AGP Executive Report

Botswana Arts & Culture: Gaborone’s Sanitas Tea Garden hosts “Where Stories Meet,” a new exhibition that brings Kuru Art Project artists from D’Kar together with creatives from the Art Residency Centre, turning San storytelling into a bold, living conversation of memory, survival and colour. Comedy on Tour: Ugandan comic Dr. Hilary Okello brings the “Jokes From Far Away” tour to Botswana in June, with Gaborone’s Nuestra Casa Lounge (4 June) and Francistown’s Cresta Marang Gardens (5 June) set to spotlight both visiting and local comedians. Music Milestone: Shanti Lo marks 25 years of music at Botswana Craft on 30 May, with live performances from Lebo KM, Gala and surprise acts. Indigenous Sounds, Digital Future: Sample Botswana launches as an indigenous audio sample library, recording instruments, chants and landscapes for use in music, film and education—aimed at keeping local sound alive online. Sport & Community: Botswana Hockey administrator Unaswi Matebu is remembered for her leadership at BNOC and her long service as BHA president, with a strong focus on sustainability and gender equality in sport.

Faith & Community: “Baptize the World” says it has recorded 17,910 baptisms across 49 countries on Pentecost Sunday, with 1,600+ churches joining and a central hub in Washington, DC. Sports & Youth: Botswana’s basketball story spotlights Atang Nkoane’s ACL injury comeback path, shifting from player to analyst and student. Football: COSAFA president Tariq Babitseng confirms he will keep leading the Botswana Football Association too, citing federation rules. Local Sports Spotlight: Bank Gaborone hosted a VIP send-off as Gaborone United clinched the 2025/26 FNB Premiership title. Arts & Culture (Regional): Independent South African designers are gearing up for a Société fashion show in Johannesburg on 6 July, blending fashion and music. Music/Media: Album reviews from Mull Historical Society, Hue and Cry, and Wojtek the Bear bring fresh sounds and Botswana-set storytelling into the spotlight.

Fashion & Events: Three independent designers—Thabo Kopele, RAREBLAQ and Diary 24—will showcase new collections at the Société fashion show in Johannesburg on 6 July 2026, blending fashion with music under the Société team led by model coach Itumeleng Nko. Sports Spotlight: Botswana’s Lilian Odira eyes a strong 2026 Diamond League start in Rabat, while Botswana sprinter Busang Collen Kebinatshipi set a meet record and world lead in the 400m at Xiamen. Football & Community: FNB Botswana crowned Gaborone United as 2025/26 Premiership champions, framing the win as part of its “Grassroots to Greatness” push. Youth & Culture: With youth unemployment hovering near 40%, more young Batswana are turning to hustling—hair, freelancing and micro-businesses—using social platforms to find clients. Media Freedom: Afrobarometer reports Botswana’s perceptions of media freedom fell by 20 points over five years, placing it among Africa’s steepest declines. Arts & Books: Italian readers get a spotlight on “The Revelation Spiritual Home,” with Fedinsieme awarding the Italian edition of Introvigne and Šorytė’s book in Turin.

Youth & Hustle Economy: With youth unemployment in Botswana hovering just under 40%, more graduates are turning to side hustles and micro-businesses to survive, from hair and beauty services to using TikTok and WhatsApp to reach clients. Music & Reviews: Mull Historical Society, Hue and Cry, and Wojtek the Bear get the spotlight in fresh album reviews, mixing literary-inspired songwriting with bold electronica. Sports & Doping: Botswana 800m runner Mokgethi faces a mandatory provisional suspension after testing positive for 19-norandrosterone, with BNOC saying the case will follow WADA rules. Basketball (Youth): FIBA confirms the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League calendar, with a Botswana stop in Gaborone among global conference hosts. Football (Regional): COSAFA president Tariq Babitseng says he will keep leading the Botswana Football Association too, citing federation-linked eligibility rules. Arts & Literature: Tickets are moving fast for Sir Alexander McCall Smith’s Books by the Beach event, bringing the Botswana-loved author to Scarborough’s literature festival. Media Freedom: Afrobarometer reports Botswana’s perceived media freedom has dropped sharply over five years, placing the country among Africa’s steepest fallers. Sports Sponsorship: FNB Botswana celebrates Gaborone United’s 2025/26 Premiership title, framing the win as “grassroots to greatness” in football development. International Arts Exchange: RMB Latitudes spotlights Nigeria in its 2026 International Focus, using art to connect creative markets across Africa.

