The United Nations High Commission for Refugees said southern Africa remains the most war-torn region in the world, at a meeting in Gaborone aimed at building regional consensus on the controversial refugee question.

Botswana's Vice President Seretse Khama Ian Khama has been awarded the “Statesmanship Award of the Endangered Wildlife Trust”. The award is presented to “a statesperson who has made an exceptional contribution to conservation”.

Botswana's first lady, Barbara Mogae, is discouraging the indiscriminate cutting of trees as part of a clean up campaign. She says she wants to encourage a spirit of volunteerism and environmental responsibility.

Of a 12-million pula regional integration grant signed by USAID in the Botswana's capital Gaborone last week, 6-million pula will help strengthen regional economies through non-governmental organisations.

A statement by Survival International is set to expose Botswana's racist treatment of its Bushman peoples at the United Nations World Conference Against Racism (UNWCAR) this weekend. The statement, by the worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples, will call for an independent investigation into ongoing human rights abuses against the Bushmen.