Also known as: IMF · IMF team
International Monetary Fund — multilateral organization that conducts economic assessments; recently studied Botswana's VAT compliance gap and ranked its debt surge fastest-growing globally.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on International Monetary Fund
Every mention in the Botswanan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Weekend Post
… Holdings tied to the International Monetary Fund rounded out the picture: the Reserve Tranche at P1.01 billion, Holdings of Special Drawing Rights at P4.96 billion, and the General Subsidy Account at a slender P48.9 million. …
Botswana’s war chest swells to P63 Billion, a buffer rebuiltWeekend Post
… The International Monetary Fund expected activity to contract about 1 percent in 2025, chiefly because of another decline in diamond production; the World Bank estimated a 0.9 percent contraction before forecasting 2.7 percent growth in 2026. …
Botswana’s diamond rebound offers relief – and a WarningWeekend Post
… The International Monetary Fund expected activity to contract about 1 percent in 2025, chiefly because of another decline in diamond production; the World Bank estimated a 0.9 percent contraction before forecasting 2.7 percent growth in 2026. …
Botswana’s diamond rebound offers relief – and a WarningWeekend Post
… Under the deal, De Beers pledged up to P10 billion to the development fund over a decade, opening with one billion pula – roughly $75 million – according to an International Monetary Fund report. …
Dr Adesina’s Diamond for Development not for ‘Mickey Mouse projects’Weekend Post
… On the global front, the International Monetary Fund’s July 2026 World Economic Outlook projects a slowdown in growth to 3.0 percent from 3.5 percent in 2025. …
Botswana’s economic growth falters amid persistent inflation pressuresMmegi
The team visited the country between October 27 and November 7 and has passed its findings to the BURS, indicating that key revenues running into millions of pula are going uncollected due to non-compliance.According to the IMF team, the country’s overall VAT gap trended upward i …
IMF study spots missing VAT billionsWeekend Post
… The International Monetary Fund, in its 2025 Article IV consultation, described Botswana as standing at a critical juncture where diversification had become a structural necessity rather than a policy preference. …
Gaborone to Host High-Stakes CEO Conversations on Botswana’s Road to a $40 Billion EconomyWeekend Post
… The International Monetary Fund projects India’s growth at over 6% in 2026, making it one of the fastest-growing major economies globally. …
Multi-Polar Wealth: The five economic giants shaping 2026The Botswana Gazette
BONGANI MALUNGA Botswana has been ranked as the country with the fastest-growing debt surge in the world, according to new International Monetary Fund (IMF) data released on Monday, placing renewed scrutiny on the country’s public finances and raising difficult questions about wh …
Botswana Tops Global Debt Surge Ranking-IMFWeekend Post
… The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has noted that Botswana’s economy faces significant headwinds due to a prolonged slowdown in global diamond demand. …
ODC’s expansion in India sparks transparency concernsBotswana's total foreign assets reached P63.21 billion as at July 31, 2026, a 32 percent increase from P47.81 billion a year earlier, marking a reversal of the decade-long erosion of reserves driven by pandemic impacts, soft gem markets, and budget deficits. The Pula Fund, the long-term sovereign wealth portfolio, represents the largest holding at P30.88 billion.
19 October 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana's total foreign assets reached P63.21 billion as at July 31, 2026, a 32 percent increase from P47.81 billion a year earlier, marking a reversal of the decade-long erosion of reserves driven by pandemic impacts, soft gem markets, and budget deficits. The Pula Fund, the long-term sovereign wealth portfolio, represents the largest holding at P30.88 billion.
19 October 2026 · Weekend Post →
After a severe slump, Botswana's diamond industry has recovered—the economy expanded 3.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 and rough-diamond output surged in the second. Acting president and finance minister Ndaba Gaolathe has urged the country to use this reprieve to diversify away from dependence on diamonds, steering capital toward farms, factories, and tourism rather than relying on another diamond-market recovery.
8 October 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana's diamond industry has rebounded after a slump, with the economy expanding 3.5 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 and rough-diamond output surging in the second. However, acting president and finance minister Ndaba Gaolathe warned against treating the recovery as a transformation, calling for investment in farms, factories, and tourism rather than reliance on diamond market fluctuations.
28 September 2026 · Weekend Post →
With Botswana's diamond-dependent economy contracting 3 percent in 2024 as prices softened, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, former African Development Bank president, now heads the Diamonds for Development Fund to marshal capital for diversification, exports, and jobs—pledging the fund will not finance "Mickey Mouse projects."
28 September 2026 · Weekend Post →
Bank of Botswana Governor Lesego Moseki has warned that businesses and households should prepare for ongoing inflationary pressures from rising fuel and electricity costs, livestock movement restrictions, and global geopolitical tensions. The Monetary Policy Committee has kept the policy rate steady at 5.5 percent while headline inflation remains above the central bank's medium-term target range and economic expansion has been modest.