Windhoek Scrutiny: Windhoek activist Sem David is demanding full disclosure on Mayor Sackarias Uunona’s Azerbaijan trip for the World Urban Forum—residents say they weren’t told the purpose, cost, programme, or expected outcomes, and he questions whether the trip is “feel-good” spending on ratepayers. Spiritual & Local Economy: Bulawayo’s “Mother of All Revivals” crusade drew 10,000+ people to White City Arena, with organisers citing hundreds of conversions and a noticeable boost for vendors and transport operators. Botswana Football Pride: Bank Gaborone backed Gaborone United’s title finish with a VIP send-off after a 2-1 win over BDF XI. Health Leadership: Dr Richard Kamwi has been confirmed president of the Society for AIDS in Africa after a leadership handover in Accra. Arts & Culture: Sir Alexander McCall Smith’s Scarborough’s Books by the Beach event is drawing fast ticket demand ahead of June 5–7. Sports Spotlight: Botswana’s Lilian Odira eyes a strong Diamond League start, while Rwanda’s Hamza Khan rewrote T20I history with an unbeaten 164.

Public Pulse: Botswana’s media freedom perceptions have dropped sharply, down 20 percentage points over five years, with only 53% saying journalists can report freely—one of the steepest declines in Africa. Health & Education: Dr Richard Kamwi has been confirmed president of the Society for AIDS in Africa, steering work on HIV, TB, hepatitis and emerging diseases. Women’s Health & Learning: Merck Foundation and Ghana’s First Lady Lordina Mahama launched “Educating Linda,” including scholarships for 40 underprivileged girls and a push to tackle infertility stigma. Sports Spotlight: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi set a Diamond League meet record and world lead in the 400m, while Rwanda’s Hamza Khan stunned cricket fans with an unbeaten 164. Arts & Culture: RMB Latitudes’ Nigeria focus is using art to connect creative powerhouses across borders, even as regional tensions loom. Regional Watch: South Africa says it won’t use a “Trump wall” approach to border security as anti-migrant protests flare.

Immigration Tensions in Focus: South Africa is rejecting a “Trump wall” approach to border security, saying it will push neighbours to share responsibility for border management as anti-migrant protests turn violent and even trigger reports of African ambassadors boycotting Africa Day events. Media Freedom Watch: Botswana’s perceived media freedom has dropped sharply—down 20 points over five years—placing it among the steepest fallers in Africa, with a bare majority still saying journalists can report without government interference. Arts & Culture Exchange: Nigeria is spotlighted at RMB Latitudes 2026, using art to link Lagos and Johannesburg amid a tense regional backdrop. Sports Spotlight: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi hit a Diamond League meet record and world lead in the 400m (43.92) in Xiamen, while the week also carried big Africa Day sports energy and major regional entertainment line-ups.

Art as Bridge: RMB Latitudes 2026 put Nigeria in the spotlight with a Lagos-to-Johannesburg International Focus programme, aiming to connect creative momentum across Africa’s two big economies. Sports & Stories: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi set a meeting record in the 400m at Xiamen Diamond League, while Rwanda’s Hamza Khan rewrote T20I history with an unbeaten 164. Local Arts Calendar: Tickets are moving fast for Sir Alexander McCall Smith’s Scarborough’s Books by the Beach event in Botswana, and Betway Clash of the Legends is back with P1.5 million backing for retired players. Policy & Culture: Botswana’s BNSC says it’s pushing new revenue plans as costs rise, and the Church of the Province of Central Africa ordained its first women priests in Gaborone. Wildlife Moment: A Botswana conservationist’s lioness “checkup” video has gone viral, showing affection that looks like a tackle.

