Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, has declared the country “open for business” as it positions itself for a new era of exploration, value addition and regional supply chain expansion.
Speaking to Engineering News & Mining Weekly on the sidelines of the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Kenewendo said Botswana is celebrating 60 years of independence in 2026 and is building on more than five decades of mining excellence.
“We are really excited about the heritage that we have of excellence in mining for over 50 years,” she said. “We want to nurture those experiences and use them to leverage into the next 60 years.”
Unlocking the Unexplored 70%
Kenewendo revealed that Botswana is reassessing historic geological data as part of a strategy to unlock an estimated 70% of the country that remains unexplored.
“We are re-evaluating and reassessing all the information that has gone into exploration,” she said, adding that government is building on existing datasets to attract new investment.
A key pillar of this strategy is the launch of a national exploration company, designed to partner with private investors in expanding mineral discovery efforts.
“We just started a national exploration company that we hope will partner with the private sector in order to explore a lot more,” she said. “We’re looking for partners in that space.”
Driving Value Addition Through SEZs
Beyond exploration, Botswana is pushing aggressively into downstream value addition.
Kenewendo said government has signed a memorandum of understanding with mining companies operating in the country to leverage their supply chains and procurement budgets. The aim is to encourage manufacturers to establish operations within Botswana’s special economic zones (SEZs).
The focus areas include production of critical mining consumables such as flocculants, mesh wires and explosives — not only for Botswana’s mines but for the broader regional market.
“We’re working through really good special economic zone incentives that will ensure that this move is viable,” she said. “All are welcome to Botswana.”
A Mining Jurisdiction Built on Stability
Kenewendo described Botswana as one of the world’s leading mining jurisdictions, underpinned by policy stability and long-term partnerships.
She highlighted the country’s decades-long collaboration with Debswana — a joint venture between the Government of Botswana and De Beers — as a model of successful public-private partnership.
“Botswana is a topmost showcase for what collaboration can do,” she said, referencing the long-running partnership which has spanned roughly 50 years and remains central to the country’s diamond sector.
As Botswana marks six decades of independence, Kenewendo’s message to investors was clear: the country is seeking strategic partners to help drive exploration, beneficiation and industrial expansion — positioning itself for another 60 years of mining-led growth.
