Botswana News Update: Housing, Medicine Supply & New BIUST Chancellor

Housing & Infrastructure Development

• 🏡 The Bonno Housing Scheme successfully delivered 34,567 homes across various constituencies.
• 💼 This initiative has already created 3,392 jobs and is expected to generate up to 300,000 more through continued construction efforts.
• 💧 The Ministry of Water and Human Settlement achieved a 50% reduction in water tariffs, saving households approximately 450 million pula, and installed 49,800 smart meters.

National Medicine Supply Restoration

• 💊 Following President Duma Boko's declaration of a state of emergency, medicine availability in hospitals rose to 30%, with a target of 90% in the coming months.
• 🏥 Hospitals, particularly theaters and laboratories, remain most affected by shortages, despite improvements in clinics.
• 🤝 International partners like Cyprus, the UAE, and the World Health Organization provided medical supplies, helping to control the ARV shortage.

Mining Sector Innovations & Empowerment

• 💎 Lucara Botswana is a trendsetter in diamond mining, using XRT technology to achieve 98% diamond recovery and extract some of the world's largest diamonds.
• 📈 The company contributed $23.9 million US to Botswana's economy and maintains a 99% local workforce.
• ⛏️ Government promotes local content frameworks and joint ventures to boost citizen participation and expand small-scale mining opportunities.

Gender-Based Violence Support

• 🤝 Japan provided an $84,942 US grant to fund the construction of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) shelters in Botswana.
• 🆘 The Botswana GBV Prevention and Support Center offers critical services, including counseling, temporary shelter, legal, and medical support for survivors.
• ⚠️ Shelters are for individuals in imminent danger, providing a secure and undisclosed location for protection and processing.

Leadership & Arts Promotion

• 🎓 President Adv. Duma Boko has been officially appointed as the new Chancellor of BIUST for a 5-year term.
• 🎨 The Tapong Visual Arts Center is actively raising awareness through social media and events to promote local artists and encourage the public to support local brands.