Sunday Standard Gov’t non-committal over turning Chema-Chema into Grant The Botswana government has yet to chart a clear course for the Chema-Chema program, signaling that a decision on its future will only emerge by the close of the financial year. This hesitation has fueled uncertainty among small entrepreneurs, who are increasingly vocal about their frustrations. The lingering question: will Chema-Chema remain a loan initiative, or will it be converted into a grant, as pledged by the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) during its campaign? .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...

Extension II Magistrate Court this morning, January 13th, heard shocking details of a gruesome murder that has horrified the Ramotswa community. A 27-year-old Zimbabwean man, Anesu Hwenjere, stands accused of killing his cousin, Victor Mashinge, in Gotshielo ward between January 5th and 8th. Hwenjere allegedly struck Mashinge with a heavy object, suspected to be a rock, before mutilating his body in a horrifying manner. He is accused of cutting off Mashinge’s hand, beheading him, and severing his private parts, which remain missing, while the head and the hand have since been recovered. The gruesome crime was discovered after Mashinge failed to show up for work for three consecutive days. A concerned friend visited the house where Mashinge and Hwenjere lived. Upon arrival, the friend was told by Hwenjere that they were also searching for him. As the visitor turned to leave, he noticed a swarm of flies near the pit...

Sunday Standard Botswana’s critical minerals strategy gains momentum under Kenewendo  Botswana’s Ministry of Minerals and Energy, under the fresh leadership of newly appointed Minister Bogolo Kenewendo, is charting a transformative path to capitalize on the country’s critical minerals. Kenewendo has unveiled plans to develop a comprehensive Critical Minerals and Materials Strategy, signaling a bold new direction for the nation’s mineral wealth management. This initiative, aimed at leveraging Botswana’s resources in response to global demand, is expected to solidify the country’s economic positioning on the world stage. .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...

In a surprising turn of events, the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) has suspended Francistown East Member of Parliament, Tiroyaone Ntsima, for 45 days over what the party has described as “ordinary misconduct.” Ntsima, who also holds the influential position of Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, finds himself at the center of internal party tensions, raising questions about unity within the BPP. According to sources within the party, the controversy began when Ntsima was added to a newly created WhatsApp group by a faction of disgruntled youth members. The group, reportedly created without official party sanction, became a platform for discussing sensitive party matters, particularly concerns over the current direction of the party leadership under President Motlatsi Molapisi. It is alleged that some of the discussions were critical of Molapisi’s leadership style and decisions, leading to information leaks that prompted the party’s disciplinary action. Ntsima was not the only casualty of...

Sunday Standard Botswana risks missing IMF growth target  Botswana’s chances of meeting the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) modest one percent economic growth target are dimming as fiscal pressures and sluggish global diamond demand weigh heavily on the economy. A recent report by Business Monitor International (BMI) paints a bleak picture of rising public spending, stagnant diversification efforts, and mounting economic vulnerabilities under the new Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government.   .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...

Police in Tutume are investigating a case in which an 8-year-old boy drowned in the Tutume River yesterday. The incident occured in Selolwane ward. Confirming the incident, Tutume Police Station Commander, Superintendent Lesego Kgosiemang indicated that they received the report around 1200 hours. “The deceased and the other four whose age ranged from 8 to 15 years left their place going to some community gardens in the village. “It was heard that when they got to the gardens, they found water in the river and started swimming. The deceased went to the deep side where he unfortunately lost his life,” Superintendent Kgosiemang said. The police boss added that they managed to retrieve the deceased’s body the very same day. He added that the body was certified dead at Tutume Primary Hospital. He concluded by advising parents to always monitor their children’s movements during this rainy season. Source link

Sunday Standard Hollard Life bets big on Botswana with bold moves Hollard Life Botswana, the life insurance arm of Hollard Group, is rapidly asserting its position as a heavyweight in the local market. From its licensing in 2011 to becoming one of Botswana’s top three life insurers, Hollard Life’s journey has been defined by innovation, strategic partnerships, and an unwavering focus on customer-centricity.   .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...

W2RC Champion Ross Branch’s 2025 Dakar Rally journey has come to an unfortunate end following a crash during Stage 6 of the grueling race. Branch went down at the 48-kilometer mark and was airlifted for medical attention. In an exclusive interview with Voice Sport, Branch’s wife, Aimée Branch, provided an update on his condition, expressing relief over the results of his scans. “CT scans came back all clear. A huge relief but will have some follow-up ones done when he gets home to confirm,” she said. While acknowledging the physical toll of the crash, Aimée reassured supporters that Ross is on the road to recovery. “Body a bit beat up and slight concussion but already back with us and remembers crashing and seeing Nacho’s dust up ahead and that he was setting a good pace,” she shared. Aimée says the focus is now on Ross’s recovery. “We’ll wait for Ross...

Sunday Standard Botswana’s energy sector inches closer to self-reliance amid generation surge Botswana’s energy narrative is shifting, as local electricity generation marked an 11.1 percent year-on-year increase in the third quarter of 2024. The Index of Electricity Generation (IEG) rose to 235.1, underscoring steady progress in reducing reliance on imports. Quarter-on-quarter growth was even more pronounced, with a 23.6 percent surge driven by improved performance at the flagship Morupule A and B power stations, which collectively contributed 98.1 percent of total output. .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...

Dikhwaere preparations ended tragically at Goodhope on Thursday morning when a man killed his lover before hanging himself. Both the deceased are from Tsoaneng village “The 25-year-old woman was in the company of others preparing the yard to host dikhwaere when his boyfriend aged 26 arrived and stabbed her to death in full view of her grandmother and others who were making preparations. Before the tragic incident happened, the woman upon seeing her boyfriend ran inside the yard and her lover followed her. She stood behind her grandmother and then he demanded to see her and as she refused he pounced on her stabbing her several times,” said Goodhope Assistant Superintendent Kenneth Edward. The police boss also indicated that the man also stabbed another man who tried to intervene when he was killing his wife. He also mentioned that after killing his lover, the man fled the scene and hanged...