31/07/2026
๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐ข๐น๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฐ๐ผ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ฎ ๐ง๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐น๐บ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐จ๐๐๐ฒ, ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ, ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ก๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐, ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ (๐๐๐) ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ (๐๐๐๐).
Since assuming leadership of BGI in September 2021, Mr. Mashabila has overseen one of the most significant periods of transformation in the Institute's history, repositioning BGI as a modern, future-ready geoscience institution that plays a central role in Botswana's mineral resource development and economic transformation agenda. Guided by the 2023โ2028 Strategic Business Plan, his leadership strengthened the Institute's strategic direction, institutional capability, operational excellence and long-term sustainability while enhancing Botswana's competitiveness as a global destination for mineral exploration investment.
One of Mr. Mashabila's defining contributions was championing the development of Botswana's 10-Year Mineral Resources Development, Exploration, Exploitation, Beneficiation and Value Chain (MRDEEVC) Strategy, a cornerstone of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP). He also led the development of the Beneficiation Thresholds Framework and the Small-Scale Mining Framework, providing Government with strategic policy instruments to promote exploration, local value addition, citizen participation and sustainable growth of the minerals sector.
Under his leadership, BGI transformed the way it delivers national projects through the establishment of the Project Management Office (PMO) and the introduction of the BGI Project Way delivery framework. These reforms enabled the successful implementation of a record portfolio of Transitional National Development Plan 12 (TNDP-12) projects, including high-resolution geophysical surveys, expanded geochemical mapping, the Shakawe Coreshed and the development of additional national core repository facilities. Together, these initiatives significantly strengthened Botswana's geological knowledge base and de-risked mineral exploration investment.
Mr. Mashabila also led a comprehensive transformation of BGI's business and operating model, including the recapitalisation of the Institute's laboratory services into a nationally recognised Centre of Excellence for Mining and Exploration Analytical Services. This was supported by SADCAS laboratory accreditation, the acquisition and refurbishment of the former BCL laboratories and expanded analytical capabilities aimed at strengthening Botswana's national geoscience infrastructure and reducing reliance on offshore laboratory services.
The impact of these reforms is reflected in Botswana exceeding the Strategic Business Plan target of attaining a Best Practice Mineral Potential Index (BPMPI) of 70% by 2028, achieving 77% in 2025, three years ahead of schedule. This milestone significantly strengthened Botswana's standing as a globally competitive destination for mineral exploration investment and demonstrated the effectiveness of BGI's strategy to systematically de-risk exploration through world-class geoscience knowledge and investment-ready geological information.
Mr. Mashabila also leaves behind a strong foundation for BGI's continued growth, having overseen the approval of the Institute's National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12) portfolio valued at approximately P1 billion, a transformative investment programme that will further strengthen Botswana's geoscience capability, exploration infrastructure and downstream mineral development.
Commenting on the transition, BGI Board Chairperson Professor Motsoptse Phillip Modisi thanked Mr. Mashabila for his exceptional leadership and contribution to the Institute.
"On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Mashabila for his outstanding leadership, dedication and invaluable contribution to the growth and transformation of BGI. We congratulate him on his appointment and wish him every success as he leads EICB in advancing Botswana's mineral exploration and investment agenda."
To ensure a seamless transition, the Board has appointed Mr. Puso Akanyang as Acting Chief Executive Officer, effective 15 July 2026, to oversee the leadership handover while the process of appointing a substantive Chief Executive Officer is undertaken.
BGI remains committed to its mandate of advancing geoscience knowledge, strengthening Botswana's mineral exploration ecosystem and supporting sustainable national development through scientific excellence, innovation and strategic partnerships.
