2025: The Year That Promised, Postured, and Poured Petrol on the Fire

- If 2025 were a movie, it would be a tragicomedy directed by chaos itself! Everything that could go wrong did, and when it went right, it somehow still looked wrong. It was a year that promised profitability, progress, and prosperity. What we got instead were prophets in handcuffs, medicines missing in action, land deals that reeked of politics, and a president who declared war on journalists while declaring profits that never arrived. Our reporter JOE-BROWN TLHASELO relives the year as he remembers it, picking moments as they come to mind. And if you think he has left something out, feel free to remind him; after all, 2025 gave us enough drama to fill a library.Profitability That Wasn’t: I declare, and I decree!President Duma Boko stood tall at a Kgotla meeting in Ramotswa early in the year, “declaring and decreeing” that by the end of 2025, the Botswana Meat Commission, Air Botswana, the Botswana Agricultural Marketing Board, and Botswana Railways would all be profitable. On that day he even styled himself a sniper, assuring the crowd that under him, everything was under control. Explaining the sniper analogy to the cheering and ululating crowd, the President said he had taken time to observe how things worked and had concluded, with confidence, that these parastatals would indeed turn a profit. He would later repeat this declaration at two different events, stating: ‘I declare intransigently,’ that these entities will be profitable, and added he was not negotiating about it. Fast forward to mid December: the only thing flying high at Air Botswana is debt and cancelled as well as delayed flights – nothing going our way or the president’s way. The only thing on track at Botswana Railways is disappointment, suspensions and expulsions of board members. Air Botswana still struggles to fill seats, while Botswana Railways remains a nostalgia project for those who enjoy trains that arrive late. With just days left in the year, the grand promise of profitability looks like nothing more than another ghost train. The less said about the others, the better.Love, Age, and Angie’s WalletThe marriage of Angie and Andrew Holland was supposed to be a fairy tale. Instead, it became Botswana’s favourite online roast in 2025. Throughout the year, the Botswana social media space enjoyed no break in relation to the beautiful young woman’s marriage life. Angie, glamorous and over four decades younger than Andy, was accused of chasing her husband’s wallet rather than his heart. But Girl di not just lie there doing nothing about the accusations. She always hit back, in humourous fashion all the time, reminding all and sundry that only the married understand – the rest are just jealous nobodies who know nothing about true love that knows no bounds. “I married for love, not money,” she declared, saying she does not care what people say, as long as she is at peace, in love, and the people close to her know the truth. The ‘jealous nobodies’ rolled their eyes so hard opticians must have made a killing this year. Social media memes went overboard, comparing her vows to bank transactions, while Andrew smiled through it all, proving that love, or at least wealth, conquers all. The girl is happy shem, and nobody is going to take that away from her.About MP Mabeo’s Bonno Housing ScamWhat was sold as a dream quickly turned into a punchline. The Bonno Housing Scheme, hailed as the government’s flagship initiative, was supposed to deliver thousands of homes and dignity to citizens. Instead, it delivered confusion, fanfare, and empty plots. MP Boniface Mabeo did not mince words, calling it the “Bonno Housing Scam.” His jab landed because, frankly, the numbers never added up. When Minister Ramogapi proudly announced that 34,567 houses had already been built “at different stages of development,” social media pounced. Citizens accused him of deliberately twisting words to make it sound like tens of thousands of houses were already standing, when in reality they were still blueprints, foundations, or wishful thinking. Actually the smarter citizens have been pointing out that there is nothing new here; that the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) has for years been building houses under the SHHA scheme, quietly handing over keys without the need for ribbon cutting ceremonies or hashtags. Destitute housing, the famous “two and a half plan” houses, and other projects had long existed through government’s SHHA scheme, the Bonno critics say, adding that this was just old wine in a new bottle, with the only difference being louder speeches this year, improved floor plans and a change of name from ‘SHHA’ to the fancy-sounding ‘Bonno.’ But the biggest embarrassment came with the Bonno Target 3000 initiative in Kgale, launched in April with the president officiating and Minister Ramogapi bragging about his education qualifications while promising houses by year’s end. Fast forward to December: no houses in sight at the site. The project collapsed before it even began, with money wasted on a launch before BHC and contractors had agreed terms, at least according to the BHC’s boss Pascaline Sefawe. The result? A stalled project, empty land, and citizens left wondering whether Bonno Target 3000 was ever about housing or just about headlines and ticked boxes. And Ramogapi promised 30 000 jobs at the site with every single employee there earning a minimum of P4 000. We are here.The Year Cabinet Ministers Crossed Over2025 became a year marked by funerals among Botswana’s political elite. Agriculture Minister Micus Chimbombi, former minister Kgotla Autlwetse, former minister Setlhomo Lelatisitswe, and former minister Christian De Graaf all passed away. While two of these leaders succumbed to illness, the other two died under circumstances that shocked the nation. One was discovered hanging in a remote location far from where anyone would normally expect to find him, amid suspicions that he had been scammed by a lover who drained him financially and left him broken. The other reportedly shot himself, shattering his jaws so violently that his teeth were found scattered on the ground; he later succumbed to the devastating injuries. How can we forget such men of valour? Men who raised their hands to serve this country in spaces where only a few dare to tread. Their souls now rest in peace, and we extend condolences to all who were close to themMedicines That Vanished Faster Than PromisesThis was a strange year indeed, one in which the nation was asked to break into wild celebrations simply because medicines were dispatched from Central Medical Stores to hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. There were ribbon cutting ceremonies, speeches, and endless selfies — even the president was seen posing proudly with boxes of medicines in the background. Some clapped, of course, while others wondered what all the fuss was about. For decades, we lived in a country where no one thought twice about where medications came from. You walked into a hospital or clinic and walked out with your Panado or asthma spray. But in 2025 things were different. Press statements were churned out left, right, and centre to announce when trucks were leaving CMS for various health facilities. Then patients arrived at the clinics... only to find empty shelves and notes instructing them to buy their own bandages and cough syrups. It turned out the only thing delivered in bulk was disappointment. The president himself admitted that some trucks had done “run arounds” without delivering the medicines, hinting that supplies were stolen by those tasked with delivering them. Yet no arrests were ever announced. The Ministry of Health blamed “logistics,” while patients blamed “government.” Pharmacies, meanwhile, became the new prayer houses, with desperate citizens asking God not for miracles, but for Panado.Parliament’s Viral Comedy HourParliament once again lived up to its reputation as the nation’s theatre of viral one liners. MPs traded barbs that made Mdala Ka Tje blush, turning serious debates into comedy skits. Who can forget the spat between Assistant Minister Moswaane and MP Furniture over their business dealings? Furniture accused Moswaane of running a dodgy car dealership, while Moswaane clapped back, painting Furniture as greedy and never satisfied with what he already had. Then there was Minister Mokgware, who went beyond words and threatened to physically sort out those who dared to differ with him. At least the clash between Assistant Health Minister Ookeditse and Nkange MP Moalosi spilled out of Parliament and onto the cluttered streets of Facebook, proving that our leaders can fight anywhere, anytime. And of course, we remember the incidents where MPs nearly came to blows, and almost undressed one another in the process. MP Mabeo was a handful, tearing into Minister Ntsima for posting selfies from aeroplanes while classrooms back home had no chalkboards. He, in turn, became the target of Minister Motshegwa’s crude retort that he must be smoking something very strong before coming to Parliament. Citizens tuned in not for policy but for punchlines. Parliament has officially become Botswana’s best reality show. Forget Upic and Netflix; just stream the next sittingFalse Prophets, Failed Visions2025 was the year prophets and sangomas proved they could see everything except their own arrests. They scammed, they schemed, and they stumbled, leaving the faithful shaken and the sceptics vindicated. A senior police officer, an assistant superintendent in Kanye, was duped out of P300,000, leaving the nation stunned, and wondering how he will protect the ordinary citizens when he could not protect himself. More recently, a man was persuaded to sell his Toyota GD6 van for P300,000, only to hand the money straight to fake prophets. Across the country, scams by self styled men of God ran into the millions. Some prophets were caught in scandalous acts of rape and defilement. One even mistakenly sent nude pictures into a church WhatsApp group, thinking he was sending them privately to a congregant who was also his lover. Faced with the shame and questions from his wife, he chose suicide as his escape. And yet, amid the chaos, one prophet did manage to predict the winner of Miss Botswana, correctly so. But for most, their miracles ended at the police station, their prophecies drowned out by charges, courtrooms, and scandal. 