29 Jun 2026

Ministry of Sport and Arts has been elevated to priority sector status under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) and National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12), with government targeting the fields to create jobs and spur economic growth, particularly among youth. 

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Agnes Chengeta told the Public Accounts

Committee (PAC) on Friday that their mandate was directly tied to national economic revival.

She said sport and arts hold ‘immense potential to create sustainable jobs and economic opportunities.”

Briefing PAC, Ms Chengeta said the ministry’s first 12 months focused on setting up its operations. A major milestone was the submission and parliamentary passage of the Anti-Doping Bill last year. 

She said the ministry was also reviewing the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) Act to tighten sector regulation. However, she said the process was temporarily paused to allow the incoming BNSC board time to review the proposed changes before Parliament proceeded.

Much of Ms Chengeta’s testimony centered on the troubled National Stadium track refurbishment. 

She said the project was derailed by football fixtures and persistent rain. 

Although the contract was signed in October 2024, works only started in January 2025.

Heavy rains from January to March caused major setbacks. The schedule then clashed with the Botswana Golden Grand Prix in April. 

An inspection found required patches would exceed 100 meters, which contravenes World

Athletics rules. The ministry scrapped patching and opted to remove the entire top layer. 

She said patching alone was quoted at P7 million. Cabinet approved a new P16 million quotation to replace the full track, with works continuing despite bad weather. Post-Grand

Prix tests showed moisture was trapped between layers because of the wet climate, preventing the material from meeting World Athletics compaction standards. 

Ms Chengeta further said the technical assessments found the final layer was highly sensitive to water and needs a 100 per cent dry Styrene-Butadiene Rubber base. Trapped water reacted to temperature shifts, breaking the adhesive bond and leaving blisters and bubbles on the surface. 

As a result, the ministry removed the entire track and its bottom layer. An additional P2.8 million was allocated for disposal and reinstallation, bringing the total project cost to P23 million. 

Following a World Athletics inspection, the facility has been certified as a Class II athletics track for five years. 

After Ms Chengeta’s submission, PAC member Mr Leepetswe Lesedi proposed that the ministry provide a comprehensive written report on the refurbishment. The committee adopted the proposal and resolved to convene a special meeting to probe any gaps found in the document. ENDS