Botswana signs tax deals with 17 countries
Friday, June 13, 2014
Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo
In 2013, Botswana signed similar agreements with 12 countries and this year has engaged five more countries including China, Zambia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Ireland.
The agreements are meant to facilitate closer co-operation between the countries’ tax administrations while also curbing or eliminating any chances of double taxation of income flowing between jurisdictions of the countries.
The situation is exacerbated by the ruling party’s admission that some of its most important election promises remain unfulfilled. This is not the change many Batswana had expected. The UDC was elected into power on a strong promise to improve lives, create jobs, protect workers and repair public services. It is therefore, not enough for the party to point only to new ministries, policies and long-term plans. These may be necessary, but...