warranty period it would encourage farmers to welcome the technological developments,” he said.
Mr Keosentse said proper training was highly recommended as operator demonstrations were not enough.
Mr Moarabi Itumeleng, a farmer at Maisane, shared the same sentiments that it will take time to venture into precision farming. He said he was still hooked to using the usual traditional planter, as it was manually operated and less complex.
Meanwhile, the technical marketer at John Deere agric equipment, Mr Zein Mopati has during the precision planter illustration explained to farmers that the planter was designed such that it was able to place seeds in the soil at a specific depth spacing and position as compared to the common traditional planters.
Mr Mopati said traditional planters were without much control and that precision planters were technologically advanced with software’s and sensors to ensure optimal seed planting and have high chances of increased yield.
He said the planter could offer adjustable row spacing to suit specific crop types and field conditions. Mr Mopati further highlighted that the planter’s accuracy in dropping seeds or fertilisers was crucial in maximising crop germination and crop potential.
However, he warned farmers of the use of ungraded seeds and the importance of understanding viable seeds in order to maximise germination
Botswana’s rising tennis star, Ntungamili Raguin will roar on home soil on November 19 when he takes on Nithin Padmanabhan of India at the ITF J60 tournament.
Living every athlete’s dream of playing on home soil, Raguin will be spurred on by the cheers of his supporters and is determined to give them a game like no other that he has so far played.
Encouraged by his November 15 win at the J100 tournament in Kenya, Raguin a seed two of the tournament, is confident that he will put up a good show against Nithin in a game that will be played on hard court.
At the J100 tournament, he won 3-6, 7-5, and 6-3 against Italy’s Mattia Baroni, claiming his ITF World Tennis Tour Junior sixth title. He revealed in an interview that his goal was to win both the J60 and J100 tournaments at home, hence he would fight bitterly to win his every match.
He said he would ride on the good performance that he displayed in his last tournament in Kenya, adding that he trusts his muscle memory to carry him through.
Furthermore, he said his ultimate goal is to qualify for the Australian Open billed for next year, a goal that he said he could achieve through accumulating more points in tournaments such as the one he was playing in today.
He said despite playing at home, he was not under any pressure but would use the home support as a morale booster.
“Pressuring myself can actually turn into bad energy that will result in me not playing well, but I have been preparing very well. I have been playing on clay court and now I have to adapt to playing on hard court,” he said.
Talking about the difference between the two types of courts, he said the clay was slippery and when balls bounced, they slowed down, whereas they move faster on the hard court.
His coach, Killian Sinclair said they had prepared to win His coach, Killian Sinclair said they have prepared to win the tournament both in singles and doubles. Sinclair praised both his player’s mental resilience and competitive spirit, saying it was this combination that had propelled him to win his last tournament.
“In Kenya he was down, but he made a great comeback and went on to win the tournament. That alone demonstrates that his mental strength is sharp,” he said.
In a world where young people are often encouraged to choose predictable career paths, 34-year-old Karabo ‘Silver Creatif’ Tlhagale of Maun has taken a different route, one shaped by passion, sharpened by resilience, and sustained by a refusal to abandon the creative voice within him.
Today, Tlhagale is widely regarded as one of the most consistent photographers and videographers in Ngamiland’s creative space, known for his distinct visual style and steady presence at weddings, in documentaries, adverts and lifestyle projects.
But his journey into the arts was neither glamorous nor clear-cut. It began, he said with instinct rather than strategy.
“I did not enter photography because I knew it could make me money. I entered because it made sense to my heart, even when it didn’t make sense to my pockets,” he recalled.
His defining moment arrived more than a decade ago when a friend invited him to a small documentary screening about skateboarding. It was not the subject matter that struck him rather it was the craft.
“I remember thinking: who created this? I asked my friend who proudly confirmed that he was the creative behind the masterpiece and I was captivated and inspired,” he said.
Something shifted that day and by 2014, driven by curiosity and a growing desire to learn the art properly, he enrolled at Limkokwing University to formalise his training.
“School helped me understand the technical side, but passion is what kept me going when everything else got hard,” he said.
