AGP Executive Report

Property Market Regulation: REIB will host a Gaborone Real Estate, Compliance & Professional Practice Conference on 28 August to tackle gaps in Botswana’s property market, including risks from unregistered estate agents and the need to improve coordination across deeds, conveyancing, regulators, valuers and developers. Uranium Exploration Push: Botswana has granted Orano Mining three new uranium prospecting licences in the Central Kalahari, adding to its existing portfolio as the country diversifies beyond diamonds. Energy Security & Fuel Leakages: BURS and BERA signed an MoU to clamp down on illicit fuel trade and protect revenue, while Mozambique-Zimbabwe’s Beira-Feruka corridor expansion will raise pipeline capacity to boost diesel, petrol and jet fuel supply across SADC, including Botswana. Banking & Cost of Credit: Household lending fell by P2 billion in May as borrowing costs stayed high, with banks tightening credit amid weaker activity and risks. Inflation Eases: July inflation dropped to 9.4% on lower fuel costs, offering some relief to households. Power Infrastructure Theft: BPC says cable theft and vandalism are driving losses of over P100 million in five years, with incidents concentrated in several major areas. Citizen Business Linkages: Debswana and First Capital Bank signed a framework to help citizen suppliers bridge the gap between winning contracts and getting paid, linking procurement demand with financing and enterprise support. Capital Markets Momentum: The Botswana Stock Exchange posted gains in the first seven months of 2026, with a major push toward internationalisation via partnerships aimed at cross-border trading. Regional Trade & Logistics: Botswana and Nigeria are positioning Botswana as a production and distribution launchpad into SADC under AfCFTA, with opportunities flagged in manufacturing, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals and logistics. Women in Business: A Botswana women’s leadership movement is gaining traction by creating spaces that prioritise well-being alongside performance, while a separate REIB-linked property conference and other initiatives keep spotlighting professional excellence.

Energy Investment: Botswana is seeing an “unparalleled” rush of interest in power generation, but investors are being held back by transmission grid constraints, according to Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe. SME Finance: First Capital Bank and Debswana have signed an MoU to help citizen suppliers bridge the gap between winning contracts and getting paid, offering working capital, asset financing and term lending. Regional Trade & Investment: Nigeria is positioning Botswana as a production and distribution launchpad into SADC, highlighting opportunities in manufacturing, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals and logistics under AfCFTA. Livestock Health: Botswana has donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to protect cattle, sheep and goats and strengthen cross-border disease control. Agriculture & Food Security: Safflower is gaining traction in Botswana as a drought-tolerant crop that can boost food security and smallholder incomes while supporting agro-processing. SADC Integration Push: President Duma Boko is calling for more open borders and trade corridors to cut transport costs and speed up goods movement across the region.

SADC Trade Push: Botswana President Duma Boko is calling for more open borders and freer trade corridors across the region, arguing that easier movement of goods can cut costs, reduce delays and attract investment. Livestock Health & Trade: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho, reinforcing cross-border disease monitoring and safer livestock movement. Regional Market Gateway: Nigeria and Botswana signed up for deeper trade ties, with Nigeria looking to use Botswana as a production and distribution launchpad into SADC under AfCFTA. Agribusiness Opportunity: Botswana is scaling interest in safflower as a drought-tolerant crop that can boost food security and smallholder incomes while feeding agro-industrial uses. Circular Economy Policy: Botswana announced a phased ban on single-use plastic bags, with support for manufacturers to shift to recyclable and biodegradable alternatives. Infrastructure Delivery (Regional): Communities in Zambia’s Zambezi region were urged to work with consultants on the Kongola–Mulangu road rehabilitation, a key route for trucks linking borders and regional trade. Digital Finance (Regional): Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe launched StanPay, stepping up competition in mobile money against EcoCash and others. Trade & Investment Platforms: Namibia’s Ongwediva Trade Fair opened with demand outstripping space, pushing calls to expand the trade fair centre. Security & Mobility: Botswana is cracking down on recruitment of citizens for Russia’s war, with several stopped at airports.

