Botswana Roundup: Olympics feat, green energy, diamond production

Gold medallist Tebogo given heroic welcome

Botswana welcomed home first-ever Olympic gold medallist Letsile Tebogo with thousands of ecstatic fans. Tebogo set an African record time of 19.46 seconds in the men’s 200m event in Paris. The nationwide celebration also includes a silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay, bringing the country’s total Olympic medal tally to four. President Mokgweetsi Masisi joined in the celebration, granting a half-day holiday for the historic occasion, APA News reports.

Stake in HB Antwerp

Botswana is seeking to acquire a larger stake in HB Antwerp, a diamond manufacturer, at no extra cost. The government initially planned to buy 24% of HB, but now wants a 49.9% stake. Rapaport reports that the acquisition aims to enable independent price discovery for Botswana’s Okavango Diamond Company, create jobs, and give the country ownership of diamond-cutting technology. HB Antwerp was founded in 2021 by individuals with 105 years of industry experience. The company has not commented on the negotiations.

First 100 MW solar photovoltaic power station project

Botswana signed a power purchase agreement with Sinotswana Green Energy to launch its first 100 MW solar photovoltaic power station project. The project is part of Botswana's plan to increase its renewable energy use to 50 percent by 2036 and is expected to start power generation by the end of 2025. According to Xinhua, the consortium behind the project includes Chinese and Botswana companies, with China Habor Engineering Company controlling the stake. The initiative is in line with Botswana's energy policy goal to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy.

Airlink apologises for premature flight sales

Airlink has apologised to Botswana's Civil Aviation Authority for prematurely advertising flights between Cape Town and Gaborone. The airline was fined for advertising flights before they were authorised and has since withdrawn the flights from its reservation system. The CEO of Airlink acknowledged the oversight and stated that the process of including the route on their permit is still being finalized. According to CH-Aviation, the CAAB has instructed Airlink to cease ticket sales and advertising for the route.

Botswana as an athletic powerhouse

Botswana's emergence as an athletics powerhouse was highlighted at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where sprinter Letsile Tebogo won gold in the men's 200m. This success was the result of a strategic plan for athletics development, including talent identification, high-performance training, national support programmes, and investment in sports science and technology. Graphic Business reports that Tebogo's rise has inspired a new generation of athletes and reignited a passion for athletics in Botswana. The country is committed to hosting international sports events to continue its growth as an emerging power in athletics.