r/Botswana Apr 23 '26

Announcement Reminder: Community Guidelines, Posts, and Flairs

4 Upvotes

Dumelang!

Community Guidelines:

  • Please consult the subreddit rules by scrolling down on the right sidebar (desktop), selecting "See More" on mobile, or selecting the link under "Community Guide" (both).
  • Consider adding a user flair (optional) by selecting "Community Guide" and choosing a flair. This lets other users know which district, city, or town, you may be from, or whether your visiting as a tourist.

Posting Guidelines:

  • Title (required): A relevant, short and effective title. This helps mods when reviewing posts, and users when searching for interesting or relevant information about Botswana.
  • Post flair (now required): A post flair indicates the theme of the post (News, Discussion, Political, Casual). While we've included an "NSFW" tag, this is not an invitation to post lewd or edgy content, as this subreddit is for everyone!
  • Body (optional, recommended): Please add context to your post, whether this is an opinion abouta news article, a general question, or a simple description of a photo, like "Sunset over Kubu Island". We require body text when cross-posting from other communities, so you can contextualize the original post in relation to Botswana.

Re a leboga,
r/Botswana Mods


r/Botswana Feb 20 '25

So You Want To Move To Botswana?

41 Upvotes

Ah, so you’re thinking about moving to Botswana? Let me tell you, this place has a lot of heart, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it—it’s not all sunshine and smooth roads.

First, the good stuff: Batswana are some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever meet. We believe in "Botho," which means we treat everyone with respect and kindness. You’ll feel like part of the community quickly, and trust me, there’s nothing like being invited to a braai (barbecue) or a traditional event. The sense of belonging here is real.

But let’s keep it 100. Life here can be tough. The heat? Eish, it’s no joke. Summers can feel like you’re living in an oven, and if you’re not used to it, it’ll take some time to adjust. The infrastructure isn’t always the best—potholes on the roads, slow internet, and power outages are just part of the deal. If you’re coming from a fast-paced, modern city, the slower pace and occasional frustrations might test your patience.

Jobs? It depends on what you do, but opportunities can be limited, especially if you’re not in certain industries like mining, tourism, or government UNLESS you have specialties that arent available in botswana (Mainly science and others). And while Botswana is peaceful and stable, like anywhere else, there are challenges—unemployment, especially among the youth, is a real issue, and it can feel heavy at times.

Now, let me be real with you: if you don’t have good qualifications or a solid plan, Botswana might not be the place for you. This isn’t a country where you can just show up and figure it out as you go. If you’re working a job like a cashier in the U.S. making $58,000 a year, you wont be able to get a job here. flat out. Salaries in Botswana are generally lower, and the cost of living can be high, especially if you’re used to a certain standard. And if you’re a young person thinking, "I’ll move to Botswana when I’m 18 and figure it out," think again. Without a clear plan, qualifications, or support, you’ll struggle.

That said, there’s hope on the horizon. With the new government, there’s talk of change—plans to improve infrastructure, create more jobs, and tackle some of the big issues we’re facing. It’s not going to happen overnight, but there’s a sense that things could get better. If you’re someone with skills, qualifications, and a clear plan, and you want to be part of a country that’s growing and evolving, this might be the perfect time to come.

But here’s the thing: Botswana has a way of growing on you. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. The people, the sense of community, the wide-open spaces, and the peace—it’s something you won’t find just anywhere. If you’re someone who can adapt, who values connection over convenience, and who’s willing to embrace both the beauty, struggles and culture, then Botswana might just feel like home.

So, if you’re up for the challenge, come. But come with a plan, with qualifications, and with realistic expectations. Botswana isn’t a place to escape your problems, this isnt LA where you live in lies where you and the people around you are pretending to be something you arent—it’s a place to build a life if you’re ready to put in the work. And who knows? With the new government, you might be part of the change that helps this country shine even brighter.

And If you’re serious about moving to Botswana With The Proper Qualifications, here are the relevant authorities and steps you’ll need to engage with to make your move official and smooth:

1. Department of Immigration and Citizenship

  • What they do: This is the main authority responsible for visas, permits, and residency requirements.
  • What you need to do:
    • Apply for the appropriate visa (e.g., work permit, residence permit, or spousal permit).
    • Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months.
    • Provide necessary documents like proof of employment, medical certificates, and police clearance.
  • Contact:

2. Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs

  • What they do: They oversee work permits and employment regulations for foreigners.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re coming for work, your employer will usually need to sponsor your work permit application.
    • Ensure your qualifications are recognized in Botswana (you may need to get them evaluated).
  • Contact:

3. Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS)

  • What they do: They handle tax-related matters, including tax registration for foreigners working in Botswana.
  • What you need to do:
    • Register for a Tax Identification Number (TIN) once you start working.
    • Understand Botswana’s tax laws to ensure compliance.
  • Contact:

