The Ministry of Sport and Arts has begun a crucial three day Strategy Alignment Retreat aimed at sharpening its focus for the 2026-2027 financial year. The gathering brings together the Ministry Executive, Chief Executive Officers of State Owned Enterprises and key stakeholders to reassess priorities and strengthen coordination across the sector. This retreat comes at a pivotal time as Botswana aligns national objectives with sector performance. It follows the recent budget speech delivered by Vice President His Honour Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe and the launch of National Development Plan 12 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Program. The meeting is designed to ensure that sport and arts play a measurable role in economic growth, youth empowerment and international competitiveness. Leaders are expected to leave the session with clear targets and defined accountability structures.
Minister for Sport and Arts Honourable Jacob Kelebeng opened the retreat by highlighting major milestones achieved by local talent on the global stage. He celebrated the gold medal victories by Collen Kebinatshipi, Letsile Tebogo, Lee Eppie and Bayapo Ndori at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, achievements that elevated Botswana’s global sporting profile. He also applauded the Zebras for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 for the second time, a milestone that signals steady progress in football development. In the creative sector, he commended Mpho Sebina for becoming a Grammy Awards voting member, a first for Botswana, and praised Mophato Dance Theatre for its international showcase in South Korea. These accomplishments demonstrate the return on investment in talent development and structured support systems. The Minister stressed that consistent planning and execution will ensure such achievements become the norm rather than the exception.
Botswana’s readiness to host the World Athletics Relays on May 2 and 3 2026 formed another key highlight of the opening address. The Minister described the upcoming global event as proof that Botswana has built the infrastructure, technical capacity and administrative systems required to host world class competitions. He pointed to growth in tennis, swimming and paralympic sport as further evidence of diversification within the national sporting landscape. Expanding participation across multiple codes strengthens talent pipelines and increases medal prospects in international events. It also opens new commercial and tourism opportunities linked to sports events. The retreat will assess how to maximise these opportunities to deliver economic returns.
Permanent Secretary Ms Nancy Neo Chengeta provided updates on legislative reforms aimed at modernising the sector. She outlined progress on the Cinematography Bill, which has been moved through Parliament to position Botswana’s film industry for growth and global competitiveness. She also confirmed that the Anti Doping Act has been assented to by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, strengthening integrity and compliance within Botswana sport. In addition, she highlighted the allocation of P200 million from the alcohol levy to support the creative industry, a move expected to stimulate job creation and enterprise development. Strategic partnerships are also expanding, with a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding with Namibia and the University of Botswana set to enhance regional collaboration and academic excellence. These reforms and partnerships aim to build a sustainable ecosystem that supports both elite performance and grassroots development.
The next three days will focus on implementation and measurable delivery outcomes. Experts from the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance are participating to ensure alignment between policy objectives and budget allocations. Every Pula spent must contribute directly to Botswana’s economic diversification goals under NDP 12 and the Botswana Economic Transformation Program. The Ministry aims to move beyond policy statements and shift firmly toward performance driven execution. Minister Kelebeng urged participants to raise their level in the new year with stronger focus on implementation and delivery. The success of this retreat will be measured by clear action plans, defined timelines and tangible results that advance Botswana’s sport and arts sector.
