… He speaking during a courtesy call by the Bank of Botswana Governor, Mr Lesego Moseki, noting that people who voted for change wanted to see action in terms of law reform, policy reform, representation and economic transformation, among others. …
The Bank of Botswana’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) jolted the financial world on 30 April 2026, with a bold move: a sharp 200 basis points hike in the Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR), driving it from 3.5 percent to 5.5 percent. …
Sunday Standard Banks widen lending margins, undercut BoB policy stance Commercial banks are moving out of step with the Bank of Botswana, raising borrowing costs in ways that dilute the central bank’s recent policy signals. …
Inflation is poised to surpass the Bank of Botswana’s upper threshold of 6 percent by June 2026, driven by rising prices across key sectors, according to recent data and expert analysis. …
Botswana's annual inflation rate dropped to 9.4 percent in July from 10.7 percent in June, driven largely by government fuel price cuts that reduced transport costs, which accounted for 5.2 percentage points of the overall inflation rate.
Botswana's annual inflation rate dropped to 9.4 percent in July from 10.7 percent in June, driven largely by government fuel price cuts that reduced transport costs, which accounted for 5.2 percentage points of the overall inflation rate.
Kanye will host a Pula Day commemoration on August 24 under the theme "Pula le Thebe: Shielding Wealth, Nurturing Inclusive Growth," marking fifty years since Botswana introduced its national currency on August 23, 1976, after withdrawing from the Rand Monetary Area in 1974.
Financial overcommitment occurs when monthly income cannot adequately cover both household needs and debt obligations. The Bank of Botswana estimated household debt at P68.6 billion in December 2024, up 12% from P61 billion in the previous survey.
The Permanent Secretary to the President said the Office of the PSP will consult the Directorate of Intelligence and Security Director General over allegations of missing P100 billion from the Bank of Botswana in 2019, following contradicting assertions made during Public Accounts Committee appearances by the DIS, DPP, and DCEC.
Bank of Botswana data shows EFTPOS transaction values dropped about 29% between January–March 2026 and the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting a continuing soft trend in consumer spending. Total EFTPOS values fell to P85.4 billion in 2025 from P120.6 billion in 2024, marking the first year-on-year decline.
The Bank of Botswana floated bonds and treasury bills for government under its domestic note issuance programme, raising P5.1 billion in the capital market. Primary dealer banks competed to lend to government, with the BoB setting yield rates on the securities offered.
Foreign direct investment in Botswana's mining sector reached P47.8 billion in 2024, a P15 billion increase from 2023, and accounted for 48.8 percent of total FDI inflows, up from 37.5 percent the previous year, according to the Bank of Botswana. The United Kingdom was the largest source of investment, contributing 56.9 percent of total FDI.
The central bank introduced amendments to electronic money and money transfer service regulations effective April 2, aligning the framework with re-enacted financial crime legislation and international standards. Key changes include clearer licensing requirements, increased penalties for unlicensed operation, and permission for licensees to pay interest on customer electronic money balances to support product innovation.
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.
The Bank of Botswana says reducing food imports and expanding exports beyond diamonds are crucial to preserving reserves and strengthening economic resilience. Governor Lesego Moseki has renewed calls for the country to accelerate import substitution, warning that heavy dependence on imported food and consumer goods is placing significant pressure on the economy.
The Bank of Botswana posted net income of P5.2 billion in 2025, up from P3.9 billion the previous year, driven by realised investment gains and foreign exchange sales despite significant unrealised market losses.
Botswana is confronting growing fiscal pressures, with the cost of servicing government debt expected to spike due to a weakening Pula and rising interest rates. Government revenues rose to P63.23 billion in the first 11 months of the 2025/2026 financial year, boosted by stronger mining revenues and non-mining income tax collections, though projected mineral revenues for 2026/27 are held back by weak global diamond markets.
The Bank of Botswana has warned that postponements in rolling out the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme risk undermining the country's economic recovery and prolonging growth challenges from the past two years.
Botswana's economy is expected to return to growth this year after two consecutive years of contraction, with the Bank of Botswana projecting recovery driven by improving mining activity and continued expansion in non-mining sectors.
The Bank of Botswana has warned that the country must urgently rebuild its foreign exchange reserves after a prolonged downturn in the diamond industry exposed Botswana's vulnerability to external shocks.
Bank of Botswana Governor Lesego Moseki has warned that Botswana must accelerate economic reforms rather than wait for diamond market recovery, stating that the prolonged downturn has exposed structural weaknesses in the economy.
The Bank of Botswana substantially increased its cash holdings in 2025, prioritising liquidity management as investment gains and foreign-exchange trading profits helped offset a modest decline in annual earnings.
Botswana is working with the UN Development Programme to strengthen its capacity to engage with international credit rating agencies following downgrades by Moody's and S&P's, which remain in the investment category. The Accountant General warned that economic challenges could lead to further downgrades if not addressed, and the Bank of Botswana flagged a high risk of downgrade in third-quarter reviews if agreed measures are not implemented.
Botswana's diamond sales topped P9 billion in the first quarter of 2026, with the government collecting over P4 billion from diamond royalties and dividends during the period. Foreign exchange reserves currently sit at approximately P58 billion.
The Bank of Botswana Governor presented the bank's 2025 Annual Report during an economic briefing to cabinet in Gaborone, detailing performance outcomes, mandate, and future economic outlook while emphasizing public education in driving economic understanding.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions director has stated there is no evidence in the P100 billion 'Butterfly' case and called for the matter to be concluded, noting that no physical docket was found in the DPP office despite former president Seretse Khama Ian Khama's perjury complaint.
The Bank of Botswana has held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5.5 percent, indicating that the fight against inflation continues as the economy contends with effects of the diamond market downturn.
Botswana's foreign reserves rose sharply in April as government significantly reduced its temporary advance from the Bank of Botswana, with improvements attributed to inflows from SACU receipts, diamond revenues, and easing cash pressures from public spending.
The Finance Ministry reported a budget deficit of P11.2 billion for the first 11 months of the 2025/2026 fiscal year, an improvement from the P14.7 billion deficit recorded during the same period the previous year, according to latest Botswana Economic and Financial Statistics from the Bank of Botswana.
Botswana's fiscal savings account has staged a remarkable recovery after months of decline, with fresh Bank of Botswana figures showing a sharp rebound in the Government Investment Account (GIA) during March.
Botswana's nine commercial banks posted combined net profit of P851.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, down 13.8 percent from P988.1 million in Q1 2025, as rising funding costs and credit risk pressures weighed on earnings.
Botswana's foreign reserves improved from P55.3 billion in February to P56 billion in March, with the Pula Fund reaching P29.1 billion and the Government Investment Account at P9.1 billion, driven by factors including diamond earnings and hard currency-denominated debt.
UK research firm Business Monitor International has warned that Botswana's banking sector faces escalating challenges from weak macroeconomic growth, tighter monetary policy, and rising macro-fiscal risks, which could hinder performance and restrict balance sheet growth, liquidity, and profitability. The firm projects real GDP growth of 1.5 percent this year, following a 0.7 percent contraction in 2025, citing weak demand for exports and persistent uncertainty in the diamond sector.
Businesses in Botswana view government spending as a major constraint on operations, citing fiscal strain, weaker government spending, and rising costs as economic headwinds, according to a Bank of Botswana survey.
Researchers at the Bank of Botswana warn that labour market conditions have likely deteriorated further after two consecutive years of economic contraction, with modest employment gains in early 2024 expected to have been wiped out by private sector weakness. The prolonged downturn in the diamond industry, which remains central to Botswana's economy, is spilling over into the broader labour market.