Mmegi

Bank arrears top P6bn

Day by day: The construction sector’s arrears to commercial banks are growing PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
Day by day: The construction sector’s arrears to commercial banks are growing PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Arrears to commercial banks have reached a high of P6 billion in April, with increases in the amounts owed by the construction and manufacturing sectors.

According to recently released Bank of Botswana data, various sectors of the economy, including households, owed commercial banks about P6.1 billion as at April 30. About P1.57 billion of this was classified as “specific provisions” which means arrears that are more than 180 days overdue, regarded as being in the worst category of defaulters.

By comparison, in March, total commercial bank arrears were estimated at P5.8 billion, with specific provisions of P1.56 billion.

Editor's Comment
Get back what was stolen, and lock the door

That a single private law firm pocketed P6.5 million for just four cases, out of a total P11.1 million paid for 25 matters, reeks of a system that was not merely disorganised but open to abuse.Bayford has taken a welcome first step by telling the Public Accounts Committee the truth. Now he must act decisively to ensure it never happens again and that any money lost to wrongdoing is recovered.The figures are staggering. Whilst ordinary Batswana...

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