Botswana faces tighter fiscal space, weaker buffers

Tuesday, February 03, 2026 | 260 Views |

FRANCISTOWN: The Vice President of Botswana, Ndaba Gaolathe, has warned that the country faces tighter fiscal space, weaker buffers, and a narrow growth base that isn't translating into jobs and rising household incomes.

Speaking at the Budget Pitso, Gaolathe said Botswana's economic model, heavily reliant on diamonds and government intervention, can't sustain the country in the same way it has for decades.

Gaolathe highlighted global uncertainty, market volatility, and uneven growth as contributing factors. "The era of ample fiscal buffers, healthier reserves, and the confidence to design and fund reforms has passed," he said.

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