SADC Trade Push: President Duma Boko urged more open borders and flexible trade corridors across SADC to cut costs, ease border delays and attract investment—while noting the need to balance liberalisation with border security. Livestock Health Cooperation: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho, with both countries stressing that animal diseases don’t respect borders and calling for stronger regional veterinary cooperation. Agri-Value Growth: Safflower is gaining traction in Botswana as a drought-tolerant crop that can boost food security and smallholder incomes, with potential for edible oil and further processing into livestock feed. Regional Industrialisation Agenda: SADC leaders in Durban renewed calls to move beyond exporting raw minerals and agricultural goods toward beneficiation and faster regional integration, warning slow implementation is costing jobs and investment. Botswana Plastics Policy: Government announced a phased ban on single-use plastic bags, with industry support for switching to recyclable and biodegradable alternatives. Digital Payments in the Region: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe launched StanPay, stepping up competition in mobile money against EcoCash and others. Education & Skills: AWS is expanding NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that trained educators in Botswana and Mozambique. Health Risk Watch: Botswana is bracing for El Niño-linked heat and drought risks, with warnings focused on water scarcity and heat-related illnesses.

Agribusiness & Food Security: Botswana’s safflower push is gaining momentum as a climate-resilient oilseed for smallholders, with drought-tolerance and potential processing into edible oil and livestock feed. Roads & Trade Links: Communities in Zambezi have been urged to work with consultants on the Kongola–Mulangu road rehabilitation, a corridor carrying trucks to borders across Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Angola. Payments & Financial Inclusion: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe launches StanPay, a mobile wallet aimed at challenging EcoCash dominance with USSD and app registration plus cash-out via vouchers at Stanbic ATMs. Mining & Investment Signals: Copper exploration coverage highlights how drill results are being used to extend high-grade zones and build resource cases across multiple projects, including Botswana-linked activity via Sandfire’s Motheo. Regional Integration & Industry: SADC leaders again stress moving beyond exporting raw minerals and agricultural goods toward beneficiation and faster intra-regional trade. Transport Infrastructure: Botswana’s Trans-Kalahari Railway project enters procurement after feasibility work, targeting freight links to coal, copper and iron ore and strengthening the Port of Walvis Bay role. Environment & Health Risk: Botswana braces for El Niño-linked heat and drought risks, with warnings focused on water scarcity and heat-related illnesses. Policy & Compliance: Botswana announces a phased ban on single-use plastic bags, with industry engagement for retooling toward recyclable and biodegradable alternatives. Digital Skills & Education: AWS expands NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that trained educators in Botswana and Mozambique.

Botswana Policy & Trade: Botswana has announced a phased ban on single-use plastic bags, with ministries saying the shift will protect livestock and public health while giving manufacturers time to retool for recyclable and biodegradable alternatives. Regional Integration & Industry: SADC leaders meeting in Durban pushed for faster industrialisation and regional value chains, warning that exporting raw materials and slow intra-regional trade are costing jobs and investment. Infrastructure & Logistics: The Trans-Kalahari Railway has moved into its procurement phase after feasibility work confirmed the 1,850km corridor is viable, with a planned PPP concession model aimed at boosting freight links to Botswana’s minerals and strengthening Walvis Bay’s role. Health & Risk: As El Niño threatens hotter, drier conditions, Botswana is bracing for heat-related illness risks and water-scarcity pressures. Finance & Digital Services: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot now handles 100,000+ queries monthly from about 1.6m users, as the bank reports measurable customer and SME account-opening gains. Agriculture & Disease Control: Botswana is intensifying foot-and-mouth disease containment after outbreaks across SADC raised concerns for cross-border livestock trade. Mining & Value Creation: Women artisanal miners are calling for inclusion in SADC critical-minerals value chains, arguing the region must move from extraction to beneficiation and manufacturing. Education & Skills: AWS is expanding NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that trained educators in Botswana and Mozambique.

