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The Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has emphasised the importance of protecting children from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

 Speaking at the launch of the Child Friendly Policing documentary in Gaborone Monday, Mr Mohwasa said abused and neglected children often suffer long-term consequences that affected educational attainment, mental health, social cohesion and productivity. 

“Protecting children is therefore both a moral obligation and a strategic investment in our nation’s future,” he said, adding that Child Justice Service Centres represented a critical response aimed at strengthening protection and support for children. 

Mr Mohwasa said the centres were designed to provide dignified, sensitive and professional support to child victims. He noted that government remained committed to human rights and a child-centred approach through strengthening police capacity, improving infrastructure and enhancing inter-sectoral collaboration. 

He emphasised that security and human rights were not competing priorities but mutually reinforcing pillars of protection. 

“In line with this mission, we have strengthened the capacity of the police service through specialised training in child sensitivity techniques. We are also improving infrastructure to ensure that processes are private, safe and appropriate, while enhancing collaboration between the police, social services, health and education sectors to ensure a coordinated and survivor-centred response,” he said. 

However, Mr Mohwasa said government could not address child protection challenges alone, stressing that vigilance, community involvement and partnerships were essential. 

He said the success of these initiatives would be measured through increased reporting of abuse cases, improved case resolution and a measurable reduction in incidents of abuse. 

The ultimate goal, he added, was to build a culture that prioritises children’s well-being, dignity and justice. UNICEF Botswana Country Representative, Dr Kimanzi Mutengi, said a child-friendly justice system required commitment, training and empathy from all stakeholders. 

“Botswana has promising initiatives such as police stations with child-friendly units, officers trained in child psychology and partnerships with health workers and traditional leaders that provide holistic support,” he said. 

Dr Mutengi noted that across the region, countries were implementing innovative approaches to strengthen child protection. In Malawi, for example, every school has a designated police officer responsible for handling reports of abuse. He explained that suggestion boxes were placed in schools where suspected cases of abuse could be reported confidentially. 

The police officer visits the school monthly to review the reports and determine whether cases should be addressed at school level or escalated to higher authorities. 

Dr Mutengi said Botswana was well positioned to become a global best practice example in implementing a child-friendly justice system. He therefore called for stronger collaboration among government ministries, traditional leaders, civil society organisations, partners, faith-based organisations, social workers and communities to invest in child protection. 

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Ms Dinah Marathe said the Botswana Police Service (BPS), guided by national legislation and international obligations, had prioritised child protection through several initiatives. 

These include the establishment of the Gender and Child Protection Branch, development of specialised facilities, adoption of standardised procedures as well as capacity building and partnerships. 

Ms Marathe said the BPS had established eight child-friendly centres across the country aimed at addressing crimes against children and preventing secondary trauma. She added that the BPS had partnered with UNICEF to strengthen its response to violence against children, receiving technical and financial support to establish and resource child-friendly centres with specialised infrastructure. 

The partnership also supported the development of standard operating procedures and training of personnel. 

Additionally, Ms Marathe said the BPS utilised technology such as audio-visual recording systems and web stations linked to international databases to enhance investigative capacity and combat online exploitation. 

“Future plans include expanding child-friendly centres to all police stations, prioritising high-need areas and creating multi-agency one-stop centres,” she said, emphasising that the BPS remained committed to strengthening partnerships, expanding child-friendly centres and ensuring access to justice for all children in Botswana

Former national team boxer and two-time Olympian, Khumiso Ikgopoleng first landed in Bahrain in 2018.

He had established himself a reputable force to reckon with inside the ring during his illustrious amateur boxing days and when he transitioned to coaching career, he wanted to share the experience with the world while shaping the future of developing and elite boxers.

Coach K, as Ikgopoleng is fondly called in Manama, never imagined he would soon have to be concerned about surface to air missiles flying over his head.

He now describes frightening scenes of having to experience explosions from intercepted missiles amid the conflict involving military strikes by the United States of America and Israel and subsequent retaliation from the Iranian military.

Speaking from the scenic residential town of Saar on the western outskirts of Bahrain’s capital Manama, Ikgopoleng said explosions from intercepted missiles overhead caused shockwaves so strong that he could feel buildings vibrating slightly.