Behind the polished images and creative acclaim lies a world of uncertainty and struggle that many outside the industry rarely see. Like many creatives, he has battled inconsistent income and the persistent challenge of underpayment.
Clients, he said, often demanded high-quality work but hesitated to pay its value. While some creatives leave the industry out of frustration, he has learned to survive its unpredictability with discipline and humility.
“You cannot sit home waiting for gigs. You must be moving, learning, working and staying alive long enough for your breakthrough to find you,” he said.
It is this mindset that has kept him relevant for more than a decade. His visual style, moody, crisp, storytelling in its composition has become his signature.
Asked how he has remained visible in an industry where many fade within a few years, he said: “Consistency and humility. You treat every small job like it is the biggest opportunity of your life.”
Tlhagale remembers shooting earlier events for little pay, simply to build a name.
“Reputation in this artwork is very important and for one to be recognised there is need to unveil talents to the people,” he said.
His advice to aspiring photographers and videographers is rooted in passion rather than glamour.
“Enter this industry with passion first and not desperation, not the desire to trend, if your motivation is money alone, disappointment will come fast,” he said.
He encouraged young creatives to keep learning and sharpening their craft.
“Skill grows only when you push it, your camera should feel like an extension of your hand,” he said. Among his proudest achievements is a music video he shot for his brother, work he continues to reference when measuring his artistic growth.
In a country where the creative industry is still developing, where funding is limited and opportunities unevenly distributed, maintaining momentum is itself a remarkable feat. Yet, Tlhagale is not done.
“I want to build something that outlives me, perhaps a training centre, a space where young creatives can access equipment, mentorship and opportunities,” he said.
Tlhagale’s story is more than a creative journey. It is a testament to the courage required to choose passion in a world that often treats the arts as optional and to remain committed even when the road is steep.
President Advocate Duma Boko has hailed the Drones for Health initiative, designed to deliver medical supplies and strengthen public health.
Speaking at the launch of the project in Chanoga near Maun on Saturday, the President praised the technology, noting that it played a vital role in transforming health delivery by improving accessibility, efficiency and quality care.
President Boko also had the opportunity to witness the drone’s virtual take-off from Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital in Maun and its landing at Chanoga clinic.
The drone took approximately 15 minutes, delivering essential medicines in a radius of 40 kilometres.
The government, President Boko said was committed to ensuring that all Batswana even, those in hard to reach areas had access to quality health care services much faster than ground transport.
The drone coordinator from the Ministry of Health, Mr Sinka Matengu said the technology would close the gap in terms of delivery of health commodities, especially during emergencies. ENDS
Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, has conveyed his vision of an environmentally conscious Parliament that embraces sustainable practices and supports Botswana’s green transition.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Executive Director of the 2050 Pathways Platform, an European Climate Foundation, Ms Marcela Jaramillo, Mr Keorapetse said achieving this goal began with the development of an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, which Parliament currently lacked.
He said Parliament must decarbonise and go green, adding that achieving such transformation required strong political will.
“The past Parliament’s contribution to green energy was just one per cent, despite a target of 30 per cent,” he said.
Mr Keorapetse said that Parliament pledged to elect supportive legislation, scrutinise statutory instruments, and ensure effective budget oversight to shape National Energy Policies.
He further said that Botswana often missed out on green funding and partnerships due to the absence of clear standards, policies, and proper management frameworks.
The Speaker therefore said Botswana needed to move swiftly to put the right structures in place.
The 2050 Pathways Platform, an initiative of the European Climate Foundation in partnership with the African Development Bank, is to support Botswana in developing its Long-Term Emission Strategy (LTS).
Recently, the organisation held a stakeholder engagement workshop to deepen stakeholder participation in shaping Botswana’s LTS by reviewing, validating and refining the preliminary outputs and scenario pathways towards achieving net zero emissions by 2050, while maintaining economic diversification and growth.
Ms Jaramillo said the 2050 Pathways Platform, launched in 2016, initially focused on 32 major economies but has since expanded its support to other countries.
