Botswana

BOTSAT-1, Botswana's first space satellite, has passed all tests and is ready for launch from Space X's facilities in California, USA, and the long-awaited event is expected to take place soon after technical problems delayed it

School authorities have ordered the temporary closure of schools due to disruptions in the transportation of students caused by heavy rains that flooded most roads and interrupted some

Efforts are being stepped up to crack down on illegal sales of TV decoders, in a coordinated action by the Botswana Police Service and the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority

The country, largely diamond-dependent, needs economic restructuring said President Duma Boko, with the development of new industries, the dismantling of the state-owned electricity company in favour of private investment, and an increase in soft loans

The country has 2nd highest cost of living in Africa after Ethiopia, according to Business Insider Africa considering affordability of essential goods and services like housing, transportation, food, health care and education in the cost of living index

The government extended the derogation for the export of live cattle, primarily to South Africa, until 30 April, as the Botswana Meat Commission, the only institution statutorily authorised to export meat products, continued to face operational problems

A total of 98 children were born on 1 January 2025, more than doubling last year's 46 children; the figure is seen as a good omen after President Duma Boko recently announced new programmes to encourage citizens to generate more children

400 elephant hunting licenses have been issued on top of permits for other species amid fresh opposition from conservationists; international hunters pay up to $50.000 to obtain a license in order to hunt an elephant

Only 28 women stood for Parliament out of 258 contestants, or 10,85%, and only three women won their seats, 4,92% of the 61 seats; on the other hand, women represent 54% of those eligible to vote

The national table tennis team for the 2024 AUSC Region 5 Games, to be held in Namibia next year, has been unveiled; athletes emerged from national selection tournament organised by the Botswana Table Tennis Association

Intending to diversify its economy, currently dependent on diamonds, Botswana plans to enter the medical cannabis and solar energy markets, announced President Duma Boko during his first address to the nation

Duma Boko, president since 1 November, and his government plan to legalize undocumented Zimbabwean migrants with temporary residence and work permits; Botswana hosts the second-biggest Zimbabwean diaspora in the world and many are farm or domestic workers