Bahrain and Qatar said this week their air defense systems intercepted and destroyed a total of more than 170 missiles and dozens of drones launched from Iran over the past three days as Tehran continues attacks on US-linked sites in the region in response to the ongoing Israeli-US military campaign.

“What people see on TV and describe on social media is a far cry from what we experience on the ground. We are only feeling frightened because it is natural to feel so, but we feel safe, as we receive constant warnings to stay away from danger,” he said.

He explained that there were targeted areas and they had been receiving early warning signals about incoming missiles and they take cover.

Ikgopoleng is one of the only two Batswana living in Bahrain.

He said despite the ensuing conflict, which seemed to be escalating on a daily basis, he did not feel unsafe in the city as everybody went on about their daily duties as usual.

Ikgopoleng allayed fears of any casualties so far in Manama despite the military assault over the past days.

Ikgopoleng said he had been in contact with other Batswana living in Dubai, which had also been targeted.

On Saturday, Israel and the US launched an attack against Iran’s leadership reportedly killing supreme leader, Ali Khamenei and since then, Iran had responded with attacks on Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Cyprus.

Iran had targeted the US navy base in Bahrain and videos had been circulating showing missiles and drones striking the vicinity of the US fifth fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

Nine Arab countries including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Syria and Iraq, have reported damage over the past three days, as Iran responds to the Israeli and American aggression.

Ikgopoleng made a mark on the international front especially the Middle East where he now works and resides as head coach of the Bahrain boxing club.

He has frequently visited other Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar to offer his technical expertise.

Ikgopoleng’s journey inside the boxing ring started in 1997 as a learner at Lobatse Secondary School where he took part in the school sport programme and the early exposure laid the foundation for his illustrious career.

He transitioned to coaching after retirement in 2009 and earned the coveted three-star International Boxing Association’s qualification and led the Botswana team to Olympic qualification among the many accolades as head coach.

Ikgopoleng took part in the 2004 Summer Olympics where he was eliminated in the second round of the men’s featherweight by Nigerian Muideen Ganiyu.

He also took part becoming the first ever Motswana to reach that feat in the 2008 Beijing Olympics before hanging his gloves the following year.

He was recruited by the Colorado boxing club in the United States of America and was soon scooped by the Bahraini club where he doubled as a member of the national team technical committee

For a long time, rural areas were viewed through the lens of provision of social welfare programmes but, the National Development Plan 12 is about to change the narrative as government shifts from social welfare dependency to productive empowerment.

This was said by the Vice President, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe during the official opening of the 169th Rural Development Council (RDC) in Gaborone yesterday.

Mr Gaolathe said the RDC was the architect of rural progress against the background of socio-economic transformation of Botswana, with a special focus on rural development.

“As I indicated in 2026/27 Budget Speech, our True North is a high-income Botswana that is digitally enabled and export-driven. But let us be candid. We cannot reach a high-income status if our rural communities are left behind in a low-income cycle,” said Mr Gaolathe.

Furthermore, he noted that Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) was the ‘engine room’ of the delivery in the rural development space.

He thus pleaded with the RDC to be the driver of the BTEP and ensure that the 186 high impact projects identified in the national budget were felt on the ground.

“Under BETP, we are implementing 26 agriculture cluster projects. We are no longer just farming for the pot, we are farming for the world. This includes the commercialisation of livestock and the introduction of high-value crops such as industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis,” he said.

He said farmers had for long been battling with low yields, high input costs, and a lack of market access thus the 2026 budget provided the interventions to break the cycle.

“For example, through the power of clustering under the BETP, we are moving away from fragmented, isolated farming. We are implementing 26 dedicated agricultural cluster projects nationwide. These clusters will turn local villages into “Agro-Industrial Zones,” shifting the focus from subsistence to surplus for export,” he said.

Another radical reform advocated in the budget, was the introduction of the Botswana Mercantile Exchange which would for the first time enable rural producers to have access to a transparent, market based pricing system.

Government had through the NDP 12 taken a bold move toward diversification and officially enabled the regulated cultivation of industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.

“This is not just about farming; it is about the pharmaceutical value chain development. We want the processing labs and the manufacturing of hemp-based products to happen in our rural areas, creating high-tech jobs for our youth where they live,” said Mr Gaolathe.

He said government was also committed to the rural digital revolution through the 1Gov1Citizen platform and the National Digital ID system, citing that through the initiative, a citizen in Gumare or Tsabong would no longer need to travel to Gaborone for government services as digitalisation was the bridge that eliminated the distance tax paid by rural citizens.