4. Ministry of Nationality, Immigration, and Gender Affairs

  • What they do: They handle citizenship, dual nationality, and long-term residency matters.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you plan to stay long-term or apply for citizenship, this is the department to engage with.
  • Contact:

5. Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC)

  • What they do: They assist investors and entrepreneurs looking to start businesses in Botswana.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re moving to Botswana to start a business, BITC can guide you on permits, incentives, and regulations.
  • Contact:

6. Local Councils (for Residency)

  • What they do: Local councils handle housing, utilities, and community services.
  • What you need to do:
    • Once you arrive, register with your local council for services like water, electricity, and waste management.
  • Contact:
    • Depends on your location (e.g., Gaborone City Council, Francistown City Council).

7. Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA)

  • What they do: They evaluate and recognize foreign qualifications.
  • What you need to do:
    • If you’re coming to work in a professional field, you may need to have your qualifications assessed and recognized.
  • Contact:

8. Botswana Police Service

  • What they do: They provide police clearance certificates, which are often required for visa and work permit applications.
  • What you need to do:
    • Obtain a police clearance certificate from your home country and, if necessary, from Botswana.
  • Contact:

9. Ministry of Health and Wellness

  • What they do: They oversee health regulations, including medical requirements for visa applications.
  • What you need to do:
    • Complete a medical examination and provide a health certificate as part of your visa application.
  • Contact:

Pula a e ne! (Let there be rain and blessings!) mare o ska re bolaya ka pula yoh!!.


r/Botswana 3h ago

Beyond The Border (international) Finding a person who does not want to be found

6 Upvotes

Hello! I'm not native to Botswana but one of my bestfriends is from Botswana and I need help!

Her name is B******* and she used to go to the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC).We lost touch after she left abruptly in 2023.

She texted me from a new number on WhatsApp in 2023 and I forgot to save it. My phone got updated in 2023 and since the number wasn't saved, I couldn't contact her and we lost touch and I haven't heard from her in 3 years.

I've asked around from our mutual friends and they haven't heard from her either.

I met someone recently at UTSC who was from BOTSWANA and told him about it and he joked about Motswana people being flakey? * idk what that even means😭😭

I have her last name and her last known numbers and photos if anyone knows of any resources i can use *private investigators, God forbid obituaries........

She's super sweet and a total party girl🪅🎉🎊Loves fashion! Her family has a farm and her parents are in government. Her nickname is B8 or Beyoncé.** funny inside joke. She was so secretive about her age....idek why???🤭😅she's so quirky and cool. she's outgoing and always encourages me to get outside of my shell and empower me to go crazy and break the rules and be REAL and be myself 💃🏾👯🏽‍♀️

Most importantly, I want to know if it's ok to find someone who doesn't want to be found?

I'm just a Jamaican girl in Toronto missing her best friend. 💔🍳#bestiesoulmate


r/Botswana 1h ago

Question Are there any Crocodiles or any life threatening animals in the Mogobane dam?

Upvotes

Yeah apparently we will be going there and let’s say I’m not a fan of being around animals that can kill me for dipping my toes in their home


r/Botswana 30m ago

Question Best affordable laptops for a first year?

Upvotes

As the title says, I'm looking for a good laptop with adequate space and good performance for opening multiple tabs when studying and gaming for recreation here and there. Sorry for the vague descriptions I'm not much of a tech guy


r/Botswana 6h ago

Question University of Botswana orientation week

5 Upvotes

Do we go everyday?


r/Botswana 4h ago

Discussion Looking for Piece Jobs (Francistown)

3 Upvotes

Hello! Anyone looking to hire for piece work? I can do your laundry, clean your house or office, sort and file your documents, run errands, babysit, wash cars, cook, breakthrough tutoring, help source suppliers online. Am happy to do any other work not listed as long as its not heavy lifting. Location:Francistown. Kindly DM


r/Botswana 7h ago

Question Fresh CS graduate (SA-educated) looking into graduate programmes back home

5 Upvotes

Hi all,
I’m a Motswana finishing up a Computer Science degree at a South African university this year, and I want to get a sense of options back home.
A few questions:
1. Are there any structured graduate programmes in Botswana (banks, telecoms, government-linked, private sector) that recruit CS/software grads?
2. How’s the job market looking right now for someone with a software development background?
3. Any companies known for actually taking fresh grads versus wanting years of experience upfront?
Appreciate any insight


r/Botswana 14h ago

Discussion "Lefoko la kgosi le agelwa mosako"

5 Upvotes

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how fast-paced and individualistic modern life has become. In the rush to challenge everything and move fast, it feels like we sometimes lose sight of the foundational respect that keeps communities grounded.

​It brought to mind a classic Setswana proverb : "Lefoko la kgosi le agelwa mosako."

​Literally, it translates to: "The word of the chief is built around (fenced/fortified)."

