Pension funds shed P3.7bn in tough 2018

The country's pensioners saw their nest eggs shrink this year
The country's pensioners saw their nest eggs shrink this year

The country’s pension funds emerged bruised from a difficult 2018, with their collective assets declining by P3.7 billion, mainly due to the weak performance of offshore asset classes.

Bank of Botswana (BoB) figures released this week indicate that the country’s pension funds ended the year with assets worth P78.97 billion, down from P82.69 billion as at January 2018.

The pension fund arena is dominated by the Botswana Public Officers Pension Fund, which had assets of about P60 billion by late last year, and the Debswana Pension Fund (DPF) that ended the year with assets of P7.14 billion.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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