AGP Executive Report

Conservation Push: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has donated 20 critically endangered black rhinos to Botswana, part of a wider Black Rhino Range Expansion Project to build new, genetically diverse populations. Waste-to-Value Plan: Botswana is moving toward a formal partnership with Zimbabwe’s Geo Pomona Waste Management to turn landfills into recycling centres and green-energy hubs. Sports—Zebras Coaching: The Botswana Football Association is scrambling to appoint a new coach for the Zebras after Morena Ramoreboli quit to join Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana Bafana setup; an announcement is expected after internal processes and CAF licence requirements are met. Football—AFCON Qualifiers: CAF has set the first legs of Tunisia vs Botswana qualifiers for September 28 in Tunisia, with the return leg in Botswana. Public Finance Watch: Botswana’s finance authorities are bracing for sovereign credit rating decisions from S&P and Moody’s, with assessments scheduled in March and September. Business & Health Investment: A Texas-based firm says it will build a P2 billion specialist hospital ecosystem near Gaborone’s airport, aiming to tackle specialist-care shortages.

Botswana–South Korea Travel: South Korea has published a K-ETA list covering 116 countries, including Botswana, meaning eligible travellers can apply for electronic authorisation instead of a traditional visa. Regional Politics: Former Botswana president Ian Khama says Zambia’s treason detentions of opposition figures set a “bad precedent” and signal democratic backsliding. Botswana Court Case: A constitutional challenge on civil marriage recognition in Botswana has widened, with LGBTQ+ groups, religious organisations and a University of Botswana human-rights scholar now admitted to the case. Health Watch: Statistics Botswana reports deaths rose to 14,037 in 2024, up 3.9%, with non-communicable diseases driving most fatalities. Sports—CAF: Gaborone United’s CAF Champions League tie looms as Yanga push for a four-trophy season, with the second leg set after a 1-1 first-leg draw. Banking: Bank of Botswana data shows arrears easing from earlier peaks, with June arrears still heavily in “specific provisions.” Youth & Education: A Botswana youth movement, Teens On Track, is backing second chances for learners after exam setbacks.

Courtroom Battle Over Marriage Laws: Botswana’s High Court case on civil marriage recognition has widened, with LGBTQ+ group LEGABIBO, religious bodies and a University of Botswana human-rights scholar admitted as the matter moves toward a major hearing. Public Health Snapshot: Statistics Botswana reports 14,037 deaths in 2024, up 3.9%, with non-communicable diseases driving most mortality. Labour Dispute: The Manual Workers Union says it will sue the Directorate of Public Service Management over reforms affecting local per diem and voluntary exit packages, arguing per diem should be negotiable. Sports—CAF Champions League: Gaborone United and Jwaneng Galaxy both drew 1-1 in first legs, setting up tense return matches as Botswana’s clubs chase progression. Football—Yanga’s Ambition: Yanga coach Manqoba Mngqithi says he wants a four-trophy haul, including the CAF Champions League, as Gaborone United visit for the second leg. Economy—Bank Arrears: Bank of Botswana data shows arrears easing from earlier peaks, though specific-provision arrears remain a concern. Road Safety: A bus overturn on Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road highlights ongoing highway dangers after multiple accidents. Innovation in Focus: Botswana’s Mattie’s Success and other regional startups featured in a GreenPitch challenge, with Pee-Cycling taking top honours.

Okavango Delta Watch: A new push to monitor the Slaty Egret is using the bird as an “indicator species” to flag early ecosystem stress in Botswana’s Delta, with researchers warning that climate change and land pressures can tip habitats before wider damage shows up. Investment Pitch to Korea: Botswana’s Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe is urging Korean firms to “test us” on a $37bn investment drive through 2036, targeting new growth beyond diamonds in areas like manufacturing, energy and AI. Labour Market Pressure: The Bank of Botswana says unemployment stays high (21% in 2024/25) as job creation lags labour-force growth, with weak demand and diamond uncertainty weighing on hiring. Agriculture Risk: El Niño-linked forecasts point to drier-than-average conditions for Botswana’s Oct–Dec planting window, raising the odds of delayed planting and crop losses. Football Focus: Brave Warriors map a tight end-of-month run—AFCON qualifiers in Francistown and away to Comoros—plus an international friendly against Russia in October. Regional Energy Talks: President Duma Boko’s Angola visit spotlights the Lobito Refinery, where Botswana is exploring potential participation as construction and regional trade links deepen. Sports Spotlight: Jereem Richards set a national 400m record (43.68) and won silver at the Diamond League Final, while Letsile Tebogo returns to Budapest for the Ultimate Championship without his late mother.

