The Striped Pigeon (2026)

25/12/2024

Botswana’s decision to issue 400 elephant hunting licenses for the 2025 season has reignited global controversy over the ethics and economics of trophy hunting. The landlocked country, home to over 130,000 elephants—the world’s largest population—has defended the move as a necessary measure for wildlife management and rural development. Yet, it comes at a time of heightened global pressure from conservationists, animal rights activists, and international governments. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/12/25/botswana-issues-400-hunting-licenses-amid-global-scrutiny-of-trophy-hunting/

24/12/2024

Botswana’s music has a new milestone to celebrate, and her name is Mpho Sebina. The award-winning artist has become the first musician from Botswana to join the Recording Academy as a voting member, earning her a seat at the table where the GRAMMYs—the pinnacle of musical excellence—are decided.
This groundbreaking achievement isn’t just a personal triumph for Mpho; it’s a monumental moment for Botswana and African music as a whole. Handpicked by industry peers, she joins an exclusive class of 2024 members tasked with recognizing and shaping the future of music worldwide. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/12/24/mpho-sebina-makes-history-as-botswanas-first-voting-member-of-the-grammys/

14/12/2024

Botswana Diamonds, a leading diamond exploration company, has taken a groundbreaking step by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its mineral exploration efforts. The initiative has already led to the identification of seven significant kimberlite targets, one of which is of exceptional interest. Kimberlite, a rare volcanic rock that serves as the primary host for diamonds, is the foundation of Botswana’s global leadership in diamond production. The company’s exploration team played a pivotal role in discovering the Karowe mine near Orapa, known for yielding some of the world’s most valuable stones and solidifying Botswana’s position as the top diamond producer. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/12/14/botswana-diamonds-leverages-ai-to-uncover-kimberlite-targets-strengthening-botswanas-diamond-legacy/

22/08/2024

In a monumental discovery set to shake up the global diamond industry, Lucara Diamond Corp. has announced the recovery of a 2,492-carat diamond from its Karowe Mine in Botswana, ranking as one of the largest rough diamonds ever unearthed. This extraordinary find adds to Lucara’s impressive history of colossal diamond recoveries, including the 1,758-carat Sewelô and the 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona, making Karowe Mine a consistent source of some of the world’s most exceptional gems. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/22/lucara-diamond-unveils-one-of-the-worlds-largest-diamonds-a-2492-carat-gem-unearthed-at-karowe-mine/

21/08/2024

Lotus Resources Limited, a leading force in the global uranium market, has achieved a significant milestone with its groundbreaking drilling program at the Letlhakane Uranium Project in Botswana. The company recently reported remarkable results, including a revised Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) that now places the project at an impressive 155.3 million tonnes with an average grade of 345 parts per million U₃O₈—equating to 118.2 million pounds of uranium oxide (U₃O₈). Among these results are high-grade intercepts, positioning Letlhakane as one of the most promising uranium deposits globally. These findings not only reaffirm the continuity and high-grade quality of the deposit but also spotlight Botswana’s emerging status as a critical player in the global uranium market. Keith Bowes, Managing Director of Lotus Resources believes that Letlhakane is a large and attractive standalone—potentially company-making—project. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/19/first-of-its-kind-uranium-drilling-in-botswana-underway-confirming-world-class-deposit-with-high-grade-intercepts/

20/08/2024

Botswana, known for housing the world’s largest wild ostrich population, once had a thriving ostrich farming industry, considered commercially viable. However, the industry has significantly declined, with fewer than 400 farmed ostriches remaining today. This decline is partly due to slaughterhouses failing to meet the necessary bird thresholds. Despite this downturn, there is renewed optimism as the government, alongside the Botswana Ostrich Farmers Association (BOFA), is taking steps to revive ostrich farming in the country.

The Ministry of Agriculture has recently initiated breeding efforts at the Dibete Ostrich Multiplication Unit (DOMU) and included ostrich farming in the Thuo Letlotlo program. This inclusion marks a significant milestone, as ostrich farmers were previously excluded from government support schemes. The Thuo Letlotlo program, which focuses on enhancing the income and living standards of livestock farmers, is expected to provide much-needed support to ostrich farmers who have struggled financially. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/19/reviving-botswanas-ostrich-farming-industry-thuo-letlotlo-comes-to-the-rescue/

19/08/2024

Lucara Diamond Corp has released its Q2 2024 financial results, revealing a strong performance amidst globally challenging market conditions. The company reported a 7% increase in revenues to $41.3 million, up from $38.6 million in Q2 2023. Net income from continuing operations nearly doubled to $11.9 million, compared to $6.1 million in the same period last year. With 76,387 carats sold and operating expenses reduced to $13.7 million, Lucara continues to demonstrate resilience and strategic growth. William Lamb, President & CEO, commented that Lucara's quarter performance reaffirms its position as a leader in the diamond industry. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/19/lucara-diamond-corp-shines-through-market-turbulence-q2-2024-results-highlight-strategic-growth-amidst-global-challenges/

