Editor Picks

Food Import Bill Falls as Consumers Tighten Their Belts

Botswana’s food import bill fell by almost P1 billion in the first five months of 2026 but the decline appears to reflect weakening household demand rather than a straightforward improvement in domestic food production. Between January and May, the country spent P4.9 billion on food imports, down 15.5% from the …

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Debswana Bets on Citizen Industry

Debswana is looking to use the commercial ecosystem surrounding its diamond operations to help build stronger citizen-owned businesses, as Botswana seeks to diversify an economy long anchored by mining. The approach is centred on connecting Debswana’s procurement power, technical expertise, markets and supplier networks with the Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency …

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Sandvik Secures Karowe Fleet Deal as Lucara Deepens Underground Investment

Strengthening its role in one of Botswana’s most significant mining projects, Sandvik has secured a major equipment and financing agreement with Lucara Botswana for the underground expansion of the Karowe diamond mine. The multinational engineering company will supply Lucara Botswana, a subsidiary of TSX-listed Lucara Diamond Corp, with a 15 …

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Huawei Engagement Opens New Route for Botswana’s Energy Security

Botswana is looking to technology as a key enabler of a more secure and resilient energy system, with the Minister of Minerals and Energy Bogolo Joy Kenewendo engaging Huawei Technologies Botswana on the potential application of renewable energy solutions. The engagement examined how emerging energy technologies could help expand access …

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Safety, wellness interventions reshaping risk culture in South African workplaces

By SIAN THURTELL* In high-risk industrial environments, a paper trail is often mistaken for a safe workforce. For decades, health and safety performance has been judged by administrative volume: courses ticked off, policies signed, and binders filed away. Yet a documented procedure has never stopped an incident on an active …

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Diamond Dependence Drags On Growth

Botswana was the weakest performing economy among Southern Africa’s major economies in 2025, with the African Development Bank warning that heavy dependence on diamonds has left the country exposed to global commodity shocks even as its neighbours rebounded strongly. The bank’s Southern Africa Economic Outlook 2026 shows Botswana’s economy contracted …

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AFSIC 2026 bringing together global investors and Africa’s leading sectors

Now in its thirteenth year as Africa’s premier investment conference, AFSIC 2026 agenda has been unveiled. Scheduled mid-October at the Park Plaza Westminster, London, this year’s programme is the most comprehensive in the conference’s history, spanning critical industry sectors, drawing an exceptional calibre of investors, and backed by unprecedented sponsor …

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Botswana’s Tech-Driven Water Command Network Draws Regional Interest

Botswana has built one of Africa’s most technologically sophisticated bulk water distribution systems, transforming its command center outside the capital into a regional reference point for utility automation and real-time monitoring. Operating out of the Mmamashia Water Treatment Plant near Gaborone, the state-of-the-art Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system …

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Botswana Bets on Non-Diamond Mining, Local Industry as Gem Revenues Slump

Botswana is accelerating plans to diversify its mineral-dependent economy, turning toward alternative metals and localized manufacturing to cushion against prolonged volatility in the global diamond market. Diamonds currently account for roughly 80% of the southern African nation’s export revenue and 30% of its gross domestic product. However, falling market prices …

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SKF SA extends engineering excellence across Africa

SKF South Africa’s Application Engineering Services cover a wide suite of solutions including installation, lubrication systems, condition monitoring and bearing remanufacturing. At the core of the company’s Application Engineering strategy is a commitment to move beyond the development and installation of housings, bearings and sealing systems by integrating reliability services …

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