Wildlife Science: New GPS-tracking research in Namibia and Botswana flips the old story of lions and hyenas—male lions appear to actively track hyenas, while hyenas try to keep their distance, suggesting risk-avoidance rather than simple scavenging. Climate & Farming: El Niño is strengthening and forecasts warn Botswana’s October-to-December planting window could turn drier-than-average, raising the odds of delayed planting and crop losses. Agriculture Risk: A separate El Niño-linked assessment flags Botswana among countries most exposed to below-normal rains during the key summer cropping period. Labour & Politics: Unions are escalating pressure on President Duma Boko’s government—BOFEPUSU cites broken election promises and resistance to scrutiny, while the Manual Workers Union alleges centralised hiring for cleaners and gardeners is meant to reward UDC activists. Environment Education: Wilderness’ Children in the Wilderness programme renews its partnership in Gaborone, expanding eco-clubs, teacher training and field learning at Tshwaragano Primary School with higher BIHL Trust funding. Sports (Botswana): Letsile Tebogo returns to Budapest for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship without his late mother, while Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi heads in after an unbeaten Diamond League run and a Botswana 400m record. Football (Regional): Morena Ramoreboli leaves Botswana’s Zebras to join Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana staff as assistant coach ahead of 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

Vehicle Safety Recall: The National Consumer Commission says Isuzu has recalled 2,582 RG19 D-Max bakkies (sold May 11–July 3, 2026) over a possible loose brake pedal pivot pin that could make braking less effective; affected vehicles were also exported to Botswana and several neighbours, and owners are urged to get free inspections and repairs at authorised dealerships. Football—Bafana Update: SAFA has confirmed Pitso Mosimane’s first 2027 AFCON qualifier will be at Orlando Stadium on 26 September against Guinea, and it also announced Morena Ramoreboli’s move from Botswana’s Zebras to join Mosimane’s Bafana technical team as assistant coach. Botswana Finance & Sustainability: NDB says it has embedded sustainability into its operations, starting its Sustainability Certification journey aligned to its 2025–2030 strategy, with a focus on financing that supports diversification, jobs and long-term growth. Beneficiary Protection Push: The AFBF is calling for wider awareness of beneficiary protection, legacy planning and financial security, urging Batswana to plan for vulnerable dependants and future generations. Regional Diplomacy: President Duma Boko is in Angola for a state visit, praising the democratic process and pushing for stronger trade links and cooperation between the two countries.

Bafana Bafana Coaching Shake-up: Pitso Mosimane has completed a key backroom move by bringing Morena Ramoreboli in as assistant coach, after SAFA and the Botswana FA agreed he would leave the Zebras ahead of 2027 Afcon qualifiers against Guinea and Eritrea. Botswana–Angola Diplomacy: President Duma Boko’s official visit to Angola is marked by meetings with João Lourenço and the signing of new cooperation instruments covering defence, livestock and a binational commission, with further plans to expand ties in energy, tourism and diamond industry. Consumer Safety: Isuzu has recalled thousands of 2026 D-Max bakkies across multiple countries, including Botswana, over a possible brake pedal pivot pin issue that could affect braking performance. Energy Update: Botswana Power Corporation says all four Morupule B units are back online, cutting reliance on imported electricity as domestic generation ramps up. Economy Watch: Botswana recorded a P2.3bn merchandise trade deficit in June 2026, with imports down but exports largely flat. Sports for All: The Botswana National Sport Commission is pushing wider participation, including senior citizens joining UB Marathon preparations.

Angola–Botswana Diplomacy: President Duma Boko’s three-day official visit to Angola kicks off with high-level talks with João Lourenço and a business forum aimed at unlocking new trade, investment and private-sector partnerships. Court & Justice: Botswana’s Francistown High Court has sentenced Kitso Makati to death for the 2016 murder of a South Korean national in Palapye, after a delayed trial and acquittal of two other suspects. Public Safety: Police say explosives were found hidden in Peak Timbers forest, with preliminary links to illegal mining and an ongoing investigation. Economy & Currency: Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe warns that monetary policy can’t indefinitely protect the Pula as diamond weakness strains revenues and foreign exchange reserves. Business & Finance: Stanbic Bank Botswana names two executive leadership appointments effective 1 October 2026, while stress tests show banking stability under moderate shocks but warn of risks under harsher scenarios. Water Update: Botswana’s water production fell 0.6% in Q1 2026, with output concentrated in Gaborone 1 and the North. Sports & Culture: Botswana sports leader Keenese Katisenge-Tizhani lands an AU role focused on women and girls in sport, and Mzilikazi commemorations in Bulawayo draw regional crowds.

