28 Sep 2026

Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe has called for a fundamental shift in mindset, as the country faces declining revenue from its primary export, diamonds.

Addressing a kgotla meeting in Tsabong on Friday, Mr Gaolathe revealed that national revenue generated from diamond exports had plummeted from nearly P30 billion to P12 billion.

“You should take responsibility for what happens in your country; your diamonds, your money, your tourism,” Mr Gaolathe said, emphasising that national resources must be guarded and managed with heightened accountability.

To navigate these economic headwinds, Vice President stressed the urgent need for prudent financial management at both state and household levels.

He also urged citizens to adopt a new financial mindset focused on discipline, resourcefulness, and long-term sustainability.

Central to his message was a call for diversification, challenging Batswana to stop relying solely on traditional revenue streams and instead venture into entrepreneurship, create new income sources, and build local businesses.

“Our country will not fail when Batswana are there and working together. Government cannot do it alone; we must work side-by-side to discover new streams of income."

Fostering a strong home-grown enterprise culture and expanding local productivity, he noted would directly bolster national economic resilience and strengthen the purchasing power of the Botswana Pula.

Highlighting youth empowerment and skills development, Mr Gaolathe underscored the importance of technical and vocational training models like the Botswana Technical Education Programme (BTEP). 

He assured the community that international partners and foreign investors were showing renewed interest in Botswana, with many eager to back youth-led enterprise initiatives and provide crucial capital and skills transfer.

At the same time, to ensure that no citizen got left behind during the economic transition, Mr Gaolathe reaffirmed government’s commitment to reviewing and strengthening social protection programmes to cushion vulnerable members of society.

Addressing localised development concerns, Mr Gaolathe brought welcome news to Tsabong residents regarding local health infrastructure.

He assured the community that the long-awaited construction of the Tsabong Primary Hospital remained a top priority, stating that the project was in the pipeline and would soon move into implementation.

For his part, Assistant Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Mr Motsamai Motsamai urged farmers to build economic resilience by diversifying their income streams rather than relying solely on traditional livestock rearing.

Acknowledging the devastating impact of agricultural shocks, Mr Motsamai highlighted how dual threats such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreaks and recurring climate hazards like El Niño routinely threatened single-source livelihoods.

He encouraged local producers to explore alternative agricultural and commercial ventures, citing apiculture, small-scale horticulture, and off-farm commercial enterprises as viable income generators capable of sustaining households during tough times.

The meeting also served as a platform for residents to voice their growing distress over strict FMD movement controls, as they decried the prolonged movement restrictions, warning that the entire Kgalagadi District had been brought to its knees.

With pastoral farming serving as the primary economic lifeline for the region, residents emphasised that the inability to market and sell their cattle had pushed families into severe financial hardship, leaving local commerce effectively paralysed.

"Without selling our livestock, our lives have come to a standstill. For us, cattle are our only source of life," a resident, Mr Sam Brooks pleaded, appealing to Vice President for urgent government intervention, targeted relief measures, and a re-evaluation of current disease control protocols to help revive the district’s pastoral economy. ENDS