Botswana plastic policy: Botswana has announced a phased ban on single-use plastic bags, with ministries saying the move will protect public health, livestock and jobs while pushing manufacturers toward recyclable and biodegradable alternatives. Livestock health: Botswana is intensifying foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) controls as outbreaks threaten cross-border livestock trade, with officials stressing the country’s past success in maintaining WOAH-recognised zones free from FMD without vaccination. Trade & transport infrastructure: The Trans-Kalahari Railway has entered its procurement phase after feasibility work confirmed the 1,850km corridor is viable, aiming to improve access to Botswana’s coal, copper and iron ore and strengthen the Port of Walvis Bay as a regional logistics hub. Regional integration push: SADC leaders meeting in Durban backed faster industrialisation and regional value chains, warning that slow integration keeps intra-SADC trade low and costs jobs and investment. Digital finance: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot now handles 100,000+ queries per month across about 1.6m users, as the bank links tech upgrades to measurable customer and business outcomes. Education for growth: AWS is expanding NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that trained educators in Botswana and Mozambique. Mining value-chain debate: Women miners in SADC are calling for inclusion in critical mineral value chains, arguing the region must move from extraction to beneficiation and manufacturing.

Plastic Policy: Botswana will phase in a comprehensive ban on single-use plastic bags, with ministries working with manufacturers to retool toward recyclable and biodegradable options. Regional Livestock Health: Botswana is intensifying foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) controls amid outbreaks across SADC, and has donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to support cross-border response. Trade & Infrastructure: The Trans-Kalahari Railway has entered its procurement phase after a feasibility study confirmed it is technically feasible and economically justified, aiming to move coal, copper, iron ore and other freight via a PPP concession. Digital Payments: Mukuru launched a Visa Companion Card in Botswana, letting unbanked users pay cashlessly from their Mukuru Wallet balance. Cross-Border E-Commerce: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded UnionPay online acceptance to nine African markets, including Botswana, boosting merchants’ access to international cardholders. Market Access Risk: Botswana exporters face potential EU exclusion unless they meet deforestation compliance requirements tied to EU rules. SADC Industrial Push: SADC leaders backed faster value addition and industrialisation, warning that slow integration keeps jobs and investment locked out. Education & Skills: AWS is scaling NBA Math Hoops across Africa, building on a pilot that already reached educators in Botswana. Mining Spotlight: Sandfire reported record quarterly copper sales revenue and higher net cash, highlighting Botswana’s Motheo operation’s continued strength.

Regional Integration Push: SADC leaders meeting in Durban urged faster industrialisation and value addition, warning that slow integration is costing jobs as intra-SADC trade remains low and the region still exports raw materials. Cross-Border Payments: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded UnionPay e-commerce acceptance to nine African markets including Botswana, giving online merchants more payment choice and access to cross-border shoppers. Transport & Trade Infrastructure: Botswana’s Trans-Kalahari Railway has entered the procurement phase after feasibility work confirmed the 1,850km corridor is viable, aiming to move coal, copper, iron ore and other freight while boosting Walvis Bay’s role. Livestock Health: Botswana is intensifying foot-and-mouth disease controls after outbreaks across SADC, with measures aimed at protecting livestock trade and export access. Digital & Education Tech: Absa says its agentic AI chatbot now handles 100,000+ queries monthly for 1.6m users, while AWS is scaling NBA Math Hoops across Africa, with a pilot that trained educators in Botswana. EU Market Access Risk: Botswana exporters face potential exclusion from EU markets unless they meet deforestation compliance requirements in their supply chains.

Rail & Trade Logistics: Botswana’s Trans-Kalahari Railway has entered its procurement phase after feasibility work confirmed the 1,850km corridor is technically and economically viable, with a planned PPP concession model aimed at moving bulk commodities and boosting the Port of Walvis Bay’s role. Agribusiness & Market Access: Botswana is tightening foot-and-mouth disease controls as outbreaks threaten cross-border livestock trade, while the country also donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to support regional response. Payments & E-Commerce: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded UnionPay e-commerce acceptance to merchants across nine African markets including Botswana, giving shoppers more payment choice and helping local businesses sell beyond borders. EU Compliance Pressure: Botswana exporters face potential exclusion from key European markets unless they meet the EU’s deforestation rules across supply chains. Digital & Financial Inclusion: Mukuru launched a Visa Companion Card in Botswana, letting customers pay cashlessly from their Mukuru Wallet without a traditional bank account. Business Matching for Exports: The Good Life Show’s hosted buyer programme is connecting African producers with qualified international buyers, highlighting opportunities in indigenous ingredients and value-added agricultural products. Regional Innovation: Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub and South Africa’s Technology Innovation Agency signed an MoU to build a cross-border innovation economy aligned to SADC industrialisation.