Botswana-Linked Diplomacy: President Duma Boko begins a three-day official visit to Angola in Luanda, with talks expected to deepen cooperation on trade, investment, energy, mining, agriculture and tourism, plus new legal instruments and a stop at the Lobito refinery. Economic Pressure: Botswana’s consumer spending is forecast to fall by P1.3 billion in 2026, as unemployment stays high and credit tightens, while officials warn the Pula can’t be protected by monetary policy alone amid diamond-market weakness. Finance & Policy: Bank of Botswana stress tests say commercial real estate risks look manageable under moderate shocks, but vulnerabilities could surface in harsher scenarios; meanwhile, a new tax rule on offshore income (controlled foreign entities) is set to reshape how residents are taxed. Sports & Local Interest: Gaborone United and Yanga drew 1-1 in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round first leg, setting up a tense return; Botswana’s Keenese Katisenge-Tizhani also lands a continental AUSC women-and-girls role. Justice & Rights: Parliament continues debate on keeping or abolishing the death penalty, with a recent Afrobarometer finding showing strong public support for it. Education & Law: High Court rulings leave GUC/Leeds Beckett law graduates in limbo after disputes over bar exam registration.

CAF Champions League: Yanga’s Selemani Mwalimu struck in stoppage time to rescue a 1-1 draw away at Gaborone United, keeping the Tanzanian champions alive but leaving coach Manqoba Mngqithi warning they still have “work to do” before the return leg. Botswana–Angola diplomacy: Angola and Botswana signed new instruments in Luanda to deepen cooperation, including a political consultation mechanism and an agreement allowing diplomats’ dependants to work for pay on a reciprocal basis. Humanitarian appeal: Mercy Mission is urgently seeking public and business support after donor losses threatened its Imam Development Program and the “Orphan 7” child welfare initiative supporting about 70 orphans across 14 countries. Sports (boxing): Ghana’s Theophilus Nii Kpakpo Allotey vowed “war” ahead of a WBA eliminator against Botswana’s Bagwasi at Osagyefo Fight Night on 19 September, with Olympic bronze medallist Samuel Takyi also returning against Bagwasi. Conservation: A lion census is underway in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, with parallel counts in Botswana to estimate the population across the shared landscape.

CAF Champions League: Gaborone United held Young Africans to a 1-1 draw in Botswana, with Seleman Mwalimu rescuing Yanga in stoppage time—setting up a tense return leg. Diamond League (Brussels): Audrey Werro won the women’s 800m in 1:54.75, while Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo finished fourth in the men’s 200m as Kenneth Bednarek took gold. US Green Card Lottery (DV-2026): The US State Department released the full Diversity Visa list, with Botswana recording 7 prospective applicants; selections must be processed by 30 September 2026. Botswana–Ukraine ties: Ukraine marked 35 years of restored independence in Gaborone with an exhibition linking resilience and freedom to Botswana’s 60th anniversary. Wildlife conservation: A new Southern African Vulture Safe Zone Alliance and guidelines were launched to curb poisoning and other threats across the region. Business/finance: Nigeria’s SEC approved Dangote Refinery’s IPO, kicking off Africa’s biggest share sale, with the order book set to open on 14 September.

Botswana Football: Yanga SC grabbed a late 1-1 draw away to Gaborone United in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round, after Seleman Mwalimu equalised in stoppage time following Aubrey Amseb’s 33rd-minute free-kick for the hosts—setting up a crucial second leg in Dar es Salaam. Diamond League Athletics: Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo finished fourth in the men’s 200m at the Brussels Diamond League Final, while Sinesipho Dambile took South Africa’s only podium finish with silver in the 200m (19.89), and Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishie Charamba claimed bronze (19.99). Botswana Sports Spotlight: Collen Kebinatshipi won the men’s 400m in Brussels with a meet and national-record style performance (43.40), while Jereem Richards took silver (43.68) with a new national record. Regional Politics: Former Botswana President Ian Khama urged Zambia to restore transparency and accountability amid its post-election crisis, calling for the release of opposition figures and independent investigations into alleged abuses. Local Governance & Services: President Duma Boko unveiled a school and clinic in Gaborone built under a prefabricated model by a company linked to Zunaid Moti’s network, after Botswana’s finance ministry previously rejected a similar proposal over borrowing and financial implications.

