Independence buys freedom

Pandora Papers: What is Ram ‘hiding’ in British Virgin Islands?

By definition, there is nothing wrong with owning an offshore company. However, it becomes rather fascinating when those who do deny it, especially when the entities in question are domiciled in places that attract certain types who present perturbations to the international finance system. As NTIBINYANE NTIBINYANE of INK Centre for Investigative Journalism reports, an international probe points at Ram of Choppies fame as one such person



How Masisi is mismanaging the pandemic

Botswana lacks leadership and policy direction to stop the spread of Coronavirus, argues Joel Konopo





Botswana is landlocked, but is still exporting shark fins

Botswana has no coastline, yet it is still exporting shark fins worth P17 million (R24 million) to neighbouring countries, including South Africa, according to the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the UN’s Comtrade database.


Masisi under scrutiny over Banyana Farm tender

The latest muddy knot on a farm may show President Masisi to be a man more rapacious than popular opinion holds, Joel Konopo, Calistus Bosaletswe and Ntibinyane Ntibinyane investigate.


Masisi’s questionable business dealings

President Mokgweetsi Masisi has business interest in at least 10 companies with several highly connected businessmen of Indian origin, including controversial businessman and Choppies Chief Executive Officer, Ramachandran “Ram” Ottapathu, according to details gleaned from the Companies and Intellectual Properties Authority.


#MauritiusLeaks: Botswana in tax avoidance scandal

A Mauritius-based shell company existing only on paper – with no employees, office or business activity – received a substantial amount of money as payment from the government of Botswana. But how did the government pay a shell company millions of pula in what appears to be a classic case of tax avoidance?