16 Feb 2026

The 2026/27 National Budget recently presented by Vice President and Minister of Finance, Mr Ndaba Gaolathe, was delivered in the current economic climate that presents both a challenge and opportunity. Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa has said.

Giving an address to commence the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) Budget Breakfast Seminar held in Gaborone, Mr Mohwasa said government was committed to not only navigating the current circumstances but executing long term reform.

“We are addressing the realities with discipline and resolve. Government has taken a responsible path. The budget seeks to restore stability to our public finances while safeguarding strategic investments that drive long term growth infrastructure, human capital development and economic diversification. It is a careful balance between prudence and progress,” said Mr Mohwasa.

He added that state commitment to accountability and ensuring public finances deliver tangible benefit to citizens would be realised through strengthening public financial management, tightening expenditure controls and improving procurement processes.

“At the same time, transformation must be inclusive. Youth unemployment remains a serious concern. Economic reform must therefore translate into real opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, digital services and othef priority areas of the twelfth National Development Plan (NDP 12),” said Mr Mohwasa.

Additionally, Mr Mohwasa said institutions such as BIDPA are vital partners and urged them to strengthen their role of research and development, as well as analysis to assist with policy choice and accountability.

During the post-budget analysis debates, the Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE)  chief executive officer, Mr Aupa Monyatsi said there was a need for “creating the right risk capital” and training for small medium and micro enterprises (SMME) as well as self financing mechanisms for local government authorities in order to assist transform the economy.

He said SMMEs were able to list in the lower bourse of the BSE and they currently have 72 such companies that were trained under the Tshipidi Mentorship Programme and employ around 10 000 people, a sign of what could be achieved if there was the right investment in the sector.

World Bank resident representative for Botswana, Mr Liang Wang, urged national policy makers to prudently manage the debt to gross domestic product ratio and managing key fiscal buffers such as the government investment account.

Mr Wang also said it was important to get value for money for projects invested in and their national enterprise survey undertook about a decade ago showed the need for total factor productivity, which calls for the efficiency of not just labour but also capital and other production inputs. ENDS