See how it works
Book Mbongeni with Paydesk
Make your booking securely through paydesk for these benefits:
1
Preferred Booking Channel
Mbongeni is more likely to commit to assignments booked through paydesk, as it is a trusted platform that validates the seriousness and legitimacy of each engagement.2
Insured Bookings for Peace of Mind
We provide basic insurance coverage with each booking on paydesk, giving both you and the media professional confidence and protection while they work for you.3
Effortless Online Payment
Paydesk offers a payment protection system to ensure payments are only finalized when you are satisfied with the job completion. Freelancers trusts our process that guarantees their efforts are rewarded upon successful delivery of servicesStill have questions?
Check FAQAbout Mbongeni
Mbongeni Mguni is a journalist with 16 years experience in business, economy and financial reporting, with 14 years of these spent at the level of senior reporter and above. I have worked and been published in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana with the last having been my home since 2004. I won the Botswana Business Reporter of the Year Award in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and specialise in capital and debt markets, macro-economy and its various sub-sectors, mining, energy and tourism, medium and micro enterprises as well as rural economy, trade, agriculture and climate change. My emerging interests is in data journalism which is shape reportage of these and other issues, such as climate change, in my part of the world. My reportage carries a bias towards research, analysis and long-form, although I regularly do short-form hard news and public relations copy. I am based in Gaborone, Botswana and am able to travel throughout the region at short notice.
Portfolio
Pula’s downward crawl maintained at 1.51%
Botswana's Finance Ministry has decided to maintain the Pula's exchange rate policy, keeping the weighting at 55 percent Special Drawing Rights currencies and 45 percent South African rand. The Pula will continue to undergo a small, daily downward adjustment totaling 1.51% in 2024. This rate of crawl is intended to preserve the competitiveness of Botswana's producers against inflationary pressures, which are expected to exceed those of trading partner countries. The policy affects both exports and imports, influencing aggregate demand and the pricing of key commodities such as fuel, electricity, and diamonds.
Ngwaketse West least electrified area
Ngwaketse West is the least electrified area in Botswana, with only 626 households connected to electricity and 3,739 using alternative methods for heating and lighting. In contrast, Orapa and Sowa boast 100% electricity connection rates, while Gaborone, Jwaneng, and the North East district have high rates of 94.3%, 91.2%, and 88.6%, respectively. Overall, 73.9% of households in Botswana are connected to electricity. Ngwaketse West is also among the country's poorest regions, with a 2015 study by Statistics Botswana finding that in the settlement of Kutuku, 100 out of 166 residents were classified as poor.
The long road to parastatal reforms
Botswana's economic direction is aligned with the advice and recommendations of entities like the World Bank, IMF, Bank of Botswana, and the Botswana Institute of Development Policy Analysis. The focus is on private-sector led growth and structural reforms to transition from a diamond-dependent economy and overcome the middle-income trap.
Infrastructure tops Masisi’s SONA promises
Botswana's Transitional National Development Plan includes P64 billion in spending plans up to March 2025 for strategic infrastructure, including three new interchanges in the capital city. President Masisi, in his State of the Nation Address, outlined substantial investments in transport infrastructure to connect communities and production areas, and link Botswana with regional countries. The new interchanges will be implemented under the Development Manager model, with over P13 billion to be spent in the next two years on at least 140 projects. Road projects for the financial year include Francistown-Nata, Nata-Pandamatenga, and others, with plans to approach the private sector for the dualisation of the A1 Highway. The government prioritizes investment in 'growth-enhancing' infrastructure and clearing the public projects backlog to support economic activity and boost social inclusion.
Debswana Sales Slow Down
Debswana's third-quarter sales of P8.4 billion are the lowest for that period since 2015, excluding 2020. Year-on-year sales dropped by 31%, according to the Bank of Botswana. The decline is attributed to a market glut from record sales last year and a shaky global economic outlook. The U.S., which makes up 54% of the diamond jewelry market, has seen demand pressures, exacerbated by the growth of synthetic diamonds. De Beers and the Okavango Diamond Company are adjusting their sales strategies to mitigate the oversupply and stabilize the market for the following year.
End of an era for a reformist
Moses Pelaelo concluded his seven-year tenure as the governor of the Bank of Botswana with the economy experiencing benign inflation levels, a key indicator of his administration's focus on inflation control. His term was also characterized by a desire for reform, marking a departure from the 17-year governorship of his predecessor, Linah Mohohlo.
Absa lists BSE’s first green bond programme
Absa Bank Botswana has listed the first green bond programme on the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE), which is seen as a triumph for the BSE. The BSE has been promoting sustainability issuances and offered a discount on listing fees for such issuers last year. Absa can now issue bonds up to P2 billion for financing environmental or social impact projects.
Diamonds enter make or break period for 2023
The diamond industry is entering a crucial sales period from Thanksgiving to the Chinese New Year, with a strong demand for diamond jewellery and stones in key markets like the US being particularly important this year. This is due to the crisis faced by rough producers such as Botswana, which is partly attributed to high inventory levels of polished diamonds in the midstream.
Mohembo Bridge award sweetens Okavango allure
Kobamelo Kgoboko received an Award of Merit from the International Federation of Consulting Engineers for the design of Mohembo Bridge in Singapore. The bridge is noted for its aesthetic that complements the Okavango Delta and its environmentally friendly, fully solar-powered operations.
Hot and dry: Tough rain season beckons
The Meteorological Services Department of Botswana has confirmed the building of El Nino in the skies above the country, which is expected to reach its full strength by the end of the year and affect the entire rain season. The last significant impact of El Nino in Botswana was in 2015/16, causing a water crisis in the capital and record high temperatures.
Botswana to Weaken Currency by 1.51% in 2024 Due to Inflation
Botswana will devalue its currency, the pula, by 1.51% against a basket of currencies in 2024 to address higher local inflation compared to its trading partners. This adjustment, similar to the previous year's rate, will be achieved through incremental daily changes. The decision reflects Botswana's weak production capacity and productivity, which impacts price competitiveness. The pula's value is determined by a crawling peg system, which has been in place since 2005, and is pegged to a basket that includes the South African rand and IMF special drawing rights.
De Beers Will Stockpile Unsold Diamonds After Prices Tumble
De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer, is stockpiling unsold diamonds in response to falling prices and will allow buyers to refuse purchases they're contracted to buy. CEO Al Cook remains confident that diamond prices will recover, meeting future demand. The diamond industry, which thrived during the pandemic, now faces a slump due to reduced demand in the US and China, inflation, a real estate crisis, and competition from lab-grown diamonds. De Beers's rival, Alrosa PJSC, paused sales for two months, and India's market stopped imports. Despite challenges, De Beers maintains a production target of up to 33 million carats for 2023.
How to move out of SA�s shadow
The article discusses the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and industrialisation in Botswana, particularly highlighting a significant event that took place on January 12, 2000. On this day, the Hyundai assembly plant in Broadhurst closed down, resulting in the loss of 900 jobs. This event was notable as the plant was a source of national pride for Botswana, representing a key industrial achievement. Despite previous statements indicating that the plant would continue operations, the closure came as a shock and had a substantial impact on the local economy and employment.
Botswana calm as scramble for El Nino funds heats up
Ambassador Macharia Kamau, the United Nations Special Envoy on El Niño & Climate, visited the region to raise awareness about the impact of climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon. He expressed concern over the consecutive El Niño-affected seasons that have led to reduced agricultural output. Kamau warned that by December 2016/January 2017, the crisis would peak in terms of food security, as both government and household food reserves would be depleted before the new season's crops are harvested.
The plan to outfox Lesedi la Rona �saboteurs�
William Lamb, the CEO and director of Lucara, has stated that the company will not return to auction for the sale of the Lesedi la Rona diamond after a failed attempt in June. Instead, Lucara is considering a private sale but has a blacklist of certain entities that will not be considered for the purchase. The company is currently strategizing on how to maximize the value from the sale of this historic stone.
The search for the next Jwaneng
The article discusses the importance of protective leg armour for individuals venturing into the desert region 25 kilometres south-west of Tsabong. This safety equipment is essential due to the presence of numerous venomous snakes in the area, which are not accustomed to human presence and may attack. The leg armour described is a military-style gear that covers the leg from the ankle to the knee and is also waterproof, providing critical protection in this hazardous environment.
The dying moments of Lesotho�s former commander
The article recounts the events of June 25, 2015, when former Lesotho Defence Force commander, Maaparankoe Mahao, was ambushed by three double cab vehicles while driving near his farm in Ha Lekete, near Maseru, Lesotho. Two of the vehicles had military plates, and one was unmarked. They strategically positioned themselves to barricade Mahao's van, indicating a planned and possibly military-involved incident. The presence of Mahao's two young nephews during this confrontation is also noted, adding a personal dimension to the story.
×
Mbongeni's
confirmed information
✓
Phone number
Verified Jan 2017
✓
Joined
Jan 2017