- Tsaone Segaetsho
Today’s global trends in mining investment models are increasingly centred on financing critical minerals that are essential to the green economy, while also emphasising citizen participation. This was according to Absa Botswana Managing Director, Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane, speaking at the Botswana Mining Show 2025 on Tuesday, where the bank served as the main sponsor.
Delivering a keynote address themed “Navigating Trends in Global Mining Investment Models and Supporting Inclusive Citizen Participation,” Pheko-Moshagane tackled pressing questions around the intersection of finance and mining — particularly in a country long reliant on the sector and now grappling with the subdued performance of its cornerstone commodity, diamonds.
She noted that the mining industry is being reshaped by heightened ESG expectations, evolving regulatory frameworks, and growing citizen and community engagement.
“If we can recalibrate how we attract investment, how we finance mining, and how we include more citizens in the value chain — because global mining investment models are changing rapidly,” said Pheko-Moshagane.
She added that Botswana’s next phase of growth hinges on how boldly it reimagines its investment model. Through strategic partnerships, she said, banks can offer guarantees that de-risk projects and attract private capital into sectors that prioritise local participation, sustainability, and adherence to ESG principles.
“If we can align capital with community, investment with inclusion, and mining with beneficiation — then Botswana will not just recover; it will transform,” the Absa MD asserted.
Pheko-Moshagane further emphasised the importance of adopting measurable indicators and transparency in the sector, stating that “what gets measured, gets managed.”
Encouraging stronger banking sector support for citizen empowerment, she highlighted Absa’s leadership in this regard. Through its partnership with Debswana, Absa has disbursed more than BWP 1.5 billion to contractors since 2020, including over BWP 700 million to citizen suppliers.
“We need to track the results of citizen participation — how much is spent on citizen suppliers, how many local jobs are created, and how much value is added locally,” she urged.
According to Pheko-Moshagane, Absa has structured financing and mentorship programmes for approximately 3,000 citizen-owned businesses. She stressed that citizen participation is not merely a social responsibility but a cornerstone of the emerging economic model in mining — one that defines how value is created, shared, and sustained.
She called on all financiers to play their part, underscoring that policy and finance must work in tandem to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth.
Pheko-Moshagane also proposed co-investment and citizen equity schemes, suggesting that the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) could establish a Citizen Mining Investment Fund, co-financed with institutional investors.
