2022_in_Botswana

2022 in Botswana

2022 in Botswana

Botswana-related evens during 2022

See also: 2022 in Southern Africa

Botswana continued to address the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022, including the discovery of the COVID-19 variant Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, with COVID-19 restrictions being relaxed in October. Continued disputes took place regarding the Botswana–Namibia border, though an open border was established in September. The rivalry between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and his predecessor Ian Khama escalated in 2022, accelerated by firearms charges against Khama and a warrant for his arrest. The government also saw controversy for its support of bills that would grant it additional espionage powers and regulate journalists.

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Incumbents

Ongoing

Events

January

  • 3–12 January – President Masisi goes into isolation after testing positive for asymptomatic COVID-19.[1]
  • 11 January – South African singer Makhadzi announces a one-woman show in Botswana with proceeds going to the country, prompting controversy in her home province of Limpopo.[2]
  • 12 January – Botswana Diamonds reports that kimberlite found in its South African Thorny River project exceeds expectations, causing its stock to rise by 19%.[3]
  • 18 January – The government of Botswana begins distributing COVID-19 booster vaccines.[4]
  • 20 January – Members of the Botswana Defence Force are absolved of the killings of Namibian citizens on the Botswana–Namibia border, further challenging relations between the two countries.[5]
  • 24 January
    • President Masisi meets with representatives of the LGBT community to express his intention to enforce the decriminalisation of homosexuality.[6]
    • The High Court of Botswana upholds the exclusive license of Fresh Standard to cultivate cannabis, ruling that it was improperly withdrawn.[7]

February

  • 1 February
  • 4 February – The government amends a pending espionage bill to prohibit the tapping of private conversations amid controversy.[10]
  • 14 February – Botswana introduces a vaccine mandate for all travellers to the country. The mandate will be repealed the following month.[11]
  • 23 February – A shootout occurs in Gaborone when the Botswana Police Service engages a gang of armoured car robbers, killing nine of the 11 assailants.[12]

March

  • 21 March – Tshekedi Khama II and Anthony Khama, brothers of former president Ian Khama, are arrested by the Directorate of Intelligence Service, intensifying the rivalry between former President Khama and incumbent President Masisi.[13] Keabetswe Makgophe, Commissioner of the Botswana Police Service, is also arrested.[14]

April

May

  • 16 May – Botswana's state oil company declares its intention to build a $2.5 billion coal power plant.[24]
  • 21 May – Two people are killed in an accident at a copper and silver mine.[25]

June

  • 1 June – Andrew Motsomi is appointed managing director of Debswana.[26]
  • 24 June – The Botswana National Olympic Committee launches the Sport for Life youth sports program.[27]

July

August

September

  • September – Parliament authorises the creation of a statutory media board to regulate journalists.[34]
  • 9 September – The Botswana–Namibia border becomes an open border.[35]

October

  • October – Botswana and Namibia come to an agreement on the extradition of prisoners.[36]
  • 18 October – Botswana removes its COVID-19 restrictions for international travellers.[37]
  • 24–26 October – The 2022 African Tourism Leadership Forum is held in Gaborone.[38]
  • 31 October – Tsodilo Resources files a lawsuit against the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology, and Energy Security in a dispute over license renewal.[39]

November

  • 3 November – The main generation unit of the Botswana Power Corporation fails, prompting national energy supply cuts.[40]
  • 4 November – President Masisi receives Saudi adviser Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan in Gaborone.[41]
  • 11 November – Orange S.A. launches a 5G network in Botswana, the first such network in Africa.[42]
  • 29 November – The first combat death of a Botswana soldier in the Insurgency in Cabo Delgado occurs.[43]

December

  • December – An arrest warrant for illegal position of firearms is issued against former President Ian Khama and other former government officials.[44]

Deaths

  • 16 January – Kathleen Nono Kgafela, 79, Bakgatla queen mother.[45]
  • 19 January – Polino Baleja, drummer; heart failure.[46]
  • February – Kgosi Maburu, 33, musician; complications from brain surgery.[47]
  • 4 March – Tumelo Mafoko, 44, musician.[48]
  • May – Jaqueline Tebogo Khama, 72, daughter of President Seretse Khama and sister of President Ian Khama.[49]
  • 2 May – Reuben Ketlhoilwe, 60, Moselepula ward councillor; illness.[50]

References

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