The first warning did not come from a government report or a cybersecurity company. It came from a pensioner in a Botswana village. “I don’t understand how they knew my pension had been paid.” Her question hung in the air, followed by a silence that spoke louder than words. Around her, others slowly began sharing their own experiences. Some had received convincing phone calls from people pretending to represent trusted organisations. Others had lost money through mobile money scams. A few admitted they had become afraid to answer unfamiliar calls or open messages on their phones, worried that a single…
Author: Editor
The Exploration Investment Company of Botswana (EICB) has announced the appointment of Olefile Mashabila as its substantive Chief Executive Officer with effect from August 1, 2026. The state-owned company stated that Mashabila assumes leadership of EICB after serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Geoscience Institute (BGI), where he led one of the most significant periods of institutional transformation in the organisation’s history. His appointment marks an important milestone for EICB as it transitions from operationalisation into full-scale implementation of its mandate to unlock Botswana’s mineral potential through exploration investment. During his tenure at BGI, Mashabila repositioned the Institute…
De Beers says rough diamond trading conditions remained challenging in the first half of 2026 despite the miner recording higher output during the period. The company stated in production report for the second quarter of 2026 that rough diamond production was 88% higher at 7.8 million carats, reflecting the impact of the extended maintenance shutdown in the comparative period at Orapa in Botswana. This was coupled with the planned mining of higher-grade ore at both Jwaneng in Botswana and Gahcho Kué in Canada. “In Botswana, production increased to 5.5 million carats, due to the impact of the extended maintenance at…
MMG Limited (MMG) says it has delivered another strong quarter, building on the momentum of a record 2025 and positioning the company well for the second half of the year. Total copper and zinc production was consistent with the same quarter last year, while favourable precious metal prices and strong output generated significant by-product credits, helping reduce C1 costs. Safety remains MMG’s first value and an operational priority. Year-to-date safety performance remains steady, with a Total Recordable Injury Frequency (TRIF) of 2.06 per million hours worked and a Significant Events with Energy Exchange Frequency (SEEEF) of 0.55 per million hours worked. For the second quarter, TRIF was…
NexMetals Mining Corp., the TSX.V and NASDAQ listed mineral exploration outfit, says Selebi Main deposit in Botswana continues to exceed expectations. In a new update on the assay results from drill holes SMD-26-210, 212-W1, 213 and 214, the company revealed that a 11.15 metre interval of massive sulphides grading 7.65% CuEq (3.10% Cu, 2.21% Ni) was intersected. Directors said this makes it one of the most significant sulphide intercepts drilled at Selebi Main while confirming an emerging kilometre-scale trend of thick, high-grade massive sulphides, extending beyond the 2024 MRE. The company added that all four drill holes intersected sulphide mineralisation, including multiple…
Unik Construction Engineering, the local construction and engineering solutions company, has successfully completed and delivered Morupule B Coal Shed Project to the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC). The engineering firm stated that executing these complex works safely within a live operating environment without disruption to ongoing power station operations, is a testament to its team’s meticulous planning and technical excellence. “We are proud to announce the successful completion of the Morupule B Coal Shed Project for the Botswana Power Corporation, a monumental milestone that highlights Unik Construction Engineering’s capacity to execute complex, large-scale industrial infrastructure,” the company said in a Facebook…
As demand for critical minerals accelerates and governments push to capture more value from their resources, African banks and investors are stepping into larger roles financing the projects that will define the continent’s next mining era. The latest example came in July, when Kropz subsidiary Kropz Elandsfontein secured a R200 million loan from Ubuntu-Botho Investments, the indirect controlling shareholder of African Rainbow Capital, to strengthen its phosphate mining operations in South Africa’s Western Cape. The transaction reflects growing confidence among domestic investors in Africa’s mining sector and signals a broader trend: regional capital is increasingly moving from the sidelines into the…
Travellers who wish to visit the United States will from August 1 process their visa applications in South Africa after the President Donald Trump’s administration decided to close its visa processing operations in Botswana. In an update, the Ministry of International Relations stated that “from this date, routine non immigrant and all immigrant visa services for Botswana nationals and residents will be processed by the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa.” Visa applications will continue to commence online, with subsequent processing undertaken at the regional centre in Johannesburg. Detailed information on this new alignment, including appointment scheduling and payment…
The Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has been awarded a blanket tarriff hike by the regulator following a public hearing early this year. In a statement announcing the increase, Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) said electricity tariffs will increase by a uniform 9% across all consumer categories for the 2026/27 financial year. The Authority stated adjustment will be across all consumer categories including the hard hit households and “the revised tarrifs will take effect from 00:01 hours on August 1, 2026.” However, BERA advised that for large power users such as commercial and industrial customers, maximum demand will be determined using…
De Beers has taken a decision to suspend operations at its key mine in South Africa as part of its strategy toreduce costs amid prolonged slump in the diamond market. The diamond miner said in an update that it wasalso setting out a number of planned portfolio and organisational changes to ensure an efficient cost base that strengthens resilience in the near-term. De Beers also stated that global rough diamond production is now decreasing, with rough diamond tradingconditions expected to remain challenging in the near-term due to cyclical and industry-specific factors.Therefore, it said consistent with recent actions to improve business…