15 Oct 2025

The upcoming inaugural Botswana Mining Show slated for October 21 to 23 in Gaborone, Ditshupo Hall, aims to open the mining sector to ordinary Batswana.

The show organiser and Progressive Institute chief executive officer, Mr Mmoloki Mmolotsi stated on Tuesday during the Botswana Mining Show stakeholders and media breakfast meeting.

“We are looking at opening the mining sector to Batswana, it is not an elitist sector,” said Mr Mmolotsi, underscoring the need for locals to identify and seize opportunities presented by the sector.

He noted that mining, which had been the mainstay of the economy, could play a bigger role in diversifying the country’s economy, hence the show was conceived to open up the sector to ordinary locals.

The free-entry show aims to bring a fresh perspective to the sector through empowering locals and already, over 7,000 people have registered.

Progressive Institute chief operations officer, Mr Willard Machado, explained that the show would transform the journey for Botswana’s mining landscape.

It will also promote citizen participation in the mining value chain, create employment and business opportunities for Botswana, showcase sustainable and ethical mining practices and position Botswana as Africa’s hub for innovation, exploration and economic inclusion, Mr Machado said.

Progressive Institute’s motive he said was to ensure that mining became a tool for citizen economic empowerment, opening doors of opportunities for both industrial giants and small-scale miners, youth, innovators, and local entrepreneurs eager to take part in wealth creation.

Over 10,000 participants, 150 exhibitors and more than 50 speakers are expected to take part at the show, which Botswana Chamber of Mines representative, Mr Joe Ramotshabi, said ushered in a new era of beneficiation through value addition as opposed to the volume of minerals produced and sold.

He said the show was about the value that entrepreneurs and the country could derive from minerals, adding that such includeed employment creation, diversification, industrialisation, wealth creation, citizen participation, export market development, community upliftment and improved living standards, among others.

The show, which will feature speakers from government and private sectors, including mining, academia, finance, tourism, and energy, among others, will be held under the theme: A New Era in Mining, and is open to the public through registration. ENDS