EU Market Access Pressure: Botswana exporters face possible exclusion from lucrative EU markets unless they can meet the bloc’s deforestation rules, with compliance framed as a market-access issue. Cross-Border Digital Trade: Standard Bank and UnionPay expanded secure e-commerce acceptance to nine African markets, including Botswana, giving online merchants more payment choice and access to cross-border shoppers. SADC Industrial Push: SADC leaders backed a regional agenda centred on industrialisation, infrastructure, agricultural transformation and critical minerals, with emphasis on corridors, one-stop border posts and regional value chains. Resource Wealth Diversification: Namibia and Botswana stressed managing resource wealth through diversification, stronger institutions and skills for value addition. Regional Agriculture Linkages: Botswana and Lesotho discussed closer collaboration on agriculture and trade, including farmer support and easier transport for exports. Livestock Trade Momentum (Region): Namibia reported broad-based livestock growth in 1H 2026, with higher marketing and live exports. FMD Cooperation: Botswana donated 100,000 FMD vaccine doses to Lesotho to support transboundary disease response. Innovation for STEM (Botswana): Botswana Digital and Innovation Hub and South Africa’s Technology Innovation Agency signed an MoU to build a cross-border innovation economy. AfCFTA SME Boost: AfCFTA launched a programme to prepare export-ready SMEs in Gaborone, tackling market intelligence, export readiness and financing barriers.

Botswana Economy: Inflation eased to 9.4% in July, down from 10.7% in June, as a government cut to diesel and petrol prices from 7 July pulled down transport costs. Mining & Exploration: Arc Minerals picked G D E Botswana Drilling & Exploration to run diamond drilling at its Virgo project (PL135/2017) in the Kalahari Copper Belt, targeting high-priority zones along a 14km formation contact. Energy & Electrification: Botswana Power Corporation is facing scrutiny over a smart meter tender, after a local bidder quoted about four times the lowest evaluated international price, raising questions on value for money as the country pushes electrification. Regional Trade & Industry: Botswana and South Africa signed a cross-border innovation MoU via BDIH and South Africa’s TIA, aiming to build an integrated innovation economy that supports industrialisation and jobs. AfCFTA Support for SMEs: The AfCFTA SME Booster Programme ran a three-day capacity build in Gaborone to help women and youth-led SMEs become export-ready, tackle market and financing barriers, and connect with buyers and logistics providers. Investment & Finance: The AfDB urged Botswana to diversify beyond diamonds and expand development financing as fiscal revenue declines and productivity gaps persist.

SADC Industrial Push: The UN Economic Commission for Africa urged SADC to speed up industrialisation by processing agricultural and mineral resources and building regional value chains, arguing Southern Africa has the minerals, land, manufacturing capacity and corridors to move beyond exporting raw commodities. Regional Summit Outcomes: At the 46th SADC summit in Durban, leaders backed economic corridors, agro-processing, critical minerals transformation, one-stop border posts, and a new SADC Tourism UNIVISA, while also calling for better security and cross-border health cooperation. Botswana Inflation Relief: Botswana’s inflation eased to 9.4% in July as transport costs fell, driven by government-mandated diesel and petrol price cuts. Development Finance Pressure: The AfDB urged Botswana to expand growth and unlock new development finance, warning that diamond dependence and weaker productivity/industrialisation are holding back structural transformation. Energy Transition Funding: Botswana is listed among priority markets for the AfDB’s proposed $200m African energy transition fund (ATAF), targeting renewables, storage and grid projects. Mining & Drilling: Arc Minerals selected a drilling contractor for its Botswana diamond drilling programme in the Kalahari Copper Belt, targeting over 6,000m. Payments & Diaspora: Absa launched Absa Pay to push contactless digital payments, and rolled out a diaspora banking proposition aimed at turning remittances into investment.

