As the sun sets on 2025, the narrative of the year is undeniable: this was the year Botswana hit the reset button. Defined by the ambitious first full year of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government, 2025 has been a period of frantic policy shifts, legislative overhauls, and a distinct change in the national mood—from cautious optimism to the “transformation agenda” taking tangible shape.
If 2024 was the year of the ballot, 2025 was the year of the blueprint. As reported extensively by The 2nd Republic throughout the last twelve months, the nation has witnessed a government moving at speed, eager to prove that its “Year of Political Shift and Policy Ambition” was more than just a campaign slogan.
Politics: Consolidating Power and the New Order. The political landscape of 2025 was dominated by the consolidation of the new administration. As we reported this December, the ruling UDC has not only held the fort but expanded its territory, flipping the Moreomaoto Ward and seeing its relative strength jump to over 57% in key bye-elections. The once-dominant Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) has seen its support fracture further, a trend our analysts have described as a “collapse” of the old guard.
President Duma Boko’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) served as the capstone of the year, a marathon 14-day articulation of a new Botswana. From seeking a seat on the UN Security Council to the promise of “more results,” the Presidency has projected an image of a nation punching above its weight.
Economy: The P514 Billion Gamble Perhaps the biggest headline of the year was Vice President Gaolathe’s presentation of the P514 Billion Economic Transformation Plan. This staggering figure represents the scale of the administration’s ambition to shift Botswana from a mineral-led economy to a diversified powerhouse.
Key economic pillars established or strengthened this year include:
The Botswana Mercantile Exchange: A bold move to redefine African trade.
The Green Power Shift: Positioning the country as a regional energy hub.
Mining’s Next Chapter: A pivot toward copper and local beneficiation, moving beyond the simple extraction of diamonds.
Despite the optimism, the financial reality remains tight. The Bank of Botswana raised the policy rate to 3.5% to stabilise market signalling, and the new P5 Billion Unity Fund for healthcare and social safety underscores the cost of this transition.
Innovation and Society: A Digital and Green Frontier 2025 also marked Botswana’s aggressive entry into the digital age. With the enactment of new cybercrime laws and the introduction of the Digital Information Service Bill, the government is tightening the digital frontier while simultaneously opening doors for global tech giants like Catalyst to set up regional operations in Gaborone.
On the education front, the “STEAM Revolution” (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) was launched to overhaul the curriculum, a long-term play to create a globally competitive workforce. Simultaneously, the country reasserted its status as a global conservation leader, unveiling new strategies to combat poaching and empower wildlife communities—defending the “giants” that draw the world to our doorstep.
Sports: Rising Ambitions On the pitch, the mood mirrored the political ambition. The Zebras’ squad selection for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers highlighted the growing strength of the local league, even as debates raged regarding the “Society Model” of club ownership, with giants like Township Rollers pushing for modernisation.
Looking Ahead As we close our files on 2025, the question remains: Can the execution match the ambition? The 2nd Republic has chronicled a year of high-stakes governance, where the law has had to “speak louder than politics,” as noted in our analysis of the electoral disputes.
For now, the whistle has blown on a transformative year. The plans are laid, the laws are passed, and the world is watching. 2026 will be the year we find out if the bet pays off.
