Business :: Mmegi Online

Friday, March 20, 2026

Government has moved to tighten tax collection as fiscal pressures deepen, with authorities targeting significant leakages in the system to shore up domestic revenue.

Staff Writer | 20 March 2026

Phodiso Valashia

Under pressure: Fuel prices are expected to rise in the very near future PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE

High pressure mounts on fuel prices

The Middle East crisis is piling pressure on local retail pump prices, with industry insiders estimating that petrol is presently about P3 and P4 below breakeven and diesel as much as P5 below par, even before the month ends.

Mbongeni Mguni | 20 March 2026

Tighter conditions: Arrears to banks rose significantly last year PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Bank loan arrears rise 22% on economic woes

Arrears on loans issued by commercial banks rose 21.5% last year to about P6.9 billion, led by households, as the contracting economy piled pressure on borrowers’ ability to repay.

Mbongeni Mguni | 20 March 2026

Going down: Roaming tariffs are declining in six SADC countries PIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Regional mobile roaming tariffs lowered

The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) and five other SADC member states reached an agreement to “substantially reduce and harmonise” mobile roaming tariffs, taking their cue from an arrangement reached between Botswana and Namibia in 2024.

Mbongeni Mguni | 18 March 2026

Capital central: The BSE is the engine of economic growth

DCI slows down in Jan, Feb

The Botswana Stock Exchange’s (BSE) main platform, the Domestic Companies Index (DCI), retreated by 0.3 percent in the first two months of the year, compared to growth of 1.9 percent in the corresponding period last year, as some counters shed value in the period.

Mbongeni Mguni | 18 March 2026

Retrieve introduces AI-powered lost and found platform

If you lose your valuable items, there is a reason to be optimistic about recovering them following the launch of an innovative tool that can be used to locate the treasures.

Laone Choeunyane | 17 March 2026

BR Properties plans Mahalapye mall project

BR Properties, the property development arm of Botswana Railways, has unveiled plans for a mixed-use commercial development in Mahalapye as the rail utility moves to expand and reposition its property portfolio.

Lewanika Timothy | 17 March 2026

Budget review seminarPIC.KENNEDY RAMOKONE

Panel discusses how youth, SMEs can anchor economy

Although young entrepreneurs and small business owners have been encouraged to take a leading role in driving Botswana’s economy, experts have called for the latter to be supported financially.

Larona Makhaiza,Laone Choeunyane | 17 March 2026

‘Stanford Seed help entrepreneurs expand ambitions’

Absa Bank Botswana, in partnership with the Stanford Seed Transformation Program and with support from De Beers Group, last week convened an exclusive information session to introduce local entrepreneurs to a leadership and business growth initiative aimed at scaling African enterprises.

Laone Choeunyane | 17 March 2026

BPC’s P2.5bn bailout raises questions ahead of tariff decision

As the country awaits a decision by the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) on a proposed 46% electricity tariff hike, revelations that government injected P2.5 billion into the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) last year to keep the utility afloat have raised fresh questions over the direction authorities will take on electricity pricing.

Lewanika Timothy | 13 March 2026

Gov’t seeks P3bn loan from commercial banks

Lewanika Timothy | 13 March 2026

‘Structured SMEs unlock greater funding opportunities’

Larona Makhaiza | 13 March 2026

Cheetah Cement Botswana embarks on major expansion

Pauline Dikuelo | 13 March 2026

Gov't kickstarts copper refinery study at Khoemacau

Lewanika Timothy | 10 March 2026

Letshego makes strides in gender parity, CEO says

Staff Writer | 10 March 2026

Youth SMMEs turn budget conversation into business opportunity

Laone Choeunyane | 11 March 2026

Air Botswana plane. PIC MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Air Botswana scraps three routes as losses deepen

The national carrier Air Botswana, has suspended three recently introduced regional routes after incurring losses of about P44.5 million on the services, underscoring the deepening financial strain at one of the country’s most troubled state-owned enterprises.

World Cup venue: Sofi Stadium in California PIC:DEZEEN.COM

Geopolitics take centre stage ahead of World Cup

The political tensions, rather than the excitement on the pitch, build up to FIFA’s biggest tournament, are threatening to take centre stage in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, reports MQONDISI DUBE

'I didn't steal anything'

Businessman Bakang Seretse says he was not shocked after learning that criminal charges against him had been reinstated, saying he expected the matter could return despite earlier court decisions connected to the case.

Murder accused quartet fail to appear before court

Four men facing a single count of murder over a suspected stolen phone failed to appear before court this morning. The accused are out on bail.

The incident comes despite a ruling by the High Court of Botswana in December last year PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

ZCC Mogoditshane church dispute turns violent

Chaos briefly disrupted Sunday worship at the Mogoditshane branch of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) after a simmering leadership dispute between rival factions erupted into a dramatic confrontation.

Conservation:The community argues that hunting in NG3 is a threat to San livelihoods and human rights

Community calls for enforcement of hunting ban in NG3

Back in 2019, the Botswana government reversed the 2014 ban on big game hunting, citing the need to manage the high number of human-elephant conflict incidents and to support rural livelihoods. The hunting ban was imposed by former president Ian Khama in 2014, and now the NG3 community wants the ban to be enforced in their area.

Ombudsman takes bold step, subpoenas ministries

Following a long-standing concern that the ministries and government departments delay in addressing Ombudsman cases, the office has resorted to using the power of subpoena to compel attendance.

A promising step for public schools, but...

For too long, the state of many public schools has been a source of shame. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories of broken windows, unreliable water and electricity, topped by classrooms that are not fit for proper learning. The establishment of the Education Infrastructure and Management Company Ltd (EIMC) signals that authorities are finally ready to take this problem seriously. We must commend the government for this initiative....

The Monitor Editor | 17 March 2026

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