17 Dec 2025

Companies with an annual turnover of over P500 million will be required to have Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, under new regulations, which are at drafting stage.
 Assistant Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Mr Baratiwa Mathoothe, said in Parliament on Friday that draft regulations formulation followed the passing of the Economic Inclusion Act in 2021.
Thus, he said the government could not adopt a motion by Tswapong South MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, which called on the government to introduce a law setting mandatory CSR for specified proportions of profits before tax for companies operating in Botswana.
He said the ministry was working on introducing such a requirement for companies doing business in Botswana.
Mr Mathoothe said such would target companies making an annual turnover of more than P500 million, to have CSR initiatives.
The assistant minister, who is also the MP for Serowe North, said the new administration fast-tracked the regulations after realising that there was delay in drafting of the regulations.
He said the motion requirement was addressed under the Economic Inclusion Act of 2021, adding that the regulations were at an advanced stage to be completed.
The modalities for implementation of the requirement are defined in the draft regulations, which are yet to be approved and therefore, Mr Mathoothe said it was worth noting that the CSR requirements, as stipulated in the draft regulations, related to setting up a Corporate Social Investment office to capacitate Informal, Small, Micro, and Medium Enterprises, to enable them to participate in the company’s supply chain, delivering goods, works, and services of acceptable quality and standards.
He added that the government would continue to be assessed from time to time and review the regulations pertaining to CSR, in line with global developments.
Mr Mathoothe was not in a position to state when the regulations would be ready, since the Attorney General’s Chambers was to work on  finalisation of the draft.
Dr Gobotswang, during presentation, said the motion was previously rejected by Parliament, as it only targeted the mining sector but had broadened its scope.
Also, he said there were concerns that the arrangement could scare away foreigners interested in investing in the country but his research had shown that such was not possible.
He said the other reason raised was that the motion requirement was covered by the economic inclusion law, adding that, however, it would not address the motion requisite.
Dr Gobotswang regarded the motion necessary since it provided a source of funds to poor communities affected by big companies doing business in their communities, some which enjoyed big profits but failed to invest or contribute to the host communities.
The situation is worse in mining towns, which after operations remain with old mining pits, therefore, the motion seeks to enforce fairness by ensuring that companies invest in the affected communities, Dr Gobotswang said.
Ngami MP, Mr Phillimon Aaron, supported the motion, noting that in his constituency, not all companies were giving back to the community despite doing business among them.
He said policies and regulations would not enforce companies to invest in CSR, hence the lack of effect and that what was needed was an act of Parliament, which the motion sought to introduce eventually. ENDS