With regard to infrastructure provision, Mr Gaolathe said the P3.86 billion allocated to Transport and Infrastructure during the 2006/2027 national budget proposal was to improve the national roads network, that would also connect the rural production centers to regional markets, transforming Botswana into a true SADC logistics hub.

These specific reforms under NDP 12 and the BETP represent a fundamental shift in how rural Botswana would produce and trade

Aging and deteriorating structures, compounded by repeated floods and hailstorm have left infrastructure development in Serowe in critical condition.
The situation disrupts education, health services and roads, thereby hindering service delivery.
Speaking during Serowe District full council meeting on March 2, Council Chairperson Mr Atamelang Thaga said the A14 road between Boiteko Mall and the old transport turnoff had been closed following the collapse of a culvert near Farmers Brigade.
‘’I am deeply concerned by the disregard shown by some members of the public who ignore closure signage, thereby exposing themselves and other road users particularly those unfamiliar with the area to serious danger,’’ he said
He urged all road users to observe road signs and comply with safety measures as council was working toward restoring and maintaining the damaged infrastructure.
Mr Thaga also told councillors that some gravel and dirt roads which included Topisi-Majwanaadipitse, Mmashoro-Dimajwe, Serowe-Moiyabana, Serowe-Radisele and Moiyabana-Kalamare have been severely affected.
He noted that the roads were characterised by extensive black cotton soil and sandy sections which led to water ponding, muddy conditions and in some cases complete impassability. Mr Thaga said flooding had damaged spot improvements, washed away road sections, silted up culverts and disrupted drainage systems.

The second phase of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination and surveillance is scheduled to commence on March 4 in zones 3c and 6b, following the successful completion of the initial phase, where all vaccinated cattle will now undergo rigorous clinical inspections.
This was announced by principal veterinary officer at the FMD local command centre, Dr Thito Seomile recently briefing the North East District meeting on the progress of the first phase.
Dr Seomile reported satisfactory herd immunity levels across Zone 6b, North of Bisoli Farm where about 7 400 cattle were vaccinated representing 90.9 per cent coverage and 8 700 or 93.4 per cent in Zone 3c in Maitengwe.
He added that with respect to surveillance, 10 kilometres radius had been done and 1 287 cattle were inspected and was still ongoing as in the 20 kilometres radius a few were left out.
“The only difference there is that the 20km radius in zone 6a there has been an increase in the number of livestock amounting to over 6 700 cattle inspected for any signs of FMD,” he said, adding the rest of zone 6a had not been surveyed due to shortage of resources both staff and vehicle.
He also indicated that inspections extended beyond cattle to including indicator species, such as 450 goats, 10 sheep and pigs in the Jackalas 1 area.
“The clinical inspection was based on the indicator species except for Jackalas 1 where inspection of over 450 goats was done, 10 sheep and pigs,” he said.
Furthermore, he said efforts were being channelled into the FMD blockade to prevent further spread and 70km of fencing had been maintained, with 300km patrolled and 16km of bush clearing completed.
He said a decision had been made to hire 180 casual labourers, 30 from each local village, to prioritise the 3c fence running from Vakaranga, Kgari, Pole, Mosojane, Letsholathebe, Vukwi, Kalakamati to Goshwe.
On one hand, Dr Seomile said six cattle were destroyed after straying into Zimbabwe, with owners receiving P700 compensation per animal while surveillance also showed that there were more Botswana-owned livestock remaining across the border.
He stated that 13 out of 25 villages had formed mephato or community groups, to assist with fence patrols and livestock management, adding they however still needed urgent mobilisation of the remaining communities by leaders.
Also, he indicated that while some regulations hade been relaxed, strict controls remaind in place to protect the industry and animal products may move from Francistown into zones 3c and 6b, but the reverse was strictly prohibited.
Dr Seomile also said although meat movement had been relaxed, bush slaughter remained illegal and all slaughter must occur at authorised abattoirs in zones 4a, 4b, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
He also said a committee had been activated to inspect butcheries in North East and Francistown to ensure meat originated from approved zones.
He said inspections of the Tati ranches near Francistown ranches, revealed many ranch fences were in a dilapidated state, thus owners were urged to urgently repair them.
To sustain daily operations and complete the surveillance of Zone 6a, Dr Seomile emphasised the need for additional heavy equipment, including 4×4 vehicles, six dozers, six caterpillars and four Tractor-Loader-Backhoes (TLBs).

