*Unity Dow’s pitch for the VP seat As the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) elective congress fast approaches, attention is increasingly turning to the party’s vice presidency, one of the most hotly contested positions on the ballot. While party president, Dumelang Saleshando will retain his position unopposed, the battle for his second in command has captured the imagination of the BCP faithful and political observers alike, pitting MPs Unity Dow and Taolo Lucas against each other. A long-serving legislator and Mother of the House in Parliament, Dow says she is entering the race convinced that the BCP needs experienced, inclusive and steady leadership as it prepares for the future. This week she spoke to The Voice staffer DANIEL CHIDA Chida about her VP bid, the state of the BCP and whether she believes the party can one day attain state power. Mother of the House, reflecting on your distinguished career, could...

Minister demands an end to GCC chaos Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, this week delivered a stinging rebuke to the Gaborone City Council (GCC), admonishing its members to set aside personal vendettas and refocus on their core mandate. His address came hot on the heels of a failed motion of no confidence against GCC Mayor Oarabile Motlaleng that was tabled by independent councillor Tshenolo Palai. Motshegwa reminded the civic leaders that the reputation of any institution rises or falls on the conduct of its leadership, a remark that landed with heavy silence in a room all too familiar with the council’s recent spiral of infighting. Of late dramatic scenes have played out at GCC, initially with the Mayor locking the Deputy Town Clerk out of her office, seizing her keys, and delivering them to the Permanent Secretary. As if that was not enough a public spat...

Air Botswana slaps ex-pilot with P250k lawsuit Air Botswana has filed a P250, 000 lawsuit against a former senior pilot after he allegedly refused to operate a scheduled Johannesburg flight on what was supposed to be his final day on duty, forcing the airline to cancel flights and accommodate stranded passengers. Notorious for its delayed flights, the national airline Air Botswana is fuming after one of its former pilots Captain Benedict Dumelang Gaborakanelwe allegedly refused to fly to and from Johannesburg on his last day on the job, costing it almostP250,000.00 in damages. According to papers filed before the High Court, former Line Captain Dumelang Gaborakanelwe resigned on 11 May 2026. In his resignation, Gaborakanelwe stated that he would serve a one month notice period effective 15 May 2026, such notice to expire on 14 June 2026, a request the employer agreed to. However, before his notice expired, Air Botswana...

Woman testifies against rape-suspect son Painfully aware that her words could send her flesh and blood to prison for a long time, in a surreal family development, a mother found herself having to testify against her son in a rape case. Kabo Monyamane, 41, is accused of raping a 40-year-old woman on Christmas Eve two years ago. His mum, Shalenyana Monyamane suspects he probably did it. Giving evidence before Molepolole Magistrate Court on Thursday, 58-year-old Shalenyana admitted her boy confessed his guilt to her on two separate occasions. “He came home with an officer named Oganne, who told Kabo to tell me why he had been arrested and he said he had raped someone. After he was released from prison, when I asked him to tell the truth, if indeed he had raped, he said yes,” declared the outspoken mother, casting a dark look at her son. Throwing her boy...

Court rejects accused arson killer’s release Regrets came too late for a 26-year-old young woman from Sesung village after her former lover murdered her mother and only child in a house fire, leaving three siblings badly injured and nursing fire wounds. Appearing before a Molepolole Magistrates Court this week, Golebaone Keotlogetse, who is recovering from the trauma of losing family members last November, testified against her ex-boyfriend 35-year-old Orapetse Morategi Toteng, who is accused of the double murder and arson. Toteng is said to have set fire to the victims’ house in an attempt to kill Golebaone, but instead claimed the lives of his 8-year-old son, David Keotlogetse and Golebaone’s mother, 55-year-old Sedireng Keotlogetse. In her testimony before court, Golebaone opposed Toteng’s bail application, stating that they are both from Sesung village and that she still feared for her life. “We are not free at all; he chased me with...

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Defence blasts DPP in Ecoplexus case The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has asked the Broadhurst Magistrate Court to freeze the trial of a Chinese national accused in the high-profile Ecoplexus investment fraud case, arguing that proceedings should await the extradition of two additional suspects. Weng Jiajin, 43, who faces 994 counts of obtaining by false pretences, appeared before Regional Magistrate Mareledi Dipate on Tuesday for a status update. The charges stem from the collapse of the Ecoplexus investment scheme, which allegedly defrauded hundreds of Batswana. The matter has been plagued by repeated delays since it was first registered, with the defence consistently raising concerns over the pace of investigations and the accused’s constitutional right to a speedy trial. Jiajin was previously granted P20,000 cash bail after spending nearly 10 months in custody. His bail conditions required him to surrender all travel documents, reside at an approved address in Gaborone,...

*HATAB says there is no revenue loss to foreign booking agents*New tourism law to tighten standards and expand citizen participation Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) Chairman, Lawrence Moagisi Lecha, has dismissed suggestions that the industry was losing revenue paid to foreign firms for bookings of hotel rooms especially in the lucrative Okavango Delta. Responding to media enquiries on Monday, Lecha said while many luxury safari bookings are made through international travel agents, the bulk of the money ultimately finds its way back into Botswana. The new HATAB Chairman said suggestions that foreign agents are pocketing all the revenue simply do not reflect how the tourism industry operates. “If that was the case, how would the hotel operators pay their workers, pay for services and utilities, and also buy food from local suppliers?” he asked. The Okavango Delta is home to hundreds of expensive luxury hotels some of which...

*Machete rejects coalition short-cuts From civil society boardrooms to the frontline of party politics, Olebile Machete has quietly built a reputation as one of the opposition Botswana Congress Party’s (BCP) sharpest strategists. The former Chairperson of the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) now seeks to become the next BCP Publicity Secretary, where he hopes to shape the party’s message ahead of the 2029 General Election. Machete is widely credited by party insiders for driving Team Taolo’s energetic media campaign, and he believes BCP needs to focus less on political theatrics and more on convincing Batswana it is ready to govern. The Voice reporter, DANIEL CHIDA, caught up with the man who is aiming to unseat Greg Kelebonye during BCP’s elective conference on Monday. Why did you choose the BCP over other political parties?The BCP 2014 Manifesto (READY TO LEAD) completely sold me on the party. The BCP’s ideological clarity...

*Court orders former Olympic star to pay P41, 309 *His alcohol tab was worth more than P3, 500 Former Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos is back in the spotlight, this time not for blazing around the track, but for allegedly taking a little too long to settle his hotel tab. The once celebrated 800m star, […] Source link