She said the LTS strategies were seen initially as how big economies started decarbonising and how they started supporting the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
“Then they started to expand across all countries, because everybody started to realise that there is no economic planning, socio-planning, or development planning that can be done robustly if there is no considerations of climate impacts,” she said adding that many developing countries also came on board and developed the strategies.
Ms Jaramillo said there was a range of options on the table for Botswana to make strong and robust decisions on key activities that would support the country’s sustainable development.
“One important thing, and this has happened in several countries that we have supported, but it is specific now in Botswana, is developing the national development plan,” Ms Jaramillo said adding that Botswana needed to have a clear plan behind, a clear governance and institutional leadership to be at the forefront of international finance. BOPA
Botswana’s president criticized outdated institutions, practices, and behaviors that no longer serve a useful purpose but are clung to due to “institutional fetishism” and urged reimagining society and the economy in the modern age, advocating for creativity and bold thinking, going beyond formulaic or modular solutions.
Botswana’s President Duma Boko called on the nation for economic and social transformation to address unemployment and wealth inequality, speaking at a high-level Business Engagement Forum in Gaborone on Tuesday.
“We are wrestling with massive unemployment across the breadth and dimensions of our country, particularly youth unemployment. We are talking about the unemployment of young people,” Duma Boko stated.
Despite some economic growth, Botswana has experienced “jobless growth,” leaving many citizens marginalized and living in poverty, Boko stated, emphasizing the need to “democratize wealth” and create “decent jobs.”
“We must take full responsibility. We are guilty as charged. And we’re here to openly acknowledge these faults, these foibles, these shortcomings. So that we begin to identify those creatures of flesh and blood that are languishing at the margins of the economy. They are crying out for jobs, for a decent job. Not just a job, a decent job,” he explained.
While describing poverty as a violation of human rights, the president also noted that Botswana faces extreme levels of income inequality.
“We have a huge responsibility. We are wrestling with the reality of an economy that is unequal, presenting astounding levels of income and wealth inequality. We rank among the most unequal in the whole world,” he pointed out, adding that there is “painfully little justification” for such a situation.
Examining Nontraditional Threats and Responses
Ethical considerations play a crucial role in this delicate balance. The nations grapple with ethical implications of their actions, recognizing that the pursuit of power must align with principles that uphold human rights.
Ongoing threat of terrorism underscores need for effective counterterrorism strategies. Balancing power involves collaborative efforts to combat extremism while promoting inclusive and tolerant societies.
If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.
Nelson Mandela
A commitment to arms control agreements is crucial in the quest for balance. Nations engage in negotiations to limit the proliferation of weapons, fostering an environment where peace is not compromised by the threat of escalating conflicts.
Exploring the Psychology of Soldiers in Combat
From virtual reality tours to language learning apps, discover how travelers can connect with local cultures in innovative ways.
Counterterrorism Strategies
Digital nomad hotspots offer the flexibility to work from anywhere.
Connecting with like-minded individuals from around the world.
Enhancing personal growth and fostering a global perspective.
Living as a digital nomad allows for frequent exploration.
The diverse and stimulating environments in digital nomad hotspots.
The world is a grand stage, and travel is our passage to becoming the actors in a play where the script is unwritten, the set ever-changing, and the applause echoes in the memories we create.
Blurring the Lines Between Conventional and Irregular Tactics
In design, rhythm is created by simply repeating elements in predictable patterns. This repetition is a natural thing that occurs everywhere in our world. As people, we are driven everyday by predictable, timed events.
One of the best ways to use repetition and rhythm in web design is in the site’s navigation menu. A consistent, easy-to-follow pattern—in color, layout, etc. Gives users an intuitive roadmap to everything you want to share on your site.
Adapting Military Strategies to the Digital Age
Beyond military might, soft power strategies such as cultural exchange, education, and global cooperation in addressing shared challenges contribute significantly to the delicate balance.
Bad navigation is an especially common problem. We’ve all struggled to find things on disorganized websites without any logical structure. It feels hopeless.
Transcending cultural and societal divisions.
It is the foundation for global cooperation and understanding.
Creativity and innovation thrive effortlessly.
Individuals find solace and personal growth within peaceful settings.
