*Members demand reform as scheme posts P42.9 million loss In February this year, Botswana Public Officers Medical Aid Scheme (BPOMAS) was dealt a heavy blow when many beneficiaries were turned away by private healthcare providers due to unpaid claims. At the heart of the crisis was a backlog of payments that stretched over a month, leaving members unable to access services despite paying their monthly premiums in full. The situation was further compounded by the scheme’s deteriorating financial position as BPOMAS recorded a net loss of P42.9 million for the 2024/25 financial year, a sharp reversal from the P23.4 million surplus reported the previous year.This was revealed at the BPOMAS annual general meeting (AGM) held in Gaborone and Francistown last Friday. According to BPOMAS Chairperson, Morebodi Jamba, the group position reflected a loss before tax of P47.7 million largely driven by increased insurance service costs and reduced investment returns.“Our challenges...

*DNA exposes dad who impregnated his two young daughters *Court hears chilling testimony of a teen mom’s nightmare *Accused has separate cases of defilement and rape Sordid details of incest by a shamed father who allegedly impregnated his two young daughters were laid bare before a Molepolole Magistrates court this week, leaving the packed gallery […] To access this post, you must purchase (Monthly) Premium Access, (Weekly) Premium Access, (Yearly) Premium Access or Bi-Annual Premium Access. The post Monster dad? appeared first on TheVoiceBW. Source link

After coming close to the crown last year as a Top 10 finalist, Tonota-born beauty queen Magdeline Modipane returned to the Miss Botswana stage stronger, sharper, and more determined than ever. Amid fierce competition in the 2026 edition, she stood out, winning the People’s choice category with over 1million votes and ultimately being crowned Miss Botswana 2026. The 25-year-old Bachelor of Accountancy student at the University of Botswana is now set to represent the country at the 74th Miss World Festival in 2027. Beyond beauty and poise, her reign is defined by purpose, through her Beauty With a Purpose initiative, Tlhokomelo, she champions the protection and well-being of vulnerable children, turning her crown into a platform for meaningful change. What moment during the competition made you think, “I’ve got this”?It wasn’t a single moment, but every time I stood in my truth. Whether engaging with children through Tlhokomelo or speaking...

What started as a simple, soulful moment has turned into a life-changing breakthrough for Olerato Sebotso, 23, better known as Tonie Whites. She has become the name on everyone’s lips after a viral video of her singing ‘Botshelo Ke eng (What is life)’, a song by Trechyson Molly, DJ Promatic SA, and Dendofela sent shockwaves across social media. The Letlhakeng-born talent didn’t just sing the song, she owned it, captivating audiences with a voice many are now calling unforgettable. The clip, first shared by socialite and host Kobe Red, quickly gained traction last week, transforming Tonie Whites from a rising creative into a full-blown viral sensation overnight. And the numbers tell their own story. Within days, Tonie Whites racked up a staggering 2.2 million views on TikTok and more than 1 million views on Facebook, a digital explosion that even she admits felt surreal. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe it. It...

A rising gospel star is making waves ahead of this year’s Botswana Gospel Music Awards. Montwedi Kevin Baleseng, 34, better known as Psalmist Kevin is stepping into the spotlight for the first time with multiple nominations, putting his name among some of the industry’s biggest and most respected acts. The Lobatse-born singer, now based in Molapowabojang, says this year marks a turning point in his musical journey. He has landed nominations in several major categories, including Best Gospel Single, Best Male Gospel Artist, Best Contemporary Gospel and Best Packaged Album. “I have been active in music for years. I’ve been singing since I was a child, but I decided to take it seriously in 2016 when I joined the Joyful Noise Group in Lobatse. That’s when I treated it as a profession,” he said. Despite the tough competition, Psalmist Kevin admits one nomination stands out above the rest; the Best...

