“We have to be optimistic because, as I continue to say, we’ve been blessed with all the ingredients we need to build our country. The first of our priorities is to halt the haemorrhaging of our fiscus [treasury], because even though Botswana over the last few decades has outperformed everyone else on the African continent, we need to accept that there has been a period of lapse which has taken place, arguably, over the last 12 years or so.”

Motswana economist and politician

Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe is a Motswana economist and politician. Since 7 November 2024, he has served as Vice-President of Botswana and Minister of Finance under President Duma Boko. He is the leader of the Alliance for Progressives and an elected member of Botswana’s National Assembly. He represents Gaborone Bonnington South, returning to the seat after previously holding it from 2014 to 2019. Within the ruling coalition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change, he is a central figure in the Alliance for Progressives, combining economic work with active political leadership.