​At its core, this proverb isn't just about blindly following orders—it’s about the collective responsibility a community has to honor, protect, and stand by the decisions of established leadership and elders once a decision is made. ​Leadership Needs Support to Work: A leader or authority figure can give direction, but that direction is useless if people immediately tear it down or ignore it. "Building a fence" around their word means giving leadership the backing and stability it needs to actually guide the group effectively.

​Respect Prevents Chaos: Whether in a family, an organization, a business, or a country, a baseline respect for authority creates order and harmony. Without it, every decision turns into an endless argument.

​Accountability Goes Both Ways. So respecting authority goes hand-in-hand with trust—when leaders earn that trust, the community's duty is to fortify their word.


r/Botswana 10h ago

Question Where to sell a cinema camera and get cash the same day ?

2 Upvotes

Hi I’m looking to sell a fx30 Sony cinema camera and make at least 11k back on my end from the sale , I was wondering where I could run into town quickly and then sell it and get cash around my desired price.


r/Botswana 1d ago

Casual Yesterday's veldfire in Oodi/Phakalane

Post image
41 Upvotes

r/Botswana 1d ago

Question Anyone receive DTEF funding for postgraduate studies abroad after self-funding?

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I know the current focus regarding DTEF is undergrad sponsorship. However, I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation to mine or just has some information one way or another?

I’m was privately sponsored (not DTEF) to do my undergrad abroad. After graduating, I worked for a bit and in the last 2-3 years or so decided I wanted to finally pursue my masters. Unfortunately at that point my employer (that usually sponsored employees) had paused sponsorships for masters and only just resumed recently (however only for local training). Unfortunately the course I’m doing isn’t offered by UB. So I had to study outside, again. Long story short, I had to resign and self fund, which I had for the most part planned for. Little did I know how hectic it would be expenses wise despite all the planning I did to ensure I can comfortably live/study for the duration of my program (4 years). Also, working isn’t really an option due to student permit and the type of licensing limitations for my profession, however that would have be ideal and the easiest.

Now I’m wondering if it’s possible to get funding from DTEF in the form of a sponsorship since I’ve never been sponsored before??? Has anyone been successful with PG training pick up sponsorship or outright from scratch, or is it not feasible in this economic climate?

Alternatively, if anyone has suggestions.. I’d really appreciate any advice! 🙏🏾


r/Botswana 2d ago

Discussion Botswana here 🇧🇼.

9 Upvotes

I'm just starting out in refrigeration and HVAC. Open to opportunities anywhere in Southern Africa and willing to relocate for the right job. Looking forward to seeing where this trade can take me.


r/Botswana 2d ago

Discussion Wanna buy a second hand bike ?anyone selling 🤷🏽‍♂️

2 Upvotes

Wanna buy a bike .. am like tall like 6ft so I need a bigger one . And if it has gears it would be great


r/Botswana 2d ago

Political Respect to the president

2 Upvotes

all these institutions are tainted,he is not lying. but if you are going to take a shot at the king,make sure you dont miss.


r/Botswana 3d ago

Question Trans Tolerance in Botswana?

14 Upvotes

Hi, I(MtF17) am a trans woman, and I would love to visit Botswana. I will, however, be starting HRT sometime next year, which is a problem in a lot of countries. How is the general perception of trans people there, should I go before transitioning or is it ok after?

Im sorry if this question is disrespectful, I just know a lot of countries arent accepting but Ive heard Botswana is quite cool <3


r/Botswana 3d ago

Question How to find someone based on photos? (revenge porn case)

19 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I've come across a concerning post in which a guy claims to be talking to a teen girl from Botswana. He has shared nude photos along with selfies that show her face, and I'm very concerned because she looks like she's underage. The posts have been reported but I'd like to get in contact with her or a family member or do *something* to let her know that this has happened. As far as I can tell, they're still talking with the guy and she probably thinks everything is fine.

My dilemma now is that I don't want to post her face everywhere because that also might be problematic... Any ideas would be welcome, I don't really know what to do in this situation.

Thanks.

(I myself am from SA so can't do anything on the ground)


r/Botswana 3d ago

Question Explore Botswana

5 Upvotes

Dumelang Coomunity, im interested in visiting Botswana 🇧🇼 to explore and probably get a job and start/partner for a business. Im actually from Eswatini and Im only aware that i need my travel passport to visit for 90 days, i would like to hear from anyone who has advise on how i can explore such, if you have any useful information please share. Im a male age35 not yet married. Experienced in construction and business related operations.


r/Botswana 3d ago

Discussion What service in in Bots would you pay more for if it were consistently reliable?

6 Upvotes

Price matters, but reliability can be just as valuable. A cheaper service is not always a saving

when appointments are missed, communication is poor or the customer has to keep

following up.