Church Milestone: The Church of the Province of Central Africa has ordained the first women priests in its province, with 14 women commissioned on May 17 in Gaborone—an historic step after motions passed in 2023. Sports Spotlight: Rwanda’s Hamza Khan lit up Gaborone with an unbeaten 164, the second-highest T20I individual score, as Rwanda crushed Ivory Coast by 271 runs. Athletics Buzz: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi set a meeting record to win the men’s 400m at the Xiamen Diamond League, while Letsile Tebogo finished eighth in the 100m. Arts & Culture: Botswana’s creative community marks the legacy of Kgomotso Tshwenyego, while Africa Day coverage keeps returning to the tension between curated pride and real-life hardship. Regional Cooperation: South Africa and Botswana pushed urgent Foot-and-Mouth Disease action, focusing on vaccination and border fence upkeep.

Cricket Headlines: Rwanda’s Hamza Khan lit up Gaborone with an unbeaten 164, the second-highest total in men’s T20I history, as he powered Rwanda to 288/2 against the Ivory Coast in the Africa sub-regional qualifier. Athletics Buzz: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi struck gold at the Xiamen Diamond League 400m with a meeting-record 43.92, while Letsile Tebogo finished eighth in the 100m won by Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala (9.94). Arts & Culture: Botswana’s creative community mourns the late Kgomotso Tshwenyego, remembered for film work, radio shows and mentoring emerging talent. Africa Day Debate: As Africa Day approaches, writers and commentators push back on “curated pride,” pointing to survival pressures and inequality beneath the celebrations. Regional Spotlight: South Africa and Botswana urged urgent action on Foot and Mouth Disease, including vaccination and stronger border fencing. Local Sports: Mosetse FC eyes promotion after winning the inaugural MARFA league, with play-offs set for 4–7 June in Kasane.

Sports Spotlight: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi lit up the Xiamen Diamond League with a meeting-record 43.92 in the men’s 400m, while Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams finished sixth (45.26). Regional Politics & Safety: African ambassadors plan to boycott South Africa’s Africa Day event in Moruleng over fears tied to anti-immigrant militancy, even as organisers say the protests target undocumented migrants. Policy Watch: Icasa is backing B-BBEE rules in ICT, pushing back on a proposed rewrite by communications minister Solly Malatsi. Arts & Culture: Botswana is gearing up for the Makgadikgadi Salt Pan Challenge (29–31 May) blending horse racing, jazz and Boro dance, while Gaborone’s National Art Gallery hosts Totang Motoloki’s “Beyond The Scrap” until 28 May. Community Memory: Botswana mourns veteran actress and broadcaster Kgomotso Tshwenyego, remembered for uplifting elders through radio and her Lepatla La Bagodi Foundation.

Wildlife Breakthrough: Angola’s “ghost elephants” have finally been traced through DNA from dung, linking the high-altitude herd to Namibia—captured on motion cameras and now featured in a National Geographic documentary. Sports Spotlight: Botswana’s Busang Collen Kebinatshipi set a meeting record to win the men’s 400m at the Xiamen Diamond League, while Canada’s Christopher Morales Williams finished sixth. Africa Day Culture: Harare’s Africa Day weekend is rolling out a star-studded mix of jazz, amapiano, house and theatre, with “Different Paths, One City” as the theme. Regional Mobility & Climate: Uganda’s locally made electric buses are expanding fast, with plans to scale up production and push greener urban transport. Botswana Arts & Community: Botswana is also in mourning for veteran actress and media personality Kgomotso Tshwenyego, remembered for storytelling and uplifting the elderly. Health & Livestock: South Africa and Botswana are urging urgent cross-border action on Foot and Mouth Disease, including vaccination and stronger border biosecurity.