Voguish beauty bar set to take Gabs by storm Glam, confidence and star power are coming to Gaborone as celebrity makeup artist Kagiso Mokgware prepares to officially launch her new Voguish Beauty Bar studio in Partial, Middle Star on March 28, 2026. The 35-year-old beauty boss from Tonota has been making waves in the industry since 2018, when she founded Voguish Beauty Bar. What started as a passion for helping women look and feel beautiful has grown into a trusted brand that many clients turn to for their biggest life moments. And Mokgware is no stranger to the spotlight. Over the years she has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Pearl Thusi, Boity Thulo, DJ Lamiez, Durban Gogo and Lorato Kganyago. Locally, her brushes have also touched the faces of beauty queens such as former Miss Botswana Palesa Molefe and former Miss Universe Botswana Dr Thanolo,...

In a music world obsessed with trends, Afrohouse duo Raptured Roots are ripping up the rulebook and fans can’t get enough. The duo famed for producing the hit “Itsatsaula” by Han C and Charma Gal, and appearing on Khoisan’s ‘Mosalagae’ single are stepping into a bold new era that promises bigger sounds, deeper emotion, and unforgettable live moments. And this time, they’re not just pressing play, they’re bringing the music to life. With more than a decade in the game, the pair who previously dropped their acclaimed 2019 EP New Beginning featuring heavyweights like Team Distant, Jay Sax SA, and Cindy are now transforming their performances into immersive semi-live spectacles powered by live keys. For them, it’s more than just a tweak. It’s a revolution. “We didn’t want to just play music,” they reveal. “We wanted to experience it with the audience to make every performance feel alive and unrepeatable,”...

Sunday Standard Kenewendo flags cost constraints in rural electrification push Energy minister, Bogolo Kenewendo this week told parliament that high connection costs are limiting the pace of rural electrification, even as government maintains a longer-term commitment to expanding access. Kenewendo said it remains economically unviable in some areas to extend electricity infrastructure, particularly to ploughing fields and sparsely populated zones where demand is low and distances are significant. .ihc-locker-wrap{} There’s more to this story But to keep reading, we need you to subscribe. Investigative journalism is an indispensable part of a healthy society, but it’s also expensive to produce. We are reliant on subscriptions to fund our work, and while you can enjoy most of our stories for free, a small number of premium features are reserved for subscribers. You can subscribe for one week, a month or a full year – the choice is yours. Save 77% on an...

*Church leaders divided as new law requires pastors to go back to school A storm is brewing in Botswana’s religious and political landscape following renewed debate over a controversial law requiring church leaders to hold formal theological qualifications. The heated discussion resurfaced in Parliament recently, where some Members of Parliament called for a review of the Registry of Societies Act of 2022, a law that requires pastors, prophets and other religious leaders to possess at least a Diploma in Theology from a recognised institution. The legislation, introduced through amendments to the Societies Act by former Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Annah Mokgethi, was aimed at curbing the growing of churches, addressing the commercialisation of religion, and preventing financial abuse. Giving a briefing after the parliamentary debate, current Minister of Labour and Home Affairs, Major General Pius Mokgware, defended the law, stating that it also seeks to tackle anti-money laundering...

Sunday Standard BDC swings to deeper interim loss as impairments and funding costs bite Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) reported a sharply wider half-year loss, as rising impairments, falling loan income and higher funding costs exposed growing strain in its core lending operations. .ihc-locker-wrap{} There’s more to this story But to keep reading, we need you to subscribe. Investigative journalism is an indispensable part of a healthy society, but it’s also expensive to produce. We are reliant on subscriptions to fund our work, and while you can enjoy most of our stories for free, a small number of premium features are reserved for subscribers. You can subscribe for one week, a month or a full year – the choice is yours. Save 77% on an annual subscription. Click here to find out how. Existing subscribers can log in to keep reading here. jQuery(document).ready( function(){ jQuery(‘#iump_login_username’).on(‘blur’, function(){ ihcCheckLoginField(‘log’, ‘Please complete all required...