Principal Magistrate Solomon Setshedi of Molepolole Magistrate court has dismissed a bail application by Tshepho Sethibe, who refers to himself as ‘Uncle of the Nation’ on social media.
He ruled that the accused be remanded in custody pending the finalisation of investigations in a case involving alleged incitement and offensive electronic communication.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Setshedi said the court was not persuaded that it was in the interest of justice to release the accused at this stage.

“The application for the accused’s bail is therefore dismissed. The accused is further remanded in custody pending the finalisation of the investigation,” he said.
In outlining factors, he considered in this bail application, the Magistrate noted that although the prosecution conceded that the accused was not a flight risk, the main point of contention was the allegation that he had incited violence through social media posts.
The court was told that some gadgets linked to the alleged offences had not yet been recovered.
The complainant, Headman of Records at Medie, Kgosi Moatlhodi Emmanuel Kgabo, testified that he feared for his life following comments allegedly made on Facebook by the accused’s followers.
He further informed the court that he had relocated to Gaborone with his family due to safety concerns.
“After careful consideration of the evidence of the two state witnesses, it is this court’s view that there is likelihood that the accused, if he were released on bail, may endanger the safety of the public and the complainant,” Magistrate Setshedi said.
He added that the court was satisfied that police required more time to complete investigations, describing cases of this nature as complex.
The court also heard that there were other similar cases previously opened against the accused which were later withdrawn.
Magistrate Setshedi further expressed concern that the accused might continue committing offences if released.
“It is also my view that the accused may continue to commit offences if admitted to bail today,” he said.
He will appear again on March 17.

Two men accused of making forged new limited edition commemorative P50 currency note bearing serial number: AR 0656562 appeared before Lobatse Magistrates court on Monday.
The accused, a Zimbabwean national Wilson Juma aged 33 and a Motswana man More Bojong aged 40, who both reside in Lobatse, faced two counts of offences which included making of counterfeit currency contrary to section 362 of the Penal Code, and being found in possession of forged currency notes contrary to section 354 of the Penal Code.

According to the charge sheet, both the accused in February in or near Lobatse, without lawful authority made 18 papers, words and figures, letters, marks and lines resembling the P50 currency note.
Juma, on one hand, is also charged with an offence of possession of forged 18 fake P50 currency notes without lawful authority after he was caught on February 26 at Peleng in Lobatse during a police stop, question and search exercise. The accused will appear again on March 16.

As conflict continues to grip parts of the Middle East, the Acting Ambassador of Botswana to the State of Kuwait, with accreditations to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Mr Amangwe Madisakwana has urged Batswana nationals living in the region to exercise extreme caution.
His caution comes amid ongoing attacks involving the United States of America (USA), Israel and Iran.
Speaking in an interview with BOPA on March 2, Mr Madisakwana said there were approximately 300 Batswana nationals residing in the Middle East, with about 200 based in the United Arab Emirates and 50 in Qatar.
Therefore, he advised citizens to limit unnecessary movement, warning that ordinary routines now carried heightened risk.
“Simple things like going to the shop or travelling to work now require careful consideration. For now, I am working from home. They should avoid frequenting shopping malls and crowded places, as one may never know where the next strike may occur,” he said.

Mr Madisakwana shared a firsthand account of fear, resilience and hope in the midst of growing uncertainty, noting that the situation appeared to be escalating as hostilities intensified.
“Air raid sirens, security alerts and restricted movement have quickly become part of everyday life,” he said, adding that the atmosphere changed rapidly as developments unfold.
He encouraged Batswana in affected areas to strictly adhere to safety precautions, including seeking refuge in designated bomb shelters during alerts.