Conservation Boost: Zimbabwe’s KAZA TFCA programme has unlocked €2 million for ranger housing at Zambezi National Park, with 10 units already 80% complete—aimed at lifting frontline morale and conservation outcomes. FMD Focus: South Africa’s Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is pushing for urgent rollout of the 2026–2028 South Africa–Botswana action plan to fight Foot and Mouth Disease, including vaccination and border-fence upkeep. Aviation & Skills: ATNS and Botswana’s CAAB signed an agreement to expand joint training and tech collaboration to strengthen regional air safety. Sports Spotlight: Mosetse FC are set for promotion play-offs in Kasane (4–7 June) after winning the MARFA league, while Botswana’s FNB Premiership season ends in Gaborone on 23 May. Arts & Culture: The Makgadikgadi Salt Pan Challenge returns (29–31 May) blending horse racing, music and Boro dance, and Totang Motoloki’s “Beyond The Scrap” runs at the National Museum until 28 May.

Botswana–South Africa aviation boost: ATNS and Botswana’s CAAB have signed a new agreement to expand joint air-traffic training and deepen tech collaboration, aiming to strengthen safety and regional integration. FMD pressure on the agenda: South Africa’s Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen urged urgent rollout of the 2026–2028 South Africa–Botswana action plan against Foot and Mouth Disease, including vaccination and border-fence maintenance. Women in finance, global reach: CISI launched a Women in Finance initiative with nearly 300 applications from 16 countries, including Botswana, offering 100 complimentary memberships to help women enter or return to finance. Arts & culture on the move: Botswana’s creative scene is in focus with tributes to entertainment icon Kgomotso Tshwenyego, while local art keeps expanding—like Totang Motoloki’s “Beyond The Scrap” exhibition running to May 28. Misinformation check: Botswana’s government again denied a viral claim that Arsenal fans were granted a public holiday. Sports spotlight: Uganda’s electric buses and South Africa’s Pride stories may not be Botswana news, but they’re shaping the region’s cultural conversation this week.

Arsenal Title Buzz Meets Misinformation: Botswana’s government has moved fast to debunk a viral claim that Arsenal fans were granted a public holiday after the Gunners won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, slapping a big “FAKE” stamp on the fabricated notice. Regional Sports Momentum: Zimbabwe will host the AU Sports Council Region 5 Table Tennis Championships in July, while Jwaneng gears up for the Queens International Pool Tournament and Jwaneng’s softball masters also bring teams from across Southern Africa. Botswana Tech in Mining: Botswana Minerals says an AI-assisted exploration study flagged 36 copper anomalies across two licences, with fieldwork planned soon. Culture & Belonging: South African artist Joya Mooi reflects on exile and home in her new EP, as anti-immigration protests spark fresh questions about who belongs. Business & Jobs Watch: A report highlights South Africa’s chicken export potential—already shipping to Botswana and Namibia—if support helps scale production.

Anti-immigrant Rumours Hit a Wall: As protests over xenophobia against South Africa ripple across the region, viral claims that Botswana and Tanzania had closed borders or cut electricity were denied by both governments—Botswana also imports power from South Africa, not the other way around. Sport Spotlight: Queens International Pool Tournament returns in Bulawayo (May 23–26) with a bigger field after overwhelming demand, while foreign athletes are set for the Cape to Cairo Marathon in Arusha on May 31. Farm Relief: Isuzu launched a R250,000 relief drive for farmers hit by foot-and-mouth disease, inviting “Farmer Stories” for practical support. Botswana Arts & Culture: The entertainment industry mourns Kgomotso “Aus K” Tshwenyego, remembered for her warmth on TV and My Star, and her signature “Bo sutate” greeting. Regional Football: Botswana’s government also moved to shut down a fake “Arsenal fans” public holiday claim.