Botswana Citizen Newspaper

25/09/2025

BOCRA DONATES A DIGITAL LAB TO KGOMODIATSHABA PRIMARY SCHOOL

25/09/2025

BOCRA DONATES DIGITAL LAB TO KGOMODIATSHABA PRIMARY

23/09/2025

23/09/2025

WATCH : BORN AND RAISED 9TH EDITION SPONSORSHIP UNVEILING

23/09/2025

Bridging the Digital Divide: Live from Mogobane Primary School for the official handover of the Digital Centre by Hon. David Tshere, Minister of Communications & Innovation.

17/09/2025

Among those returning is former Acting General Manager Chelesile Malele. She was suspended over a controversial P25 million contract signed with businessman Shadrack Baaitse without board approval. Malele will now resume her substantive role as Chief Operations Officer

𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐔𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐃

The newly appointed Botswana Railways Board of Directors has lifted the suspension of several executive management members who had been sidelined by the previous board, The Tuesday Grill has established.

In response to a questionnaire from this publication, BR confirmed the development: “Botswana Railways can confirm that some of the suspended executive members have been reinstated following the appointment of the new Board of Management.”

Among those returning is former Acting General Manager Chelesile Malele. She was suspended over a controversial P25 million contract signed with businessman Shadrack Baaitse without board approval. Malele will now resume her substantive role
as Chief Operations Officer

𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊’𝐒 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄...

https://wa.me/26774397748

17/09/2025

Journalists were urged to own the narrative, ensuring Botswana’s diamond story reaches global audiences. The nation’s development since independence in 1966 was traced directly to diamond revenues, particularly in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝟏 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

Yet, not all kimberlites yield diamonds. Of nearly 7,000 discovered globally, only 1,000 host diamonds, and fewer than 60 are economically viable. Today, only eight tier 1 diamond mines exist worldwide, two of which Orapa and Jwaneng are in Botswana, underscoring the rarity and immense cost of successful exploration.

MacDonald Motsele followed, emphasising the depth of expertise brought to the discussion and the importance of the “diamond story” for Botswana’s identity and marketing efforts. He called on participants to leverage this knowledge for wider impact.

Journalists were urged to own the narrative, ensuring Botswana’s diamond story reaches global audiences. The nation’s development since independence in 1966 was traced directly to diamond revenues, particularly in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

17/09/2025

“Understanding the journey of a diamond from mine to market is crucial for accurate reporting,” she explained.

Debswana, which has been in the diamond mining industry for 55 years, operates four major diamond mines Jwaneng, Orapa, Letlhakane, and Damtshaa in addition to its Corporate Centre in Gaborone.

𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩

Agatha Sejoe, Senior Corporate Affairs Manager has revealed that the company employs approximately 11,000 people across its operations. She made the disclosure during the continuation of the Media Pipeline Education Programme in Gaborone.

Sejoe said the initiative is aimed at educating media practitioners on the diamond pipeline and Debswana’s role within Botswana’s mining sector.

“Understanding the journey of a diamond from mine to market is crucial for accurate reporting,” she explained.

Debswana, which has been in the diamond mining industry for 55 years, operates four major diamond mines Jwaneng, Orapa, Letlhakane, and Damtshaa in addition to its Corporate Centre in Gaborone.

17/09/2025

Despite these obstacles, Botswana has offered a supportive and stable climate for De Beers’ work for over six decades. The geological origins of diamonds were highlighted, with stones formed billions of years ago deep in the Earth and brought to the surface by kimberlite eruptions.

𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲

Experts call on journalists to own and share the nation’s diamond journey.

Edwin Abobee opened the session with a safety reflection, reminding media practitioners of the importance of vigilance, particularly in field operations where encounters with dangerous animals in Botswana remain a reality. His presentation outlined the De Beers exploration pipeline, stressing its upstream role in the diamond industry and revisiting the historic discovery of Orapa in 1967, a turning point in Botswana’s mining story.

He explained that mineral exploration is a demanding and uncertain business, requiring vast financial resources, specialised skills, and resilience in challenging environments.

Despite these obstacles, Botswana has offered a supportive and stable climate for De Beers’ work for over six decades. The geological origins of diamonds were highlighted, with stones formed billions of years ago deep in the Earth and brought to the surface by kimberlite eruptions.

17/09/2025

In it, he accused DCEC leadership of obstructing key investigations relating to the Butterfly case. The letter reportedly angered his superiors, who maintained the DCEC had no role in the Butterfly case, questioning the credibility of some evidence provided by the DIS. At the time, Hubona was on secondment to the DIS.

𝐇𝐔𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 “𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐋𝐘” 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄

Lead investigator in the controversial “Butterfly” case, Jako Hubona, has been ordered to show cause why his superiors at the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime should not suspend or dismiss him for his role in a saga that has badly tarnished Botswana’s image.

Though the DCEC declined to discuss internal employee matters, The Tuesday Grill has reliably established that Hubona was served with a “show cause why” letter yesterday. Insiders suggest the DCEC leadership wants to distance itself from the Butterfly affair at all costs.

The disciplinary action follows a letter Hubona wrote in July 2025 to Minister for State President Moeti Mohwasa, titled “Unfair treatment and public calls for myprosecution.”

In it, he accused DCEC leadership of obstructing key investigations relating to the Butterfly case. The letter reportedly angered his superiors, who maintained the DCEC had no role in the Butterfly case, questioning the credibility of some evidence provided by the DIS. At the time, Hubona was on secondment to the DIS.

𝐂𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐓𝐎 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊’𝐒 𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐔𝐄...

https://wa.me/26774397748

17/09/2025

The summit is backed by Mascom, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Cosbots, and other partners. Attendance will be by invitation, though creatives can apply to be considered.

For stakeholders, it is an opportunity to unify Botswana’s creative community and set the stage for long-term growth.

Botswana Creatives to Chart Future at Inaugural Summit

Botswana’s cultural sector will take center stage on September 19, 2025, as the Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) hosts the first Creatives Industry Summit at the National Museum and Art Gallery.

The event will be officially opened by Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng, a signal of government’s growing recognition of the creative economy as a driver of both jobs and national identity.

“The summit is a platform to reimagine the future of our industry,” said BEPA chairman Goaba Mojakgomo. “We are creating space for collaboration across music, film, theatre, fashion, comedy, poetry, culinary arts, décor, and digital content creation.”

The summit is backed by Mascom, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Cosbots, and other partners. Attendance will be by invitation, though creatives can apply to be considered.

For stakeholders, it is an opportunity to unify Botswana’s creative community and set the stage for long-term growth.