He noted that evacuation remained a challenge due to ongoing airspace closures.
“Getting out of the Middle East is still difficult, as airspace to and from some areas has been halted. We are exploring several options, but currently flights remain the primary mode of travel and these have been severely disrupted,” he explained.
While authorities in affected countries have implemented safety measures such as public alerts, emergency response systems, and access to bomb shelters, Mr Madisakwana said the emotional toll of the conflict was significant.
“Even when it is quiet, you are never fully at ease,” he stated.
He described the situation as ‘unpredictable and emotionally exhausting’ with windows and houses rattling from explosions as tensions continued to escalate while daily routines get repeatedly disrupted.
He pointed out that although food, electricity and water remained available in many areas, uncertainty over supply chains had triggered panic buying in some communities.
Despite the challenges, Mr Madisakwana said strong community networks had provided some comfort.
He noted that they had been engaging with counterparts from South Africa and eSwatini to explore ways of sharing resources where possible.
“As SADC member states, we regularly check in on one another and share safety updates and information,” he said.
Mr Madisakwana confirmed that communication channels with Botswana authorities remained active.
He said the Embassy was constantly in touch with all nationals in the region through various active media platforms to ensure consistent messaging and render advice
Mr Madisakwana therefore urged Batswana in the Middle East to remain vigilant, resilient and hopeful for calm and navigate each day with caution.
“We must continue to take care of ourselves and follow the guidance provided by local authorities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations has in a press release advised Batswana to avoid travelling to the affected countries and to re-route their travel away from the Middle East airspace until the situation has calmed.
Batswana living in the Middle East have been requested to contact the Botswana Embassy in the State of Kuwait and the Botswana High Commission in London or any nearby for assistance.

For any inquiries, kindly contact the Kuwait Embassy at +965 25396153 or Charge’ d’ Affaires a.i Mr Amanagwe Madisakwana at +956 6968 8801, or email botkuw@gov.bw or Botswana High Commission in London at +447704665413, or ttshekiso@govbw.com

Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, has announced a significant expansion of Botswana’s home-grown school feeding programme, with total allocations for 2026 reaching approximately P1.6 billion.
Presenting Botswana’s national position during the 11th African Day of School Feeding in Gaborone, Ms Kgafela-Mokoka said P630 million had been earmarked specifically for primary schools.
The allocation forms part of a broader investment aimed at strengthening food safety systems, infrastructure upgrades, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) integration, and digital monitoring mechanisms.
She said the increased funding aligned directly with this year’s continental theme of ensuring access to nutritious meals, clean water and hygiene in schools.
“Our investment reflects a deliberate shift towards safety, resilience and sustainability,” she said. “Every meal must be safe, nutritionally balanced and supported by strong systems.”
For 2026, she stated that Botswana would prioritise the introduction of food safety and traceability systems, scale up climate-smart and locally controlled procurement, strengthen WASH and kitchen standards, and improve digital monitoring and reporting.
Logistics coordination will also be enhanced in fragile and climate-affected districts to minimise disruptions.
Ms Kgafela-Mokoka said the programme would intensify support for smallholder farmers through aggregation models and predictable procurement frameworks to stimulate rural economies and reduce vulnerability.
Under the second phase of implementation, the Home-Grown Feeding (HGF) model will operate as a coordinated national platform linking the education, agriculture and health sectors. Agricultural production will be aligned with school demand, while the health sector will enforce nutritional standards and hygiene compliance.
“This integrated model strengthens governance, improves value for money and enhances sustainability,” she said.
The minister described Botswana’s programme as universally inclusive, institutionally governed and firmly anchored on safety and climate resilience.
“Every child will be fed. Every meal shall be safe. Every investment will count,” she said, adding that Botswana stood ready to collaborate with other African Union member states to advance sustainable school feeding systems.
Her remarks were reinforced by Vice President Ndaba Gaolatlhe, who earlier described school feeding as a strategic human capital investment and urged African governments to protect it through predictable financing and strong accountability systems.
Other ministers attending the summit echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the need to strengthen cross-sector coordination between education, agriculture, health and water ministries.
They emphasised increasing domestic financing, expanding local procurement from farmers, and integrating water and sanitation infrastructure into school feeding investments to improve safety and learning outcomes.
World Food Programme Executive Director Ms Cindy McCain, in remarks delivered virtually, commended African governments for growing domestic contributions to school meals but warned that millions of vulnerable children still lacked access. She called for deeper partnerships, including private sector engagement, to close remaining gaps.
Child representatives also urged leaders to include children’s voices in decision-making and to ensure meals are nutritious, served on time and supported by adequate hygiene facilities.
The summit concluded with ministerial commitments to translate policy discussions into measurable action, as Botswana positioned its scaled-up investment as both a national priority and a continental model for resilient, home-grown school feeding