12/08/2024

Botswana’s financial health is facing unprecedented scrutiny after Finance Minister Peggy Serame’s latest address to Parliament exposed the nation's precarious economic situation. In what was meant to quell fears amongst the nation, Serame revealed that Botswana's Government Investment Account (GIA) has plummeted from P19.1 billion in May 2023 to a staggering low of P4.1 billion in May 2024, highlighting a severe fiscal crisis. The minister pointed to a combination of factors, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, declining diamond revenues, and increased government spending on critical infrastructure and social services, as key contributors to this drastic decline.

While Serame assured the public that the government is committed to fiscal consolidation and rebuilding the country’s financial reserves, her statement has sparked intense debate. Critics are questioning the government’s spending priorities and the sustainability of its economic policies. With Botswana's economy heavily reliant on the diamond industry, which has been hit by global challenges such as competition from lab-grown diamonds and sanctions on Russian supplies, concerns are growing over the future of the nation’s economic stability. As the country grapples with these revelations, the conversation is rapidly shifting from reassurance to a call for urgent action to prevent a full-blown financial crisis. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/12/botswanas-financial-crisis-how-diamond-dependence-and-government-spending-practices-push-economy-to-the-brink/

11/08/2024

Venturing beyond the bounds of Earth, Botswana is poised to join the ranks of spacefaring nations with the upcoming launch of its first satellite, BOTSAT-1. This ambitious project, scheduled for a 2025 lift-off aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, marks a significant leap in Botswana’s pursuit of technological innovation. Adding to this momentum, a new partnership between Azercosmos, Azerbaijan’s space agency, and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has been announced, further enhancing the nation’s capabilities in space. The BOTSAT-1 satellite, designed to revolutionize Botswana’s mining and agricultural sectors, will deliver critical data to optimize operations and safeguard resources, positioning Botswana as a key player in the global space arena. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/11/botswanas-bold-leap-to-the-stars-first-satellite-to-launch-in-2025/

08/08/2024

Last week on the 31st of July, at the New Capitol Cinemas, anticipation hung heavily in the air, as audiences gathered to witness the premiere of "Whispers of the Rain," a graduation film by Rogue Films from Awil College. Selwana Motsemeng, a 4th-year BA in Acting student, was one of the main actors in the film, bringing to life the undocumented ill-treatment of immigrants in Botswana through a deeply emotional and thought-provoking piece. Along with other actors, the debut showcased not only the depth of the young actress’s talent but also her ability to resonate with viewers long after the credits roll. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/08/selwana-motsemeng-a-star-in-the-making-with-whispers-of-the-rain/

06/08/2024

An industry teeming with potential yet crippled by systemic inefficiencies, Botswana's film sector stands at a crossroads. According to UNESCO, the estimated number of active production companies in Botswana is about 266, generating approximately $5.5 million in annual revenue. This burgeoning industry has created around 2,000 direct and 1,800 indirect jobs, sparking hope for Botswana's youth eager to express their cultural identity. Yet, behind this promising façade lies a harsh reality. Leonard Mmolawa, a seasoned cinemamatographer and editor with over a decade of experience in film and television, paints a vivid, albeit troubling, picture of this landscape. Holding a BA Honors degree in Motion Picture from AFDA and an Associate degree in Broadcasting from Limkokwing University, Mmolawa’s insights are not just informed but brutally honest. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/05/the-slow-burn-of-botswanas-film-industry-a-tale-of-neglect-talent-and-unfulfilled-promises/

04/08/2024

Picture a determined young woman, armed with nothing but a passion for teaching and a smartphone, setting out to revolutionize education in her country. This is Moitse Sarah Seatle, a dynamic English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching consultant, whose journey from private tutoring to becoming a guiding star for future online English teachers is a tale of resilience and innovation. Amid the chaos of a global pandemic, Sarah found her true calling, turning obstacles into opportunities and igniting a movement that is transforming lives and creating new pathways for educators in Botswana. Sarah's story begins with a love for tutoring that blossomed into a career. As she navigated the challenges of the digital age, she not only honed her skills but also became a mentor to countless aspiring teachers. Her mission is clear: to provide the tools, guidance, and inspiration needed to succeed in the world of online education. Join The Striped Pigeon for an exclusive interview to explore the journey of this remarkable educator and the impact she is making on the future of online English teaching. Read more at https://stripedpigeonnews.wordpress.com/2024/08/04/guiding-lights-how-one-sarah-seatle-is-shaping-the-future-of-online-english-teaching-in-botswana/

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