SADC Industrial Push: Leaders wrapped up the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, backing a regional tourism UNIVISA and a new industrialisation agenda centred on infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals, with South Africa’s Ramaphosa set to lead the bloc. Regional Financing: Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa urged members to operationalise and fund the SADC Regional Development Fund to back cross-border energy, water and infrastructure projects. Botswana Electrification Watch: Botswana Power Corporation’s smart meter tender sparked scrutiny after a local bidder reportedly quoted about four times the lowest evaluated international bid, raising questions for procurement and consumer value as the country pushes electrification. Copper Spotlight (Botswana-linked): Sandfire Resources’ copper momentum is drawing renewed attention, with its Botswana Motheo project and Spain’s MATSA framed as a cleaner way to ride electrification-driven copper demand. Food Import Pressure: Botswana’s food import bill fell by nearly P1 billion in Jan–May 2026 as weaker consumer demand reduced spending, signalling softer household consumption. Agribusiness Innovation: A Botswana-focused project is boosting safflower production for drought-tolerant oilseed value chains, aiming to lift incomes for small-scale farmers. Mining & Diamonds: De Beers says it’s adapting its strategy amid diamond market shifts, including more focus on beneficiation and natural diamond demand, while Lucara Botswana’s Karowe diamond mining fleet gets support via financing.

SADC Leadership Shift: Emmerson Mnangagwa formally handed the SADC chair to South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa at the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in Durban, with a push for regional self-reliance, value addition, agro-processing, skills and technology. Electricity Procurement Watch: Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) is defending its smart meter tender after a local bidder quoted about four times the lowest evaluated international offer, raising questions on affordability and consumer protection. Payments Modernisation: Absa Bank Botswana is rolling out Absa Pay to move customers from plastic cards to NFC-enabled contactless payments via smartphones and smartwatches. Food Imports Ease: Botswana’s food import bill fell by nearly P1 billion in Jan–May 2026 as softer consumer demand reduced spending across key categories. Diaspora Investment Push: Absa launched a banking proposition for Batswana abroad, aiming to turn remittances into investment in Botswana’s growth. Mining & Drilling: Arc Minerals selected a drilling contractor for its Virgo project in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt, targeting over 6,000m of exploration drilling. Diamond Value Moves: De Beers says it is reshaping strategy amid diamond upheaval, while Lucara confirmed the sale of Botswana’s giant 2,488-carat Motswedi diamond and ODC eyes wider buyer access via DMCC tender platforms.

SADC Chair Push: South Africa takes over the SADC chairpersonship in Durban, with migration, trade, critical minerals, industrialisation and security set to dominate talks as leaders try to turn regional commitments into practical outcomes. FMD Shockwaves for Beef: Botswana-linked cattle concerns stay in focus as feedlot operators adjust their court fight over FMD handling, while South Africa reports progress in vaccination and quarantines but still has many active outbreaks. Resource Wealth to Prosperity: Namibia and Botswana advanced dialogue on how to convert natural resource wealth into sustainable growth, stressing diversification, strong institutions and saving for future generations. Botswana Capital Markets Drive: The Botswana Stock Exchange doubles down on its “10X by 2030” plan to deepen markets and attract investment beyond diamonds, citing weak investment uptake despite available capital. VAT for Remote Services: Botswana Unified Revenue Service targets an extra P400m in VAT from remote services, using ATAF support to modernise the tax base for the digital economy. Water Utility Strain: Water Utilities Corporation posts a P554.6m loss, with shrinking cash and rising liabilities, even as it pushes for better collections and water security projects. Diamond Trade Moves: Lucara’s giant 2,488-carat Motswedi diamond finds a buyer, while Okavango Diamond Company eyes wider global access via a Dubai tender platform. Mining Equipment Investment: Sandvik wins a Karowe underground fleet order for drills, loaders and services, supported by financing backed by an export credit guarantee. Labour Law Timing Risk: Botswana’s new Employment and Labour Relations Act takes effect 1 September, but business groups warn implementation could be “catastrophic” amid a jobs crunch. Outward Migration Pressure: Government flags rising outward migration, especially to Europe, linked to unemployment and weaker growth at home.