Ommunities prosper in the embrace of peace.
Human rights are safeguarded, ensuring dignity.
The world is a grand stage, and travel is our passage to becoming the actors in a play where the script is unwritten, the set ever-changing, and the applause echoes in the memories we create.
The Role of Military Forces in Crisis Response
Nobody enjoys looking at an ugly web page. Garish colors, cluttered and distracting animation can all turn customers “off” and send them shopping “somewhere else”. Basic composition rules to create more effective:
Empowering minds to envision a brighter future.
Societies cultivate tolerance, celebrating diversity and inclusivity.
People experience a profound sense of security and stability.
It encourages the pursuit of justice and fairness for all.
Reflecting the beauty of a tranquil existence.
Nobody enjoys looking at an ugly web page. Garish colors, cluttered and distracting animation can all turn customers “off” and send them shopping “somewhere else”. Basic composition rules to create more effective:
Examining the Intersection of Military and Political Agendas
Beyond military might, soft power strategies such as cultural exchange, education, and global cooperation in addressing shared challenges contribute significantly to the delicate balance.
Online multiplayer shooters, like CS:GO, Fortnite, and PUBG, are currently dominating the gaming world, thanks to professional gamers, esports tournaments, Twitch streamers, and YouTube gaming channels. Others have spawned sequels that out play and out perform their original games. Some games that have been released years ago are still popular today.
The treaty amendment aims to transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum (PF), established in 1997, into a regional parliament with enhanced legislative powers. This change requires a majority, if not all, of the SADC member states to sign the agreement for it to be implemented. Botswana thus joined the countries who have already signed the treaty.
Botswanan President Duma Boko signed an agreement to amend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Treaty on Wednesday, aiming to establish the SADC Parliament as one of the organization’s key institutions.
During the signing ceremony, Boko described the initiative as “a political decision” and urged SADC member countries to align their laws in order to tackle regional challenges effectively.
Dithapelo Keorapetse, the speaker of the Botswanan National Assembly, commended the SADC Parliamentary Forum for its efforts in promoting good governance and regional integration.
Gaborone, Botswana – 04 February 2020: WHO has provided PPE kits and has ordered digital thermometers and other essentials to support key preparedness and response activities such as screening and case management. WHO Representative, Dr Josephine Namboze and technical staff continue to provide technical guidance, training and support on a daily basis in all areas of preparedness and response. All staff including cleaners, security, immigration, revenue services, restaurant workers and others at ports of entry have been trained in hygiene and infection control while health staff have received comprehensive training from surveillance, infection control to case management.
In the last one week, the WHO Representative attended a meeting of the multi-sectoral national Public Health Emergency Coordinating Committee (PHECC) and addressed a Joint media conference with senior management from the Ministry to update the public on the coronavirus outbreak and what the world, WHO and the country are doing. She also joined the Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Lemogang Kwape to tour key facilities including the Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in the capital Gaborone, the isolation facility in Block 8 and a designated bigger isolation facility Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital in case of increasing numbers of people needing isolation and management. Dr Namboze and Minister Kwape also visited the busiest land border post between Botswana and South Africa to monitor Port Health Services and motivate staff. The country currently has 5 suspected cases and has not recorded a confirmed case yet. Test results from the Regional Laboratory in South Africa will shed further light on this.
Day to day, the Minister is constantly engaging the community including Batswana in Wuhan, China through various forms of media such as telephone, broadcast and social media. He has also engaged with the Chinese Embassy in Botswana. The Embassy is helping with translation of key documents into Chinese as large numbers of Chinese nationals coming into Botswana have difficulties understanding English.
WHO co-chairs the Risk Communication and Community Engagement committee of the PHECC which advises the Minister and coordinates communication, awareness creation, social mobilization and community engagement. WHO has also briefed UN staff and partners and will continue to do so.
Yesterday (3rd February 2020), the Minister of Health and Wellness addressed cabinet on the status of 2019-nCoV and the specific actions that have been taken as part of preparedness.
Gaborone / Rotterdam, 7 August 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is pleased to welcome Advocate Duma Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana to its Board, bringing to the table a renewed focus on climate justice, sustainable development and homegrown solutions for a continent on the frontline of the climate crisis.