2025 reminded us that while prophets may promise salvation, too many were busy preaching prosperity while practicing fraud.Prophet of many talents Mojadigo Behind BarsPhakgaphakga! Who can forget this man who once boasted about bedding both the young and the married inside his church? The one who would casually point to a worshipper mid sermon and summon her to the backroom while the preaching continued. Fast forward to 2025, when the self styled “Man of God” Mojadigo was finally arrested — proving once again that prophets can see everything except their own police summons. He was accused of rape, defilement, and more, and ultimately convicted. His followers cried persecution, while sceptics said it was long overdue. The arrest added him to the growing list of prophets whose miracles end at the police station. The conviction even sparked fierce debate among lawyers. Some suggested that if Mojadigo appealed, he might win; others argued there was no consent, pointing to the fact that he had slept with a church member after promising she would be cleansed of evil spirits and even land a job at the Botswana Defence Force. The matter was legally described as rape, though some lawyers insisted there was consent, while others maintained the victim had been tricked into submission. In the end, the “Man of God” declared he would not appeal his conviction, choosing instead to leave everything to God.Land, Moti, and MotivesThe Gaborone City Council’s attempt to hand Zunaid Moti prime land opposite Gaborone International School was widely criticised as nothing more than a “thank you gift” for his political sponsorship of the opposition turned ruling party. The deal smelled so fishy that even the stray cats in the bushes of that Block 7 area refused to touch it. Observers asked why prime land was being gifted when ordinary citizens can’t even secure a plot without practically selling their souls. City Mayor Motlaleng was animated in his defence, boldly confirming that the gesture was indeed a reward to their man at the UDC. According to the mayor, Moti was given the land to build schools and clinics, though the plans sounded suspiciously like prefab structures that could conveniently be packed back into trucks once the investor had reaped where he was asked to sow.Journalists versus Boko: Round InfinityPresident Boko spent much of 2025 rebuking journalists. If insecurity were a sport, he would be the reigning champion. Reporters now carry helmets to press conferences — not for safety, but to withstand the verbal blows from the most powerful man in the land. Journalists have even nicknamed him “Mr Know All,” the most intelligent man on earth, infallible and never wrong. And this year, he seemed determined to prove them right. He openly declared that he needs no one to advise him: “I am enough,” he said. His favourite pastime became reminding the press that they are poor at grammar, while the press reminded him that promises are not profits and are meant to be kept. He accused them of writing 90 percent lies, while they countered that it was those very “lies” that catapulted him to power. There is even suspicion that the president fears hidden skeletons in his closet and wants to discredit the press so that, when those skeletons eventually surface through the press, the nation might dismiss them as AI (artificial intelligence) tricks; part of the supposed 90 percent of falsehoods. Many have warned him against waging war on the media, cautioning that he will be the one left bruised. Of course, Boko’s disdain for the press is not new. He once declared that he does not even watch national television Btv, nor listen to RB1 or RB2. It would be interesting to know if he still maintains that stance today.Vegetable Wars and Skyrocketing PricesBotswana reinstated its ban on South African vegetable imports, sparking outrage across the border. Farmers in SA cried foul, while locals here shrugged and asked: “So what’s for dinner now — cabbage and cabbage again?” The move was hailed as a way to protect local farmers, but shoppers quickly complained that prices were rising faster than onions could make them cry. Potato prices in particular skyrocketed, leaving many to question why supporting local farmers had to come with such a heavy price tag. Those in the know whispered that supermarkets, mostly South African, were deliberately inflating prices to arm twist government into reopening imports. Frustrated citizens began calling for local farmers to sell their