Diamond League (Brussels): Botswana’s Collen Kebinatshipi tore up the men’s 400m on Day 1, winning in 43.40 to set a Diamond League record, meet record and Botswana national record. Athletics (Brussels): Jereem Richards took silver in 43.68 with a national record, while Makanakaishe Charamba claimed bronze in the 200m (19.99) and Letsile Tebogo finished fourth. Local Governance (Gaborone): President Duma Boko unveiled a school and clinic in Block 7, built under an investor-linked model financed through Zunaid Moti’s African Hero—despite earlier government rejection over borrowing and rental-back concerns. Regional Politics (Zambia): Former Botswana President Ian Khama urged transparency and accountability amid Zambia’s election crisis, including calls for the release of detained opposition figures. Business/Finance (Nigeria): Nigeria’s SEC approved Dangote Refinery’s IPO, clearing the way for Africa’s biggest share sale, with the offer priced at 525 naira per share and expected to open around Sept. 14. Road Safety (Botswana): DPP Kgosietsile Ngakaagae said Botswana lost 1,887 people on the roads between 2021 and 2025, with men making up 71% of fatalities.

Botswana in sport: Busang Collen Kebinatshipi lit up the Diamond League Final in Brussels with a Botswana record 43.40 in the men’s 400m, while Jereem Richards set a new national record 43.68 for silver and Amy Hunt took bronze in the women’s 200m (22.16). Road safety push: Prosecutor Kgosietsile Ngakaagae urged men to take responsibility on the roads, citing Botswana’s 2021–2025 road deaths (1,887 total; 1,349 men) and calling out risky habits like speeding, driving after drinking and low seatbelt use among men. Dangote IPO watch (regional, Botswana-linked): Aliko Dangote told investors in Botswana the Dangote Refinery IPO is set to open in about 10–12 days, with shares priced at N525 and a possible raise of around $1.5bn—an Africa-scale listing. Economy & business climate: Botswana slipped to 66th in IMD’s 2026 competitiveness ranking, behind South Africa and Kenya, as infrastructure remained a key drag across the region. Health support: Bomaid handed Princess Marina Hospital a one-year supply of biopsy needles and drains to help reduce patients’ out-of-pocket costs for breast and endocrine care.

Dangote IPO Watch: Aliko Dangote says the Dangote Refinery share sale will open in 10–12 days, with pricing at N525 per share on Nigeria’s exchange and a target raise of about $1.5bn, as Botswana presses for bigger industrial deals. Regional Infrastructure Push: Botswana President Duma Boko met Dangote to urge cement investment and the Trans-Kalahari rail idea, with talks also touching wider corridor projects. Botswana Health Support: Bomaid handed Princess Marina Hospital a one-year supply of breast-unit consumables, including biopsy needles and drains, to cut patient costs and speed care. Sports—Continental Football: Gaborone United host Yanga in the CAF Champions League preliminary round, while local league action continues with Mochudi Centre Chiefs taking on Tonota FC. Governance & Policy: Botswana’s former president Mokgweetsi Masisi rules out a political comeback, saying the BDP needs a new generation. Tech & Security: A cybersecurity initiative launched across several countries, including Botswana, aims to help businesses and governments tackle rising cybercrime.

Botswana Sports & Football: Gaborone United open their 2026/27 CAF Champions League prelim at home on Saturday against Tanzania’s Young Africans (Yanga), with analysts noting GU looked “rusty” after limited league action while Yanga have momentum. Botswana Football League: The FNB Premiership’s opening week is being called encouraging by the Botswana Football League, with early leaders Nico United and Police XI on three points each. Botswana Darts: Botswana finished second overall at the Region 5 Darts Tournament, winning medals across categories but vowing to push for first next time. AFCON Qualifiers (Regional): Namibia coach Collin Benjamin named a 29-man provisional squad for AFCON 2027 qualifiers, with several players based in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Tanzania. Conservation & Environment: A rare slaty egret in the Okavango Delta is being monitored as a sensitive “health signal” for wider ecosystem changes. Energy Regulation: BERA has given fuel retailers a three-month ultimatum to fix safety and environmental breaches or face closures and licence losses. Legal & Rights: LEGABIBO seeks to join Biggie Ganda Butale’s High Court challenge over the removal of Penal Code provisions on consensual same-sex relations. Wildlife Crime: Botswana is again flagged in the pangolin trade after a man was arrested crossing into South Africa with a live pangolin.