31 August 2026 · Weekend Post →
Finance Minister Ndaba Gaolathe rejected concerns about a debt crisis, stating that Botswana is not in debt distress and maintains one of the lowest debt-to-GDP ratios in Sub-Saharan Africa at about 29 percent of GDP in the 2025/26 fiscal year, a position more favorable than many regional neighbors.
18 August 2026 · Weekend Post →
An IMF team that visited between October 27 and November 7 found that the country's VAT gap—the difference between optimal and actual revenue collection—trended upward from 2017 to 2024, with key revenues running into millions of pula going uncollected due to non-compliance.
10 August 2026 · Mmegi →
The CEO Africa Roundtable will convene in Gaborone on 6 July 2026 under the theme "Towards a $40 Billion Economy by 2036," addressing Botswana's economic challenges including contracting foreign exchange reserves (from approximately $7.5 billion in 2017 to an estimated $3.2 billion by end-2024) and consecutive economic contractions in 2024 and 2025.
29 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
The global economic order is shifting from U.S.–China dominance toward a multipolar system where five economic hubs—the United States, China, India, the Gulf, and Southeast Asia—are commanding growing attention from family offices managing over $6 trillion in private wealth.
24 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
According to new International Monetary Fund data released Monday, Botswana has been ranked as the country with the fastest-growing debt surge in the world, placing scrutiny on public finances and raising questions about implications for households.
10 June 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Botswana's state-owned Okavango Diamond Company has extended operations into India, holding rough diamond viewing sessions in Mumbai at the Bharat Diamond Bourse Complex. The move has raised questions about the company's presence in the Indian diamond hub and why operational details remain undisclosed.
9 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Bank of Botswana's Business Expectations Survey shows firms broadly pessimistic about trading conditions, with economic output expected to grow only 1.7 percent in 2026, a rebound from 0.7 percent contraction in 2025. Weak government spending, exchange rate pressures, and rising input costs constrain confidence, though inflation expectations remain anchored within the central bank's 3 to 6 percent target range.
2 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Development Corporation reported a P167 million loss for the fiscal year ending June 2025, with 47 percent of its loan book classified as non-performing. The corporation faces a structural cash shortfall of approximately P400 million annually, as debt servicing obligations of P450 million far exceed its annual cash flow of P55 million, prompting a 12-month turnaround strategy.
2 June 2026 · Weekend Post →
Akanyang Olekile operates Akanyang Upholstery, a furniture restoration business at Serowe's central marketplace that reupholsters worn-out sofas, chairs, and car seats rather than discarding them, aiming to reduce waste and offer customers sustainable value.
25 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
At a University of Botswana memorial service for former president Festus Mogae, speakers including David Magang and Dr. Nasha praised his 1998–2008 tenure for integrity, discipline, and sound public finances, contrasting his governance with perceived declines in standards since his departure.
20 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Congress Party has dismissed the government's forensic audit as structurally flawed and theatrically political, arguing it reveals little that is new and provides no credible roadmap for institutional reform. If the report remains secret, the BCP plans to revive its proposal for a fully independent Presidential Commission of Inquiry when Parliament reconvenes in July.
20 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
An article chronicles the late former president Festus Mogae's most prominent economic policy decisions throughout his career, from his studies in Development Economics at Oxford and Sussex universities through roles at the Ministry of Finance, the International Monetary Fund, and the Bank of Botswana, to his eventual presidency.
18 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's economic growth is expected to slow in 2026 as inflation climbs from 3.9 percent in late 2025 to a forecast average of 8.7 percent for the year, driven by fuel price hikes, transport fare increases, and rising medical aid premiums. The Bank of Botswana projects inflation will peak at 11.1 percent in the third quarter, threatening household incomes and consumer-dependent sectors including wholesale, retail, and financial services.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Global finance professionals' confidence has plunged to pandemic-era lows due to Middle East conflict and soaring commodity prices, with the Strait of Hormuz closure reducing maritime traffic by 95 percent and energy prices projected to surge 24 percent. Africa's GDP growth is forecast to lose 0.2 percentage points in 2026 as soaring fuel and fertilizer costs threaten agricultural output.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana and Rwanda have signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement to eliminate double taxation on income earned in both countries and deepen economic ties. Officials say the pact will attract foreign direct investment and ease cross-border business expansion, though concerns remain about potential revenue losses and tax avoidance risks.
12 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Botswana Unified Revenue Service exceeded its revenue target of P59.824 billion by roughly P507 million, collecting approximately P60.124 billion, while dismissing claims that its financial performance directly influences wage negotiations. The agency attributed the achievement to strengthened compliance measures, improved enforcement, and enhanced data analytics, and said wage outcomes are determined through structured negotiation processes rather than being tied to revenue results.
5 May 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana's economy is expected to rebound in 2026, though the recovery may be short-lived as global shocks affect momentum across Southern Africa.
23 April 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →