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Africa SME body honours President Boko for SME commitment

The News

The President of the All Africa Association for Small and Medium Enterprises honoured President Advocate Duma Boko with the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Billion Fund recognition at the Trade Up North 10th Anniversary in Francistown, acknowledging his commitment to growing SMEs and creating an enabling environment for small businesses in Botswana. AAASME has established the $1.4 billion UbuntuSusu Continental SMEs Fund to assist SMEs in Africa to access finance, presenting Botswana's local SMEs an opportunity to tap into continental financing, markets and partnerships.

15 hours ago · Daily News Botswana →

Today

Africa SME body honours President Boko for SME commitment
The President of the All Africa Association for Small and Medium Enterprises honoured President Advocate Duma Boko with the UbuntuSusu Continental SME Billion Fund recognition at the Trade Up North 10th Anniversary in Francistown, acknowledging his commitment to growing SMEs and creating an enabling environment for small businesses in Botswana. AAASME has established the $1.4 billion UbuntuSusu Continental SMEs Fund to assist SMEs in Africa to access finance, presenting Botswana's local SMEs an opportunity to tap into continental financing, markets and partnerships.
15 hours ago · Daily News Botswana →
BEMA and Bangwato sign economic partnership agreement
The Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association (BEMA) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Bangwato Tribal Administration covering seven districts, aimed at identifying viable economic opportunities across manufacturing, agro-processing, leather beneficiation, indigenous products, cultural industries, tourism, renewable energy, and community-based enterprises.
15 hours ago · Daily News Botswana →

Yesterday

Botswana maintains tariff-free access to US diamond market
Botswana has secured tariff-free entry into the US market for exports including natural diamonds under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, while Angola and South Africa face a 12.5 percent tariff. The US is the biggest market for natural diamonds, accounting for more than 50% of demand.
16 hours ago · Mmegi →
BSE market value stays above trillion pula despite trading slowdown
The Botswana Stock Exchange maintained total market capitalisation above P1 trillion in the first six months of 2026, supported by foreign-listed companies, though six-month turnover fell 65.2 percent from 2025 levels.
17 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette →
Diamond rebound expected to drive modest economic recovery
Botswana's economy is expected to stage a modest recovery over the next two to three years, largely on the back of a rebound in diamond production from historically low levels, though the World Bank warns that only structural reform can meaningfully reduce poverty and unemployment.
17 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette →
BHC posts P102m loss, banks on new strategy
The Botswana Housing Corporation reported a P102 million pre-tax loss and is pursuing recovery through a new 2025–2030 strategy and the Bonno programme to rebuild finances and expand housing delivery.
17 hours ago · The Botswana Gazette →
Opracon marks decade with expansion into HR and skills services
Technology firm Opracon, established in July 2016, has diversified into human resources, skills development, and academy services as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations and growth strategy.
23 hours ago · Mmegi →
Fixed asset investment in Botswana drops sharply in Q1 2026
Botswana's fixed asset investment fell P1.2 billion to P10.4 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by declines in plant machinery, transport equipment, and infrastructure spending. Fitch Solutions attributed the contraction to weak business confidence, citing uncertainty in global diamond markets and tighter credit conditions.
27 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana plans largest debt auction since January
Botswana plans to raise P5.1 billion from the domestic market on July 31, its largest debt auction since January, reflecting the government's increasing reliance on local borrowing to finance a widening budget deficit and refinance maturing obligations.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Sunday Standard investigation finds questionable salary practices at CITF
Sunday Standard investigations have found questionable salary adjustments and allowances at Construction Industry Trust Fund (CITF), including a 26% allowance increase awarded exclusively to CITF Executive Management in 2025 that was approved by a Board of Trustees whose tenure expired in March 2026.
27 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
CCECC Botswana invests millions in community aid beyond construction
China Civil Engineering Construction (Botswana) has contributed millions of pula to charitable initiatives including donations of houses to vulnerable families, school renovations, and village development programs. Between 2023 and 2024, eight villages in the Boteti region benefited from donations supporting schools and road maintenance.
27 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →

Sunday 26 July

Transport sector accounts for approaching 17% of GDP
Botswana's transport sector may represent an economy-wide burden approaching 17% of GDP, though it is commonly underestimated. The piece argues that transport is the most commonly experienced but least understood of all economic activities.
26 July 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →

Wednesday 22 July

South African fintech platform expands digital tipping across Africa
Numeral Group is backing the expansion of South African digital tipping platform Tipped.biz across Africa, addressing the challenge of declining cash use that threatens service workers' supplementary income by enabling customers to tip via personalised QR codes and mobile banking apps.
22 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
Gaborone hosts inaugural CEO Africa Roundtable on economic growth
Botswana held the inaugural CEO Africa Roundtable at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, bringing together chief executives, board chairpersons, diplomats, and business leaders under the banner "Towards a $40 Billion Economy by 2036." The government presented a roadmap acknowledging that the old economic model has run its course and called for action from private sector and regional partners.
22 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana inflation steady at 10.7% in June
Botswana's annual inflation rate remained at 10.7 percent in June, driven by transport costs and remaining well above the Bank of Botswana's 3–6 percent medium-term objective range.
22 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Access Bank Botswana profit declines despite digital banking growth
Access Bank Botswana posted lower earnings for the year ended December 2025 after higher loan impairments and funding costs offset strong growth in digital banking income and an expanding loan book.
22 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
World Bank: Botswana's diamond wealth has not reduced inequality
The World Bank says Botswana's diamond wealth has transformed the country into an upper-middle-income economy, but poverty, inequality, and unemployment remain stubbornly high and benefits have not been widely shared.
22 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Private healthcare VAT begins August 2026 amid medical groups' protests
Botswana will introduce Value Added Tax on private healthcare services starting August 1, 2026, as part of wider tax reforms aimed at expanding the tax base and increasing government revenue. The Botswana Doctors Union, Botswana Dental Association, and Medical Practitioners Group of Botswana have jointly opposed the measure, warning it could reduce healthcare affordability and delay patient treatment.
22 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
BHC chief defends housing projects against parliamentary criticism
Botswana Housing Corporation's Acting CEO Professor Selinah Busang defended the corporation's housing developments against recent criticism over aesthetic appeal, arguing that BHC projects have transformed communities and created lasting value for homeowners. She emphasized that housing should be viewed as investment, not merely physical structures, and urged critics to visit completed project areas.
22 July 2026 · Weekend Post →
World Bank warns Botswana must cut 4% of GDP
The World Bank has warned that Botswana must enact a fiscal adjustment of roughly 4 percent of its Gross Domestic Product to stabilize public debt and avoid an unsustainable financial trajectory.
22 July 2026 · Weekend Post →