produce directly by the roadside, so that supermarket stock could rot on the shelves until retailers learned how to treat Batswana with fairness.IMF Says ‘Fix It,’ Botswana laughs backThe IMF urged urgent reforms to address Botswana’s fiscal crisis. Government nodded politely, promised to “look into it,” and promptly returned to cutting ribbons at empty clinics. The IMF left shaking its head, muttering that Botswana’s economy needs more than speeches and selfies. In fact, just this week in Kanye, President Boko rebuked the IMF for poking their noses where they don’t belong after its warning against the acquisition of De Beers. He asked whether the IMF were Batswana, and rhetorically demanded to know if they had ever voted in Botswana. The president insists he knows exactly what he is doing, and that institutions like the IMF can simply sit back and watch.GBV: The Lost WarIf activism were bullets, Botswana would have won the war on Gender Based Violence years ago. Instead, the annual 16 Days Against Violence on Women and Children has become a ritual of speeches, hashtags, and orange T shirts — while the killings continue. This December, a five year old boy in Ranaka was murdered by his stepfather, who had intended to beat the mother but turned his rage on the child when she fled. The tragedy reminded us that GBV is not seasonal, and that the “16 Days” campaign is starting to look like a yearly reminder of failure. Murders have not stopped, and the nation is left asking: are we fighting GBV, or just rehearsing grief every December?Girlfriend Allowance CircusIf 2025 had a comedy award, it would go to the Girlfriend Allowance Debate. One woman proudly declared she expected P5,000 per month from her man, sparking outrage and laughter across the nation. Some supported her, others said women should earn their own money, warning that such expectations fuel GBV when men start to feel they’ve “invested” in their partners. Kgosi Mosadi Seboko weighed in, warning men not to be drained by such demands. But then President Boko threw a spanner in the works, declaring that men who don’t give girlfriend allowance are “weak.” He said he enjoys giving his woman money, calling it “a nice thing to do.” Cue chaos: men now had to choose between Kgosi Seboko’s wisdom and Boko’s wallet waving bravado. Social media crowned Boko “banned from the annual Men’s Conference,” proving that even allowances can become national policy debates.Sdala aka Slumbiso UnleashedFormer Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, nicknamed Sdala by President Boko, became Botswana’s unlikely comic relief in 2025. Freed from the chains of high office, he reinvented himself as a Facebook darling, posting witty, playful updates that made him feel like “one of us.” He attended comedy nights, allowed himself to be roasted mercilessly, and laughed along, earning praise for his humility. Many said being VP bottled him up, and now he’s blossomed into a free spirit who could easily headline a stand up show. Some even joked they’d vote him back if he stood, but Sdala has declared he’s not coming back. For once, a politician who lost power didn’t come out bitter — instead, he came out funny.School Sport: The Ghost InitiativeAfter years without school sport, government launched a school sports initiative in Lobatse with fanfare, speeches, and ministers posing for photos. Teachers, however, were left scratching their heads — unions said they weren’t consulted, and since the launch, no actual school sport has taken place. Ask teachers today and they’ll tell you they know nothing. Many believe the initiative was just government ticking boxes, not solving problems. The only thing that ran was the press release; the children are still waiting for the whistle to blow.Students versus Boko: Allowance WarsThis year, the president fought in the mud with the student movement over the promised P2,500 allowance. Students reminded him that this was a campaign promise, and that they voted UDC in numbers for that pledge. They called both the president and the higher education minister liars. Boko hit back, lecturing students on the definition of “lie” and ridiculing their fathers for failing to teach them English. “Go back to your fathers to learn,” he sneered. The students staged protests, quickly thwarted by police, but the bitterness remains. For many, the P2,500 allowance became the symbol of broken promises — and of a president who prefers grammar lessons to delivering allowances.Final WordFrom profitless parastatals to prophets in handcuffs and stalled Bonno houses; from girlfriend allowances to student protests and journalists who write maxhambora, 2025 was a year where promises were made loudly and broken quietly. GBV continued to claim lives, medicines vanished faster than speeches, and Parliament proved once again that it is Botswana’s best reality show.

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2025: The Year That Promised, Postured, and Poured Petrol on the Fire