2025-06-09

Comoros vs Botswana: Match Preview, Team News & Lineups

Botswana begin their 2025 COSAFA Cup journey on Monday with a Group D clash against Comoros at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium. After edging Zambia 1-0 in their opening match on Friday, Comoros find themselves in a strong position. Another victory would guarantee them top spot in the group and a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

That win over Zambia marked a crucial moment for Les Coelacantes. Ibrahim Madi, who plays for Athletico Marseille, found the net just after the half-hour mark to hand his side the lead. Comoros then put on a determined defensive performance to secure the three points. It was their second straight win, following a 1-0 triumph over Chad in March during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers - a result that had ended a string of three consecutive defeats.

Under the guidance of head coach Stefano Cusin, Comoros have performed admirably in World Cup qualifying, winning four of their six matches and placing second in Group I with 12 points. They trail group leaders Ghana by three points and lead Madagascar by two. In the COSAFA Cup, they're hoping to improve on last year's campaign, where they narrowly missed out on a bronze medal after a penalty shootout defeat to Mozambique in the third-place playoff.

For Botswana, this match represents a fresh start after a ten-week break from international competition. Coach Morena Ramoreboli will be aiming for a strong showing, especially with his team having fallen short at the group stage in the last two editions of the tournament. The Zebras were runners-up in 2016 and 2019 but have struggled in recent years. They ended last year's group stage in last place, with just two points from three matches.

Despite those recent struggles in the COSAFA Cup, Botswana enter Monday's game in solid form. They've won three, drawn two, and lost one of their last six matches across all competitions. That single defeat came against Algeria in March during their World Cup qualifying campaign, where they currently sit third in Group G with nine points - three behind second-placed Mozambique.

Ranked 136th in the latest FIFA rankings, Botswana face a Comoros side that has had the upper hand in recent meetings. Comoros have won two of the last four encounters between the nations, including the last two matches dating back to 2016. Monday's showdown promises to be a key battle in determining who progresses from this three-team group.

2025-06-06

Mascom's 3-For-3 Marks Five Years of Impactful Community Service

Mascom is set to host the largest-ever edition of its flagship initiative, Mascom 3-For-3, this weekend. The programme, now in its fifth year, is a unique, employee-led Corporate Social Responsibility campaign rooted in community upliftment and inspired by Botswana’s founding statesmen - the Three Chiefs.

This years campaign signifies a renewed dedication to service, shared purpose, and national reach. It includes a wide array of projects such as school refurbishments, health education drives, career day events, ICT training for young people, and environmental clean-ups. Each project is planned, led, and carried out by Mascom staff, reflecting the company's belief in grassroots-driven change.

Mascom 3-For-3 goes beyond traditional volunteerism. It serves as a model for inclusive, employee-driven CSR that aligns with Mascom's broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and its overarching commitment to national development. Rooted in the principle of "Powering Connections That Inspire Change," the initiative honours the legacy of the Three Chiefs, whose historic mission to Britain was a turning point in Botswana’s path to sovereignty.

In that same spirit of leadership and selflessness, Mascom employees across the country are stepping forward not just as workers, but as citizens determined to make a sustainable impact. Mascom CEO, Dzene Makhwade-Seboni, described this year’s edition as both a milestone and a reflection of the company’s values in action. She noted that the event represents Mascom's shared conviction that purpose and progress can go hand in hand, and that meaningful change starts with individual and collective action.

As the programme enters its fifth year, Mascom 3-For-3 continues to demonstrate how corporate purpose, when placed in the hands of passionate individuals, can inspire change at every level of society.

2025-06-06

Botswana's President: No More Exporting Uncut Diamonds

Botswana's newly elected president, Duma Boko, has announced that all diamonds mined in the country will be cut and polished locally. Speaking to a public assembly in Ramotswa, he declared that no diamond would leave Botswana in its raw form. This marks a significant shift in national policy, aimed at ensuring that the country gains more value from its mineral resources before they are exported.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to process all of Botswana's minerals - including copper and nickel - within the country. The government is preparing to introduce legislation that will require local processing of all mineral exports. According to President Boko, once the laws are in place, there will be no obstacles to achieving this goal.

At present, only about ten percent of Botswana's rough diamonds are cut and polished domestically. Diamonds are vital to the nation's economy, accounting for 80 percent of export revenues and 30 percent of the gross domestic product. However, the country's reliance on this single resource has become a liability. Last year, diamond sales through Debswana, the joint venture between the government and De Beers, fell by more than half.

The economic consequences have been severe. Botswana's economy shrank by 3.1 percent, the national budget deficit widened to nine percent of GDP - the highest level since the COVID-19 pandemic - and foreign reserves have nearly been depleted. The country has also faced a credit rating downgrade.

President Boko's plan reflects a recognition that Botswana must not only reduce its dependence on diamond exports but also capture more of the value chain by investing in local processing. His administration views this shift as essential to revitalizing the economy and creating sustainable growth.

2025-06-03

SmartSwitch Botswana Pioneers Dignified Digital Aid for 75,000+ Beneficiaries

SmartSwitch Botswana is blazing a trail for financial inclusion with a fintech solution that puts dignity and financial services into the hands of food voucher beneficiaries. Since its establishment in 2006, SmartSwitch has expanded its reach to over 75,000 beneficiaries in underserved communities across Botswana.

A subsidiary of Lesaka Technologies, SmartSwitch Botswana holds exclusive rights to deploy the Universal Electronic Payment System (UEPS) in the country. The UEPS has also been endorsed by the central banks of Namibia, Ghana, and South Africa as an accredited national payment platform.

At the heart of SmartSwitch's offering is a secure, biometric-enabled smart card platform designed for the unbanked and underbanked. This technology allows food grant recipients to safely receive, store, and spend funds at local merchants-while also earning interest on unused balances.

The system was developed following a Ministry of Local Government tender aimed at replacing the country's outdated, paper-based food basket system. That legacy system was inefficient, offered no choice, and carried a social stigma.

"The Ministry wanted to empower beneficiaries with choice -what food they could buy, when to collect it, and where to shop. The second goal was to restore dignity," said France Mabiletsa, Managing Director of SmartSwitch Botswana.

"Although we applied cutting-edge technology to the challenge, we also knew we needed to create a deeply human solution to address the audience's needs. We had to provide beneficiaries with choice and restore their dignity."

That mission has been realized.

Beneficiaries no longer wait in the sun with wheelbarrows for pre-packaged goods. Instead, they receive a monthly allowance on a SmartSwitch card, usable at over 1,200 local shops, from general dealers to corner stores. Each transaction is verified using biometric authentication, ensuring privacy and security. The card resembles a standard debit card-eliminating any visible indication of social assistance.

In the first three years alone, more than 50,000 people-many previously unbanked-were integrated into Botswana's formal financial system. Today, over 75,000 have access to smart banking features, including offline-capable POS devices that allow secure transactions in remote areas.

Merchants are also benefiting. Payments are settled within 48 hours, improving cash flow and customer service.

"The system has helped our business grow. We serve more customers, and we get paid quickly and securely," said Kennete Mmusinyane of Obed Supermarket in Gumare, Okavango District.

With a strong track record of reliability and innovation, SmartSwitch is now preparing for the next phase. As a new government tender approaches, the company plans to roll out upgraded services and enhanced devices.

"We're not standing still. We're reinvesting in the system to do more for more people," said Mabiletsa. "It is our aim to continue to be a trusted partner to the government, a reliable ally to merchants, and a gateway to dignity, choice, and empowerment for thousands of people in Botswana."