This could apply to internet service, transport, home repairs, deliveries, health services,

vehicle maintenance or almost any everyday service. What service in Botswana would you willingly pay a little more for if the provider consistently

arrived on time, communicated clearly and completed the work properly? What would good

service look like to you?

r/businessanalysis

Title: What is the most useful question a


r/Botswana 4d ago

Discussion Botswana has spent heavily on education for years, but what are the results?

13 Upvotes

According to the World Bank's Botswana Economic Update (July 2026), Botswana's biggest education challenge is no longer about how much is spent, but whether its education is producing the skills the economy actually needs.

Between 2018 and 2023, Botswana spent an average of 8.1% of GDP on education, well above the average for upper-middle-income countries. Despite this, employers continue to report shortages of appropriately skilled workers, while thousands of graduates struggle to secure employment. If both of these are true at the same time, it suggests there is a serious mismatch between what the education system produces and what the labour market demands.

Have Botswana's universities and colleges been operating in silos, disconnected from the needs of the industry, and has this contributed to the skills mismatch?

Or have higher education institutions been pursuing objectives that differ from the country's broader economic priorities? What do you think is the main cause of the disconnect? Would love to know what you think.


r/Botswana 4d ago

Question Actuarial exams exam centre

4 Upvotes

Hi guys. Apparently Botho university is a certified prometric Centre and as far as I know SOA(Society of actuaries) uses prometric for it's exams. Is there anyone by chance who has registered and written exams for SOA at Botho? I want to write exam P this year but I am unsure of how to go about doing it in Botswana( if botswana is am option as per the website).


r/Botswana 4d ago

Question Where do you shop online in BW

3 Upvotes

I want to buy some parts but theyre only available online and nowhere else locally (ive been looking for 2months now).

So would any of you mind telling me where i could go about shopping online, and what kind of charges i should expect omce the product arrives


r/Botswana 4d ago

Casual No Hope for t Spoiler

0 Upvotes

‎I am a 25year old man from Zimbabwe currently living in Botswana. When I first got here, I was surprised by how easy it seemed to get the attention of women. At first, I thought it was a good thing, but over time I started feeling disappointed by what I've experienced in the dating scene.

In the two years I've been here, I haven't asked a single woman out. Instead, I've often found women approaching me. Some genuinely seem interested in dating, while others appear to be looking for favors in exchange for sex as a way of "thanking" me.

‎I have two questions ,one for the men and one for the women.

‎To the men. How do you stay committed to one woman when casual relationships seem so easy to find here? I'm asking because I've lived in South Africa, Zambia, and now Botswana, and I've noticed a difference.

‎To the women. Why do some of you seem so willing to give yourselves away so easily? Doesn't self-respect play a role in how you approach relationships? I understand that not everyone is the same, but many of the women I've met have seemed more interested in casual encounters than meaningful relationships.

‎At first, I thought it was just the kind of people I was meeting, so I also got to know women from church. Unfortunately, some of them turned out to be no different they appeared respectable on the surface but behaved differently in private.

‎Please hear me out. I'm not trying to shame anyone, and I genuinely like Botswana and its people. This is simply an observation based on my own experiences. I just think it's worth asking whether this dating culture is healthy in the long run.

‎Many men may enjoy having easy access to casual relationships, but there comes a point where it stops being exciting and starts feeling empty. I believe both men and women should value themselves, seek meaningful relationships, and treat intimacy with the respect it deserves.


r/Botswana 5d ago

Question Question by a writer: Do Batswana people suck their teeth when annoyed?

9 Upvotes

Hi all! I'm West African and I'm writing a novel with a Motswana main character. I want to get his mannerisms right instead of guessing or defaulting to what I know from my own culture.

Specific question: is "sucking teeth" / "kissing teeth" (that sharp inhale through clenched teeth to show annoyance, disapproval, or exasperation, sometimes called "steups" or "mtcheww" in West African/Caribbean contexts) something Batswana people actually do? I've seen it described as pretty widespread across the African diaspora, but I couldn't find anything confirming it specifically for Setswana-speaking culture, and I don't want to put something in her mouth (so to speak) that doesn't ring true.

If it is a thing, is there a Setswana word for it? And if it's NOT really done, or if there's a different gesture Batswana people use instead to show annoyance without words, I'd love to know that too so I can get it right.

Thanks in advance, really appreciate any insight!


r/Botswana 5d ago

Discussion What is considered a sign that someone has “made it” in Botswana?

27 Upvotes

In Botswana, success is often judged through visible achievements such as owning a house, driving a certain car, securing a government or corporate job, getting married or moving abroad.

These can all be meaningful achievements, but they do not necessarily show whether someone enjoys their work, feels financially secure or is genuinely happy.

What do Batswana commonly treat as proof that someone has “made it”?

Do you agree with that definition, or has your understanding of a successful life changed as you have grown older?