Public, private sector called to strengthen partnership
Pini Bothoko | Monday October 26, 2026 06:00
The call was made by Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa who added that economic transformation requires more than policy commitments and dialogue. Speaking at the 18th National Business Conference in Francistown this week, he emphasised the need for practical action, efficient public institutions and greater participation of local enterprises in wealth creation. The minister told the delegates that Botswana needed to address factors affecting investor confidence, including currency volatility, governance, political stability and public finances. Citing the 2026 Global Risk and Resilience Score, he noted that no African country featured amongst the world’s 50 safest countries for investors, as Switzerland occupies the top position and Panama ranking 50th. “We need to fix that. Not just government but business as well,” Mohwasa said, emphasising that building investor confidence was a shared responsibility.
The minister added that the country’s economic recovery presented opportunities for growth but also highlighted the urgency of diversifying the economy beyond mining. Figures provided by Statistics Botswana have shown that real gross domestic product grew by 8.7 percent in the second quarter of 2026, following a contraction of 5.2 percent during the corresponding quarter of 2025. Mohwasa explained that mining and quarrying expanded by 81.7%, while diamond mining recorded growth of 94.7%. However, non-mining GDP contracted by 0.2%, manufacturing declined by 9.2 percent, while agriculture, forestry and fishing fell by 23%. Furthermore, the minister said the figures demonstrate the need to strengthen other productive sectors, increase local production, add value to natural resources and develop competitive domestic enterprises. He warned that economic transformation would not be sustainable if large sections of the population remained excluded from access to finance, markets, productive assets and employment.
“Our task is therefore to ensure that diversification creates meaningful opportunities for Batswana to participate in wealth creation,” Mohwasa said. The minister called for improved public services, predictable regulations, transparent procurement and reduced administrative delays, saying an efficient public administration was essential to business growth. He also pointed to fiscal discipline, citing the 2026-2027 Budget Speech, which reported a reduction in average monthly Government Purchase Order commitments from approximately P1.14 billion to P584 million following the centralisation of purchase orders.
Mohwasa said controlling public expenditure needed to go hand in hand with effective implementation, value for money and reliable service delivery. On the commercialisation of public assets, he introduced Catalyst Real Estate (Pty) Ltd, a special-purpose vehicle established to improve management and unlock value for government properties. The initiative’s initial portfolio comprises more than P13 billion in gross asset value across 160 assets under mandate. He stressed that the initiative did not involve selling government properties, noting that the State would retain full ownership of the underlying assets. Instead, Catalyst aims to improve property maintenance, reduce avoidable rental expenditure, generate additional non-tax revenue and create investment and employment opportunities.
Mohwasa said proposed asset-backed securities could provide institutional investors with additional investment opportunities through the Botswana Stock Exchange, potentially mobilising domestic capital, including pension funds, towards productive economic activity. He added that the initiative could create opportunities for citizen-owned businesses in construction, rehabilitation, facilities management, finance and professional services.
Turning to national security, the minister said a stable and secure environment was essential for investment and business continuity. He revealed that government was developing Botswana’s first comprehensive National Security Strategy to strengthen the country’s ability to anticipate and respond to interconnected threats affecting the economy, critical infrastructure, digital systems and supply chains. He also highlighted efforts to strengthen the operational capacity of the Botswana Police Service through specialised training, modern equipment, strategic operations and community outreach programmes. Mohwasa commended the business community for supporting policing initiatives, citing the Bankers Association of Botswana’s donation of 12 vehicles to the police in September 2024 and contributions by 58 businesses, corporates and private citizens towards refurbishing 64 police stations and other police formations.
He further urged the private sector to collaborate with government as Botswana prepares for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review in 2027, warning that the country needed concerted efforts to avoid being grey-listed. Meanwhile, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship Tiroeaone Ntsima said the government was reviewing existing regulations through the Regulatory Guillotine initiative to remove unnecessary or duplicative requirements. Plans were also underway to establish a Digital One-Stop Shop to simplify business registration, licensing and investor services. Ntsima stressed that reforms needed to produce visible and measurable improvements, with government institutions held accountable for resolving issues raised by the private sector.
He also called on businesses to invest in skills and technology, improve productivity and quality standards, and strengthen their capacity to supply larger markets. He identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as an opportunity for local enterprises to expand exports, access new customers and participate in regional value chains. Both ministers emphasised the importance of translating conference resolutions into concrete outcomes, including investment, business expansion, job creation and improved public services.