Botswana is already experiencing the sharp edge of climate change. Rising temperatures—above the global average—combined with recurring droughts, declining water tables, and land degradation threaten the country’s key sectors, from agriculture to tourism. In recent years, severe dry spells have triggered food insecurity, stressed water supplies in cities like Gaborone, and intensified the risk of desertification in already arid regions. These impacts, while local in manifestation, reflect a global emergency that demands coordinated, cross-border responses.
President Boko’s leadership is rooted in a strong belief that climate adaptation is not merely a technical challenge—it is a political and economic imperative. His appointment signals Botswana’s growing ambition to contribute to the global adaptation agenda while securing a resilient future for its people.
Advocate Duma Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana said: “Climate change threatens to roll back decades of progress across Africa, disrupting livelihoods, deepening inequality, and undermining the foundations of sustainable development. In Botswana, we have seen firsthand how drought, shifting weather patterns, and water scarcity affect our people, our ecosystems, and our economy. That is why I am honoured to join the Board of the Global Center on Adaptation. The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program is a critical platform to mobilize resources, partnerships, and political will needed to scale adaptation solutions that work for Africa. As a country deeply committed to climate resilience and sustainable growth, Botswana stands ready to contribute to this collective effort, to ensure that adaptation is not an afterthought, but a cornerstone of our continent’s development future.”
The GCA Board unites global leaders who share a common mission: to integrate adaptation into core economic and development strategies. As Chair of the GCA Board, H.E. Macky Sall, Fourth President of Senegal, emphasized the critical timing of President Boko’s appointment: “Africa cannot afford to treat adaptation as an option—it is a necessity for survival and prosperity. President Boko brings a principled voice, grounded in experience, that will strengthen the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program as it scales across the continent. Botswana’s proactive stance on resilience, governance, and regional stability makes it an important partner in this collective mission.”
Through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP)—a joint initiative with the African Development Bank—the GCA is working to integrate adaptation into every facet of development, from resilient agriculture to youth entrepreneurship. Having already shaped over $17 billion in adaptation-aligned investments, the AAAP is shifting the narrative from vulnerability to opportunity.
“President Boko’s appointment reflects a broader movement among African leaders who are championing adaptation not only as a protective measure, but as a driver of transformation,” said Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation. “His leadership will help sharpen the focus on national ownership, inclusivity, and investment as we work to close the adaptation finance gap and accelerate progress where it is needed most.”
President Boko joins a diverse and high-level Board of former and current heads of state, ministers, and global leaders from the public sector.
Botswana’s former president, Ian Khama, has made a surprise return to the country after a nearly three-year self-imposed exile. Khama, who faces criminal charges, fled the southern African country in 2021, saying his life was in danger after a fallout with President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Khama appeared Friday in a Gaborone court, where his lawyers asked that a warrant of arrest against him be dropped. He faces 14 charges, which include illegal possession of firearms and money laundering.
His lawyer, Unoda Mack, told reporters outside court that the warrant of arrest has been set aside.
“They wanted him, we brought him. The warrant has been set aside. He will appear in court, he will be coming. He brought himself,” Mack said.
Khama, who leads a splinter opposition party, the Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF), has denied the criminal charges and says they are part of persecution by Masisi.
Khama handpicked Masisi to succeed him in 2018.
BPF Secretary General Lawrence Ookeditse said Khama, who led Botswana between 2008 and 2018, is back to fight the “bogus” charges.
“He went to the magistrate court to try to get the bogus warrant of arrest that was brought on him quashed,” Ookeditse said.
Khama’s return comes just weeks before Botswana holds its general election on October 30.
Ookeditse said the former president will participate in campaigns for his party.
“We have been very consistent and General Khama has also been very consistent to the effect that we are going to cause an upset in these elections and he is going to be on the ground campaigning for the BPF, as we are going to do all we can to effect regime change in a democratic way in Botswana,” Ookeditse said.
Masisi has previously said Khama must return to face the law, and denied accusations of persecuting his predecessor. Khama will be back in court on September 23.
