In a space of two months, between May and July this year, Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) will host two high profile tournaments. The first of these, two ITF M15 and W15 tournaments, will be hosted in two consecutive weeks from the 11th to the 23rd of May 2026. The second one, the 2026 Billie Jean Cup Group 3 Africa tournament, will be on the 13th to the 18th of July 2026. Hosting these events is part of BTA’s long term strategy to turn the country into a tennis powerhouse. It is also the BTA’s long term vision to contribute to the country’s economy through sport. And suffice to say, signs are there that both could be achieved. On the sporting front, the ITF M15 and W15 pave the way for the country’s senior players who aspire to reach professional level. The ITF M15 and W15 tournament are an entry level...

Govt unveils bold blueprint to reshape Tourism industry Against the scenic backdrop of Maun’s Thamalakane River, the 41 st Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) annual Conference opened with a call for a radical shift in the nation’s tourism strategy. Addressing industry leaders and stakeholders, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi acknowledged that while Botswana’s ‘high-value, low-volume’ model has historically protected its ecosystems, the sector must now adapt or risk becoming irrelevant in a rapidly changing global market. A key take-away from Thursday’s conference was the unveiling of ‘sobering’ findings from a World Bank diagnostic study. The report highlighted a dangerous over-reliance on high-end wildlife tourism and a decline in the average length of stay for international tourists, dropping from 6.3 nights in 2019 to just 4.9 nights in 2025. To counter this, Mmolotsi’s Minsitry is pushing the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which aims to increase tourist...

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Escapee claims prison guard accepted P5k to help her break out The Zimbabwean traditional healer who briefly escaped from jail earlier this year is back in the headlines again, this time accusing a prison guard of taking a P5, 000 bribe to secure her release. Appearing before Extension Magistrates Court for facts reading on Wednesday, Stella Sibanda, 51, claimed that although the guard pocketed the money, she then went back on their word and took no part in her daring break-out from Gaborone Women’s Prison. It was heard that on 4 February, while assigned with 12 other inmates to wash tents at the prison mess, Sibanda took advantage of a lapse in supervision, slipped away from guards and escaped. However, the accused killer’s freedom was short-lived, with the police re-arresting her in the Broadhurst area the very next day. Having pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody, the runaway suspect...

Sunday Standard Parley approves urgent overhaul of FMD zones Parliament has turned up the heat on government to overhaul Botswana’s veterinary disease control framework, calling for an urgent review and re-demarcation of livestock zones as pressure mounts from recurring outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). .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’,...

Proflight Zambia Launches Maun Route Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has officially announced a celebratory event to welcome the inaugural landing of Proflight Zambia at Maun International Airport on Saturday, 02 May 2026. The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 1200hrs at the airport airside, marking a pivotal moment for the regional aviation landscape. In a statement released on Friday this week, CAAB noted that the new service will operate on a three-times-weekly schedule, linking Lusaka and Livingstone directly with Maun from May through October 2026. By bridging these key destinations, the airline is set to transform the regional safari circuit, allowing travelers to move seamlessly between the Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta. “This is a direct outcome of the Botswana Air Access program which is dedicated to attracting new regional and international routes to foster sustainable growth and job creation for the country,” reads the statement in...

Sunday Standard Choppies rings the till, hands shareholders 1 Thebe Choppies Enterprises Limited has opted for a modest shareholder payout, declaring a dividend of 1.0 thebe per share for the six months ended December 31, 2025, underscoring the retailer’s cautious stance amid margin pressure. .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...

BPP shifts crisis meeting to Tati siding after losing council seat In what is seen as a strategic move to strengthen its support base following the loss of its council seat in the area, the Botswana People’s Party (BPP) has relocated its upcoming leadership forum from Francistown to Tati Siding. The BPP recently lost the Tati Siding Phusumane ward seat that was previously held by Parkie Pius, prompting renewed focus on the constituency. The party which is an affiliate of the ruling Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), will now hold the gathering in Tati Siding under the theme: Reviving the BPP, Building Structures and Strengthening the Foundation. The event which will be the first major leadership convergence of the BPP following the 2024 general elections will bring together the Central Committee, Regional leadership and key stakeholders to assess, reorganise and set the party’s strategic direction. According to the party’s spokesperson, Mmantlha Sankoloba, the...

Sunday Standard Diamond price drop drags mining inflation lower A decline in diamond prices weighed on Botswana’s mining sector in the final quarter of 2025, highlighting the economy’s continued exposure to global commodity cycles. The Producer Price Index, compiled by Statistics Botswana, tracks changes in prices received by producers in sectors such as mining and utilities, offering an early signal of inflationary trends in the economy. .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....

*BTC and BoFiNet power up World Athletics showdown The Ministry of Communications and Innovation (MCI) says Botswana’s digital infrastructure is ready to host the upcoming World Athletics Relays Gaborone 2026, following a connectivity partnership with Botswana Fibre Networks (BoFiNet) and Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL). Under the arrangement, the two companies will serve as Official Connectivity Partners, providing high-speed internet and international broadcast capabilities to support the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the event, scheduled for 2–3 May 2026 at the National Stadium. BTCL has contributed a combination of in-kind connectivity solutions and cash sponsorship valued at over P3 million. This includes high-speed Wi-Fi at the National Stadium and the University of Botswana Stadium, public Wi-Fi, reliable connectivity for the LOC, mobile connectivity for local and international athletes, and a cash contribution of P500,000. BoFiNet will supply a dedicated 10Gbps high-capacity internet connection, along with comprehensive fibre and structured cabling...